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Adaptive management, a process of planning, implementing, and evaluating management strategies, is often recommended for monitoring ecological systems. However, few examples of successful implementation and retrospective case studies exist. We provide a case study of adaptively managing hatchery-assisted protection and recovery for Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and winter steelhead trout (O. mykiss) during and after the removal of two large mainstem dams in the Elwha River, WA. We summarize key aspects of the monitoring and adaptive management plan over the last decade and highlight successes, challenges, and complications during the plan's implementation. The Elwha Monitoring and Adaptive Management Guidelines included a trigger-based system for moving through four phases of recovery that included preservation, recolonization, local adaptation, and viable natural population, each with differing levels of hatchery production as the management actions. The monitoring component of the plan has been very successful, providing critical data to guide management actions that otherwise may not have occurred and, opportunistically, provided data for other native species in the Elwha River. Implementing adaptive management provided mixed results and was at times hindered by divergent management goals among project partners, the inflexibility of the Endangered Species Act regulatory requirements as implemented for this project, and conflicting information among guidance documents. We learned that some metrics and triggers in the plan were ill-defined or too difficult to measure in the field. In some cases, the performance indicators and/or triggers were successfully modified to incorporate what was learned; however, in other cases, we were unable to revise the values due to differing opinions among partners. The ability to reach consensus on revised triggers appeared to be influenced by the recovery trajectory of the species involved. The implemented adaptive management strategy resulted in substantial collaboration and learning, which resulted in revised management strategies, but was imperfect. Sufficient long-term funding is necessary to implement a well-designed monitoring program and could benefit from including a defined leadership position to shepherd and facilitate a multi-stakeholder adaptive management program. Additionally, incorporating adaptive management into legally binding conditions under the Endangered Species Act is feasible, but requires substantial pre-planning in close coordination with regulatory agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large dam removal is being used to restore river systems, but questions remain regarding their outcomes. We examine how the removal of two large dams in the Elwha River, coupled with hatchery production and fishing closures, affected population attributes of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss). Initial responses by returning adult Chinook salmon and steelhead was an increase in the number and spatial extent of natural and hatchery origin fish. Although few naturally produced juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead outmigrants were observed prior to and during dam removal, abundances increased three years after adult fish passage was restored, suggesting that impacts due to downstream sedimentation after dam removal were reduced. The Chinook salmon population demographics remain dominated by hatchery production, while increases in winter steelhead abundance included both hatchery and natural-origin spawners. The spatial expansion of winter steelhead upstream of former dam sites was predominantly by natural-origin spawners. We also observed a natural "reawakening" of summer steelhead that were in part derived from an up-river resident population that returned to the Upper Elwha. Our results showed that a combination of habitat, hatchery, and harvest actions can result in positive responses for salmonid populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THE CURRENT IMPACTS of climate change can be observed globally. The casualties of climate change are mounting. They include the victims of the hurricanes on the United States Gulf Coast […]

Objective. This study was part of a larger effort to test the effectiveness of technology transfer approaches related to evidence-based treatment of co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. Specifically, this study examined characteristics of 'opinion leaders' as technology transfer agents. Method. A network analysis was conducted within four large substance abuse treatment agencies to identify individuals that other counselors sought out for consultation on co-occurring issues. The identified opinion leaders were then compared with other counselors on demographic variables, education and experience, and attitudes and knowledge about working with individuals with co-occurring disorders. Results. The analyses demonstrate that opinion leaders differed from other counselors in competency-related characteristics including more postgraduate education, relevant professional credentials, and years of experience in mental health treatment. They also had greater knowledge of the dynamics and treatment of co-occurring disorders as well as a greater willingness and confidence in working with such clients. Conclusion. These results suggest that opinion leaders are used within agencies for information and consultation regarding treatment issues. Therefore, opinion leaders may provide an important vehicle for dissemination and adoption of evidence-based treatment practices in community treatment settings. Key Words: Substance abuse treatment; Technology transfer; Practice to research., INTRODUCTION Although there have been significant recent advances in substance abuse treatment research, efforts to translate this new knowledge to practice settings have been largely discouraging. According to Lamb, Greenlick, [...]

Large-scale epidemiological studies suggest substantially lower prevalence rates of substance abuse disorders in Black Americans than in White Americans. This is counterintuitive since indicators of socioeconomic status, which on an average are lower in Blacks than Whites, are inversely associated with the prevalence of psychiatric disorders. Herein, we recommend against the use of race-specific national epidemiological data to estimate prevalence of substance abuse disorders and need for services at community/local levels. This is important so that catchment areas with high proportions of minorities receive equitable levels of substance abuse prevention and treatment resources. We illustrate our recommendation through observations and potential biases (e.g., reporting bias) identified from large-scale epidemiological studies of the prevalence of substance use disorders between Black and White Americans., INTRODUCTION Estimating the number of persons in need of substance abuse services is important to program managers and policy makers. In today's fiscally constrained environment, few organizations and planning bodies [...]

This study assessed whether greater duration of involvement in a drug court program affected criminal justice outcomes. The major research hypothesis was that the length of participation in drug courts would be directly related to outcomes obtained during follow-up. Participants consisted of 226 individuals who entered two Florida drug court programs in Escambia and Okaloosa counties between June 1993 and June 1996. This sampling strategy was developed to insure that at least a one-year follow-up period was provided for each participant after discharge from the drug court program. Results indicate that the duration of time spent in a drug court program is significantly related to criminal justice outcomes, with greater time in the program associated with lower rates of follow-up arrest, and clearly support the importance of lengthy involvement in drug court programs and of expanded efforts to retain participants in these programs. KEYWORDS Drug court, early treatment termination, recidivism, treatment dosage effects, treatment duration

This study examined the effectiveness of several screening instruments in detecting substance use disorders among prison inmates. A sample of 400 male inmates were administered eight different substance abuse screening instruments and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-IV), Version 2.0, Substance Abuse Disorders module. The latter was used as a diagnostic criterion measure to determine the presence of substance use disorders. Based on positive predictive value, sensitivity, and overall accuracy, the Texas Christian University Drug Screen, the Simple Screening Instrument, and a combined instrument - Alcohol Dependence Scale/Addiction Severity Index-Drug Use section were found to be the most effective in identifying substance abuse and dependence disorders.

Females incarcerated for drug-related offenses represent one of the fastest growing populations within jails and prisons. The few studies of female offenders with substance abuse disorders depict a population with multiple psychosocial problems and treatment needs, and one that is characterized by frequent exposure to sexual abuse and other violence. The current study examined intake assessment results from a sample of 1,655 substance-involved jail inmates referred to a jail treatment program in Tampa, Florida, including 26% female and 74% male inmates. The study was designed to identify gender differences in psychosocial characteristics and substance abuse treatment needs among jail inmates. Results indicate that female inmates more frequently experienced employment problems, had lower incomes, more frequently reported cocaine as the primary drug of choice, and were more likely to report depression, anxiety, suicidal behavior, and a history of physical and sexual abuse. Implications for developing specialized treatment approaches for female offenders are discussed, including use of integrated treatment strategies. Keywords - drug abuse: alcohol abuse: women: drug abuse treatment; inmates.

Significant numbers of new arrestees to jail have a history of drug or alcohol use. Many of these individuals have experienced multiple relapses, which tend to accelerate the level of criminal behavior and to increase the likelihood of arrest and incarceration. The present study examines the pattern of determinants of recent substance abuse among inmates referred for treatment in a metropolitan jail. The majority (87%) of inmates reported intrapersonal determinants of recent use, including coping with negative emotional states (41%) such as depression, anxiety and tension, and enhancement of positive emotional states (35%). Although no major differences in the pattern of determinants were found with respect to the type of major problem substance reported, several gender differences were observed. Implications for the design of substance abuse treatment programs within the criminal justice system are discussed, and recommendations are presented for further research investigating differences between determinants of 'relapse' and 'recent use' among offenders.

The current study evaluates the extent of prior drug use and psychosocial dysfunction related to drug use among 499 jail inmates referred to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Substance Abuse Treatment Program. Results indicate that inmates were involved with drugs for an average of more than 7 years, and with cocaine for almost 5 years. The majority of inmates reported extremely heavy use of drugs in the month prior to the last arrest, including 83% that had used cocaine. Many drug-dependent inmates reported a shift over time from intranasal to freebase cocaine use. Half of all referrals indicated a pattern of regular use within a year of involvement with drugs. The need for lengthy, heavily structured, and intensive treatment approaches for drug-dependent jail inmates is underscored by a history of chronic cocaine and polydrug abuse, a compulsive pattern of drug use, few successful periods of voluntary abstinence, and severe disruption in vocational, social, and psychological functioning. Their history of infrequent and unsuccessful involvement in rehabilitation programs reflects a significant need for compulsory treatment following release from jail, community supervision to ensure compliance with treatment, and development of linkages between jail drug treatment programs, courts, and community treatment providers., INTRODUCTION The increase in drug-related crime in recent years has had a significant impact on criminal justice and correctional systems. The largest group of new offenders entering these systems are [...]

The fifth edition of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) has been released and explained. ASI was introduced in 1980 as a means to evaluate treatment outcomes for alcoholics and drug addicts. ASI has since been in wide used, translated into several languages including French and German. The new ASI edition was developed in response to changes in the field of drug abuse and alcohol dependence treatment. Many new addictive substances with varied properties have invaded society since the ASI's debut in the 1980s.