Assessed personality factors of 152 adolescent drivers. Found that subjects convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) and juvenile offenders without DWI citations more often endorsed feelings of powerlessness and stressful life events than did drivers without DWI citations. DWI offenders were more likely to indicate that alcohol made them loud,…

Asserts that alcohol abuse is a major problem in Russian schools with as many as 70-75% of 11th graders being heavy drinkers. Maintains that there is a need for a unified, coordinated, goal-oriented antialcohol program in elementary and secondary grades. Presents suggested lesson plans with accompanying teacher background information for grades…

This study examined stages of drug habit acquisition and change among college students, basing the proposed stages of drug use on the Multi-Component Motivational Stages prevention model. Surveys indicated the model helped explain the stages of substance use. The proportion of youths at each stage differed by type of drug. (SM)

The 9 articles of this theme issue stem from a project on alcohol and drug abuse that involved 14 projects, 10 of which began with randomized clinical trials. These papers describe implementation problems associated with experimentation in field research and the focus on ensuring internal validity. (SLD)

Investigated the psychiatric comorbidity, health, and functioning of 1,000 primary care patients with alcohol abuse and dependence (AAD). Psychiatric symptomatology was assessed with the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD) diagnostic system, which resulted in a 71 percent increase in physician recognition of AAD. Other findings…

Interviewed 53 parents of center-city families in focus groups to obtain information about encouraging participation of difficult-to-reach families in intervention to prevent marital problems and alcohol and substance abuse in children. Mothers and fathers expressed widely different beliefs, indicating that interventions might target mothers and…

Reviewed records of 183 adolescents attending family planning clinic. Forty-one percent had first sexual experience between ages 12 and 13. Over 7 percent admitted having been sexually abused or raped; additional 19 percent described situations in home or exhibited symptoms associated with history of sexual abuse. Found evidence of family…

This article synthesizes current empirical evidence for the interaction between stress level, stress modification, and drug abuse. The authors analyze 13 research studies of women; and they profile consistencies and inconsistencies in the findings, provide critiques of key methodological issues, and examine implications for future research,…

Investigated association between 87 adolescents' music preferences and psychosocial turmoil. Adolescents who preferred heavy metal and rap music had higher incidence of below-average school grades, school behavior problems, sexual activity, drug and alcohol use, and arrests. When gender was controlled, only below-average school grades and history…

Parental reports of adolescent substance use (from 758 mothers and 420 fathers) were compared to the self-reports of 763 adolescents (390 females and 373 males) using identical scales. Congruence--defined as exact agreement about use--varied between substances and was related to the ages and grade point averages of the adolescents. (SLD)

A study of first-year University of Alabama students found over three-quarters were drinkers, drinking patterns varied substantially, and many of the drinkers had experienced a number of alcohol-related problems. Social characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, family religion, current religion, church attendance, and grades correlated with…

Assessed changes in college student behavior regarding alcohol consumption before/after implementation of statewide legislative and campuswide administrative actions to cope with alcohol abuse. Findings showed no major changes in responsible alcohol-related behaviors. Factor analysis of behaviors and consequences, however, led to groupings of…

Assessed substance use and levels of perceived family cohesion and adaptability of high school freshmen (N=1,082). Found adolescents who perceived families as extreme on cohesion and adaptability were more prone than adolescents from balanced and midrange families to use substances. Found adolescents from extreme families especially vulnerable…

Data from a 1992 statewide survey of students in grades 5-12 were analyzed to determine the extent to which cigarette smoking predicted alcohol and other drug use and acted as a gateway drug. Results indicated smoking was a powerful predictor for alcohol and drug use, and the relationship was dose responsive. (SM)

Followed students annually from sixth through eighth grade to determine: (1) susceptibility to peer influence to misbehave, exposure to peer drinking, and alcohol overindulgence; (2) cohort and gender differences; and (3) moderating influences. Found that the exposure/overindulgence relationship varied as a function of initial susceptibility.…