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Abstract: Background: Very few prospective studies examine the relationship between childhood sleep problems and subsequent substance use. In this study, we examined how sleep problems at ages 3–8 predicted onset of alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use in adolescence. We also investigated the relationships between childhood sleep problems and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. Methods: Study participants were 292 boys and 94 girls from a community sample of high risk families and controls in an ongoing longitudinal study. Results: Controlling for parental alcoholism, sleep problems at ages 3-8 predicted onset of alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use among boys and onset of alcohol use among girls. Childhood sleep problems were related to maternal ratings of internalizing and externalizing problems during adolescence for both boys and girls. Adjusting for these problems did not weaken the effects of sleep problems on onset of substance use. Conclusions: This is to our knowledge the first study that prospectively examines gender differences in the relationship between sleep problems and early onset of substance use. Childhood sleep problems predicted early onset of substance use for boys but not girls. If childhood sleep problems indeed increase the probability of substance use onset, greater attention by parents to sleep problems in children and adolescents would potentially have ameliorative long-term effects. Parents are encouraged to explore different ways to help their children sleep better, including obtaining information and suggestions from their primary care physicians. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives. We evaluated the prevalence and nature of housing problems among adolescents leaving foster care because of their age to provide evidence that can inform public and programmatic policies designed to prevent homelessness. Methods. Housing and psychosocial outcomes in a sample of 265 adolescents who left the foster care system in 2002 and 2003 in a large midwestern metropolitan area were evaluated over a 2-year follow-up period. Analyses focused on identifying latent housing trajectory categories across the first 2 years after participants' exit from foster care. Results. Findings revealed 4 latent housing classifications. Most participants (57%) had experienced stable housing situations since their exit from foster care. Those in the remaining 3 categories endured housing problems, and 20% were chronically homeless during the follow-up period. Housing instability was related to emotional and behavioral problems, physical and sexual victimization, criminal conviction, and high school dropout. Conclusions. Adolescents in foster care are at considerable risk of homelessness. Preventive initiatives can reduce homelessness in this population by implementing improved foster care programming and developing empirically informed interventions targeting foster care adolescents. (Am J Public Health. 2009;99:1453-1458. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.142547) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from 300 street youths interviewed in Toronto, Canada, this study draws on general strain theory to examine the influence of 'relational' strains (including background abuse, the severing of positive relationships by leaving home, and victimization at the hands of peers on the street) on the use of soft and hard drugs. Results reveal that the loss of quality street girlfriend/boyfriend relationships and the number of relationships ended by death are associated with soft drug use, while backgrounds of physical abuse and criminal victimization by peers influence hard drug use. Further, the effects of various forms of relational strain on hard drug use are conditioned by low self-esteem, delinquent peers, deviant values, and low self-efficacy. In contrast, the relationship between forms of relational strain and soft drug use are conditioned by greater self-esteem and fewer delinquent peers. The results are discussed in light of general strain theory and suggestions for future research are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents data about the emotional, behavioural and substance abuse disorders of youth in foster care and former recipients of foster care (‘alumni’) in the USA. The prevalence rates of these groups are compared to those of the youth and young adults in the US general population. The implications of these data for policy and program design are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: substance use in adolescents is associated with major health problems in the short and long term. Objective: to establish the prevalence of children and adolescents who attend to school in Pamplona, Colombia. Methods: cross-sectional study. Randomized sample of 1,647 students were surveyed with a self-report questionnaire to detect the use of licit and illicit substance use. Results: mean age was 14.6 years old (SD 1.99); 52.7% were male. Lifetime prevalence of licit substance use (excluding alcohol and cigarette) was 3,96% and lifetime prevalence of illicit substance use was 5.03%. The prevalence of daily smoking during the last month was 4.9%. Substance use was more prevalent in men. Use of any substance started between 10 and 13 years old. Conclusion: the use of licit and illicit substances in adolescent students from Pamplona found in this study was higher than others found in other cities of Colombia in similar population. Emergence of heroin and popper were also documented in our population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the Strengthening Families Programme for young people aged ten to 14 and their parents (SFP 10-14) in Barnsley, a northern English city, based on the experience of facilitators and families who had participated in the programme. A mixed methods design blending both quantitative and qualitative data was used in the study carried out in two phases over a nine-month period in 2005. Quantitative data were collected through: the SFP 10-14 Parent/Caregiver Survey Questionnaire, the SFP 10-14 Young Persons' Survey Questionnaire and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Questionnaire data were compared at the beginning of the SFP 10-14 programmes (weeks 1–2) and at the end of the programmes (week 7). In addition, two focus group meetings were held with families who had undertaken the SFP 10-14 programme; and three focus group meetings were conducted with facilitators of SFP 10-14 programmes. Once quantitative and qualitative data had been analysed separately, a synthesis of the main findings from both approaches was then completed. Following the programmes, parents reported significant changes in communication limit setting, emotional management, prosocial behaviour and drugs/alcohol use. Total difficulties scores were also significantly different pre- and post SFP 10-14 programmes. For the young people, communication, and emotional management were improved and their drugs/alcohol use was less. Their total difficulties scores were also significantly different. Qualitative evidence indicated that families who participated in the study found the SFP 10-14 useful in preventing young people's alcohol and drug use in terms of: learning more about alcohol and drugs, using knowledge and skills to reduce behaviours that might lead to alcohol and drug use and, for young people, dealing with peer pressure that might lead to drug and alcohol use. Parents/caregivers and young people reported that the SFP 10-14 had played a part in improving family functioning through strengthening the family unit. The findings from this exploratory study suggest that the SFP 10-14 may be a useful primary prevention intervention in helping to prevent drug and alcohol misuse in young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Understanding childhood risk factors associated with adult substance use and legal problems is important for treatment and prevention. Purpose: To examine the relationship of early substance use, conduct problems before age 15, and family history of substance abuse on adult outcomes in rural, stimulant users. Methods: Adult cocaine and methamphetamine users (N = 544) in rural Arkansas and Kentucky were interviewed. Data were analyzed using both bivariate analyses and multiple logistic and log-linear regression models, with dependent variables being any substance abuse/dependence, stimulant abuse/dependence, total number of arrests since age 18 and days incarcerated since age 18. Findings: One third reported 3 or more conduct disorder problems prior to age 15; half reported initiation of substances (excluding alcohol) before age 15; and 60% reported family history of substance problems. All 3 variables were associated with adult substance abuse/dependence but only the latter two were associated with stimulant abuse/dependence. Conclusions: This study highlights early risk factors for adult substance abuse/dependence among rural stimulant users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To provide an overview of drug use in children in three European countries. Design Retrospective cohort study, 2000-5. Setting Primary care research databases in the Netherlands (IPCI), United Kingdom (IMS-DA), and Italy (Pedianet). Participants 675 868 children aged up to 1A (Italy) or 18 (UK and Netherlands). Main outcome measure Prevalence of use per year calculated by drug class (anatomical and therapeutic). Prevalence of "recurrent/chronic" use (three or more prescriptions a year) and "non-recurrent" or "acute" use (less than three prescriptions a year) within each therapeutic class. Descriptions of the top five most commonly used drugs evaluated for off label status within each anatomical class. Results Three levels of drug use could be distinguished in the study population: high (>10/100 children per year, moderate (1-10/100 children peryear), and low (

Finite mixture models are widely used in the analysis of growth trajectory data to discover subgroups of individuals exhibiting similar patterns of behavior over time. In practice, trajectories are usually modeled as polynomials, which may fail to capture important features of the longitudinal pattern. Focusing on dichotomous response measures, we propose a likelihood penalization approach for parameter estimation that is able to capture a variety of nonlinear class mean trajectory shapes with higher precision than maximum likelihood estimates. We show how parameter estimation and inference for whether trajectories are time-invariant, linear time-varying, or nonlinear time-varying can be carried out for such models. To illustrate the method, we use simulation studies and data from a long-term longitudinal study of children at high risk for substance abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies of family history of alcoholism (FHA) in college students have typically relied on dichotomous indices of paternal drinking. This study examined the prevalence of FHA and its effects on alcohol use and problems using a density measure in a sample ( n = 408) of college students. Methods: Undergraduate students completed an anonymous survey in exchange for course credit. Data was collected between 2005 and 2006. Results: Using a density measure of FHA, we observed an overall prevalence rate of 65.9% and a rate of 29.1% for FHA in both first and second-degree relatives. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to investigate relations among FHA, alcohol use/problems and previously identified etiological risk factors for alcohol use disorders (AUD). Results indicated a significant positive association between FHA and alcohol-related problems and this relationship was mediated by age of onset of drinking, behavioral undercontrol and current cigarette use. Behavioral undercontrol also mediated the relationship between gender and alcohol problems. Additionally, FHA was associated with an earlier age of onset of drinking and this was related to greater alcohol use. Conclusions: Assessing density of FHA in future trajectory research may capture a greater number of students at risk for acute alcohol-related problems and/or future development of AUDs. Future preventive interventions with this population, which should begin well before the college years, may benefit from considering personality factors and incorporating smoking cessation to help identify at-risk students and assist those who wish to cut down on their alcohol use but find that smoking acts as a trigger for increased drinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the relationships among resistance skills, refusal efficacy, decision-making skills, and substance use for a sample of Mexican and Mexican American 5th grade students who were attending public schools in Phoenix, Arizona. An analysis of self-report questionnaire data indicated that the likelihood that male students reported ever having used one or more substances increased as they reported a greater willingness to use passive decision-making (e.g., going along) and decreased as they reported greater refusal efficacy and a greater willingness to utilize active decision making (e.g., thoughtful processing). No significant relationships emerged between the 4 predictors and lifetime substance use among the girls. These findings support the role of social skills in substance use prevention, shed light on an understudied group, and suggest the importance of continuing to examine gender differences in skills-based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homeless youths (N = 684) in eight cities participated in this study to understand the rates and correlates of substance use. Rates of lifetime and recent substance use ranged from 66% to 90%. Variability in lifetime and recent substance use was partially explained by being white (ages 14-17); ever attempting suicide (ages 14-17); not being African American (lifetime substance use) or Hispanic (ages 18-24); being male (ages 18-24); identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (ages 18-24); using substances with a parent; beginning substance use at a young age; and having a family history of a substance problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on the drinking experiences and motivations of 77 pre-teenage children. The main reason which the children gave for occasional or regular drinking was the pleasure which they derived both from the effects of the alcohol and from the social interaction which accompanied the activity. Several of the children claimed that they were partly motivated by boredom. Peer influence appeared to play a minor role as far as the recurrent consumption of alcohol was concerned. A number of causes for concern are identified in the article. These include the frequency of the children's drinking and the volume of alcohol consumed by some of them; their tendency to combine different types of alcoholic drink in the same session; the unreliability of measures undertaken by the children to reduce risk and ensure their safety and the ease with which alcohol could be obtained. These findings emphasise the need for drug education programmes to alert children to the dangers of alcohol consumption and equip them with the skills to deal effectively with peer pressure. There is also a pressing need to improve the leisure facilities available for young people as alternatives to drinking and other problem behaviour. © 2007 The Author(s). Journal compilation © 2007 National Children's Bureau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of smoking among Chinese adolescents has dramatically increased in recent years. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in smoking-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among Chinese students in 3 types of secondary schools. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 3957 students of seventh, eighth, and ninth grades and 2870 student parents from 3 public, 1 factory, and 2 general-paid private secondary schools at Guangzhou in 2004. Participants were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires about sociodemographic characteristics, smoking-related family and school environments, smoking-related knowledge and attitudes, and smoking behaviors. Results: The average scores of students’ smoking-related knowledge and attitudes (higher score, more against smoking) were highest in the factory school, followed by public schools and private schools. The differences among them were statistically significantly (P < .05). The lifetime smoking prevalence was also significantly different (P < .001) among 3 types of schools: 35.4% in private schools, 17.4% in public schools, and 13.2% in the factory school. The prevalence of students’ weekly smoking was also higher in private schools (6.2%) than in public schools (4.9%) or the factory school (4.0%). Similar disparity was observed in the prevalence of daily smoking (3.9% private, 3.5% public, and 2.7% factory). However, differences in weekly and daily smoking were not statistically significant (P > .05). Conclusions: Compared with students in public and factory schools, those in general-paid private schools had poorer smoking-related knowledge, more supportive attitudes toward smoking, and more popular smoking behaviors. Therefore, more intensive smoking prevention programs should be implemented among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of substance use behavior and the personal characteristics and social and cultural factors that influence substance use among children have been studied extensively. However, much less attention has been directed at the attitudes towards, and particularly the perceived risks of, using substances, and even less research has focused on Hispanic youth, whose rates of substance use have been increasing. Understanding what factors are associated with perceived risk is important because there is evidence that perceived risk is associated with subsequent substance use. The current study uses longitudinal data collected from 553 children in the Cicero Youth Development (CYD) Project to identify individual and environmental factors associated with the perceived risk of substance use. We pay particular attention to dimensions of nativity and acculturation in an effort to determine whether there are differences in risk perception between U.S.-born Hispanic children and their foreign-born counterparts. Results indicate that a number of factors are associated with perceived risk, including family support, parent-child communication, peer substance use, and child temperament. Additionally, U.S.-born Hispanics perceive substances as less risky than immigrants, and among immigrants, length of time in the U.S. is negatively associated with perceiving great risk in substance use. Implications for policy and prevention strategies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Inter-agency collaboration in child welfare and substance abuse treatment is encouraged and sometimes required, but rarely adequately achieved. This study addresses inter-agency collaboration as a practice of frontline staff and seeks to illuminate organizational conditions and staff characteristics that can promote or hinder collaborative practice in everyday settings. Frontline staff (n =216) and administrators (n =20) in child welfare and substance abuse treatment agencies were surveyed about specific collaborative practices and potential individual and organization-level influences on practice, including beliefs, perceptions, knowledge and organizational policy. Multi-level models suggest that most variation in collaboration is within rather than between organizations, that staff member beliefs, knowledge, and perceptions of policy are associated with collaboration, and that collective perceptions develop within organizations. The findings have implications for efforts to promote inter-agency collaboration and other innovative practices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Substance abuse is a primary concern for youth worldwide and increasingly so for Native American youth. Guided by theoretical models of the socialization of substance use in children and adolescents, we conducted a preliminary examination of socialization factors specific to Native American youth. Strong, pro-social bonds with three primary socialization sources (family, school, and peer networks) were hypothesized to facilitate child self-efficacy and refusal skills and predict drug use. Participants were 84 Native American children between the ages of 9 and 11, living on or near a northern reservation. Structural path analysis results indicated that self-efficacy was predicted from school bonding and peer social skills, while refusal skills were predicted from parent support/involvement and school bonding. Both self-efficacy and refusal skills predicted child drug use/experimentation. This preliminary study expands the limited research available for substance abuse prevention projects specific to rural, reservation-based Native American communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Substance misuse by children and young people is an important public health issue, with levels of use and misuse of alcohol and drugs by British teenagers among the highest in Europe. Many of these children will come to the attention of paediatric services, related to excessive use and/or associated health or other problems. Families can be both affected by and also influence the use and misuse of substances by younger family members. This paper explores the extent of substance use and misuse among children and young people, discusses key issues that are faced by families who are struggling to cope with substance misuse and examines the forms of support and intervention that are available, both to children and young people who misuse alcohol or drugs and to their families. There is good evidence for a range of intervention and prevention strategies, but further work is needed in this area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article examines the role of family structure in the self-reported lifetime and past month use of marijuana within a sample of American children. The research makes comparisons between youths riving in two parent homes where both the biological father and mother are present and those who rive in single parent, stepparent, or nonparent families. The results show that youths living in two parent families are far less likely to report ever having used marijuana, associate with marijuana using friends, or have siblings who use marijuana. Youths from two parent families, even those typified by high levels of tension in the household, are shown to report less use of marijuana than youths from low or high conflict homes where one or both of the biological parents are absent. The findings are similar for both males and females. Implications of the results as well as directions for future research are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluators and researchers often have to deal with situations in which conventional research tools are impossible to use, either because of the characteristics of a population or unclear research variables. This paper presents a technique that succeeds in overcoming this kind of problem—a projective technique, but one that differs from the usual approach to projective techniques. The approach presented here is a hermeneutic one that assumes an interpretive process. By means of an example, this paper presents the process of working with projective techniques and concludes with a discussion of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: EGEBAM is a new addiction centre that had been in operation since September 2003. We have planned this study in order to assess some clinical characteristics of cases that came to our centre. Method: The outpatient records belonging to cases that came to our service between September 2003 - September 2005 have been reviewed. We have reached a total of 323 cases. The data obtained from the outpatient records were entered in an information form, which has been developed by us. Results: 323 cases had applied to EGEBAM. 88.5 %of these is 323 cases is of male gender and 11.5 %is female. The mean Is 1 6.2. 52.3 %of the cases have social security whereas 47.7%do not have any. It has been found that 94.4%of these cases smoke and 5.6%do not. 93.8 %of all cases take or smoke substance other than cigarette whereas 6.2 %do not. The most common substance used is cigarette (94.4%). This is followed by marijuana (75.2 %), inhalant (53.8 %), ecstasy (43.6 %), alcohol (43.2 %), benzodiazepines (31.4 %), cocaine (2.6 %), other tablets (1.7 %) opioids(0.3 %). When smoking Is excluded, it has been observed that 86.9 %of the cases are the multiple substance users. The onset age of cases who participated In this study was 13.7 ±2.16. The age, when they came for the treatment Is 16± 16±1.65. There Is 29 ±29±23.98 month between the onset and treatment on average. Conclusion: In terms of some clinical parameters (most preferred substances, onset age, outpatients rate), child and adolescent substance users differ from adult substance users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the ways in which pre-teenage children try to avoid coming into contact with illegal drugs and then examines the factors and circumstances that facilitate or impede their efforts to achieve this. Their main strategy of avoiding certain groups or individuals was complicated by the fluid nature of young people's social groups and the unpredictable nature of their activities. Children who lived in areas in which illegal drugs were prevalent found it especially difficult to avoid coming into contact with them. While it was relatively easy for a child to avoid making friends with someone who was using drugs, the situation in which an existing friend started to use illegal drugs was much more difficult to deal with. The paper concludes that, while children should be encouraged to avoid certain groups and situations as their first line of defence, the problematic nature of this activity means that it is also essential that they continue to be provided with the skills necessary to deal effectively with situations in which illegal drugs are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on the feasibility of using interactive voice response (IVR) technology to obtain daily reports of attitudes toward alcohol and tobacco use among children 9-13 years of age. Two studies were conducted. The first was an investigation of the use of IVR technology to obtain daily data from a sample of primary school children over a period of 8 weeks. The second was an extension of the research to a large sample of primary and secondary school children in urban and rural areas who provided daily data over a 4-week period. Retention and compliance rates comparable to those obtained with adults were evident in both studies, supporting the feasibility of this technology with children. The results are discussed in relation to the benefits of this methodology for health research, particularly for studies of sensitive topics conducted with children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a comprehensive strategy framework for integrating mental health, child welfare, education, substance abuse, and juvenile justice system services. It proposes an infrastructure of information exchange, cross-agency client referrals, a networking protocol, interagency councils, and service integration models. This infrastructure facilitates integrated service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify predictors of increases in smoking stage among sixth graders. Methods: At the beginning and end of sixth grade, 973 students completed surveys. Multivariate, partial proportional odds analyses were conducted. Results: Time 1 intenders were 4 times more likely than never users to smoke at Time 2. In adjusted analyses, female sex, white race, peers, and perceived prevalence were positively associated with an increase in smoking stage, and social competence, parental expectations, and parental monitoring were negatively associated with an increase in smoking stage. Conclusions: Early adolescent smoking advanced in stages; intent predicted initiation; peer and parent influences were independently associated with increases in smoking stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determines the prevalence of tobacco use and identifies risk factors for tobacco use among a sample of older children and adolescents presenting to the pediatric emergency department. Overview of the study setting and population; Reported age range of smoking initiation; Children's reasons for smoking.

The aim of this article is to present a theoretical model of how to undertake evaluations of prevention programs directed at adolescents. Based on the results from metaanalyses of outcome studies of school-based programs, this article concludes that interactive programs tend to be more effective than not only those mainly intended to increase factual knowledge about tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs, but also those initiatives aimed at influencing adolescents ’attitudes toward those substances. The interactive strategy corresponds to problem-based learning or the interactive educational approach, now widely popular in educational circles. These outcome studies have provided us with important knowledge. However, there are relatively few evaluation investigations that analyze in substantive detail the process by which adolescents change their alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug-use behavior, and alter their perceptions about these substances. In an ongoing intervention study based on an interaction framework, involving all youngsters in the ninth grade (15 –16 year olds,n&equals;300,undertaken in year 2001 –2002)in the Alan Islands, Finland, the students ’ perceptions regarding the risks involved in illegal drug use could not be altered. Neither was it possible to decrease the alcohol or tobacco consumption during this school year. However, what did occur was that a number of expectations regarding alcohol were changed, which, in turn, might influence the patterns of alcohol use by the target group. The ways students in the Alan’s celebrate the end of junior high school are culturally embedded, and this may explain the lack of success in decreasing their alcohol consumption and tobacco use at the end of the ninth grade. Based on the analysis, a combination of outcome and process evaluations is recommended in order to reach a better understanding of how school prevention programs may achieve the desired goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts to prohibit the sales of tobacco and alcohol products to minors are widespread. Electronic Age Verification (EAV) devices are one possible means to improve compliance with sales to minors laws. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of EAV devices in terms of the frequency and accuracy of age verification, as well as to examine the impact of EAV's on the retailer environment. Two study locations were selected: Tallahassee, Florida and Iowa City, Iowa. Retail stores were invited to participate in the study, producing a self-selected experimental group. Stores that did not elect to test the EAV's comprised the comparison group. The data sources included: 1) mystery shopper inspections: two pre- and five post-EAV installation mystery shopper inspections of tobacco and alcohol retailers; 2) retail clerk and manager interviews; and 3) customer interviews. The study found that installing EAV devices with minimal training and encouragement did not increase age verification and underage sales refusal. Surveyed clerks reported Positive experiences using the electronic ID readers and customers reported almost no discomfort about being asked to swipe their IDs. Observations from this study support the need for a more comprehensive system for responsible retailing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This paper examines ethnic differences in licit and illicit drug use among American 8th, 10th and 12th grade students, with a particular focus on girls. Design The study uses cross-sectional data from large, ethnically diverse, nationally representative samples of 8th, 10th and 12th grade girls. Setting Data were collected through questionnaires administered in schools. Participants A total of 40416 8th grade girls and 37977 8th grade boys, 35451 10th grade girls and 33188 10th grade boys, and 33588 12th grade girls and 31014 12th grade boys took part in the study. Findings Across ethnic groups, drug use is highest among Native American girls and lowest among black and Asian American girls. Trend data suggest that there have been important changes in girls' drug use over time and that girls' and boys' drug use patterns are converging. Conclusions Drug use is widespread among American adolescent girls. Future research should examine further girls' drug use and seek to identify whether risk and protective factors identified in past research based on predominantly white samples, are also important predictors for drug use among non-white girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: The federal Pro-Children's Act of 1994 and other public health laws prompted most schools to create policies that address tobacco issues. To date, however, the literature is devoid of research that assesses the quality of a district's tobacco policy. This article describes the process and results from a large-scale, tobacco policy review. An Interagency Tobacco Task Group requested that tobacco policies of all New York State schools be reviewed. A policy rubric was developed using the documents Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn and the School Health Index. The rubric assessed five policy components. Aggregate data were calculated for each policy component and for the final score. School policies also were evaluated for compliance with state and federal laws. Overall policy review scores were quite low, suggesting greater effort be placed on helping schools to develop more effective tobacco policies. Initial efforts included sending letters and a "tobacco tool kit" to schools containing recommendations and resources to improve their district's tobacco policy. (J Sch Health. 2002;72(8):334-338) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editorial. Comments on the 'Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems' launched by the Scottish Executive in January 2002. Goal of reducing alcohol-related harm; Preparation of the plan by the Scottish Advisory Committee on Alcohol Misuse; Strategy for reducing binge drinking and harmful drinking by children and young people; Annual health costs of alcohol to Scotland.

Editorial. Focuses on the epidemic of chronic gasoline addiction among children in the U.S. Influence of cultural systems as risk factor in mental health; Impact of social and cultural disintegration on personality disorder; Prevalence of child inhalant abuse in poor communities.

Exposure to familial alcoholism has been associated with many behavioral and emotional difficulties among offspring. However, few studies have examined environmental risks that often coexist with familial alcoholism, and which may influence the development of offspring psychosocial problems. This study examined potential additive and interactive effects of childhood exposure to family violence and childhood exposure to familial alcoholism on adolescent functioning. Three domains of adolescent functioning were examined in a high-risk community sample of 109 families: lifetime levels of substance use, conduct disorder behaviors, and self-esteem. Results indicated that both childhood exposure to familial alcoholism and childhood exposure to family violence were associated with psychosocial functioning of offspring during adolescence, although the relations differ according to domain of functioning and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To prevent early adolescent health risk behaviors and to maintain or improve safety behaviors, we compared the effects of 2 interventions, delivered through pediatric primary care practices. The interventions, based on an office systems' approach, sought to prevent early drinking and smoking or to influence bicycle helmet use, gun storage, and seatbelt safety for children who were followed from fifth/sixth grades through eighth/ninth grades. Design. Settings and Participants. Twelve pediatric practices in New England were paired according to practice size and assigned randomly within pairs to deliver the multicomponent interventions, which built on pediatric primary care clinicians performing as counselors and role models during health supervision visits and other office encounters. Intervention. One intervention arm focused on alcohol and tobacco use. The other intervention arm focused on gun safety, bicycle helmet, and seatbelt use. Office systems provided infrastructure that supported the clinician's role. Clinician messages encouraged family communication and rule setting about the issues of the middle school years. The intervention was initiated during a health supervision visit and continued for 36 months. Both child and parent received quarterly newsletters to reinforce the clinician messages. Outcome Measures. The primary outcomes were ever drinking alcohol, ever smoking, ever using smokeless tobacco, using a bicycle helmet in the previous year, using a seatbelt in the previous 30 days, and guns in the child's home in locked storage. Results. The pediatric practices recruited 85% (N = 3525) of the practices' fifth/sixth grade children and their responding parents. We obtained 36 months' follow-up data on 2183 child-parent pairs. Chart audit verified that the intervention was implemented. Additional data from interviews and surveys showed that parents, children, and pediatric clinicians found the intervention useful. Despite this, comparisons... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health promotion, with its concern with empowerment and autonomy, must recognize the agency of its target population. Based on 85 in-depth interviews with 10- to 11-year-old children throughout Northern Ireland, this paper argues that it is necessary to focus on the social relations of children if we are to understand and prevent childhood smoking. Addressing the complex issue of childhood agency, it is argued that regardless of various restrictions to their choices, children can act intentionally in constructing their identities. Instead of viewing the smoking children as communicating with the adult world, we focus on smoking as negotiation of status within the children's culture. Such negotiations utilize symbolism derived from and shared with the `adult world'. It is important that those analyzing children's lives understand children's ideas and behaviour on their own terms. We must make sure that the very concepts in which the children's experiences are put are appropriate ones. It is suggested that the metaphor `rite of passage' and terminology such as peer `pressure' versus adult `influence', commonly used to analyse the children's smoking behaviour, may actually conceal important aspects of childhood agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines electronic mail communication between student physicians and schoolchildren, in the context of a school-based tobacco prevention program, as a way to teach communication skills and model physician patient interactions. Percent of communication that addressed health effects of tobacco; Percent who lectured on social influences of tobacco use.

Presents the results of a statewide survey of 720 adults whose children had recently participated in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. Reasons why parents are important stakeholders in school-based prevention education efforts; Impact of smoking prevention on parents; Impact of parent participation in a drug education program on children's attitudes and behaviors.

ABSTRACT. This statement addresses the challenge of evaluating and managing the various stages of substance use by children and adolescents in the context of pediatric practice. Approaches are suggested that would assist the pediatrician in differentiating highly prevalent experimental and occasional use from more severe use with adverse consequences that affect emotional, behavioral, educational, or physical health. Comorbid psychiatric conditions are common and should be evaluated and treated simultaneously by child and adolescent mental health specialists. Guidelines for referral based on severity of involvement using established patient treatment-matching criteria are outlined. Pediatricians need to become familiar with treatment professionals and facilities in their communities and to ensure that treatment for adolescent patients is appropriate based on their developmental, psychosocial, medical, and mental health needs. The family should be encouraged to participate actively in the treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Kindergarten children's knowledge and perceptions of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATODs) were assessed and the congruence between parent ATOD use and children's knowledge of ATODs was examined. Data were collected during the preintervention phase of an A TOD prevention trial with 5- and 6-year-old children and their parents. Three elementary schools were randomly selected from a population of 15 high-risk elementary schools in Lexington, Ky., (n = 126 parent-child dyads). Children were interviewed about their knowledge, feelings, and attitudes toward ATODs using the Child Drug Awareness Inventory. Parents self-reported ATOD use. Almost all (95%) kindergarten children recognized cigarettes; 56% correctly identified alcoholic beverages; and 17% recognized at least one illicit drug. Minority children were almost four times more likely to recognize illicit drugs than were non-minority children. Children's knowledge of ATODs was not correlated with the parents' reported drug use. ATOD prevention programs for young children merit greater emphasis. (J Sch Health. 2000; 70(2):51-55) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's (USPSTF) recommendation and evidence on the benefits and harms of primary care-based behavioral interventions to control the use of illegal or nonmedical drugs in children and adolescents. Topics discussed include factors associated with drug use, the benefits and harms of behavioral interventions and the USPSTF conclusion on the evidence about primary care-based behavioral interventions.

Examines predictors of substance abuse and affective disorders among children of alcoholics and nonalcoholics in the United States. Link of temperament and personality characteristics to substance abuse; Relationship between family support and alcoholism; Association between peer support and psychiatric diagnosis during adolescence.

Examines the relationship between verbal deficits, assessed through dichotic listening test, and children's substance use. Verbal IQ of adolescents who use alcohol; Relatedness of disruptive behavior with substance use; Use of dichotic listening test in measuring lateralization of brain functioning.

Examines the potential precursors to substance use disorders among speech/language-impaired children. Relation between speech-language abilities starting at age 5 and the frequency of substance use disorders at age 19; Age of onset of substance use and the extent of comorbidity among those with substance use disorders.

Examines the impact of childhood psychiatric disorders on the prevalence and timing of substance use and abuse. Sex differences; Onset data for substance use and psychiatric symptoms and diagnoses; Family and environmental risk factors for substance abuse; Substance abuse in children with or without psychiatric disorder.

Discusses psychopathological conditions and substance use disorders among children. Overview of articles on conduct disorder; Bipolar disorder; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Depression, psychosis, eating and personality disorders; Learning disabilities and language disorders and temperament; Executive cognitive dysfunction.