This study employs interviews to measure the perceptions of sixteen teachers, nine school principals, and seven School Resource Officers on the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, offered to grade six students in one small (population approximately 70,000) city in western Canada. Perceptions in three areas are examined: curricular content, program delivery, and efficacy. Subjects overwhelming viewed the curricular content favourably. Similarly, there was strong agreement that the program was well delivered. The efficacy of the program was judged less positively; however, this did not mitigate the subjects' strong desire to continue implementation of the program. These results are consistent with the research literature on DARE which documents the popularity of the program, but acknowledges that it appears to have limited effects upon reducing student drug use. The results of this study are used to examine five options for delivering an in-school program for preventing or reducing drug abuse and violence among students. The options explored range from retaining the DARE program in its current form, to eliminating it, reforming it, implementing an alternative program, or designing an entirely new drug and violence prevention program. The conclusion drawn is that the DARE program should be withdrawn and replaced with an entirely new drug and violence prevention program and curriculum specific to community realities and needs. / vii, 109 leaves ; 28 cm.

MPH / Department of Public Health / See the attached abstract below

Wan Lei Nei. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 126-160). / Abstract and questionnaires in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgement --- p.vi / Abstract --- p.vii / List of abbreviations --- p.xii / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Club drugs --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1. --- "Pattern of ""club drug"" use in Hong Kong" --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2. --- "Popular ""club drugs"" used in Hong Kong and their effects" --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.2.1. --- MDMA ('ecstasy') --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.2.2. --- Ketamine --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.2.3. --- Cannabis --- p.10 / Chapter 1.1.2.4. --- Methamphetamine ´(بIce'） --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2 --- Neurobiology of drug addiction --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Introduction to reward pathways and animal models of addiction --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Mesocorticolimbic dopamine pathway --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Behavioural processes of addiction --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Other neurotransmitter systems in addiction --- p.21 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Molecular plasticity in addiction: signaling and gene expression --- p.23 / Chapter 1.3 --- Association of Personality Traits and Drug Abuse --- p.26 / Chapter 1.4. --- Association between genetics and drug abuse --- p.31 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- "Family, twin and adoption studies" --- p.32 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Transgenic and knock out animal models --- p.33 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Candidate genes for drug abuse --- p.33 / Chapter 1.4.3.1 --- Dopamine receptor genes --- p.34 / Chapter 1.4.3.2 --- Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) gene --- p.35 / Chapter 1.4.3.3 --- Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene --- p.35 / Chapter 1.4.3.4 --- Serotonergic genes --- p.37 / Chapter 1.4.3.5 --- Opioid receptor genes --- p.38 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Linkage studies of drug abuse --- p.39 / Chapter 1.5 --- Genetic factor and personality trait --- p.39 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Twins study --- p.41 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Candidate gene studies --- p.41 / Chapter 1.5.3.1 --- Dopamine (DA) --- p.42 / Chapter 1.5.3.2 --- COMT --- p.43 / Chapter 1.5.3.3 --- MAO-A --- p.44 / Chapter 1.5.3.4 --- Serotonin (5-HT) --- p.44 / Chapter 1.5.3.5 --- Opioid receptor --- p.46 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- Interaction between genes --- p.47 / Chapter 1.6 --- Aim of study --- p.47 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.50 / Chapter 2.1 --- Recruitment of Subjects --- p.50 / Chapter 2.1.1. --- Club drug users --- p.50 / Chapter 2.1.2. --- Controls --- p.50 / Chapter 2.2 --- Phenotype assessment --- p.51 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Questionnaire (Appendix la 226}0ؤ Chinese version used; lb - English translated version for reference only) --- p.51 / Chapter 2.2.1.1 --- Demographics --- p.51 / Chapter 2.2.1.2 --- Pattern of drug use --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.1.3 --- First time drug use --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.1.4 --- Reason of drug use --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.1.5 --- Effects of drug use --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.1.6 --- Potential dependence/ withdrawal --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2.1.7 --- Knowledge about drug of abuse and psychological well-being. --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Personality assessments (Appendix 2a - Chinese version of SSS-V scale; 2b -Chinese version of BIS/BAS scale) --- p.53 / Chapter 2.3 --- DNA extraction --- p.53 / Chapter 2.4 --- Genotyping --- p.54 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- "G1947A, Val108/158 Met polymorphism in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene" --- p.55 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- T941G polymorphism in the monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) gene --- p.55 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- TaqI A Polymorphism of the DRD2 Gene --- p.56 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- 7-repeat allele of a 48 bp repeat polymorphism (DRD4-7) in exon 3 of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) --- p.57 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- -521C/T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) I the promoter region of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) --- p.58 / Chapter 2.4.6 --- G861C polymorphism in the serotonin receptor 1B (5-HT1B) gene --- p.59 / Chapter 2.4.7 --- The 44 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) --- p.60 / Chapter 2.4.8 --- T921C Polymorphism in Exon 3 of the Human DOR (hDOR) Gene --- p.60 / Chapter 2.4.9 --- A118G polymorphism in Exon 1 of the Human MOR (hMOR) Gene --- p.61 / Chapter 2.5 --- DNA sequencing --- p.62 / Chapter 2.6 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.63 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- RESULTS --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1 --- Results from questionnaire --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Demographics of club drug users --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1.1.1 --- Gender and age --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1.1.2 --- District of residence --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1.1.3 --- Type of living quarters and cohabitation --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1.1.4 --- Educational attainment and employment status --- p.66 / Chapter 3.1.1.5 --- Parents'details --- p.66 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- First time drug use --- p.67 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Prevalence of drug use --- p.68 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Frequency and quantity of drug used --- p.69 / Chapter 3.1.7 --- Drug spending --- p.70 / Chapter 3.1.8 --- Pattern of drug use in and outside Hong Kong --- p.71 / Chapter 3.1.9 --- Cause of drug use --- p.75 / Chapter 3.1.10 --- The negative effects of drug use --- p.77 / Chapter 3.1.11. --- Potential tolerance/ dependence --- p.79 / Chapter 3.1.12 --- Knowledge about drugs of abuse --- p.80 / Chapter 3.1.13 --- Psychological well-being --- p.80 / Chapter 3.2 --- Personality trait assessments --- p.81 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Personality traits between club drugs users and controls --- p.81 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Personality trait by gender --- p.81 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Reliability --- p.83 / Chapter 3.3 --- Genotyping --- p.84 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- "G1947A,Vall08/158 Met polymorphism in the catechol-O-methyl- transferase (COMT) gene" --- p.84 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- T941G polymorphism in the monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) --- p.87 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- T921C Polymorphism in Exon 3 of the Human DOR (hDOR) Gene --- p.90 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- G861C polymorphism in the serotonin receptor 1B (5-HT1B) gene --- p.92 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- TaqI A Polymorphism of the DRD2 Gene --- p.94 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- The All 8G polymorphism in exon 1 of the human MOR (hMOR) gene --- p.96 / Chapter 3.3.7 --- The 44 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) --- p.97 / Chapter 3.3.8 --- 48bp repeat polymorphism (DRD4) in exon 3 of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) --- p.98 / Chapter 3.3.9 --- -521C/T polymorphism in the promoter region of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) --- p.99 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- DISCUSSION --- p.100 / Chapter 4.1 --- Demographics and pattern of club drug use --- p.100 / Chapter 4.2 --- Personality traits assessment --- p.108 / Chapter 4.3 --- Gene polymorphisms --- p.110 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- "COMT G1947A, Val108/158 Met polymorphism" --- p.111 / Chapter 4.3.2. --- MAO-A T941G polymorphism --- p.114 / Chapter 4.3.3. --- hDOR T921C polymorphism --- p.115 / Chapter 4.3.4. --- hMOR A118G polymorphism --- p.117 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism --- p.118 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- DRD4 48bp VNTR polymorphism --- p.120 / Chapter 4.3.7. --- DRD4 -C521T polymorphism --- p.121 / Chapter 4.3.8. --- 5-HT1B G861C polymorphism --- p.121 / Chapter 4.3.9. --- 5-HTTLPR SLC6A4 44 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism --- p.122 / REFERENCES --- p.125 / APPENDIX 1a Questionnaire (Chinese version) / APPENDIX 1b Questionnaire (English translated version) / APPENDIX 2a Chinese version of SSS-V scale / APPENDIX 2b Chinese version of BIS/BAS scale

AIDS-related illnesses are the leading cause of deaths in South Africa. Alcohol misuse among male youths fuels the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including HIV. Literature review was conducted on the association of alcohol misuse and the risk of contracting HIV among male youths. In this qualitative study fourteen male youths, all from Soshanguve in Gauteng province, participated in face-to-face interviews. The male youths who misuse alcohol show greater signs of indulging in risky sexual intercourse. In addition, the male youths who find their sexual partners at taverns were less likely to use condoms during sex. Other factors linked to alcohol misuse that hinder HIV-prevention include multiple sexual partners, transactional sex, men who have sex with men (MSM), young men’s dominance over young women and non-use of condoms. The findings of this research project indicate the need of deliberate focus on alcohol misuse during HIV-prevention education. HIV-prevention interventions should pay attention to reducing sexual risk behaviour associated with alcohol misuse among young men. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

AIDS-related illnesses are the leading cause of deaths in South Africa. Alcohol misuse among male youths fuels the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including HIV. Literature review was conducted on the association of alcohol misuse and the risk of contracting HIV among male youths. In this qualitative study fourteen male youths, all from Soshanguve in Gauteng province, participated in face-to-face interviews. The male youths who misuse alcohol show greater signs of indulging in risky sexual intercourse. In addition, the male youths who find their sexual partners at taverns were less likely to use condoms during sex. Other factors linked to alcohol misuse that hinder HIV-prevention include multiple sexual partners, transactional sex, men who have sex with men (MSM), young men’s dominance over young women and non-use of condoms. The findings of this research project indicate the need of deliberate focus on alcohol misuse during HIV-prevention education. HIV-prevention interventions should pay attention to reducing sexual risk behaviour associated with alcohol misuse among young men. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)