Discusses a program funded under the Department of Justice in Maryland in which inmates (N=150) were interviewed after three months in the community to determine what environmental influences were having the greatest impact on drug reuse. Findings suggest that more emphasis is needed on family relationships before and after release because…

Examines the predictors of recidivism of youths at a juvenile assessment center over a three-year period. Significant relationships were found between the youths' demographic characteristics, their dependency referral history variables, and their recidivism to the center. Discusses the service delivery and policy implications of these findings.…

Questions whether parental reports of post treatment substance use and other treatment outcomes-related behaviors reliably reflect self-reports of adolescents; and if initially reliable, if the parental reports continue to reliably reflect adolescents' self-reports over time. Indicates that parents can give reliable proxy information regarding…

Reports on Nevada's substance abuse prevention programs for youth. The overall prevention system in the state espouses a "risk and resiliency" approach. Analysis of the programs, using a focus group methodology, yields findings about potential outcomes as well as implicit program theories. Implications for planning and further evaluation…

Creativity is the ultimate therapeutic experience because it validates the creator's abilities and allows the risk taking that enables growth. An adventure therapy session involving a group of recovering adult substance abusers illustrates how creativity is used to organize the group, determine the group's needs, generate meaning, and translate…

Faced with the absence of a conceptual framework and the terminology for establishing evaluation criteria in the substance abuse prevention services field, this special issue is devoted to exploring the topics of accountability and performance measures. It discusses the requisite components (i.e., theory, methodology, convention on terms, data)…

Discusses current ideologies of care in the substance abuse arena, including the disease-abstinence, psychosocial, ecological, and harm-reduction approaches. Also examines social work managers' beliefs about substance abuse programs to determine if there are differences between those who have a social work background and those who do not. (RJM)

Used Theory of Reasoned Action to investigate the cognitive structure underlying substance use through interviews with mothers 17 years old or younger during pregnancy. Found that substance use was lowest during pregnancy, increased sharply at 6 months postpartum, and remained level at 12 months. Changes in intentions, attitudes, perceived social…

Using longitudinal analysis, examines the interactive relationship among parent drug use, bonding to parents, and child substance use in families (N=150) headed by substance abusers. Results indicate that substance use prevention in children of substance abusers should focus both on reducing parent drug use and on promoting bonding to abstinent…

Examines predictors of long-term smoking persistence for substance-abusing adolescents (N=125). Results indicate that the age of initial cigarette use and extent of smoking at the time of treatment predicts late adolescent/early adult smoking for males but not for females. Findings highlight importance of smoking intervention for adolescent…

Examined the influence of gang membership on rates of participation in sexual activity, substance use, and violence among African American adolescent girls. Found that gang members had higher participation rates in all three risk behaviors. (JPB)

Assessed ability of three models of adolescent substance abuse--deviance-prone, affect regulation, and normative development models--to predict the substance abuse of a high-risk homeless adolescent sample with high rates of deviance, depression, and substance abuse. Found support for the deviance-prone model, with delinquency but not aggressive…

Investigated the influence of school context in predicting high school students' risk taking behaviors (e.g., truancy, substance use and sexual behaviors), hierarchically examining school attachment, school involvement, and future orientation as potential predictors of risky behaviors. Surveys indicated that the hierarchical model held true for…

Measured the efficacy of two approaches to teaching master's of social work students to assess clients for substance abuse: an alcohol and other drug (AOD) minor program and integration of AOD content into core courses. Student self-reports suggested that while the minor program was most successful, courses with integrated AOD content did…

Presents findings from a process evaluation conducted in a prison-based substance abuse program in Kentucky. Discusses key components in the program, including a detailed program description, modifications in planned treatment strategies, program documentation, and perspectives of staff and clients. Findings suggest that prison-based programs have…