The focus of this report is on exploring and clarifying research in the areas of spirituality and substance abuse. In terms of their definitions, these constructs, spirituality and religiosity, have been the subject of debate among researchers. The measurement of spirituality/religiosity and substance abuse has been inconsistent from study to study. Conflicting results are reported in the research evaluating the relationship between spirituality/religiosity and substance abuse, and in intervention studies that have employed treatment methods such as meditation and prayer. However, studies comparing spiritual interventions have yet to be conducted. In this report I review and critique the literature and provide guidelines for future research. / text

Alcohol is frequently co-administered with other psychotropic substances, yet little is known about patterns of alcohol use in a simultaneous polysubstance context. In the present dissertation concomitant alcohol-drug administration is examined with an emphasis on delineating patterns of alcohol use when it is co-administered with psychostimulant drugs known to interact with neural mechanisms believed to be involved in mediating alcohol's ascending limb reinforcing effects: midbrain dopamine transmission. / In two retrospective self-report studies polysubstance users reported on their simultaneous use of drugs and alcohol. Results revealed that alcohol was commonly co-administered with various abused substances, particularly with psychostimulant drugs that are known to increase dopamine neurotransmission, and there was an identifiable pattern of administration that was characterized by initial alcohol consumption preceding repeated intermingled alcohol-psychostimulant administrations which resulted in alcohol dose escalation. / In a third study, the effects of administering the psychostimulant drug nicotine on alcohol intake was directly examined using a double-blind placebo controlled self-administration procedure. Nicotine was found to significantly increase alcohol ingestion. / In a final study we examined the effect of decreasing dopamine neurotransmission on alcohol self-administration by using a dietary manipulation that depletes the nutritional precursors to dopamine. This procedure was found to decrease alcohol consumption, an effect that was especially evident in a subset of drinkers thought to be hypersensitive alcohol's ascending limb dopamine effects. Overall findings suggest that alcohol co-administration with psychostimulant drugs affects patterns of alcohol intake and that this may be the result of an interaction involving dopamine neurotransmission.

Comorbid substance use disorders are quite common among patients with schizophrenia. Such individuals' substance use has been associated with psychiatric instability, psychosocial problems and an increased use of health care services. / An existing data set encompassing a range of health care services was analysed, along with patient demographics such as age, living arrangements and education. The subjects were 444 patients with a lifetime diagnosis of schizophrenia, with and without a secondary substance use disorder. / It was found that 32.4% of the male patients and 14.7% of the female patients in this study had a concurrent disorder. The substance abusers tended to be younger than the non-abusers. Male patients who lived in group homes were less likely to have a substance use disorder than male patients in other living situations. Patients with a substance use disorder were more intensive users of hospital services. / The need for the development of integrated services and role of the social worker was discussed.

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Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- The Institute for Clinical Social Work, 1998. / A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Institute of Clinical Social Work in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- The Institute for Clinical Social Work, 1991. / A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Institute of Clinical Social Work in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New South Wales, 2001. / Also available online.