Samantha Longman-Mills

Exploring child maltreatment and its relationship to alcohol and cannabis use in selected Latin American and Caribbean countries

OBJECTIVES Research from developed countries shows that child maltreatment increases the risk for substance use and problems. However, little evidence on this relationship is available from developing countries, and recognition of this relationship may have important implications for substance demand reduction strategies, including efforts to prevent and treat substance use and related problems. Latin America and the Caribbean is a rich and diverse region of the world with a large range of social and cultural influences. A working group constituted by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission and the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in June, 2010 identified research on this relationship as a priority area for a multinational research partnership. METHODS This paper examines the association between self-reported child maltreatment and use in the past 12 months of alcohol and cannabis in 2294 university students in seven participating universities in six participating countries: Colombia, El Salvador, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama and Uruguay. The research also considers the possible impact of religiosity and minimal psychological distress as factors contributing to resiliency in these samples. RESULTS The results showed that experience of maltreatment was associated with increased use of alcohol and cannabis. However, the effects differed depending on the type of maltreatment experienced. Higher levels of religiosity were consistently associated with lower levels of alcohol and cannabis use, but we found no evidence of an impact of minimal psychological distress on these measures. CONCLUSIONS This preliminary study shows that the experience of maltreatment may increase the risk of alcohol and cannabis use among university students in Latin American and Caribbean countries, but that higher levels of religiosity may reduce that risk. More work to determine the nature and significance of these relationships is needed.

Child Maltreatment and Its Relationship to Drug Use in Latin America and the Caribbean: An Overview and Multinational Research Partnership

Child maltreatment and substance abuse are both international public health priorities. Research shows that child maltreatment increases the risk for substance use and problems. Thus, recognition of this relationship may have important implications for substance demand reduction strategies, including efforts to prevent and treat substance use and related problems. Latin America and the Caribbean is a rich and diverse region of the world with a large range of social and cultural influences. To date, relatively little work has addressed the link between child maltreatment and substance use in the region. A working group constituted by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in June, 2010 identified this area as a priority area for a multinational research partnership. This paper summarizes existing information on drug use and child maltreatment in six participating countries, Colombia, El Salvador, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama and Uruguay, and considers the implications of child maltreatment prevention for demand reduction strategies to address substance use issues. A CICAD/CAMH-sponsored multinational research partnership has been formed, which will involve research on the link between child maltreatment and substance misuse, expertise exchange and resource sharing.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk and Psychological Health among Non-Hispanic Blacks in the Metabolic Syndrome Outcome (MetSO) Cohort Study

Abstract Introduction This study assessed associations of depression and anxiety with risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among non-Hispanic blacks in the Metabolic Syndrome Outcome (MetSO) study. Method A total of 1,035 patients participated. ARESTM score ≥6 defined high OSA risk. Moderate depression was defined by a CES-D score ≥16. Moderate anxiety was measured by a BAI score ≥16. Results The mean age was 62 ± 14 years; 70% were female. A total of 93% were diagnosed with hypertension; 61%, diabetes; and 72%, dyslipidemia; 90% were overweight/obese; 33% had a history of heart disease; and 10% had a stroke. Logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age and gender, showed that patients with depression had nearly two-fold increased odds of being at risk for OSA (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.02–2.98, p < 0.05). Patients with anxiety had three-fold increased odds of being at risk for OSA (OR 3.30, 95% CI 2.11–5.15, p < 0.01). After adjusting for marital status and income, patients with anxiety had a 6% increase in OSA risk (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04–1.09, p < 0.05), but depression was no longer significant. Conclusion Our results suggest that non-Hispanic blacks with metabolic syndrome who experience anxiety and/or depression should be screened for OSA. Key messages This study assessed associations of moderate to severe depression and anxiety with risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among non-Hispanic blacks with metabolic syndrome. Patients with depression had nearly two-fold increased odds of being at risk for OSA. Patients with anxiety had three-fold increased odds of being at risk for OSA.

The association between adult drug abuse and childhood maltreatment in students attending seven universities in five countries in Latin America and one country in the Caribbean

Este estudio busca identificar la relacion entre el maltrato durante la infancia y el abuso de drogas entre estudiantes de siete Universidad en cinco paises de Latin America y uno pais del Caribe. Este es un estudio hecho en varios paises utilizando un diseno de corte para colectar los datos del abuso de drogas y un levantamiento retrospectivo sobre el maltrato en la infancia. La muestra fue constituida de 2.283 estudiantes universitarios, de los cuales 82,6% informaran maltrato en la infancia, y 33,5% informaran ter niveles elevados de distress psicologicos. Los datos indicaran una relacion significante (p<0.05) entre el maltrato en la infancia y el abuso de drogas en la vida adulta. A pesar de la tecnica amuestrale no permitir generalizacion para la poblacion de estudiantes universitarios, el presente estudio identifico que la exposicion al maltrato durante la infancia es un precursor potencial para el abuso de drogas durante la vida adulta. Por lo tanto, estrategias para reducir el consume de drogas entre las respectivas universidades poden mejorar su efectividad si incorporan politicas e intervenciones que llevan en consideracion el aspecto del maltrato en la infancia.

Emotional-Social Intelligence and Sexuality Among Jamaican Adolescents

This chapter reviews the relationship between emotional-social intelligence (ESI) and sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviours among Jamaican youths. Five hundred adolescents completed a self-report questionnaire consisting of the Bar-On EQ-i:YV(S), a measure of ESI, a sexual knowledge and attitude questionnaire as well as the Adolescent Risk Inventory’s sex risk scale. Statistical analyses identified significant relationships (p < 0.05) between ESI and the adolescents’ sexuality. The result shows that interpersonal skills were found to be related to the adolescents’ attitude towards sexual behaviour, attitude towards transactional sex and also their sexual role negotiations.

Impact of cannabis on the neurocognitive performance of Jamaican adolescents

Methods: Purposive sampling was utilized to recruit cannabis users (n=30), while random sampling was utilized to select the control group of non-cannabis users (n=32). Tests of learning, attention and memory were administered from the Wide Range Assessment of Memory & Learning (WRAML 3) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV). The t-test statistic was used to identify differences between groups.

Family relations, peer influence, spirituality and drug use among students in one university in Kingston, Jamaica

Este estudio busca clarear la relacion entre las relaciones familiares, la influencia de los pares, la espiritualidad y el uso de drogas en estudiantes de una Universidad en Kingston, Jamaica. Es un estudio de corte transversal utilizando datos cuantitativos de 335 estudiantes del pregrado, utilizando un cuestionario llenado por los estudiantes. La muestra fue compuesta de 335 estudiantes (69% sexo masculino y 31% sexo femenino) entre las idades de 18-24 anos. Los 77.6% de los estudiantes de la muestra informaran ter utilizado drogas en el ano anterior. Una correlaccion positiva fue identificada entre el uso de cannabis en el ano anterior y tener una relacion familiar disfunccional y estresante (p<.05); y correlaciones negativas entre el uso en el ano anterior de alcohol, fumar e cannabis y positive para influencia de pares (p<.05), bien como para niveles alto de espiritualidad (p<.01). Una relacion familiar buena fue un factor protetor contra el uso de cannabis, encuanto la influencia positiva de pares y alto nivel de espiritualidad fueran factores positivos contra el uso de alcohol, fumar, y cannabis entre estudiantes que participaran en la investigacion.

Psychological maltreatment and its relationship with substance abuse among university students in Kingston, Jamaica

En Jamaica existen altas tasas de abuso de drogas, lo que remarca la necesidad de comprender los motivadores para el abuso de sustancias. El experimentar maltrato psicologico (abuso emocional y negligencia) durante la infancia ha sido sugerido como un factor de riesgo para el abuso de sustancias. Este estudio investiga la relacion entre maltrato psicologico infantil y el abuso de sustancias en la adultez entre estudiantes universitarios jamaiquinos. Trescientos ochenta y dos (382) estudiantes universitarios fueron seleccionados usando una tecnica de muestreo sistematico. Ellos completaron el Cuestionario Escala de Distres Psicologico de Kessler, asi como items seleccionado de los cuestionarios de Experiencias Adversas en la Infancia y de Uso de Drogas de CICAD. El 66.7% habia experimentado maltrato psicologico. El analisis de Chi-cuadrados identifico una relacion significativa entre experimentar maltrato psicologico y abuso de sustancias (p<0.05). Esta investigacion provee evidencia en apoyo de una asociacion entre la exposicion a maltrato psicologico infantil y abuso de sustancias en la adultez.

Maltrato psicológico y su relación con abuso de sustancias en estudiantes universitarios en Kingston, Jamaica

En Jamaica existen altas tasas de abuso de drogas, lo que remarca la necesidad de comprender los motivadores para el abuso de sustancias. El experimentar maltrato psicologico (abuso emocional y negligencia) durante la infancia ha sido sugerido como un factor de riesgo para el abuso de sustancias. Este estudio investiga la relacion entre maltrato psicologico infantil y el abuso de sustancias en la adultez entre estudiantes universitarios jamaiquinos. Trescientos ochenta y dos (382) estudiantes universitarios fueron seleccionados usando una tecnica de muestreo sistematico. Ellos completaron el Cuestionario Escala de Distres Psicologico de Kessler, asi como items seleccionado de los cuestionarios de Experiencias Adversas en la Infancia y de Uso de Drogas de CICAD. El 66.7% habia experimentado maltrato psicologico. El analisis de Chi-cuadrados identifico una relacion significativa entre experimentar maltrato psicologico y abuso de sustancias (p<0.05). Esta investigacion provee evidencia en apoyo de una asociacion entre la exposicion a maltrato psicologico infantil y abuso de sustancias en la adultez.

Maus-tratos psicológicos e sua relação com o abuso de substâncias entre estudantes universitários em Kingston, Jamaica

En Jamaica existen altas tasas de abuso de drogas, lo que remarca la necesidad de comprender los motivadores para el abuso de sustancias. El experimentar maltrato psicologico (abuso emocional y negligencia) durante la infancia ha sido sugerido como un factor de riesgo para el abuso de sustancias. Este estudio investiga la relacion entre maltrato psicologico infantil y el abuso de sustancias en la adultez entre estudiantes universitarios jamaiquinos. Trescientos ochenta y dos (382) estudiantes universitarios fueron seleccionados usando una tecnica de muestreo sistematico. Ellos completaron el Cuestionario Escala de Distres Psicologico de Kessler, asi como items seleccionado de los cuestionarios de Experiencias Adversas en la Infancia y de Uso de Drogas de CICAD. El 66.7% habia experimentado maltrato psicologico. El analisis de Chi-cuadrados identifico una relacion significativa entre experimentar maltrato psicologico y abuso de sustancias (p<0.05). Esta investigacion provee evidencia en apoyo de una asociacion entre la exposicion a maltrato psicologico infantil y abuso de sustancias en la adultez.