The purpose of this study was to guide the types of services that mental health centers provide to the Asian community in the United States. Specifically the goals of the needs assessment were to: (1) identify the counseling needs of Asian Americans; (2) describe the degree and patterns of the use of mental health and counseling services in the…

Based on a decade of evaluation experience, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) has developed the Integrated Evaluation Methods (IEM) Package, a series of conceptual and methodological applications to enhance CSAT-funded evaluation activities. Products in the IEM Package are organized within an evaluation framework constructed on the…

Describes and evaluates six common and/or empirically validated school-based substance-abuse programs, including Here's Looking At You, 2000; Developing Understanding of Self and Others (DUSO); Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE); Growing Healthy; QUEST; and Social Decision Making--Social Problem Solving. QUEST had all 11 key program elements;…

Substance use is an important risk factor for suicidal behavior in adolescence. In this study, rates of substance use in a sample of adolescents who had attempted suicide were examined as were the relationships of mood state and behavior problems to substance use. Results suggest that alcohol use among suicide attempters is more strongly related…

Analyzes the issues and standards facing mental health counselors when working with lesbians and gay men who have substance abuse problems. Explores some of the major factors that contribute to substance abuse problems in the gay community are explored. Guidelines regarding legal protections for this population are provided. (Contains 64…

A British project helps drug addicts and exoffenders regain a sense of meaning and purpose through exposure to the arts. After visiting galleries, participants create personal museums expressing their individual vision. (SK)

Evaluates the Federal Bureau of Prisons' substance abuse treatment program's effectiveness in reducing prisoner misconduct. Results show that program graduates are 74 percent less likely to engage in misconduct over a 14-month period than a comparison group. This benefit is shared by male and female inmates alike. (Contains 25 references and 2…

This article examines the unique ethical considerations for the provision of family therapy as substance abuse treatment. Use of family therapy as substance abuse treatment has grown rapidly, but the ethical codes that guide clinical practice have not kept pace. Ethical pitfalls specific to family counseling within alcohol and drug treatment…

This article describes a strengths-based alternative to substance abuse treatment. Many contemporary youth are experiencing problems with alcohol or other drugs but reject the message of total abstinence and disease models of treatment. The authors draw from their experience and research to combine a strengths perspective with a harm-reduction…

Problematic and unhealthy personality characteristics have typically been the focus of researchers interested in the possible causes of substance abuse/use. Study compares personality structure among three groups of rural college students: abstainers, experimenters, and regular users. Minimal support was obtained for the hypothesis that moderate…

Reviews risk factors for adolescent and young adult substance use as a framework for examining race differences in exposure and/or vulnerability. Concludes that the assumption that African American and white youth are equally exposed and vulnerable to the same risk factors is incorrect. Finds that youth differed significantly in their exposure to…

Examined substance use in adolescents who experienced parental divorce during childhood, during adolescence, or who were from intact families. Adolescence divorce group had greater overall drug involvement. Divorce had negative effect on boys but not on girls. Custodial parents' remarriage led to increased substance use among girls, decreased…

Presents portions of a speech by the director of the Four Worlds Development Project (FWDP) at the annual Pugwash conference on social and ethical dimensions of science and technology. Relates the healing work of FWDP and the Pugwash ethic to the attitudes of Native American elders. (DHP)

Tested hypothesis that families of adolescent substance abusers are more enmeshed and rigid than non-problem families and that degree of enmeshment and rigidity will affect form of drug abuse. Administered five family-oriented assessments to juvenile drug offenders (N=148) aged 12-22 and concluded that families of adolescent substance abusers were…

Introduces Family Behavior Loop Mapping as diagraming method for wet and dry repetitive behavior cycles of substance abusers. Explains family wet/dry behavior cycles as changes in family function corresponding to abuser shifts from active use (wet) to abstinence (dry). (Author/CM)