www.alcohol-drugs.co.uk - the blog

The Competence Group

Tim Morrison and www.alcohol-drugs.co.uk are delighted to be part of the Competence Group (CoG). We have established a group of consultants and trainers brought together by the Federation of Drug & Alcohol Professionals (FDAP) to support workforce development in the substance misuse sector. All the pople involved in it have a considerable track record in management, training and the use of standards (particularly DANOS) in the drug, alcohol and related sectors.

Our aim is to help ensure a fully competent workforce in line with the joint NTA/Home Office workforce development plan. We provide guidance, training and support on workforce development issues, for workers, managers and commissioners, as well as an online helpdesk and FAQs facility.

The website for this new service can be accessed at http://www.thecompetencegroup.net/.

Army Researchers Gave Soldiers Drugs, Book Says

Army Researchers Gave Soldiers Drugs, Book Says

Army researchers studying chemical weapons administered a variety of illicit drugs to volunteer soldiers over nearly a 20-year period, according to a new book.

[via Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs News]

Abstinence and moderate use goals in the treatment of marijuana dependence

Abstinence and moderate use goals in the treatment of marijuana dependence

Marijuana users approaching and abstinence-orientated treatment varied in the extent to which they were actively seeking abstinence as the outcome.

[via Drug and Alcohol Misuse - Knowledge Update]

Smoking, Mood Regulation, and Personality: An Event-Sampling Exploration of Potential Models and Moderation

Smoking, Mood Regulation, and Personality: An Event-Sampling Exploration of Potential Models and Moderation

Journal of Personality Volume 75, Issue 3, Page 451-478, Jun 2007.
ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to test potential models of smoking-related changes in mood and how these are moderated by personality (behavioral activation and inhibition systems). Three models yielding distinct predictions regarding mood cha...

[via Blackwell Synergy: Keyword search for query]

When parents use drugs: key findings from qualitative research on parenting and children in Iran

When parents use drugs: key findings from qualitative research on parenting and children in Iran

Child & Family Social Work Volume 12, Issue 2, Page 113-122, May 2007.
ABSTRACT This paper reports on the finding of a grounded theory study on drug dependency and parenting in Iran. This study is qualitative in nature; data were obtained through semi-structured interviews. The grounded theory method was used to guide the an...

[via Blackwell Synergy: Keyword search for query]

Introduction to Addictive Behaviours

Introduction to Addictive Behaviours

Addiction Volume 102, Issue 5, Page 831-831, May 2007.

[via Blackwell Synergy: Keyword search for query]

African-American crack abusers and drug treatment initiation: barriers and effects of a pretreatment intervention

African-American crack abusers and drug treatment initiation: barriers and effects of a pretreatment intervention

Background: Individual and sociocultural factors may pose significant barriers for drug abusers seeking treatment, particularly for African-American crack cocaine abusers. However, there is evidence that pretreatment interventions may reduce treatment initiation barriers. This study examined the effects of a pretreatment intervention designed to enhance treatment motivation, decrease crack use, and prepare crack abusers for treatment entry. Methods: Using street outreach, 443 African-American crack users were recruited in North Carolina and randomly assigned to either the pretreatment intervention or control group. Results: At 3-month follow-up, both groups significantly reduced their crack use but the intervention group participants were more likely to have initiated treatment. Conclusion: The intervention helped motivate change but structural barriers to treatment remained keeping actual admissions low. Policy makers may be interested in these pretreatment sites as an alternative to treatment for short term outcomes.

[via Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy - Latest articles ]

Drugs and Poverty – a literature review

Drugs and Poverty – a literature review

Literature review compiled by the Scottish Drugs Forum on the relationship between drug use and poverty. Keywords: poverty, social class, deprivation, deprived communities.

[via Scottish Addiction Studies Library Feed]

Too frightened to care? Accounts by district nurses working with clients who misuse substances

Too frightened to care? Accounts by district nurses working with clients who misuse substances

Health & Social Care in the Community Volume 15, Issue 3, Page 238-245, May 2007.
Abstract Drug misusers have complex health and social care needs, and experience considerable difficulties in accessing the assessment, care and treatment that they require. Despite the development of specialist services in many parts of the UK, substance...

[via Blackwell Synergy: Keyword search for query]

Impact of welfare cheque issue days on a service for those intoxicated in public

Impact of welfare cheque issue days on a service for those intoxicated in public

In British Columbia (BC), the Ministry of Human Resources issues welfare cheques to eligible recipients monthly on the last Wednesday of each month. Previous studies have indicated that there are significant increases in hospital admission, ED admission, 911 calls and deaths shortly after the distribution of the monthly welfare cheques. The objective of this analysis was to rigorously examine the impact of welfare cheque issue dates on admission to the Sobering Unit (SU), a service for the publicly intoxicated, in Vancouver, Canada. Data on 1234 consecutive admissions to the SU over a 7-month period were assessed, and the average number of daily admissions on each of the 7 days of the welfare cheque issue week and similar weekdays in other weeks were compared. A Wilcoxon rank-sum test was performed for the comparisons. Our results showed that there were significant increases in the number of admissions on the 3 days starting with Welfare Wednesday compared to the similar weekdays in other weeks (Welfare Wednesday vs. other Wednesdays: 8.7 vs. 5.1, p =0.02; Welfare Thursdays vs. other Thursdays: 9.6 vs. 5.3, p =0.02; Welfare Fridays vs. other Fridays: 8.6 vs. 5.7, p =0.04). The demonstrated impact of welfare cheque issue dates is an important consideration for the re-design, staffing and resource allocation of services for withdrawal management and potentially for other services offered to this population.

[via Harm Reduction Journal - Latest articles ]

The relationship between alcohol misuse and the drinks industry sponsorship of sporting activities

The relationship between alcohol misuse and the drinks industry sponsorship of sporting activities

Irish Gov't report on alcohol and sports sponsorship. Keywords: Ireland, Eire, alcohol, sport.

[via Scottish Addiction Studies Library Feed]