Most research on the effectiveness of therapeutic recreation in substance abuse treatment is either theory-based and programmatic or descriptive. This paper examines the research, noting multicultural and interdisciplinary issues. The few existing studies present generally positive results, though not always due solely to the therapeutic…

First-year college students completed surveys to determine their current tobacco use levels and the advice they had previously received from physicians regarding tobacco products. Results indicated that nearly 20% of the students were currently smoking and that health care providers were not fully using opportunities to educate young adults about…

Collected data to describe clients who presented with alcohol and other drug problems. Of the 190 students examined, over half of them met the criteria for alcohol abuse. Findings are discussed in relationship to a counseling center's practice of clinical assessment of drug and alcohol use. (RJM)

A study of 122,824 students in grades 6, 9, and 12 found that physical and sexual abuse were associated with an increased likelihood of the use of alcohol, marijuana, and almost all other drugs. Use of multiple substances was highly elevated among abuse victims, and they reported initiating substance abuse earlier. (Author/CR)

Used data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse to estimate the relative risk of initiating non-medical drug use of adolescents aged 12-17 in families without both biological parents present, compared to those living with both biological parents. Adolescents in families without both biological parents were more likely to initiate drug…

Describes a substance abuse prevention program for college students. Human service students ran the program, using sociodrama as a teaching medium. Results indicate that teacher participants increased their knowledge of substance abuse and improved skills important to human service practice. Participants also learned about group dynamics in…

Surveyed over 600 adolescents and their parents to examine adolescent problem behaviors in single-mother families. Results indicate that nonresident father involvement buffers the negative effects of single-mother families for white adolescent males. However, black male adolescents reported fewer problem behaviors when nonresident fathers are…

An eighteen-year longitudinal study of 1,265 New Zealand children examined the relationship between retrospective reports of physical punishment/maltreatment and rates of adjustment difficulties at age 18. Results found the children exposed to harsh or abusive treatment were at-risk for juvenile offending, substance abuse, and mental health…

Confronts myths concerning alcohol abuse and other drug use so as to focus on the magnitude and consequences of the facts. Six myths, taken from a national survey of 58,000 college students, are examined. Makes specific suggestions for student services administrators, with strategies for addressing the culture surrounding alcohol abuse and other…

Features a self-assessment tool which encourages college campuses to look at the success factors needed to undergird alcohol and other drug prevention programs. Self-assessment based on characteristics of successful programs provides a strategic planning method, evaluation tool, and the needed benchmarks to ensure progress. Provides examples of…

Discusses a study of adolescents with drugs, alcohol, and other behavioral problems who have been sent to therapeutic boarding schools. Topics include the difficulties of being a teenager in today's society; the difficulties of parenting; pressures to fit in; and a lack of understanding that leads to mistrust. (LRW)

Efforts of corporations to limit or ban smoking in the workplace have been generally unsuccessful. This article reviews the most common antismoking programs, including education, counseling and incentives, and proscriptive rules and policies. A multidimensional, broad-based smoking cessation program is then described. (Author/TE)

Asserts that elementary and middle school counselors are concerned about how to prevent substance abuse among students and how to identify substance abuse when it occurs. Discusses facts about various drugs, their effects, and evidence of abuse. Includes discussions of alcohol, stimulants, inhalants, cocaine, psychedelics, depressants, narcotics,…

Assesses the compliance-resisting strategies children use when rejecting pressure to smoke. Finds that strategies vary with conditions such as relationship, number of people present, amount of pressure, and risk for future smoking. Suggests that researchers consider situational variations and risk status for future smoking when developing…

Physicians may be more likely to experience substance abuse problems because of drug availability, difficulty of detection, peer reluctance to address the problem, and lack of regulatory means in state licensing boards and hospitals. Effective identification and treatment require a major change in how the medical profession views and addresses…