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The transition of cannabis from an illegal drug to a drug for medical and even recreational use raises challenging questions for regulatory agencies and analytical chemists alike. Here, we show [...]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2009.10.002 Byline: Marcela Ibanez (a), Fredrik Carlsson (b) Keywords: Illegal drugs; Choice experiment; Colombia; Crime Abstract: From 1997 to 2005, an astonishing 5200million USD was invested to reduce cocaine production in Colombia, the world's main cocaine producer. However, little is known about the effectiveness of policies targeting coca cultivation. This paper uses a survey-based experiment to evaluate the effects of the two main policies: eradication and alternative development programs. Our results support Becker's (1968) model of crime participation and in addition shed light on other non-monetary factors that affect the coca cultivation decision: religion, legitimacy, remoteness, and poverty are found to be important. We find that coca cultivation is inelastic to increases in perceived risk and relative profit so eradication and alternative development would have a rather small effect on coca cultivation. A simple simulation exercise predicts that investing additional hundred thousand dollars in eradication decreases coca cultivation in only 1.5%. Author Affiliation: (a) Courant Research Center: Poverty, Equity and Growth in Developing Countries, Georg-August Universitat, Gottingen, Platz der Gottinger Sieben 3, D-37073 Gottingen, Germany (b) Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg, Box 640, SE-40530 Goteborg, Sweden Article History: Received 10 February 2008; Revised 9 October 2009; Accepted 12 October 2009

Objectives Given that approximately half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, the authors sought to understand the relation between pregnancy intention and health behaviors. Methods Mothers of live-born infants without major birth defects were interviewed as part of the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. The interview assessed pregnancy intention as well as exposures to vitamins, alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, occupational hazards, exogenous heat (e.g., hot tubs and saunas) and caffeine. Crude odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and stratified analyses were performed to assess interaction. Multiple logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios. Results Both before and after the diagnosis of pregnancy, women with unintended pregnancies were more likely to use illicit drugs, smoke, be exposed to environmental smoke, and not take folic acid or multivitamins. The degree to which women altered behaviors after they realized they were pregnant was also associated with their pregnancy intention status. For certain behaviors, maternal age or parity altered the association between pregnancy intention and changing behaviors after awareness of pregnancy. Conclusion Pregnancy intention status is a key determinant of pregnancy-related behavior. To improve reproductive outcomes, preconceptional and prenatal programs should consider a woman's desire for pregnancy. Keywords Pregnancy * Unplanned pregnancy * Unwanted pregnancy * Preconception care * Prenatal care, Objectives In the United States, low birth weight, prematurity, small for gestational age at birth, and birth defects are responsible for > 10,000 infant deaths per year, representing 35% of [...]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2009.10.004 Byline: Heddy Kovach Clark (a), Chris L. Ringwalt (a), Sean Hanley (a), Stephen R. Shamblen (b), Robert L. Flewelling (a), Mary C. Hano (c) Keywords: Selective program; Indicated program; Substance use prevention; Project SUCCESS; Alternative high school; Effectiveness study Abstract: Project SUCCESS is a selective and indicated substance use prevention program that targets high risk students in secondary school settings. We evaluated the effects of Project SUCCESS on adolescents' substance use immediately following program implementation, and again one year later. Two successive cohorts of alternative high schools were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group, yielding seven schools per condition. Main outcomes included 30-day use of alcohol, marijuana, and illegal drugs excluding marijuana, and drinking to intoxication. We conducted exploratory analyses on 30-day cigarette use. Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling, we found that students in the control schools reported significantly less use of illegal drugs excluding marijuana than those in the intervention group at the first posttest; however, this effect did not persist one year later. There were no other outcome effects of even a marginal nature. While results of this study do not provide evidence of Project SUCCESS' effectiveness, students' program exposure was low. It is possible that Project SUCCESS would perform better in schools with higher and more regular rates of attendance. Author Affiliation: (a) Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Chapel Hill Center, 1516 E. Franklin Street, Suite 200, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, United States (b) Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Louisville Center, 1300 South 4th Street, Suite 300, Louisville, Kentucky, 40208, United States (c) University of Louisville, Department of Surgical Oncology, 315 E Broadway Ste. M10, Louisville, KY 40202, United States

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.04.024 Byline: Matthew J. West, Michael J. Went Keywords: Raman spectroscopy; Drugs of abuse; Textile fibres; Adhesive lifters Abstract: Fibres are one of the most common forms of evidence associated with forensic investigations. The use of adhesive lifters to recover fibres from crime scene samples has long been established as an effective method to recover such items of evidence. Once fibres have been lifted they are transferred to evidence bags for storage, safe transport and to preserve the chain of evidence. This study shows that when fibres are tape lifted particles of substances present trapped within those fibres are also lifted. Cotton, linen and wool fibres were examined in colours ranging from white to black. Samples of seized ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and amphetamine were supplied by East Sussex Police and by the TICTAC unit at St Georges Hospital Tooting. The Raman spectra obtained showed that it is possible to identify drugs of abuse from particles trapped within fibres without interference from the fibre itself. It was also possible to obtain spectra after fibres were lifted with adhesive tapes without the detection process being compromised. Raman spectra from particles of drugs of abuse within fibres following tape lifting were also recorded through evidence bags. Again the detection process was not compromised. This initial study has shown that fibres have the potential to provide even more evidence than they do currently. Individuals that have had drugs of abuse about their person may have trace amounts of these substances trapped within the fibres of their clothing. This may be of particular importance if drugs have been carried in pockets of a garment. This technique has the advantage of being non-destructive, allows for re-testing, requires no sample preparation and also can be performed on samples without removal from the evidence bag thus removing any potential risk of contamination. It is important however to remember that when dealing with trace amounts of drugs of abuse the presence of such particles may be due to innocent transfer of such particles. Detection of particles of drugs of abuse on clothing does not necessarily indicate criminal activity in the absence of other evidence. Author Affiliation: School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent, Ingram Building, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NH, UK Article History: Received 14 January 2009; Revised 20 April 2009; Accepted 27 April 2009

Vulnerability to abused drugs is influenced by multiple genes unique to each drug and to risk genes for polydrug abuse. If several inbred mouse strains respond to different drugs similarly, this implies the action of a common group of genes. Simultaneous analysis of multiple responses to multiple drugs has been attempted infrequently. We performed multivariate analyses of published strain responses to four drugs. Genetic similarity in responses did not simply track pharmacological class. Withdrawal severity and preference for ethanol and diazepam were affected by many genes in common, although inversely. We focused on behavioral responses, but there is a growing archival database of physiological, pharmacological and biochemical strain traits. The genomics community is increasingly focusing on single-nucleotide polymorphism and haplotype-based gene mapping approaches, for which inbred strain data are also useful. Thus, similar analyses should be applicable to other laboratories, traits and genotypes.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.03.037 Byline: Cheryl Beseler (a), Kristen C. Jacobson (b), William S. Kremen (a), Michael J. Lyons (c), Stephen J. Glatt (a)(d), Stephen V. Faraone (e), Nathan A. Gillespie (f), Ming T. Tsuang (a)(g)(h) Keywords: Factor analysis; Heritability; Phenotype; Substance abuse; Substance dependence; Substance use disorders; Twin Abstract: The use of DSM criteria to evaluate liability to substance use disorders (SUDs) and to identify SUD phenotypes may not provide the sensitivity required to identify genes associated with vulnerability to SUDs. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a number of basic aspects of substance use that may be more proximal than full SUDs to risk genes, some of which may thus have greater potential utility as phenotypes in subsequent molecular genetic analyses. In this paper we present results from the first stage of our planned analyses, focusing on how individual symptoms of abuse and dependence may be used to create alternate phenotypes for SUDs. Specifically, we used factor analysis and biometrical modeling on each symptom of illicit substance abuse and dependence within different types of substances, and compared and contrasted factor patterns and heritabilities across the different substances. These analyses were carried out using a population-based sample of 3372 male-male twin pairs from the Vietnam Era Twin Registry who participated in the Harvard Twin Study of Substance Abuse. We obtained extensive data from these participants on substance use and SUDs via telephone interview in 1992, including data on the illicit substances: opiates, cocaine, cannabis, sedatives, stimulants, and psychedelics. The results indicate that: A) although a one-factor model assuming a single underlying liability for abuse and dependence symptoms and behaviors can be rejected for most substances, there is no uniform support for a two-factor model differentiating between abuse versus dependence; B) patterns of symptoms or behaviors reported by substance users vary across substances; C) not all symptoms or behaviors contribute equally to the presentation of an SUD; and D) the heritability of symptoms or behaviors of substance users varies both within and between substances. These results represent important first steps in facilitating the search for SUD-risk genes in subsequent high-throughput molecular genetic analyses by providing alternate phenotypes that may have both optimal validity and increased heritability. Author Affiliation: (a) Center for Behavioral Genomics, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, Mail Code 0603, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA (b) Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 3077 Room L-461, Chicago, IL 60637, USA (c) Department of Psychology, Boston University, 648 Beacon Street, Room 214, Boston, MA 02215, USA (d) Veterans Medical Research Foundation, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, CA 92161, USA (e) Medical Genetics Research Program and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA (f) Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 800 East Leigh Street, Richmond, VA 23219, USA (g) Harvard Institute of Psychiatric Epidemiology and Genetics, Harvard Departments of Epidemiology and Psychiatry, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA (h) Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, CA 92161, USA

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (TDS) is used for measuring the terahertz spectrum of ketamine hydrochloride at room temperature. The results have indicated that the use of the terahertz TDS method can be used for the detection and inspection of illicit drugs.

A study to investigate the gap between self declared use of illicit drugs and their actual use determined by urinalysis is presented.