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The article offers an in-depth look at the paradox of Finland's high rankings in global happiness despite its troubling rates of substance use, particularly drug and alcohol-related deaths. Topics include the contrast between Finland's healthy, thriving society and its alarming drug-related mortality rates, the decline in alcohol consumption alongside an increase in illegal drug use, and the country's adoption of harm reduction strategies to combat substance use.

The article focuses on the challenges of addressing co-occurring disorders among US military veterans, emphasizing the complexity of mental health and substance use issues that arise from combat experiences and post-service struggles. Topics include the increased prevalence of PTSD and substance use disorders among veterans, the barriers veterans face in accessing Veterans Administration services, and the effectiveness of treatment models that integrate peer support and case management.

An interview with Richard Isralowitz, professor emeritus at Ben Gurion University in Beersheba, Israel, is presented. Isralowitz provides a background on substance use and the demographic characteristics of substance users in Israel. He discusses the role of physicians in substance use problems in Israel and tells about his research on medical cannabis. He addresses the issue of online gaming addiction and its potential impact on the health and well-being of children, teens and young adults.

The perceptions of 145 incarcerated mothers of minor children in a large Midwestern jail were examined to understand the correlation between where their children are living during their incarceration and the mothers' feelings about these placements and relationships with their children. Mothers were most satisfied if children lived with maternal grandparents, and least satisfied if children were in foster care. Women with higher scores for the relationship with close relatives, those having contact with their child(ren) while incarcerated, and mothers with no children in foster care reported feeling better about these placements. The findings highlight the importance of women maintaining contact with their children and their children's caretakers while incarcerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between childhood trauma and current mental health status of 110 women incarcerated in a Midwestern jail. The K6 distress scale was used to assess current mental health status. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) scale was utilized to measure traumatic events occurring in childhood. The percentage of women identified as having serious psychological distress exceeded rates found in the extant literature involving criminal justice-involved women. Women reporting more ACEs scored significantly higher on the K6. Additionally, women with higher K6 scores forecast a greater likelihood of arrest post-release, were older, had been in jail fewer times, were in jail for a longer time when interviewed, and were more likely to be mothers of minor children. These findings support the need for gender-responsive treatment and trauma-informed care to address mental health challenges among women in jail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an interview with the Benjamin Löhner, a practitioner and researcher in substance use in Germany about the harm reduction and substance use treatments in Germany. It discusses the studies about the efficacy of drug checking in terms of prevention of overdose or prevention of death.

Issues are discussed regarding the definitions of child abuse used by a group of mothers and social workers in one British metropolitan area. The disparity in definition used poses problems in the achievement of case goals, and the implication that a more inclusive definition might result in larger caseloads must be addressed.

A study involving a sample of African American mothers and child welfare workers indicates discrepancies between the two groups in defining neglect. When presented with theoretical statements reflecting specific aspects of neglect, African American mothers were significantly more strict in assessing instances of neglect than were the welfare workers, which can create potential mismatches for intervention strategies.

A famous landmark and social center near the University of Milwaukee campus, the Oriental Drugstore, recently shut its doors. Having served a cross section of Milwaukeeans since 1926, its lunch [...]

The article presents an interview with Mythily Subramaniam, exploring information about mental health and substance use disorders in the multi-cultural Asian community in Singapore.

In this article, we trace the evolution of the concept of child neglect in state statutes and the professional literature. We discuss two competing perspectives in defining child neglect: parental behavior and potential or actual harm to the child. We also analyze the literature on cultural group variation in defining neglect, as well as variations in the definition of neglect based on social role. Conclusions for child welfare practice and policy are presented.

Mothers of minor children serving sentences in a large Midwestern jail were screened for potential substance use problems and asked to report their physical and mental health status and treatment experiences. Of mothers screened for substance use problems, 72.1% had positive findings on the AUDIT-12, 56.7% reported at least one serious physical health problem, and 67.1% had received mental health treatment. More than two-thirds (68.8%) of the 240 mothers reported a co-occurring condition, and a third (33.8%) reported problems in all three spheres (substance use, mental health, and physical health). The relationship among the three health-related problems is examined as well as the characteristics of mothers related to having co-occurring health conditions. Given that the overwhelming majority of mothers reported more than one health-related problem, the changes to policy and practice need to avoid simplistic solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]