This article, aimed at professionals in the field of adolescent psychology, briefly reviews the use of phencyclidine (PCP), its pharmacology, clinical effects, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. (Author/BN)

This article reviews trends in sports organizations' drug testing policies and procedures for its members, including which drugs are tested, who gets tested within the organizations, when tests are conducted, and penalties for those who test positive. (CB)

Describes the impact of the Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC) program, designed to identify criminal offenders with drug problems and refer them for treatment. Despite an increase in size and changes in client characteristics, the influx of TASC-referred drug abusers did not decrease program effectiveness. (JAC)

Discusses adolescent substance abuse as a manifestation of social deviance. Reviews theories of adolescent deviance in light of their contributions to understanding troubled youth. Develops a youth assessment framework to provide a systematic means of linking theories to specific treatment strategies. (CMG)

Included in this document are selections of topic-specific articles on marijuana research reprinted from the National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA) research newsletter, NIDA Notes. The collection features articles originally published from 1995 through 2002. Topics include long-term cognitive impairments in heavy marijuana users, evidence that…

Since there appears to be a connection between substance use (and abuse) and loneliness it is of theoretical and clinical interest to explore the differences of coping with loneliness which drug users employ. The present study examined the manner in which MDMA (Ecstasy) users in comparison with non-MDMA (Non-Ecstasy) users and the general…

This kit helps communities use research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to make local prevention and treatment programs more effective. The kit describes some of NIDA's research on the nature of addiction and the anatomy of the brain's response to drugs. Suggestions are given for putting the NIDA principles of prevention to work,…

Reviews the history and theory of alcoholism and hypnosis and proposes a theoretical model of alcholism based on self-esteem. Suggets that hypnosis may be an effective tool in the treatment of alcoholism with cure as the goal, and calls for more consistency in theory and practice. (JAC)

Assesses the relationship between discharge status and therapeutic outcomes after discharge from a residential treatment program for adolescents. Results of this study did not indicate superior outcomes for the planned discharge group. Several issues are raised regarding the use of discharge status as a performance indicator and recommendations…

Describes history and development of Veterans Administration's Alcohol and Drug Counselor Training Program at Fort Lyon Veterans Administration's Medical Center. Notes that, from program's inception in 1968 to its close in 1985, school graduated 1,052 counselors who subsequently have been employed in virtually every state in county, state, and…

Discusses a psychoeducational, experiential group for members of an alcohol treatment program which addressed loss, personal reaction to loss, and grief as a healing process. Explores the relationship between grieving and addiction, and presents the protocol for the group experience. (Author)

Based on experiences at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and other campuses, this report attempts to define the extent of alcohol use and resultant problems of college students. Concludes that by drawing upon various models available in the literature, college and university faculty, staff, and students can approach alcohol problems in…

Surveyed 40 adolescent inpatients concerning peer influences, substance abuse, and treatment. Found that misconduct, including substance abuse, was predicted best by perceived peer pressure toward misconduct, low opinions of value of treatment by disposition to conform to antisocial peers, and sense of stigma associated with being treated by…

Describes North of Market Older Women's Alcohol Program, outreach program to assist isolated and impoverished alcohol-dependent older women. Discusses service components focused on "building up" clientele and developing support networks rather than traditional approach of first "breaking down" alcoholic's defense barriers. Notes that sobriety was…

Reports on use of transition groups to improve linkages between inpatient and outpatient alcoholism treatment. Notes that clients who had access to transition group had more favorable outcomes than did clients who had no access to the group. Sees group as especially useful for inpatients who had encounters with outpatient clinic before their…