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)

Compared substance use and problem behavior of students who participated in "I'm Special" Program (ISP) in fourth grade and of non-participants during later school years. Found proportion of current substance users and incidence of related problem behavior were significantly lower among ISP graduates, especially in grades five through seven. ISP…

To clarify methodological differences, five studies with cluster analysis solutions of 183 Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) profiles of male heroin addicts were critically reviewed. The methodologies used were replicated. A solution using complete linkage with Pearson correlation and recommendations for future cluster analysis…

This article presents an experimental community-based prevention planning model which was established to solicit involvement of adults and youth from high risk communities in an effort to prevent substance abuse through provision of positive outreach activities. The model's components, methodology, and preliminary findings are described. (IAH)

Adolescent psychiatric inpatients (48 with a history of sexual abuse and 48 without) were studied to probe the relationship between sexual abuse and substance abuse. Abuse group subjects indicated more regular and frequent use of addictive substances. (Author/PB)

Explored the employment of master's degree level counselors in substance abuse centers (N=435) and examined the direct care services and administrative duties they perform. Findings suggest that a high percentage of mental health counselors are employed in substance abuse centers and that mental health counselors function as individual, group,…

Reviews verbal and physical abuse that threatens well-being and physical survival of lesbian, gay male, and bisexual youths. Notes that this response to gay male, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents by significant others in their environment is often associated with several problematic outcomes, including school-related problems, running away,…

Reviews prevention concepts from counseling and college health literature, emphasizing perspectives to help health providers, identifying central elements of preventive programs and intervention formats, and examining how interventions are assembled into coherent programs. An initiative addressing primary, secondary, and tertiary substance use…