Brenda Newton-Taylor

The prevalence of elevated psychological distress among Canadian undergraduates: findings from the 1998 Canadian Campus Survey.

Abstract For a study of elevated psychological distress, the authors used data based on a national probability sample of 7,800 Canadian undergraduate students from 16 universities. They used the 12-item General Health Questionnaire to assess mental health. Thirty percent of the students in the sample reported elevated psychological distress, which varied significantly according to sex, region, year of study, and recreational and academic orientation. Rates of elevated distress were significantly higher among the students than among the general population in Canada.

Multilevel analysis of situational drinking among Canadian undergraduates

Using a multi-level approach, we examined the contribution of drinking setting characteristics and of individual characteristics on the alcohol intake per drinking occasion. The data are drawn from the Canadian Campus Survey, a national mail survey conducted in 1998 with a random sample of 8,864 students in 18 universities. For each student, up to five drinking occasions were investigated, resulting in 26,348 drinking occasions among 6,850 drinkers. At the individual level this study focused on the university life experience. At the situational level, information about alcohol intake was recorded relative to why, when, where and with whom drinking occurred. Our results show that drinking setting is as important as the individual characteristics in explaining the alcohol intake per occasion. Policies aimed at reducing students alcohol intake may be more beneficial if they address both situational and individual factors.

Prevalence and factors associated with physical and sexual assault of female university students in Ontario.

The authors examined the prevalence of physical and sexual assault of female university students and associated factors. In a survey of a random sample of 3,642 female students from 6 universities across Ontario, 24% of female students reported being physically assaulted and 15% reported being sexually assaulted during the previous year. When the assault measures were combined, 32% of university women reported being either physically or sexually assaulted during the previous year. Of those experiencing assault, 40% had been the victim of 2 or more types of assaults. Logistic regression analysis revealed that assault was associated with year of study, marital status, alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, prescription drug use, unhealthy eating and stress behaviors, less time spent on academics, and more time involved in social activities. University programs and activities directed toward the reduction of assault should incorporate the factors identified in this study to increase awareness of the situational factors surrounding likelihood of assault.

Attitudes Toward Compulsory Substance Abuse Treatment: a comparison of the public, conselors, probationers and judges' views

Attitudes toward compulsory treatment for alcohol and other drug abuse were compared among a representative sample drawn from the general public (N = 994) and convenience samples of substance abuse counselors (N = 700), probationers (N = 35) and judges (N = 89). All respondents believed that compulsory substance abuse treatment is (a) less effective than voluntary treatment and (b) most justified only for individuals whose substance use was associated with serious crimes and impaired job performance. In addition, the general public reported significantly higher support for compulsory treatment and expected forced treatment to help significantly more individuals, compared to probationers and substance abuse counselors. Judges and the general public were significantly less likely to respect client choices about whether or not to engage in treatment compared to probationers and substance abuse counsellors. These results suggest that broad implementation of compulsory substance abuse treatment policies and pr...Attitudes toward compulsory treatment for alcohol and other drug abuse were compared among a representative sample drawn from the general public (N = 994) and convenience samples of substance abuse counselors (N = 700), probationers (N = 35) and judges (N = 89). All respondents believed that compulsory substance abuse treatment is (a) less effective than voluntary treatment and (b) most justified only for individuals whose substance use was associated with serious crimes and impaired job performance. In addition, the general public reported significantly higher support for compulsory treatment and expected forced treatment to help significantly more individuals, compared to probationers and substance abuse counselors. Judges and the general public were significantly less likely to respect client choices about whether or not to engage in treatment compared to probationers and substance abuse counsellors. These results suggest that broad implementation of compulsory substance abuse treatment policies and programs would not be uniformly supported across key stakeholders. Implications of the findings for substance abuse policy, programming and theory are discussed.

Alcohol and Other Drug Use by Ontario University Students: The roles of gender, age, year of study, academic grades, place of residence and programme of study [1]

One of the more critical transitions that occurs for many young people is that of leaving high school and entering university and college environments. For most students this means an opportunity to leave home for the first time and enter an environment that is reputed to provide numerous opportunities to party. The absence of parental restraints, and the opportunity to use alcohol and other drugs in a milieu that is conducive, if not supportive, of these activities, may prove highly tempting for some students. The present study investigated the relationship of gender, age, year of study, academic grades, place of residence and programme of study to student alcohol and other drug use in a sample of universities within the province of Ontario, Canada. By regressing alcohol and other drug use measures onto these factors, we have been able to assess the effects of each of them. Overall, the most consistent, influential factors across all substances, in terms of the number of significant effects, appear to be...

Toronto Drug Treatment Court: Participant Intake Characteristics as Predictors of "Successful" Program Completion

Through descriptive and multivariate analyses, program outcomes for three groups of Toronto Drug Treatment Court participants (TDTC) were compared focusing on their substance use, legal, and socioeconomic differences at entry into the program, and their compliance behaviors during the first month of the program. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that graduate and expelled non-engaged participants were significantly different from the moment they started the program. At the time of application to the program expelled non-engaged participants used crack/cocaine on more days in the prior 90-day period, were in custody at their first TDTC appearance, had more criminal convictions over their lifetime, reported more recent substance use, and committed more breaches of their bail conditions than the other two participant groups. However, differences between graduate and expelled-engaged participants were not as clear, indicating important program outcome similarities between the two groups and how drug treatment court success should be conceptualized and measured.

Drug treatment courts--a viable option for Canada? Sentencing issues and preliminary findings from the Toronto court.

The first drug treatment court in Canada began operation in Toronto in December of 1998. This paper describes some aspects of the evolution, structure, and operation of this court. In addition, the federally-funded evaluation of the new program has produced data from the first 18 months of its full operation when 198 drug-dependent individuals were admitted. These preliminary results are described and compared to the findings of an Australian study and to select American studies. Important differences in sentencing practices and options for drug offenses between Canada and the United States are highlighted. Even at this early stage of development, it is suggested that the types of clients retained and more successful in this Canadian experiment may be quite different from the more typical American drug treatment court clientele. The need for careful monitoring and more complete, long-term information is emphasized before the viability of this approach is established for Canada.

Toward Comprehensive School Drug Policy in Ontario.

The study reported here examines the development and implementation of School Drug Policy in Ontario Boards of Education, the components of these policies, and the composition of policy development committees. Data from 125 Boards of Education were obtained from responses to a questionnaire administered in the Fall of 1991. Findings from the study indicate that school drug policies are increasingly comprehensive—including not only disciplinary measures, but also a preventive curriculum and early intervention component. The composition of policy development working groups normally consisted of such groups as board personnel, teachers, and practitioners from other fields. Students were not often included in the process of policy development. Thus, the development and implementation of school drug policy in Ontario indicates a “top down” rather than “bottom up” approach.