A popular notion refers to laughter as ''the best medicine,'' and a stream of psychological research encourages treatment providers to use humour as a therapeutic tool. However, remarkably few studies have investigated client perspectives on professionals' use of humour in everyday practice. Drawing on ethnographic data from fieldwork in two…

This article shares the story of Lucy Bryson, who was hooked on crack cocaine and heroin when she was 17, and was working the streets to fund her addiction. Her future looked bleak when she was imprisoned four years ago but a project that builds trust and responsibility in young people by teaching them to work with animals has transformed her…

This study reports the results of a five-year follow-up survey of private-pay outdoor behavioral healthcare (OBH) programs operating in the United States and Canada. A total of 65 of 102 programs identified as meeting certain characteristics responded to the survey and identified themselves as an OBH program that utilizes a clinical treatment…

Data from 11 substance abuse treatment programs revealed that street youth in treatment for substance abuse had larger number of social and drug abuse problems than did non-street youth in treatment; were more likely to be unemployed, on welfare, and to have legal problems; and had more depression, had lower self-esteem, and used more alcohol and…

Analysis was made of the common sense explanations of 60 Mexican teenage illicit drug users in rehabilitation to determine their drug use debut. The explanatory model was separated into three blocks, two of which contained common sense aspects: interaction between subject's plane and the collectivity; and relationship between subject's interior…

Evaluated the effectiveness of Kairos, a Canadian outpatient drug rehabilitation program. A survey of 43 former clients showed all made some improvement as measured by a social rating scale, and most had positive comments about the program. Clients felt they had learned coping strategies for use with future problems. (JAC)

Outlines what help is available and how it can be provided for Ontario teenagers with alcohol-related problems through community agencies and programs, services of professional social workers and counselors, group support, residential treatment, therapeutic goals, and family involvement. (NEC)

This report on sniffing behavior and solvent abuse among children and adolescents is intended for use by health and education professionals. A brief historical overview of solvents used, methods of use, and effects is provided. Three types of sniffers (experimenters, social users, chronic abusers) are identified, and age data, children at risk,…

This document contains Congressional and nondepartmental witness testimony from the Congressional hearing on youth drug abuse in New York. Opening statements are presented on the incidence of drug use in America, the role of the federal government, the impact of drugs on youth, foreign country production of illegal drugs, funding to fight illegal…