Abstract: We examined the explanations given by a sample of 1245 injecting drug users in Sydney, Australia for accepting used injection equipment. Factor analysis of these reasons revealed three dimensions of sharing: not caring when withdrawing or intoxicated, unavailability of equipment, and not seeing it as high risk or ease of injecting. The most common reasons given were difficulty in obtaining sterile equipment (73% of cases), the dangers not seeming so important when in withdrawal (40%) and sharing being something done with friends or lovers (31%). Most common reasons for not sharing were related to health issues (91% citing AIDS and 67% hepatitis). These data suggest that interventions target provision of sterile equipment, and education which highlights risk situations such as intoxication and withdrawal.

Abstract: We examined the contribution of culturally relevant protective factors (i.e., adolescent religiosity, family connectedness, and perceived close friends’ substance use) to the probability of young adult binge drinking among African American males. Participants (n = 1,599) drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were high school age adolescents (14-18 years, M = 16) at Wave 1 and young adults (18-26, M = 22) at Wave 3. Adolescent binge drinking was associated with all three protective factors. Perceived close friends’ substance use in adolescence was a protective factor in later binge drinking during young adulthood, and was moderated by age such that the effect was stronger for younger adolescents. Implications for culturally relevant research and prevention are discussed.

Abstract: We all have an interest in knowing which policies work in tackling problems associated with drug use. Many members of the public, and many politicians, believe that our drug policies are not working. But the debate about how we address the challenges of mind-altering drugs is polarised in a way not seen in most other policy areas. The UK Drug Policy Commission was established to address these problems in a different way. Its aim has been to show how independent scrutiny of evidence can produce both better results and more effective use of resources in drug policy and practice. Existing drug policies have struggled to limit the damage drug use can cause, and now new challenges are emerging. The rapid development of new drugs is changing drug markets too quickly for the traditional methods we use to control drugs to be effective. The economic crisis may be impacting on the nature of drug use and drug problems and, with fewer resources, the capacity of services to respond will be limited further. Added to that, the speed and scale at which services are being devolved to a local level may create increasing and unpredictable variations in the kind of services offered in different parts of the UK. In this report, UKDPC proposes a radical rethink of how we structure our response to drug problems. It provides an analysis of the evidence for how policies and interventions could be improved, with recommendations for policymakers and practitioners to address the new and established challenges associated with drug use. UKDPC aims to foster a fresh approach to drug policy: one in which evidence takes priority, creating light rather than heat in the debate on drugs, so that we can create an environment that works to reduce dependence on drugs, safeguards communities and delivers value for money.

Abstract: Würden Sie als Arzt, als Ärztin einer gesunden Person, die nach Ritalin als Leistungshilfe vor einer wichtigen Prüfung fragt, dieses Produkt verschreiben? Dieser und ähnlichen Fragen geht eine Studie aus Zürich nach. Die befragten ÄrztInnen stehen solchen Produkten zurückhaltend bis ablehnend gegenüber, doch wird auch eine gewisse Ambivalenz in den Antworten sichtbar. Weiter konnte gezeigt werden, dass in den Praxen dieser ÄrztInnen nach solchen Produkten gefragt wird, wenn auch eher selten. Entsprechende Studien aus dem Ausland zeigen ein ähnliches Bild.

Abstract: Während der Tabakkonsum in der Allgemeinbevölkerung der Schweiz abnimmt, sind die Prävalenzen bei einigen Gruppen der Migrationsbevölkerung noch sehr hoch. Trotzdem sind diese Bevölkerungsgruppen in üblichen Rauchstopp-Therapien kaum präsent. Mit einem migrationssensitiven Ansatz sind diese deutlich besser und mit Erfolg erreichbar.