The urgency of this study has become vivid in the light of the growing problem of prevalence and use of new synthetic drug types. Lately there has been a tendency of expanding the range of psychologically active substances (PAS) used by addicts with the purpose of their illegal taking. The aim of this research is an attempt of systematizing and…

The purpose of this article is to identify tobacco and cannabis co-consumptions and consumers' perceptions of each substance. A qualitative research including 22 youths (14 males) aged 15-21 years in seven individual interviews and five focus groups. Discussions were recorded, transcribed verbatim and transferred to Atlas.ti software for narrative…

This first national estimate suggests that the economic cost of methamphetamine (meth) use in the United States reached $23.4 billion in 2005. Given the uncertainty in estimating the costs of meth use, this book provides a lower-bound estimate of $16.2 billion and an upper-bound estimate of $48.3 billion. The analysis considers a wide range of…

This report presents the 2008 National Drug Control Strategy of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. The overarching goal of the President's Strategy is to reduce drug use in America through a balanced approach that focuses on stopping use before it starts, healing America's drug users, and disrupting the market for illegal…

The rate of teenage drug abuse is at one of its lowest points in 25 years. The current "war on drugs" has overlooked a set of distinctions in its policy and in the discussions occurring in the schools. Presents the distinctions between use, abuse, and dependence. (MD)

The safe and effective use of medication is a concern for both older women patients and older women as caregivers. In 1989, twice as many antidepressants were prescribed for women as for men, and older women are more likely to have such drugs prescribed for them. According to studies, older women who live alone have the highest use of both…

This monograph consists of eight papers which refer in one way or another to the pharmacology of cocaine. The papers are: (1) Cocaine 1984: Introduction and Overview" (John Grabowski); (2) "Cocaine: A Growing Public Health Problem" (Edgar H. Adams and Jack Durell); (3) "Neural Mechanisms of the Reinforcing Action of…

In this study both college students and degreed nurses were asked to estimate the abuse potential and lethality of recreational drugs, both licit and illicit. Findings indicate that the illicit drugs under consideration were perceived as presenting the greatest danger to the user. Dangers attributed to the use of licit recreational drugs were…

For the past 20 years West Germany has actively combatted its country's drug-related problems, and has been a leader in international narcotics' coordination and control efforts. Part 1 of this document describes West Germany's attempts to contain and eradicate addiction and to assist persons who are addicted to legal drugs, such as alcohol,…

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…

Discusses the emergence of a new type of abused drug, dextromethorphan, which is used in cough syrup. Presents the results of the first phase of a comprehensive investigation of this phenomenon in the Waynesboro, Pa. school district. Survey data indicate abuse of cough syrup has increased over the years and is increasingly perceived as a problem…

Research on family risk factors for addictive behaviors in young people has not paid a great deal of attention to parents' knowledge of their children's addictive behaviors and of the family risk factors that affect such behaviors. The aim of this work is to compare knowledge about these two aspects in two groups of parents that differ regarding…

This study was concerned with the measurement characteristics of an instrument which can be used to measure attitudes toward drug users and drug usage. Results suggest that the Drug Perception Scale is useful in measuring impacts representing important aspects of most drug education programs. (Author/GK)

Evaluates the Drug Prevention in Youth risk reduction program that was implemented in shelters for runaway/homeless youths in the southeastern United States. An evaluation strategy was developed allowing for comparisons between peer-led, adult-led and nonintervention groups. Well-trained and motivated peer/near-peer leaders made particularly…

A collection of articles about methaqualone (also known as quaalude or mequin) is presented. Article 1 discusses the increasing popularity of the depressant, methaqualone-produced psychophysiological effects, substitute drugs (valium, phenobarbitol, benadryl, and mandrax), overdose and addiction, and decreasing pharmaceutical production. Article 2…