Reviews the addictive nature of cigarette smoking and the pharmacologic, psychological, and sociocultural parameters of tobacco use. The dynamic combination of related factors makes cigarette smoking extremely resistant to long-term extinction. The article suggests the use of active support systems during nicotine addiction recovery. (SM)

There are strong theoretical and empirical rationales for believing that psychological processes are integral to the maintenance of smoking behavior. A comprehensive treatment program for chronic cigarette smokers must have, at its foundation, interventions addressing the psychological processes that maintain smoking. The article examines the…

Using an approach to the analysis of missing data, this study investigated developmental trends in alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use among 750 adolescents across 5 years using multiple-group latent growth modeling. Latent variable structural equation modeling and missing data approaches to studying developmental change are explored. (SLD)

Addresses whether present generations of adolescents and adults worldwide are at greater risk of developing suicidal reactions than previous generations and what the possible causal mechanisms involved are. Possible causal mechanisms include: prevalence of depression, prevalence of substance abuse, psychobiological changes, increased stressors,…

Investigates the extent to which at-risk adolescents express different values than their parents and adolescents and parents in a control group. The beliefs of parents of at-risk adolescents were not significantly different from those of the control group; however, the at-risk students' beliefs were different from all groups. The age difference…

Reports results of comparing two screening instruments designed to identify youth with substance use problems. For one out of five youths, the two instruments gave different diagnoses. The instruments do not predict adolescent problems or substance use over time substantially better than a simpler measure of the frequency of substance use. (LKS)

A nationwide survey of 109 teachers of students with behavioral disorders found little programming concerning prevention of substance abuse. Teachers differed in their priority assignment of substance abuse prevention and reported the absence of parental involvement in such efforts. Lack of time, curriculum materials, and adequate funding were…

Although the Americans with Disabilities Act prevents employers from discriminating against the disabled in hiring practices, it exempts current illegal users of drugs, as distinct from alcoholics. The specific requirements of the law regarding persons with alcoholism are reviewed and contrasted with those concerning current drug users, and…

Reviews recent case law and state statutes for dealing with a pregnant woman's actions which negatively affect her infant. Explains how statutes and case law are applied in civil law to remove a child from the mother at birth and in criminal law to punish a mother while pregnant. (MM)

Comparison of drug use patterns of 43 secondary school students with behavioral disorders and 43 students without behavioral disorders indicated that 51 percent of students with behavior disorders evidenced high drug use patterns in comparison to 14 percent of the nonhandicapped group. Low drug use was reported by only 28 percent of students with…

Overall drug use by Indian and non-Indian youth increased from 1975 to the early 1980s, then declined. Indian youth were consistently more involved with drugs than were non-Indians. Longitudinal data suggest a recent decline in drug use resulting from moderate users shifting to nonuse, but not heavy users. (SV)

Discusses the popularity of smoking in the twentieth-century United States and the government's attempts to educate the public to the health risks of tobacco. Examines the surgeon general's reports, the tobacco lobby's response, and the use of mass media advertising by both. Suggests that the United States needs to rethink the nature of behavioral…

Therapeutic recreation is important in treating substance abuse problems. It addresses attitudes and behaviors leading to substance abuse (inability to experience pleasure or control). It encourages participation in activities that help abusers cope and obtain enjoyable states, reducing reliance on drugs. The article discusses the theory of flow…

Examined indigenous models of helping in selected non-Western countries (Barbados, Korea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, Sudan. and Zambia) to investigate status of psychology, counseling, and related mental health professions in these countries. Findings from mental health professionals in these countries revealed three types of problems for which…

Describes Primary Care/Substance Abuse Linkage Initiative, federal effort to improve integration of health care services. Identifies barriers to achieving initiative's objectives: health care reimbursement issues; problems of professional/public attitudes toward alcohol/drug dependency and treatment; substance abuse treatment service deficiencies;…