While the epidemiologic trends concerning alprazolam (Xanax[R]) are unknown, the use of benzodiazepines, in general, has increased in popularity among youth within recent years. To shed light on the drug problem, the current pilot study used a qualitative approach to investigate relevant beliefs, norms, and perceived addiction associated with…

After conducting a survey to obtain a personality profile and descriptive analysis of a typical substance abuser enrolled in a treatment center, the average individual is a third-born, 31 year-old male with nonprofessional parents who became involved in substance abuse because of peer influence and feelings of boredom or unhappiness. (JPS)

Surveyed 45 counselors from 29 drug treatment programs to examine how they perform their role and functions. Results indicated that superior counselors are likely to be actively involved in programming on behalf of their clients, with important differences in the issues raised in counseling sessions. (JAC)

Harm reduction, a new model in the field of drug education, recognizes that people have always and always will use drugs. The new strategy attempts to minimize the potential hazards associated with drug use rather than the use itself. The rationale is presented as well as an example of needs assessment. (Author/JPS)

Surveyed 141 substance abusers who had 11 or more months of continuous abstinence and who first sought treatment in adolescence. Getting high for the first time at a younger age and polydrug use were significantly correlated with more relapses and less overall sobriety. There were five times more adoptees represented in the sample than would be…

Reports results of a questionnaire administered to participants in an antagonist drug outpatient clinic and an antagonist drug work-release program to obtain awareness of acceptance of the program participants. Naltrexone patients recommended an alternative method of administering the drug and changing the money system to award deserving inmates…

Describes California Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) education programs for intravenous drug users (IVDUs). Presents types of educational interventions, both for IVDUs in treatment and those not in treatment. Concludes the state is making a good effort to reach IVDUs, but programs must move toward assessment of attitudes that impede…

Introduces the Minnesota Model of chemical dependency treatment, describes the Hazelden Counselor Training Program, and summarizes trainee characteristics and survey follow-up findings of 100 former trainees. (Author/BL)

The program positively affected family communication patterns, self-esteem levels, and drug knowledge levels at follow-up. The follow-up data indicated that drug-related school system and drug-related criminal justice system contacts were significantly reduced. There was a reduction in drug usage by regular users for selected drugs. (Author)

Describes research conducted to examine the patterns of alcohol and drug use and self-concepts of recently incarcerated adult offenders in relation to age, gender and ethnicity in a western state. Polydrug use, often in combination with alcohol, is the rule and not the exception. Discerning a special class of drug addicts among the inmates was…

Investigated predictors of drug treatment retention of individual clients in terms of a contextual model. Found that the socioecological variables predicted the types of clients that entered treatment in terms of clinic level (aggregate) variables, and these predicted the corresponding individual level client variables and client outcomes. (Author)

Analyses of the data and youths' prescriptions concerning prevention of abuse yielded 12 program recommendations. These programs can create the awareness that led to concerted programs to stop the war and pollution. When designing educational-information programs, one must be aware of the total system of causal factors. (Author/BEF)

Examines how selected internal and external control variables influence lifetime use, frequency of use, and cessation of use of marijuana. Indicates that both internal and external control factors are significant predictors of the frequency of marijuana use. Finds that the external control factor plays a more important role in explaining lifetime…

States the process-outcome research and evaluation paradigm applied to alcohol and substance abuse prevention and intervention programs. Shows its application to efforts to improve students' and patients' self-esteem to be deficient in certain aspects and advocates additions to the evaluation procedures, most notably analysis of in-session change.…

In an effort to deal with multiple substance abusers, a program was developed and evaluated which utilizes the therapeutic community concept in conjunction with Alcoholics Anonymous. (Author/LAB)