The thesis focuses on one of the possible methods of the opioid addiction treatment, on the substitution therapy. It also describes specific form of substitution therapy in Ústí nad Labem, part of the particular low-threshold facility for drug users. The paper also briefly discusses opioid addiction and the options of its substitutional therapy in Ústí nad Labem (e.g. methadone therapy, buprenorfine therapy). The aim of this thesis is to evaluate life quality of substitutional therapy's clients in the low-threshold facility in Ústí nad Labem and compare those results with life quality of clients who are using buprenorfine obtained on the black market. Another goal is to use these findings to improve and expand services for this target group. The theoretical part briefly describes the opioid addiction and possible methods of its treatment, mainly substitutional therapy. The research evaluates the life quality of clients who are using buprenorfine and identifies problematic parts of their lives. Data were collected using WHOQOL - BREF questionnaire - anonymous questionnaire of World Health Organization. Sociodemographic and anamnestic data of clients of substitutional therapy were involved. The sample of the clients of substitutional therapy was compared with the control group which consists of...

Title: Analysis of need of recreational drug users in Melnik Region Abstract Prevalence of drug using among those dance events visitors in the country increases steadily throughout life (Petroš Zábranský, 2003 Mravčík, Škařupová, Orlíková, 2008). Increase is also the acceptability of the use of some drugs, especially cannabis (Blahut, 2014). The research which was designed to determinate the prevalence of drug using among members of different musical subcultures in the district of Melnik, that number of recreational drug users in the Mělník region relatively high. 98 % of respondents (194 respondents) said that at least once in their life used drugs recreationally (Přádova, 2013). A group of recreational users compared to other types of drug users is however greatly neglected. Interventions are insufficient for a large percentage of recreational users, unavailable or about it users do not even know (Mravčík et al, 2008). People tend to enjoy the addictive substances in a fun environment. There is however missing feedback from these users which would helpful to develop appropriate and effective interventions. The aim is to identify and analyze the needs of recreational users on Mělník. The primary objective is to answer the basic questions of needs, wishes and expectations of potential users of...

Název: The Development of Students Status in Secondary School Class and the Use of Selected Drugs During Their Study: a Prospectve Sociometric Study. Abstrakt: The thesis is a continuation of author's bachelor thesis. Bachelor thesis deals with sociometric student's status and substance use among first year of secondary schools students. Both research are based on the theories of drug addiction development, which has very complex causes and occurs during human development in the interaction of multiple factors. One of these factors is the need to achieve social conformity (mainly in peer collectives), which can be in a group of teenage students strong in period of secondary school. Because there are these individuals creates a new position in a class and that can vary because of natural variations in the status of students and interactions among individuals in the classroom. The aim is to implement prospective sociometric study, which examines a specific classes after a 2 year interval and to determine the student status in specific classes of third grade secondary schools and how has this position changed since the last survey. The focus is set on the description of changing relations between cigarette, alcohol, cannabis use and individual student status in the class. The survey was carried out in seven...

Charles University in Prague First Faculty of Medicine Study programme: Specialization in Health Care Branch of Study: Addictology PharmDr. Bc. Zbyněk Oktábec, Ph.D. et Ph.D. Design of Pilot Clinical Trial of Treatment of Hepatitis C in Polyvalent Problem Drug Users with Pharmacological Substitution of Opioids and Methamphetamine (HCV-PPDUSOM) Master's Thesis Advisor: Mgr. Roman Gabrhelík, Ph.D. Prague, 2016 Abstract Hepatitis C is one of the most serious blood-borne complications of somatic health status of drug users. The HCV-positive injecting drug users are therefore directly indicated for the treatment of this type (and other types also) of hepatitis. Problematic adherence and treatment compliance is obvious in this group. Both foreign and domestic experiences show that stabilization of the use of illegal (and/or illegally acquired) substances is the essential part of the treatment of hepatitis. The interaction of the high quality treatment of somatic, psychosocial and add-on pharmacological care, including the substitution of illegal (and/or illegally acquired) drugs, leads to patient's increased compliance and adherence to HCV treatment. This diploma thesis is presenting both the theoretical frame and the study design of the pilot clinical trial of HCV treatment with the supportive substitution...

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / The purpose of this thesis was to examine the feasibility of testing hair for illicit drug use in the United States Marines Corps. Specifically, the study determined the hair test's potential for detecting and deterring illicit drug use and abuse among Marines. In addition, the study estimated the potential costs of implementing hair tests and examined fairness concerns with regard to testing hair among ethnically diverse populations. The results indicate that the hair test would be more effective than the urinalysis at detecting a wide variety of illicit drugs, with the exception of marijuana. The increased effectiveness of the hair test is likely to enhance the level of deterrence currently sustained by the Marine Corps' urinalysis program. Costs associated with the implementation of hair test would be offset by the increase in detection of illicit drug use and drug dependence among enlisted recruits and officer candidates pursuing active duty military service. Enhanced deterrence levels among active duty personnel that are a consequence of implementing the hair test would result in additional cost savings. Finally, implementation of the hair test would not result in racial bias, but may amplify the existence of drug preferences among different races. / Major, United States Marine Corps

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the field of Demography and Population Studies, 2016 / Background: Risky behaviours are notably the most important factors contributing to negative health outcomes among adolescents. A number of diseases and deaths have been linked to risky and harmful behaviours. Research has shown that being involved in one risky behaviour increases the likelihood of involvement in additional risky behaviours. Adolescents have been identified at the centre of sustainable development, particularly in achieving goals related to bringing poverty to an end, promoting health and well-being, attaining equitable and quality primary and secondary education as well as achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Objectives: The objective of this study was firstly to examine the levels of social association membership and risky behaviour among adolescents. Secondly, to identify the determinants of risky behaviour among South African adolescents and lastly, to examine the relationship between social association membership and risky behaviour among adolescents. Methods: Data were drawn from the South African Youth Life Style Survey of 2008. A sample of 3335 adolescents aged 12 to 19 years was analysed. Four binary and one multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted. The four binary dependent variables were for risky sexual behaviours, risky substance use behaviours, other risky behaviours and engaging in at least one type of behaviour. For each of these binary dependent variables the response category was yes or no. The dependent variable for the multinomial logistic regression model was any adolescent risky behaviour which was categorised as; no behaviour, any one category of behaviour, any two categories of behaviour and all three categories of behaviour. The key independent variables were firstly an index variable generated by merging all the different social associations into one variable that had the response yes or no to being a member of any social association. There were also five key independent variables that were the individual social associations namely; sports, religious groups, choir, drama and other associations. Results: The two most common social associations that adolescents engaged in were sports groups (515 per 1000 adolescents) and religious groups (342 per 1000 adolescents). Risky vii behaviours with the highest number adolescents engaging in them were driving without a seatbelt (32%), consuming alcohol (32%), being a passenger in a car driven by someone under the influence of alcohol (28%), tobacco use (21%) and lack of condom use (9%). Adolescents who were not members of social associations were found to have decreased the risk of engaging in one, two and all three categories of risky behaviours. Not being a member of religious groups increased the risk of engaging in one, two and all three categories of risky behaviour. Adolescents who were not members of sports groups were found to have lower risks of engaging in one, two and all three categories of risky behaviour, as well as decreased odds of engaging in at least one type of risky behaviour. Conclusion: The study found that there was a statistically significant relationship between social association membership and risky behaviours among adolescents in South Africa. More particularly, religious associations were found to be protective factors to risky behaviours and sports, drama and other associations were found to be platforms that could potentially increase the likelihood of risky behaviour among adolescents. / GR2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze factors that predict marijuana use and grade point average among undergraduate college students using the Core Institute national database. The Core Alcohol and Drug Survey was used to collect data on students’ attitudes, beliefs, and experiences related to substance use in college. The sample used in this study was delimited to include only full-time undergraduate students (N =111,664) and data were collected from 2011 to 2015. Six research questions provided the foundation of the study, which was operationalized by Astin’s (1993) input environment outcome model (IEO). Descriptive analysis was conducted to describe the sample in terms of individual and institutional characteristics, campus experiences, and substance use. Comparative analyses including one-way analysis of variance and two-way analysis of variance were conducted to determine statistical significance of differences between groups for gender, ethnic origin, marijuana use, and grade point average. Effect sizes were calculated for each ANOVA to determine the magnitude of the effect and practical significance for the population. Finally, inferential analyses using hierarchical, multiple regression were conducted to predict marijuana use. The regression model was also used to explore factors predicting medical marijuana and recreational marijuana use among students in the 2015 cohort. Statistically significant results were reported for each regression model. Statistically significant at p < .001, the factors that explained 42.2% of the variance in the final model included: gender, ethnic origin, age, institutional control, campus locale, intercollegiate athletics, social fraternities and sororities, music and performing arts, alcohol use, illegal drug use change, perceived risk of harm from trying marijuana once or twice, and perceived risk of harm from smoking marijuana regularly. Implications for policy, practice, and future research regarding marijuana use and academic performance are included. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

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This research examines the interrelated biological and cultural factors that determine pathways by which recreational drug use is manifest to addiction in the lives of youth aged 12-18 in Popay[aacute]n, Colombia. It utilizes existing data from mixed methods research conducted between 2004-2005 examining epidemiological risk factors, drug use, perceptions about drugs, and a biological phenomenon of the brain known as incentive salience. Perceptions and experiences related to drugs were gathered using structured methods. MDS and hierarchical plots of drug perceptions are presented in order to demonstrate the power of culture and expectation on perception and choice. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze quantitative health survey data and evolution-based pathways to addiction are mapped. Results confirm the importance of biocultural models in addressing addiction medicine.

This study used Agnew's General Strain Theory to examine the relationship between early victimization and deviant behavior, as well as the mediating effects through negative emotions and social bonds. This study draws on developmental psychology literature and general strain literature to develop its hypotheses. Also, it expands the current research in developmental psychology and general strain theory by operationalizing strain as early victimization and using (a) dichotomous measures of alcohol use, drug use, and delinquency, (b) measures of frequency of binge drinking, drug use, and delinquency, (c) and measures of age of first binge drinking and drug use. Data from the National Survey of Adolescents, a cross-sectional national probability sample of 4,023 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, was used to test the hypotheses. Tobit and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the mediating effects of friend and family problems, school problems, and depression and suicidal thoughts. The results show that when youth are sexually or physically assaulted at a young age they have an increased odds of participating in alcohol use, drug use and delinquency, use drugs and binge drink more frequently, are younger when they first take part in drug use and binge drinking, and they participate in more delinquent acts. These relationships were only partially mediated by the presence of friend and family problems, school problems, and depression and suicidal thoughts. These findings indicate early victimization is able to explain participation in alcohol, drugs, and delinquency as well as explain an increase in the frequency of these acts. In addition, early victimization leads to an early age of onset of binge drinking and drug use. These results show support for general strain theory and indicate the importance of examining early strains.