Alan C. Ogborne

Drug use and drinking among students in 36 countries

This article summarizes data on alcohol and drug use from studies of high school students in 36 countries. Drug use levels varied greatly among countries, but alcohol and cannabis were used most often, followed by amphetamines, ecstasy, and cocaine. In countries having high levels of cannabis use, the use of other drugs was also more common but there were no consistent differences for alcohol. Use of various drugs was correlated except for alcohol use, which was related to cannabis use only when some countries with low alcohol use levels were removed. In general, the studies show that drug use priorities for studies are mainly the same in the countries studied.

Who is Using Cannabis as a Medicine and Why: An Exploratory Study

Abstract This article reports on an exploratory study of medical cannabis users. Interviews were completed with 50 self-identified medical cannabis users recruited through notices in newspapers and on bulletin boards. They reported using cannabis for a variety of conditions including HIVAIDS-related problems, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, menstrual cramps, migraine. narcotic addiction as well as everyday aches, pains, stresses and sleeping difficulties. A majority also used cannabis for recreational purposes, and many were longer-term cannabis users. However, there were some notable exceptions. Almost all smoked cannabis and many did so two to three times a day. Few admitted negative experiences with cannabis, although some problems evident to the researchers were not clearly admitted. Those who told their doctors about their medical cannabis use found doctors noncommittal or supportive. The results raise questions about the definition of medical cannabis use and about policies that might be developed to accommodate such use. Limitations of the study are noted and further research suggested. Research priorities include population surveys, studies involving larger, more representative samples of medical cannabis users and studies of medical cannabis use among people with HIV-AIDS.

Drinking and heavy drinking by students in 18 countries

This paper examines how levels of drinking, daily drinking and heavy drinking are related in 18 countries. There is wide national variation in consumption patterns. The proportions of students drinking and the proportion drinking at least six times in the past month correlated with per capita consumption in the total adult population. Some student drinking variables correlated with each other. Most countries (n=14) could be classified into one of two distinct groups based on the percentage of students who reported drinking at least six times per month, the percentage reporting drinking at least five drinks per day at any time in the last month and per capita alcohol consumption. Some countries in these groups were geographically close but others were not. Further research is needed to understand differences and similarities among countries with respect to student drinking.

Support for harm-reduction among staff of specialized addiction treatment services in Ontario, Canada.

In a mail survey of staff of specialized addiction treatment services in Ontario, respondents from different types of services varied in their level of support for a variety of harm reduction initiatives. Across all types of services support was common for needle exchange services (82-95% in favour) and for short-term non-abstinence goals for clients with alcohol or drug problems (51-98% in favour). However, mean ratings for the effectiveness of methadone maintenance were negative or near zero, and only in assessment/referral and out-patient samples did the majority (61% in each case) have a positive view of methadone maintenance programmes. Only a minority of respondents (15% to 35%) indicated support for the prescription of heroin to heroin addicts. In multivariate analyses, support for harm-reduction strategies was found to be positively related to belief in the effectiveness of pharmacological and cognitive-behavioural interventions and working in an out-patient treatment service, and negatively related to belief in interventions based on the disease model.

Beliefs about the cardiovascular benefits of drinking wine in the adult population of Ontario.

Aims: to explore beliefs about the cardiovascular benefits of drinking wine in the Ontario population. Design: secondary analysis of data from a provincial survey of adults. Participants: Ontarians aged 18 or older (n=606) from Ontario living in households and participating in a telephone survey. Measures: responses to questions concerning beliefs that wine drinking may reduce the risk of heart disease. Self-reports of age, gender, quantity and frequency of wine drinking, drinking problems, and existence of a diagnosis of heart disease. Findings: a majority of respondents believed that wine drinking reduces heart disease. Almost all (87.6%) said that drinking one or two drinks a day would reduce heart disease. Belief in the health benefits of wine drinking was more common among men, more frequent drinkers, and wine drinkers. Conclusions: beliefs in the health benefits of wine drinking is common amongst Ontario adults and is consistent with many recommendations by health authorities. The study should be replicated with larger samples in a variety of countries with different drinking patterns.

A note on the characteristics of alcohol abusers with controlled drinking aspirations

In an outpatient treatment sample, alcohol abusers who chose controlled drinking as a goal had characteristics in common with those who succeed in controlled drinking programs. There was no evidence that denial or other aspects of psychopathology were associated with the selection of controlled drinking as a goal.

Who works in addictions treatment services? Some results from an Ontario survey

This paper summarizes results from a survey of staff of specialized addiction treatment agencies in Ontario and includes information on demographic characteristics, education and related issues for those working in different types of agencies. Across all agencies 80% of staff had some sort of post secondary academic qualification and the majority reported taking professional development courses in the previous 12 months. However, only 20% of all respondents were “certified” as either an addictions counsellor or as another type of human service provider. There were differences within and between different agencies, and between respondents with and without administrative/supervisory responsibilities, with respect to education and certification status. Discussion concerns professionalization of the addiction treatment field, preparatory training for work in addictions treatment, and the generalizability of results. [Translations are provided in the International Abstracts Section of this issue.]

Discharge patterns of residents from halfway houses for male alcoholics.

Length of stay (LOS) data for male alcoholics discharged from eitht halfway houses were examined in the light of the hypothesis that the rate of discharge would be a linear function of time. In general, the hypothesis was confirmed, although the rate of discharge for four houses was significantly accelerated during the first two weeks of residence. Further analysis showed that both resident characteristics and house structure (defined in terms of the number of hours of formal activities each week) contributed significantly to LOS. Resident characteristics accounted for 5.3% of the variance in LOS when house structure was controlled, and structure accounted for 1.6% of variance when resident characteristics were controlled. No significant interaction effects were detected. Implications of these results are discussed.

ALCOHOL USE, ALCOHOL DISORDERS, AND THE USE OF HEALTH SERVICES: RESULTS FROM A POPULATION SURVEY*

Data from a population survey were used to explore relationships among drinking levels/patterns, alcohol dependence or abuse, and the use of emergency services, hospital admissions, and frequent visits to general practitioners in the past year. For both males and females, self-reported hospital admissions were less common among daily moderate drinkers than among lifetime abstainers. Among males, drinkers with no history of alcohol dependence or abuse were less likely to report being in hospital in the last year than lifetime abstainers. For females, some groups defined by drinking patterns/levels and current drinkers without symptoms of alcohol abuse or dependence were more likely to report using emergency services than lifetime abstainers.