Evidence indicates that psychological dysregulation is an integral component of the liability for substance use disorder (SUD). This report discusses the rationale underlying the Dysregulation Inventory (DI), methods employed in item selection and scale construction, and preliminary results regarding psychometric properties. Results indicate that…

This paper presents the prevalence and incidence of children in need of social services due to child maltreatment, child poverty, parental incarceration, parental substance abuse problems, and homelessness. Examines early childhood family education and family support approaches in primary prevention designed to meet the needs of these children.…

Study researched the impact of the contextual characteristics of the community on self-reported 8th grade alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. Results indicate that community disorganization is an important risk factor for ATOD use while family supports is an important protective factor. Greater economic constraints decreases, rather than…

Research compared Storytelling for Empowerment Program participants' pre and posttest responses on drug use. High contact participants had the most marked changes with a decrease in their alcohol and marijuana use. All participants in the last year of the program, regardless of contact hours, decreased their alcohol use and increased in their…

The TFA model focuses on behavior as interaction of thoughts, feelings, and actions, and seems to be useful in understanding circumstances contributing to substance abuse. TFA's Helping Cycle, which contains six stages: (1) assessment; (2) interpretation; (3) intervention; (4) probing; (5) deliberating; and (6) closing, provides a procedure to…

Investigated the association between 13 health risk and protective factors and reporting two or more lifetime sexual intercourse partners and non-condom use for last coitus among rural high school students. Data from the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey highlighted important relationships between prior sexual behavior, sexual and physical abuse,…

The purpose of this article is to provide school counselors with a systems perspective of substance abuse. The following topics are addressed: the symptomatology of adolescent substance abuse; a systemic perspective on such abuse; the role of the family in the perpetuation and healing if this dysfunction; and the role of the school counselor in…

Study looked at sample of African-American adolescent males to determine the degree to which family structure (e.g., single parent vs. two-parent families) vs. the nature of the family relationships predict sons' involvement in substance use/abuse and illegal behavior. Of 33 relationships measures analyzed, 3 predicted the degree of recent…

Explores the expectations of adolescents about their future cigarette, alcohol and illicit drug use. Results found that adolescents had unrealistic beliefs about future substance use. Very few non-users believed they would initiate illicit-drug use whilst current users believed they would continue to use. Many young people were uncertain about…

Explores the drug use patterns of a sample of Southwestern Mexican American middle school students using language preference as a marker of acculturation status. Spanish monolingual students were found to use significantly less alcohol and other drugs than bilingual or English dominant students. Recommendations for social work practice are framed…

Explores the relation between reason for dropping out and substance use in Mexican American and White adolescents. Results revealed that for Mexican American adolescents, substance use was highest among those who left school to be with their friends and lowest among those who left for family-related reasons. Among White adolescents, there were no…

In the current study of 361 sexually active undergraduates cited for their first time for university substance abuse violations, confirmatory factor analysis was employed to validate the Risky Sex Scale. A three factor solution appears to fit the data significantly, and three subscales demonstrate good to excellent reliability and vary…

The role of public health nurses in the health care of infants and children prenatally exposed to drugs is discussed. Such nurses work in the family setting to promote health and prevent disease. Concepts of Kathryn Barnard have been used to develop policies and protocols for services to families with infants exposed to controlled substances. (GH)

Outlines a community action process that American Indian communities could use to develop their own drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs. Describes a community prevention system framework developed by the Office of Substance Abuse Prevention. Compares the community empowerment system with the agency-directed service delivery model. (SV)

Used unobtrusive methods to collect data on substance use from 320 Nigerian partygoers aged 14 through 25. Found that adolescents tended to use following drugs in decreasing order of frequency: alcohol, cigarettes. stimulants, cannabis, and sedative-hypnotics. Polydrug use, especially of alcohol, stimulants, and cigarettes, was common. (Author/NB)