INTRODUCTION: Smoking, alcohol and other drugs use among high school learners has become a major public health problem across the globe. Here in South Africa, it is estimated that a large proportion of learners indulge in smoking and the use of alcohol and illicit drugs. Data from treatment sites across the country indicate that the number of patients who are below 20 years seeking treatment is escalating. These indulgences have been blamed for escalating school violence, rapes, robbery and accidents, all of which contribute to increased morbidity, disability and premature deaths. It is expected that the result of this study may provide additional understanding about learners’ drug and alcohol use. Such additional understanding can be of benefit to those responsible for the planning and implementation of cessation programmes. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent of drug and alcohol use, the relationship between substance use and academic performance, and the factors that may influence cessation of alcohol and drug use among high school learners in Mogalakwena municipality. METHOD: The protocol involved purposeful selection of one school from each of the nine education circuits within the Mogalakwena Municipality, Limpopo Province. The questionnaire was anonymous, requiring no data that can identify any learners. The sample consisted of five hundred and fifty five students aged 15 to 23(53% females and 47% males). The data was coded and analysed with epi-info version 6(Dutch) and this involved descriptive statistics and cross tabulations with specific reference to chi square test and students t-test yielding p-values. RESULTS: The result of this study indicate that among high school learners in the Mogalakwena municipality 28% have smoked cigarette, 65% have drunk alcohol and 16% have used illicit drugs.In addition there was statistically significant difference between urban and rural learners in terms of smoking and alcohol consumption, with higher rates among urban students, but there was no difference in the use of drugs between the two groups. Also, there was statistically significant difference in drug usage and smoking with regard to age but no difference in alcohol consumption. Younger students tended to smoke more and also were more involved in the use of drugs. More males than females were involved in smoking, alcohol consumption and drugs use. The most reported factors that could influence cessation of alcohol and drugs use were bad effect 49%, cost 23% and parents’ influence 15%. Among the parameters examined as proxies for impact of alcohol and other drugs use on academic performance, indications point to negative impact. CONCLUSION: Alcohol and other drugs use is prevalent among high school learners in the Mogalakwena municipality and is reported to have a negative impact on academic performance. “Bad effects”, high costs and significant relationships are reported as the most important factors that could influence alcohol and other drugs use cessation and these may be important considerations in planning risk reduction.

by Lui Kong Kei, Walter. / Thesis submitted in: July 1999. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-122). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDAGE --- p.vi / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xiii / LIST OF APPENDIX --- p.xiii / ABBREVATIONS --- p.xiv / Chapter CHAPTER ONE: --- INTRODUCRION --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1 --- DEFINITION --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- HISTORICAL BACKGROUND --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- ADVANTAGES AND CLINICAL APPLICATION OF IONTOPHORESIS --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- ADVANTAGES OF IONTOPHORESIS --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- CLINICAL APPLICATION OF IONTOPHORESIS --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4 --- STRUCTURE AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF SKIN --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- SKIN STRUCTURE --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- SKIN PERMSELECTIVITY --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF SKIN --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5 --- PRINCIPLES OF IONIC TRANSPORT IN AN ELECTRIC FIELD --- p.10 / Chapter 1.6 --- THEORETICAL BASIS --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- NERNST-PLANCK THEORY OF DRUG DELIVERY BY IONTOPHORESIS --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- CONVECTIVE FLOW --- p.14 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- THEORETICAL TREATMENT OF CONVECTIVE FLOW --- p.15 / Chapter 1.6.4 --- THE ENHANCEMENT RATIO (ER) --- p.16 / Chapter 1.6.5 --- ALTERATIONS IN THE PERMEABILITY OF SKIN AND DAMAGE FACTOR (DF) --- p.16 / Chapter 1.7 --- PATHWAYS FOR TRANSPORT --- p.17 / Chapter 1.8 --- FACTORS AFFECTING IONTOPHORETIC DELIVERY --- p.19 / Chapter 1.8.1 --- ELECTIC CURRENT --- p.19 / Chapter 1.8.1.1 --- CURRENT DENSITY --- p.20 / Chapter 1.8.1.2 --- CURRENT MODES --- p.21 / Chapter 1.8.1.2.1 --- Direct Current (DC) --- p.21 / Chapter 1.8.1.2.2 --- Pulsed Direct Current (PDC) --- p.21 / Chapter 1.8.1.2.3 --- Comparing Direct Current (DC) with Pulsed Direct Current (PDC) --- p.23 / Chapter 1.8.1.2.4 --- Pulsed Short-circuit Pulsed Direct Current (PSPDC) --- p.24 / Chapter 1.8.2 --- PHYSIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE PERMEANT --- p.26 / Chapter 1.8.3 --- ELECTROLYTE COMPOSITION --- p.28 / Chapter 1.8.4 --- BIOLOGICAL FACTORS --- p.30 / Chapter 1.9 --- IN-VITRO EXPERIMENT DESIGN --- p.30 / Chapter 1.9.1 --- SKIN AND SYNTHETIC MEMBRANE IN IONTOPHORETIC RESEARCH --- p.30 / Chapter 1.9.2 --- DIFFUSION CELL --- p.32 / Chapter 1.9.3 --- ELECTRODES --- p.33 / Chapter 1.10 --- THE PURPOSE OF PRESENT STUDY --- p.34 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO: --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1 --- MATERIAL --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- ANIMAL MODEL --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- APPARATUS AND INSTRUMENTS --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- REAGENTS --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2 --- METHODS --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- PREPARATION OF THE SIDE-BI-SIDE DIFFUSION CELL --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.1.1 --- MEMBRANE PREPARATION FOR SKIN PERMEABILITY STUDIES --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.1.2 --- MOUNTING THE TISSUE MEMBRANE IN SIDE-BI-SIDE DIFFUSION CELL --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.1.3 --- STABILIZING THE TISSUE MEMBRANE AND TESTING FOR THE TIGNTNESS --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.1.4 --- SILIVER/SILVER CHORIDE ELECTRODE (Ag/AgCl) --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- IN-VITRO IONTOPHORETIC PERMEATION EXPERIMENT --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- IONTOPHORETIC PERMEATION KINETICS OF MANNITOL --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.1 --- Reagents --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.2 --- In-vitro experiment process --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.3 --- Testing parameters --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.4 --- Sampling and assay --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.5 --- Data analysis --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- IONTOPHORETIC PERMEATION KINETICS OF ANGIOTENSIN II --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.2.2.1 --- Reagents --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.2.2.2 --- In-vitro experiment process and testing parameters --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.2.2.3 --- Sampling and assay --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.2.2.4 --- Data analysis --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT OF EXCISED SKIN --- p.48 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- INFLUENCE OF IONTOPHORESIS ON THE IMPEDANCE OF EXCISED FULL-THICKNESS NUDE MOUSE SKIN --- p.50 / Chapter 2.2.4.1 --- Experiment process --- p.50 / Chapter 2.2.4.2 --- Measurement and data analysis --- p.51 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- PASSIVE SOLUTE TRANSPORT EXPERIMENT --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.5.1 --- PASSIVE TRANSPORT OF TRITIATED WATER --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.5.1.1 --- Reagents --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2.5.1.2 --- Experimental process --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2.5.1.3 --- Assay and data analysis --- p.55 / Chapter 2.2.5.2 --- PASSIVE TRANSPORT OF MANNITOL --- p.55 / Chapter 2.2.5.2.1 --- Reagents --- p.56 / Chapter 2.2.5.2.2 --- Experimental process --- p.56 / Chapter 2.2.5.2.3 --- Assay and data analysis --- p.58 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- STATISTIC METHODS USED FOR ANALYSIS --- p.59 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE: --- RESULTS --- p.60 / Chapter 3.1 --- RESULTS OF IN-VITRO IONTOPHORETIC PERMEATION EXPERIMENTS --- p.60 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- IONTOPHORETIC PERMEATION KINETICS OF MANNITOL --- p.60 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- IONTOPHORETIC PERMEATION KINETICS OF ANGIOTENSIN II --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2 --- RESULTS OF EFFECT OF IONTOPHORESIS ON THE IMPEDANCE OF THE EXCISED FULL-THICKNESS NUDE MOUSE SKIN --- p.78 / Chapter 3.3 --- SOLUTE TRANSPORT EXPERIMENTS --- p.81 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- WATER TRANSPORT EXPERIMENT --- p.81 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- MANNITOL TRANSPORT EXPERIMENT --- p.86 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR: --- DISCUSSION --- p.93 / Chapter 4.1 --- ANIMAL MODEL --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2 --- EXPERIMENTAL CONDITION OF DIFFUSION PERMEATION CELL --- p.94 / Chapter 4.3 --- IN- VITRO PERMEATION EXPERIMENTS --- p.95 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- MANNITOL --- p.95 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- ANGIOTENSIN II --- p.95 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- RESULTS OF IONTOPHORETIC PERMEATION STUDIES --- p.97 / Chapter 4.4 --- INFLUENCE OF IONTOPHORESIS ON THE SKIN IMPEDANCE --- p.99 / Chapter 4.5 --- SOLUTE TRANSPORT EXPERIMENT --- p.102 / Chapter 4.6 --- FUTURE PROSPECTS --- p.106 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE: --- CONCLUSION --- p.107 / APPENDIX ONE --- p.108 / APPENDIX TWO --- p.109 / REFERENCE --- p.115

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2001. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2001. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2001. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.