Bulat Idrisov

Mandatory addiction treatment for people who use drugs: global health and human rights analysis.

Global evidence indicates that mandated treatment of drug dependence conflicts with drug users’ human rights and is not effective in treating addiction. Karsten Lunze and colleagues argue that drug treatment policies must be evidence based and meet international standards

Food security and nutrition in the Russian Federation – a health policy analysis

Background In the Russian Federation (Russia), an elevated burden of premature mortality attributable to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has been observed since the countrys economic transition. NCDs are largely related to preventable risk factors such as unhealthy diets. Objective This health policy studys aim was to analyze past and current food production and nutritional trends in Russia and their policy implications for Russias NCD burden. Design We examined food security and nutrition in Russia using an analytical framework of food availability, access to food, and consumption. Results Agricultural production declined during the period of economic transition, and nutritional habits changed from high-fat animal products to starches. However, per-capita energy consumption remained stable due to increased private expenditures on food and use of private land. Paradoxically, the prevalence of obesity still increased because of an excess consumption of unsaturated fat, sugar, and salt on one side, and insufficient intake of fruit and vegetables on the other. Conclusions Policy and economic reforms in Russia were not accompanied by a food security crisis or macronutrient deprivation of the population. Yet, unhealthy diets in contemporary Russia contribute to the burden of NCDs and related avoidable mortality. Food and nutrition policies in Russia need to specifically address nutritional shortcomings and food-insecure vulnerable populations. Appropriate, evidence-informed food and nutrition policies might help address Russias burden of NCDs on a population level.

The burden of disease in Russia from 1980 to 2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016

Summary Background Over the past few decades, social and economic changes have had substantial effects on health and wellbeing in Russia. We aimed to use data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 (GBD 2016) to evaluate trends in mortality, causes of death, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and associated risk factors in Russia from 1980 to 2016. Methods We estimated all-cause mortality by use of a multistage modelling process that synthesised data from vital registration systems, surveys, and censuses. A composite measure of health loss due to both fatal and non-fatal disease burden (DALYs) was calculated as the sum of YLLs and YLDs for each age, sex, year, and location. Health progress was evaluated in comparison with patterns of change in similar countries by use of the Socio-demographic Index that was developed for GBD 2016. Findings Following rapid decreases in life expectancy after the collapse of the Soviet Union, life expectancy at birth in Russia improved between 2006 and 2016. The all-cause mortality rate decreased by 16·6% (95% uncertainty interval 9·4–33·8) between 1980 and 2016. This overall decrease encompasses the cycles of sharp increases and plateaus in mortality that occurred before 2005. Child mortality decreased by 57·5% (53·5–61·1) between 2000 and 2016. However, compared with countries at similar Socio-demographic Index levels, rates of mortality and disability in Russia remain high and life expectancy is low. Russian men have a disproportionate burden of disease relative to women. In 2016, 59·2% (55·3–62·6) of mortality in men aged 15–49 years and 46·8% (44·5–49·5) of mortality in women were attributable to behavioural risk factors, including alcohol use, drug use, and smoking. Interpretation Trends in mortality in Russia from 1980 to 2016 might be related to complicated patterns of behavioural risk factors associated with economic and social change, to shifts in disease burden, and to changes in the capacity of and access to health care. Ongoing mortality and disability from causes and risks amenable to health-care interventions and behaviour modifications present opportunities to continue to improve the wellbeing of Russian citizens. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Individualism-Collectivism, Social Self-Control and Adolescent Substance Use and Risky Sexual Behavior

ABSTRACT Individualism and collectivism are cultural syndromes that have been associated with adolescent problem behavior in studies conducted in the U.S. and Southeast Asia. However, research investigating the mechanisms of how cultural orientation impacts health risk behaviors has been limited. This study tested a new model explaining the relationship between cultural orientation (i.e., individualism, collectivism) and adolescent problem behavior (i.e., substance use and risky sex) in terms of interpersonal self-regulation (i.e., social self-control). As such, the study is rooted in theories of the role of culture in developing self-regulation. Participants were high school students (N = 716) from the Bashkirtostan Republic of the Russian Federation. Adolescents from the Russian Federation tend to show high prevalence of cigarette smoking and binge drinking. People of the Russian Federation in general are traditionally collectivist in orientation, although increased globalization and post-Soviet capitalism may indicate high individualist values in younger generation Russians. Using path analysis we found that in addition to having direct effects, higher individualism indirectly affected substance use and risky sexual behavior through social self-control and negative life events. Higher collectivism was found to have a direct protective effect on risky sexual behavior and a direct effect on social self-control. However, collectivism was not found to have indirect effects on substance use or risky sexual behavior. Higher individualism appears to function as a risk factor for adolescent problem behavior and this relationship may be mediated by lower social self-control. Culturally-tailored prevention programs utilizing the individualism-collectivism framework may benefit from addressing social self-control.

No-Smoking Policy in Russia: Awareness and Perceptions Among Bashkortostan Adolescents

Purpose of ReviewThis study aims to describe adolescents’ knowledge and endorsement of tobacco policies in the Russian Federation. We first describe the history of tobacco control policies, and then examine Bashkortostan adolescents’ perceptions of current policies, as well as non-compliance.Recent FindingsThe Russian Federation has enacted several smoke-free policies that may reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. Among 716 high school students surveyed, over 90% correctly understood the smoke-free rules in public places, school, apartment hallways and elevators, and public transportation. However, only 24% understood that there were no such rules currently applied inside apartments. Approximately 40% witnessed non-compliance in public places and school and 61% in apartment stairs and elevators. The highest compliance was observed in public transportation (85%). Two thirds of 57 recent smokers had violated one of these policies. Adolescents disciplined or suspended from school were more likely to be non-compliant with no smoking policies.SummaryBetter and widespread education on tobacco laws, enforcement, and potentially more severe penalties for violations should be implemented in the Russian Federation to increase compliance.

Testing the nicotine dependence measure mFTQ for adolescent smokers: A multinational investigation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES As a measure of nicotine dependence among adolescent smokers, the modified Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire (mFTQ; seven items), has been successfully used in the United States (USA). Nonetheless, the validity and reliability of mFTQ at the international level is still needed. The current study is the first to test the validity and reliability of mFTQ in four countries: Thailand, Spain, the USA, and Russia. METHODS In a cross-sectional survey, mFTQ, risk factors of nicotine dependence, and sociodemographic characteristics were assessed. Risk factors included age of first cigarette, frequency of alcohol use, frequency of marijuana use, and number of cigarettes smoked yesterday. Salivary cotinine was also obtained in Thailand and Spain. RESULTS For all four countries, mFTQ exhibited a single factor structure, as supported by previous work in the USA. For all studied countries except Thailand, mFTQ presented acceptable internal reliability. Overall, risk factors of nicotine dependence have predicted mFTQ scores across countries. Frequency of alcohol use in the USA and frequency of marijuana use in Thailand and Spain were not associated with mFTQ scores. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS mFTQ is a single-factor measure of nicotine dependence that shows acceptable internal consistency and validity across countries. Further work can advance the scale and tailor it to different cultures. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE mFTQ can be a clinically practical international measure of nicotine dependence. This study provides initial support for the utility of the mFTQ among Thai, Spanish, American, and Russian adolescents. Further research is needed to test and advance mFTQ across cultures. (Am J Addict 2017;26:689-696).

Prevalence and Co-Occurrence of Addictive Behaviors among Russian and Spanish Youth: A Replication Study.

Recently, an addiction matrix measure was assessed among U.S. former alternative high school youth. This presentation seeks to examine the generalizability of findings using this measure among Russian and Spanish high school adolescents. Latent class analysis was used to explore addiction subgroups among adolescents in Russia (average age = 16.27; n = 715) and Spain (average age = 14.9; n = 811). Last 30-day prevalence of one or more of 11 addictions reviewed in the previous work was the primary focus (i.e., cigarettes, alcohol, hard drugs, eating, gambling, Internet, love, sex, exercise, work, and shopping) among Russian youth, and last-30 prevalence of one or more of 8 addictions among Spanish youth (the three drug use items had not been included in the questionnaire for these youths). Results confirmed a two-class model (addicted class and non-addicted class) among both Russian and Spanish adolescents. The mean number of addictions reported was 1.39 (SD = 1.78) addictions among Russian youth and 1.56 (SD = 1.68) addictions among Spanish youth. The prevalence of the sample that constituted the “addicted group” in Russia and Spain was 32.2% and 28.6%, respectively. The most prevalent addictions (i.e., love, Internet, exercise) were similar. These results are similar to the findings previously reported for U.S. sample. Latent class structures for addictive behaviors are similar across international adolescent populations. Our results highlight the need to address multiple addictions in health education programming.