From 1990 to 1992, 13,065 secondary students in selected midwestern school districts filled out questionnaires asking for information on their use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and cocaine. The questionnaires also requested information on the following variables: the student's involvement in activities in and out of school, employment, church…

This proceedings document contains papers addressing trends, determinants, and interventions in preventing low birthweight. Papers have the following titles and authors: "Trends in Rates of Low Birthweight in the United States" (Mary McCormick); "Evolution of the Preterm Birth Rate in France" (Gerard Breart); "The Etiology…

This report on effective programs for children updates the 1988 report by providing new and stronger documentation of the programs' benefits and cost effectiveness. Eight programs and types of programs are discussed in Part I and four program areas that warrant attention are discussed in Part II. Part I reports on: (1) the Special Supplemental…

A one credit mini-course consisting of six two-hour seminars exploring concepts of health promotion and personal responsibility for health was offered to undergraduate students. The course included in-depth coverage of health-related decisionmaking processes, effective strategies for changing personal behaviors, self care for common illnesses,…

This report describes alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among 715 University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) students. The report focuses on drug use at the higher frequency levels, rather than reporting proportions who have ever used various drugs. The separate classes of drugs distinguished are alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, marijuana, and…

A study examined whether billboard advertising of tobacco and alcohol products is differentially targeted toward White, Black, Asian, and Hispanic neighborhoods. The study analyzed 901 billboards in neighborhood commercial districts in San Francisco, California, giving particular attention to tobacco and alcohol billboards. Neighborhood census…

Because the use of tobacco contributes to a large number of deaths each year in the United States, a current research project at the University of Iowa tests the application of a number of theoretical ideas--including social bonding, diffusion, and the spiral of silence--and attempts to develop new ideas in an effort to reduce smoking. The…

The nature of a healthy lifestyle and its significance to quality of life is examined. Following a discussion on what is involved in a healthy lifestyle, major health problems are described: (1) smoking; (2) alcohol and drug abuse; (3) sexually transmitted diseases; (4) diet and obesity; (5) stress; and (6) inadequate sleep. Recommendations are…

Due to certain inconsistencies between students' reports of monthly versus yearly drug use, further analyses of self-reported drug use by high school senior classes of 1976-1979 were conducted. Previous reports of drug use frequency during the past month were roughly three times larger than estimates based on usage reports during the past year, a…

The current prevalence of drug use among American high school seniors and the trends in use since 1975 are the two major topics treated. Also reported are prevailing attitudes and beliefs among seniors concerning various types of drug use. Eleven separate classes of drugs are distinguished: marihuana (including hashish), inhalants, hallucinogens,…

The decade of the 70's has seen significant improvements in child health and dramatic insights into the biological, psychological, and social factors influencing children's growth and development. Four of the six major gains in health status listed in the Surgeon General's Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention relate to improvements in…

GRADES OR AGES: Grades 5-12. SUBJECT MATTER: Smoking. ORGANIZATION AND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE: The guide has three major parts--1) an outline of basic facts; 2) resource guide on smoking and its relationship to health and disease, with sample lesson plans and vocabulary; and 3) appendix, including questionnaires, selected key facts on smoking, a…

Family practice residents were studied to test the hypotheses that a higher incidence and greater severity of personal or emotional problems are associated with a higher incidence of maladaptive coping behaviors among women than men students. Implications for resident program design are discussed. (MSE)

The use of licit and illicit drugs by American young people has been a source of major policy and public health concerns for the United States since the mid-1960s. The use of these substances is a leading cause of eventual disease and death in the population, but it also contributes in important ways to mortality and morbidity during adolescence. …

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of the reasons why girls and young women smoke, drink and use drugs, and what increases or lowers their risk of substance abuse. It demonstrates that certain key risk factors for substance abuse are unique to girls and young women and pose a greater threat to them than to boys and young men. This…