Presents program evaluation data from school and community application of a physical fitness drug prevention program. Results reveal significant increases in physical activity and physical fitness. Youth self-report data indicates significant decreases in risk factors such as low self-concept, poor school attendance, anxiety, depression, and…

Research identifies substance abuse intervention competencies using Motivational Interviewing that can be used to teach and evaluate social work students. The study established a set of skills related to Motivational Interviewing; designed a graduate social work class to teach the model; and used the instrument to rate interviewers. Results…

Athletic directors in North Carolina (n=215) completed a questionnaire that broadly examined substance abuse of high school student athletes. Results were compared with the general student body and with a national survey of athletic directors' perceptions. Drug abuse among student-athletes was perceived to be of lesser magnitude regionally than…

Explores gender differences in the etiology and consequences of alcohol abuse among older adolescents. No significant differences were found in the etiology of alcohol abuse; however, men were more likely to have neglected duties, while women were more likely to have experienced blackouts and to have lost friends as a result of drinking.…

Group counseling with black adolescent substance users has been noticeably absent from the literature. Addresses some critical issues and provides some recommendations, based on personal clinical experience, when providing counseling with this population. (Author)

Outlines the process of intervention on the student substance user enrolled in public school. Proposes that, with careful planning, intervention for the student substance user is a firm, expeditious, and appropriate response to chemical dependency. Steps are outlined to help family and friends offer assistance to the chemically dependent students.…

Examines the incidence of substance use and mental illness among jail inmates by analyzing differences and similarities in demographic characteristics and detention status in a sample of 5,785 subjects. Significant associations were found between membership in one of the substance use and/or mental illness categories and variables reflecting…

Discusses the emergence of new types of abused drugs in the United States. Notes that young persons often search for substitutes for better-known substances. It is unclear, however, what factors determine the choice of drug or substance for experimentation, considering the wide range of choices. This paper attempts to delineate the factors that…

Student athletes (N=563) were surveyed to examine their attitudes toward the use of painkilling drugs. Twenty-nine percent reported that they felt there is nothing wrong with using painkilling drugs on the day of competition (when injured) to cope with pain. Recommendations for coaches, educators, team physicians, team trainers, and administrators…

Article examines a Drug Court that offers culturally specific programming as a strategy to enhance retention in the treatment of female and African-American male substance abuse offenders. Study found that mandating treatment was insufficient to foster client engagement. Retention was significantly enhanced by treatment that recognized cultural…

To be effective with rehabilitation counseling, counselors need to be aware of cultural patterns of drug use. This study analyzed trends in heroin use between 1990 and 1997 among the arrestee population in some parts of the South. Findings suggest geographic, ethnic, and age-related variables for heroin use. (JDM)

Investigated the effect of one agency's change from mixed-gender to single-gender treatment on client retention and treatment completion. Results indicate that substance abuse treatment provided in single-gender settings does not significantly increase treatment retention and completion. Findings indicate that gender-specific treatment must do…

Assessed kindergartners' knowledge of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATODs), examining the congruence between parent ATOD use and children's knowledge. Data collected prior to an ATOD prevention trial for kindergartners and parents indicated that most students recognized cigarettes, half recognized alcoholic beverages, and 17 percent…

Examined AIDS knowledge, condom attitudes, and sexual risk taking behavior among 193 juvenile offenders on probation or parole who were substance abusers. Surveys indicated that most youths were sexually active. Many reported unsafe sexual practices. General attitudes toward condoms and reported use of condoms at first sexual intercourse were the…

Established normative data on the Pubertal Development Scale (PDS) (A. Petersen and others, 1988) of two population-based birth cohorts of Finnish twin boys and girls assessed at ages 11-12 and 14 years (complete data for 664 boys and 681 girls). Also reports longitudinal analyses of the associations between pubertal development and substance use.…