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Many factors can be attributed to successful substance abuse treatment completion. The purpose of this research is to examine employment status as a factor that contributes to successful treatment outcomes. Traditional substance abuse treatment is discussed and shown to lack an employment component to counseling. Research is discussed and illustrates the benefits employment has on not only successful treatment completion but also reduction in substance use as well as many other benefits. This study utilized extant data from a rural substance abuse treatment program. Data was collected from the program using the Government Results and Performance Act (GPRA) tool. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the predictor variable of employment and the dichotomous dependent variable of treatment completion while controlling for the variables of gender, criminal justice status, and educational level. The Omnibus Tests of Model Coefficients for Block One was not significant (p > .05). The Omnibus Tests of Model Coefficients of Block Two was significant (p < .05) as was employment status (p < .05). Implications and suggestions for further research are discussed., Predictors of substance abuse treatment completion have the potential to help professionals conduct comprehensive assessments and develop effective treatment plans. According to the Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 38, developed by [...]

Mental health disorders and suicide occur in persons with HIV/AIDS at higher rates than the general population. Rehabilitation professionals need to be aware of risk factors for suicide in this population and should be prepared to manage situations involving potential suicide. For this study 71 individuals living with HIV/AIDS were interviewed using the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (GAIN). Rates of depressive symptoms and anxiety were found to be prevalent among the participants. Depressive symptoms and low life satisfaction were significantly associated with suicide risk., An estimated one million people worldwide die each year because of suicide (Joiner, 2009) and suicide in people with chronic illness and disabilities is higher than that of the general [...]

There is increasing evidence of an association between stress related to job strain and hypertension. However little data exist on stress from racism and race-based discrimination at work (RBDW). The objective of this study was to investigate whether blood pressure (BP) outcomes are positively associated with stressful racism towards African--Americans from non-African-Americans as well as RBDW from other African-Americans. The metro Atlanta heart disease study was a population-based study which included 356 African-American men and women, aged [greater than or equal to] 21 years, residing in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia during 1999-2001. Perceived stress was self-reported by 197 participants for racism from non-African-Americans and 95 for RBDW from other Africa-Americans. Sitting systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP were taken at a clinic visit and was the average of the last two of three BP measures. Hypertension was self-reported as physician-diagnosed high BP on 2 or more visits. Logistic and least-squares linear regression models were fit accordingly and separately for each type of stress, adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, and coping abilities. The likelihood of hypertension significantly increased with higher levels of perceived stress following racism from non-African-Americans, but not from RBDW from other African Americans; adjusted odd ratios (95% CI) were 1.4 (1.0, 1.9) and 1.2 (0.8, 1.5) per unit increment of stress. The adjusted magnitude of SBP and DBP increase between low and very high level of stress, conversely, was greater when RBDW originated from African-Americans than racism from non-African-Americans. Stressful racism and RBDW encounters are associated with increased SBP and DBP and increased likelihood of hypertension in African-Americans. Future studies with a larger sample size are warranted to further explore these findings for mechanistic understanding and occupational policy consideration regarding stress risk reduction. Keywords: Intra-group discrimination; Inter/between-group racism/discrimination; Perceived stress; Hypertension: Blood pressure; Worksite; USA

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of a statewide telephone service in identifying low-income women at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and referring them to free genetic counseling. Methods: From June 2010 through August 2011, eligible callers to California's toll-free breast and cervical cancer telephone service were screened for their family histories of breast and ovarian cancer. High-riskwomenwere identified and called for a baseline survey and randomization to an immediate offer of genetic counseling or a mailed brochure on how to obtain counseling. Clinic recordswere used to assess receipt of genetic counseling after 2 months. Results: Among 1212 eligible callers, 709 (58.5%) agreed to answer family history questions; 102 (14%) were at high risk (25% Hispanic, 46% White, 10% Black, 16% Asian, 3% of other racial/ethnic backgrounds). Of the high-risk women offered an immediate appointment, 39%received counseling during the intervention period, as compared with 4.5% of those receiving the brochure. Conclusions: A public health approach to the rare but serious risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer can be successful when integrated into the efforts of existing safety net organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Social determinants of health are increasingly being addressed as a causal factor for disparities in health. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of specified social determinants of health on cardiovascular disease (CVD) clinical risk factors in Black and White men residing in rural and urban Georgia. Methods: Self-report data were collected on a total of 548 Black and White men aged >18 years from 2004–2005. Data were derived from a random telephone survey. Separate logistic regression models were conducted to examine the effects of specified social determinants on the presence of two or more CVD clinical risk factors. In addition, differences within rural and urban men were also assessed. Results: Lower education, unemployment, lower income, and higher general stress were all significantly related to the presence of two or more CVD clinical risk factors. As expected, the covariates of age, race, and residential location also played a significant role in cardiovascular health. Rural men were nearly twice as likely to have two or more CVD risk factors compared to urban men (P <0.01). Models examining location separately found urban Black men to be 2.6 times as likely to have more than two CVD risk factors (P <0.02). Conclusion: Findings reveal social determinants are associated with CVD risk factor differences between Black and White men and between rural and urban residents. It is important for policymakers and the healthcare industry to address these social determinants of health as they try to improve the health of the people they serve. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]