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The authors reflect on the expansion of evidence-based options for cannabis use disorder (CUD) treatment in Canada. They say that there should be a scale-up of effective interventions for CUD. They note that there has been less routine or consistent population evaluation of rates of cannabis use in the country. They add that psychosocial strategies have been studied extensively relative to pharmacological interventions.

Objective: To present epidemiologic information on adolescent use of prescription drugs to get high, and not for medical purposes, in Canada. Methods: Data were obtained from 44 344 adolescents in grades 7 to 12 living across Canada's 10 provinces who completed the Youth Smoking Survey in 2008/2009. Results: Nationally, 5.9% of adolescents in grades 7 to 12 reported the use of prescription drugs to get high in the past 12 months in 2008/2009. Females were more likely to report use of pain relievers, sedatives, or tranquilizers to get high, while males were more likely to report the use of prescription stimulants for this purpose. The use of prescription drugs to get high was elevated among older youth, those living in British Columbia, and those who identified as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. School connectedness was associated with a reduction in this form of prescription drug misuse for all adolescents; however, this protective effect was particularly strong for Aboriginal youth, and may be an important preventative factor for this population. Conclusions: Use of prescription drugs to get high was prevalent among adolescents in Canada in 2008/2009. Findings highlight the need for clinicians to include questions about prescription drugs when screening adolescents for substance abuse in Canada. Findings also highlight the need for evidence-informed strategies to reduce prescription drug misuse among Aboriginal youth living outside First Nations communities in Canada. The results of this study suggest school connectedness may be a particularly important target for these interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Racial discrimination is an established life course social determinant of health associated with adverse psychological outcomes among minority populations. However, little is known about the extent to which Aboriginal people In Canada may experience racial discrimination and consequent adverse psychological effects. This study sought to measure the extent to which Aboriginal university students living in an urban area of Canada experienced racism, to triangulate this evidence with US data and qualitative findings, and to examine the impact of these experiences on mental health. Methods: Data for this mixed method study were collected via in-person surveys with a volunteer sample of Aboriginal university students (n = 60) living in a mid-sized city in central Canada in 2008-2009. Results: Results indicate Aboriginal university students experienced more frequent racism across a greater number of life situations than African- and Latino-American adults in the United States. Student reactions to these experiences were symptomatic of what has been termed racial battle fatigue in the United States. Students who considered themselves traditional or cultural Aboriginal persons were significantly more likely to experience discrimination. Conclusions: Results underline the need for policies aimed at reducing racism directed at Aboriginal people In urban areas and the growth of services to help Aboriginal people cope with these experiences. Results highlight the need for further research to determine the potential pathogenic consequences of racial discrimination for Aboriginal people in Canada. INSET: Clinical Implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine associations between Aboriginal enculturation, Canadian acculturation, and alcohol problems among Aboriginal university students living in an urban area in Canada. Methods: Data for this mixed methods study were collected through in-person surveys with a convenience sample of Aboriginal university students (n = 60) in 2008/2009. Results: Students evidenced high levels of Aboriginal enculturation and Canadian acculturation. Aboriginal enculturation was significantly associated with reduced alcohol problems for Aboriginal university students. There was no association between Canadian acculturation and alcohol problems. Qualitative findings suggest Aboriginal cultural practices helped students cope with problems in their daily lives and provided them with both personal and social rewards. Conclusions: This study found Aboriginal enculturation was significantly associated with reduced alcohol problems among Aboriginal university students. Results support the growth of programs and services that encourage Aboriginal students to maintain their cultural identity within the university setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We examined the prevalence and correlates of prescription drug misuse (PDM) in a population-based sample of adults from Alberta.Methods: Data were collected from 3511 adults in Alberta aged 18 years and older in 2002 using a computer-aided telephone survey; the survey response rate was 57.4%.Results: The prevalence of 12-month PDM in Alberta was 8.2% in 2002. Opiates were the most frequently misused drug class, followed by sedatives, stimulants, and tranquilizers. Current disability was particularly associated with PDM. Odds of PDM were also elevated among adult students and adults with a high school diploma relative to adults with a post-secondary degree. Past-year problem gambling, illicit drug use, and alcohol use and dependence were each associated with PDM, while past-year binge drinking and daily smoking were not.Conclusions: Findings suggest PDM was an important public health concern in Alberta in 2002. Estimates suggest prescription use and misuse have increased substantially in Canada since that time. There is an urgent need for an ongoing assessment of this evolving problem so that effective prevention and therapeutic strategies can be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Population health surveys around the world have studied the epidemiology of comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs) and other mental disorders as part of larger efforts to assess needs and direct integrated planning and delivery of services. This study presents the first national assessment in Canada of the prevalence of co-occurring SUDs and other mental disorders, with attention to differences by substance problem severity, sex, age, and region.Methods: This work is a secondary analysis of data from the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being. The sample was obtained using a multistage stratified cluster design (n = 36,984, response rate = 77%).Results: The 12-month population prevalence of co-occurring disorders was 1.7%. The 12-month prevalence of other mental disorders was higher among those with illicit drug, relative to alcohol, problems and among those with dependence, compared with those with less severe problems. Sex and age differences mirrored population differences in pure disorders. Salient regional differences included the higher rate of co-occurring disorders in British Columbia and the lower rates in Quebec.Conclusions: Cross-study comparisons are hampered by methodological differences; however, these Canadian rates are at the lower end of the range reported internationally. This might have resulted from the exclusion of several disorders known to be highly comorbid with SUDs. Nonetheless, prevalence is high in certain subgroups, and efforts under way to improve Canada's substance abuse and mental health services should continue to ensure that adequate attention is directed to the needs of people with co-occurring disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to describe patterns of major depression (MDD) in a cohort of untreated illicit opiate users recruited from 5 Canadian urban centres, identify sociodemographic characteristics of opiate users that predict MDD, and determine whether opiate users suffering from depression exhibit different drug use patterns than do participants without depression.Method: Baseline data were collected from 679 untreated opiate users in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City. Using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form for Major Depression, we assessed sociodemographics, drug use, health status, health service use, and depression. We examined depression rates across study sites; logistic regression analyses predicted MDD from demographic information and city. Chi-square analyses were used to compare injection drug use and cocaine or crack use among participants with and without depression.Results: Almost one-half (49.3%) of the sample met the cut-off score for MDD. Being female, white, and living outside Vancouver independently predicted MDD. Opiate users suffering from depression were more likely than users without depression to share injection equipment and paraphernalia and were also more likely to use cocaine (Ps < 0.05).Conclusions: Comorbid depression is common among untreated opiate users across Canada; targeted interventions are needed for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To clarify "continuity of care" (COC), a construct associated with the delivery of services for persons suffering from severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI), with attention to the service recipient's perception of COC. Method: The study involved a systematic appraisal of the literature on COC, supplemented by interviews with 36 SPMI patients and their families. Statements highlighting attributes of COC were extracted from both sources. Results: Comments by patients and families corresponded to descriptions of COC in the mental health literature. Attribute classifications by independent teams of judges showed good consistency. The following 4 attribute domains of the COC construct were identified: service delivery, accessibility, relationship base, and individualized care. Conclusions: Service recipients' perceptions of COC overlapped with representations of the construct in the mental health literature. The qualitative inquiry resulted in a draft, 47-item, self-report questionnaire for use in studies of interventions designed to facilitate COC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the findings of a survey which focuses on the correlation between workplace problems and alcohol abuse. Description of methodology used; Findings of the study.

Examines the effects of social control on expectancy formation and task engagement. Implication of perceiving other's motivation on dyadic interactions; Factors affecting social controls; Notions concerning expectancy formation; Association of social perception with expectancies related to intrinsic motivation.

Musically naive students were taught a piano lesson. In a paid teaching condition, the teacher was portrayed as being extrinsically motivated by a $25 payment. In a second condition, the teacher was portrayed as an intrinsically motivated volunteer The confederate teacher was blind to conditions and gave the same standardized lesson to all students. Students in the volunteer condition perceived the teacher as exhibiting greater enjoy-mast, enthusiasm, and innovation relative to those in the paid condition hey also enjoyed the lesson more, reported a more positive mood, and were more interested in further learning. During a free-play interval, students in the volunteer condition exhibited greater exploratory activity than those in the paid condition [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Two letters to the editor are presented in response to the article "Adolescent Use of Prescription Drugs to Get High in Canada" by Cheryl L Currie and T Cameron Wild published in 2012 issue of the periodical.