R Hartnoll, U Avico, F R Ingold, K Lange, L Lenke, A O'Hare, A de Roij-Motshagen
{"title":"A multi-city study of drug misuse in Europe.","authors":"R Hartnoll, U Avico, F R Ingold, K Lange, L Lenke, A O'Hare, A de Roij-Motshagen","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper presents a report of the results of a comparative epidemiological study of indicators of drug misuse in seven European cities. The study was carried out between 1982 and 1986 under the auspices of the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe. The members of the expert group summarize the drug situation in the seven cities and critically examine a range of indicators that are sometimes assumed to reflect trends in the prevalence of drug misuse. They conclude that a valuable assessment of drug misuse problems can be provided by drawing together data from several indicators. It is essential that these agency-based data are complemented by surveys and other studies of drug misuse in the populations concerned. The members of the expert group suggest that a single organizational unit is needed to integrate and analyse data and epidemiological studies and discuss different models of how this can be achieved. Improvement in the consistency and quality of the data is essential if policies are to be based on a sound understanding of trends in drug misuse.</p>","PeriodicalId":9376,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin on narcotics","volume":"41 1-2","pages":"3-27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1989-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"13810854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recent trends in drug use and abuse in Nigeria.","authors":"A O Pela","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article presents an analysis of the present situation with respect to drug use and abuse in Nigeria. It is based on a review of literature on the subject, on information derived from annual Nigerian training courses on drug dependence and on reports from state directors of the Nigerian Institute on Substance Abuse (NISA). The object of the article is to highlight the need for establishing a system for monitoring the drug scene in Nigeria.</p>","PeriodicalId":9376,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin on narcotics","volume":"41 1-2","pages":"103-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1989-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"13904420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The effects of the liberalization of syringe sales on the behaviour of intravenous drug users in France.","authors":"F R Ingold, S Ingold","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A study to evaluate the effects of the liberalization of syringe sales in France, which was carried out in 1987 and 1988 in Paris and at Créteil, Maisons-Alfort, Metz, Bordeaux and Marseille by a research team of the Institute for Epidemiological Research on Drug Dependence (IREP) in Paris, included two samples of intravenous users of drugs, primarily heroin: a street sample of 157 persons and a sample of 123 persons undergoing treatment for drug addiction at in-patient facilities. The study, based on interviews, showed that the emergence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) had brought about a radical change in the environment of intravenous drug users, of whom approximately 40 per cent were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Liberalized syringe sales had an obvious effect on the behaviour of intravenous drug users: approximately half of them did not share syringes and purchased them at pharmacies, while the rest continued sharing syringes in a variety of ways. The authors concluded that the decision to make syringes freely available for sale was not, by itself, sufficient to cope with the syringe-sharing problem and that, in addition, appropriate educational programmes, personalized and geared to each subject's special circumstances, needed to be provided.</p>","PeriodicalId":9376,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin on narcotics","volume":"41 1-2","pages":"67-81"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1989-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"13905519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Coca-leaf production in the countries of the Andean subregion.","authors":"R Abruzzese","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The estimated areas under coca-bush cultivation in 1988 are expected to total 44,300 hectares in Bolivia, 25,000 hectares in Colombia, 400 hectares in Ecuador and 114,400 hectares in Peru. The estimated projections for 1989 indicate that coca-leaf production may amount to 68,200 tonnes in Bolivia, 20,000 tonnes in Colombia, 300 tonnes in Ecuador and 120,100 tonnes in Peru. Of all the Andean countries, Venezuela is the only one that has no coca-leaf production problem. According to estimates for the period from 1985 to 1989, coca-leaf production will increase by 43.3 per cent in Bolivia, by 13.6 per cent in Colombia and by 26.2 per cent in Peru. Coca-leaf production in Ecuador has consistently followed a downward trend. According to estimates, since 1985 coca-leaf production in Peru has accounted for more than one half of the total amount produced in the Andean subregion, while production in Colombia, though it has increased in the same period, has accounted for a relatively small share. In 1987, estimated coca-leaf production in Bolivia amounted to 30.2 per cent of the total amount produced in the subregion.</p>","PeriodicalId":9376,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin on narcotics","volume":"41 1-2","pages":"95-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1989-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"13905521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M J Lopez Alvarez, T Gutierrez Renedo, R Hernandez Mejia, J Bobes Garcia
{"title":"Extent and patterns of drug use by students at a Spanish university.","authors":"M J Lopez Alvarez, T Gutierrez Renedo, R Hernandez Mejia, J Bobes Garcia","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A drug-use survey of 1,010 randomly chosen students at the University of Oviedo in Spain was carried out in 1986. The survey instrument used was a self-administered questionnaire. During the 12 months before the survey, 91 per cent of the students had used alcohol, 57 per cent tobacco, 17 per cent cannabis, 9 per cent tranquillizers, 5 per cent amphetamines, 2 per cent cocaine, 2 per cent hallucinogens, 1 per cent opiates and 0.6 per cent volatile solvents. At some time in their lives, 96 per cent of the students had used alcohol, 70 per cent tobacco, 31 per cent cannabis, 19 per cent tranquillizers, 15 per cent amphetamines, 5.5 per cent hallucinogens, 5 per cent cocaine, 3 per cent opiates and 3 per cent volatile solvents. Both male and female students had begun using volatile solvents early in life. The age of first cannabis use for the majority of users was between 16 and 18. The users of other illicit drugs covered by the study had not begun using them until they were 18 or older.</p>","PeriodicalId":9376,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin on narcotics","volume":"41 1-2","pages":"117-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1989-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"13904422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Self-reported drug use among secondary school students in the Nigerian state of Ogun.","authors":"M L Adelekan","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A survey of drug use, based on a sample of 990 students in their fourth and final year of secondary school in the Abeokuta local government area of the State of Ogun in Nigeria was conducted by means of a self-report drug-use questionnaire in September 1986. There were 534 male and 377 female respondents. Their mean age was 16.4 and the majority (89 per cent) of them were from the lower or middle socio-economic levels. The most commonly used drugs were salicylate analgesics, mild stimulants, alcohol, antibiotics and diazepam. Low use was recorded for barbiturates, cannabis, organic solvents and cocaine, and there was no reported use of narcotic analgesics or hallucinogens. Females used diazepam significantly more than males. Most users had their first contact with drugs in primary school. The author stressed the need to develop a viable drug-abuse preventive programme and a comprehensive data base in Ogun.</p>","PeriodicalId":9376,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin on narcotics","volume":"41 1-2","pages":"109-16"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1989-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"13904421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development and application of a system for monitoring drug abuse: the Malaysian experience.","authors":"V Navaratnam, K Foong","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Monitoring systems are useful epidemiological instruments for assessing the problem of drug abuse. The rapid growth of the drug dependence problem in Malaysia led to increased awareness of the need for a system for continuous monitoring of the situation. Preliminary work on the design of an appropriate monitoring system was initiated in 1976. A fully integrated national reporting system was established in 1978, linking all public services and agencies coming into contact with drug-dependent persons, including law enforcement agencies, drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centres, and social and welfare institutions. The information system included a mechanism for systematic gathering, processing, analysing and presenting essential data on the prevention, control and management of drug abuse problems. It also included reporting on drug-related events, such as hospitalizations and arrests, as well as data on known drug-dependent persons and new cases of dependence. The system has been used for routine monitoring of the extent, trends, patterns and other characteristics of drug abuse problems in Malaysia, providing basic information for policy-making and programme planning. On the basis of data generated by the system, it was estimated that the prevalence rate of drug-dependent persons per 100,000 population increased from 84.3 in 1976 to 754.6 in 1986. It was estimated that there were 119,001 drug-dependent persons in Malaysia in 1986.</p>","PeriodicalId":9376,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin on narcotics","volume":"41 1-2","pages":"53-65"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1989-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"13905518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The survey technique in drug abuse assessment.","authors":"L D Johnston","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Surveys are now used widely in the assessment of behaviour and attitudes in many domains, including politics, economics, fertility and health. They have also come into more widespread use in the assessment of drug use, although there are some obstacles to be overcome in this area of behaviour that is not shared by many of the others. This article presents a review of how surveys fit into the larger picture of drug epidemiology, the different types of survey designs that can be used, together with the research purposes they serve, and the various advantages and limitations of the survey technique for assessing drug use in a population. Mention is also made of the current movement towards international comparability in measures and methods used in such surveys and of the advantages of this development for the comparison and integration of findings across countries.</p>","PeriodicalId":9376,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin on narcotics","volume":"41 1-2","pages":"29-40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1989-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"13810275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rehabilitation of drug-addicted persons: the experience of the Nav-Chetna Center in India.","authors":"K Sharma, V Shukla","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Nav-Chetna Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Center, Varanasi, India, was established in December 1985. It provides out-patient and residential rehabilitation services, medical treatment, counseling, educational and vocational guidance, yoga therapy and after care. Drug-dependent persons under rehabilitation treatment at the Center are encouraged and helped to promote personal development, to build up and strengthen their initiative and confidence and to bring about improvements in their maturation, attitude and behaviour to overcome drug addiction. This is accomplished through a therapeutic-oriented programme, which creates conditions that optimize the natural tendency of the individual to self-actualize and eventually stabilize. Yoga plays a crucial role in this programme at both pre- and post-clinical stages. It offers a new avenue for positive mental and physical health and helps to free individuals from drug dependency and its associated problems.</p>","PeriodicalId":9376,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin on narcotics","volume":"40 1","pages":"43-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1988-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14196636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Treatment options in responding to drug misuse problems.","authors":"E Tongue, D Turner","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Reducing both the supply of and demand for drugs is a major theme in efforts to control the drug problem. It is essential to recognize that demand-reduction efforts are critical to enable supply-reduction efforts to have realizable goals. The initial goal of any intervention must be the limitation of harm to the individual and society. The primary goal is to reduce the prevalence of drug misuse within the community. The provision of a wide range of integrated approaches is essential if demand-reduction programmes are to be successful in contacting drug misusers, maintaining that contact and successfully assisting the individual through treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration. The article summarizes the more common approaches to the treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration of drug-dependent persons.</p>","PeriodicalId":9376,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin on narcotics","volume":"40 1","pages":"3-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1988-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14196635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}