Sherilynn F. Spear

Impact of Chemical Dependency on Family Health Status

Previous discussions of the relationship between chemical dependency and family health have been based primarily on clinical observations and on the perceptions of family members rather than on research evidence. In order to systematically document the relationship, this study compared family medical insurance claims 2 years prior to and 2 years following the year in which a family member completed a chemical dependency treatment program. Results indicate a significant decrease in claims following the family members completion of treatment, thus suggesting a relationship between the chemical dependency of one family member and the health status of other family members.

Relapse Patterns among Adolescents Treated for Chemical Dependency

This study examined levels, timing, and patterns of posttreatment alcohol and drug use in adolescents (n = 113) during the 12 months following completion of primary treatment. Data were collected from clinical records, random urine screens, and interviews with the adolescents and their parents. In all, 61.1% relapsed to pretreatment levels of use during the 12 months after treatment, 79.6% of the males and 59.3% of the females. Of those with alcohol as the drug of dependence, 45.9% relapsed to pretreatment levels of use in 12 months. Likewise, 75.0% marijuana users, 70.6% combined alcohol and marijuana users, and 50.2% other drug users relapsed to pretreatment levels of use in the 12 months. Relapse curves are presented to demonstrate the specific timing and patterns of relapse. Implications for primary treatment and aftercare are discussed.

Nonresponse Bias in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Outcomes Research: Implications for Evaluating Care.

ABSTRACT Nonresponse bias was investigated in an outcomes study of adolescent substance abuse treatment. Treatment-related characteristics of respondents (n = 53) were compared with those of non respondents (n = 61). Statistical analysis showed that few differences were seen between respondents and nonrespondents. The results indicate that outcomes data can be collected in this treatment population that are relatively unaffected by nonresponse bias. Missing responses are shown to be very likely missing at random.

Strategies to plan and assess alternative programs to train rural-based health workers in Papua New Guinea

Abstract This paper presents the results of a project to help decision-makers in Papua New Guinea develop a training program for rural-based health workers. The approach, consisting of Nominal Group Technique and Multiple Criteria Utility Assessment, facilitated the problem identification, solution development and solution evaluation phases of the study. These techniques were well suited for organizing the necessary input of many decision-makers and health workers. They also provided a method for systematic project planning in the face of severe time and data limitations.

Peer relations scale for adolescents treated for substance use disorder: a factor analytic presentation

BackgroundThe literature indicates that peer relations are an important aspect of the treatment and recovery of adolescents with substance use disorder (SUD). Unfortunately, no standard measure of peer relations exists. The objective of this research is to use exploratory factor analysis to examine the underlying factor structure of a 14-item peer relations scale for use in this treatment population.MethodsParticipants are 509 adolescents discharged from primary substance abuse treatment from 2003–2010. The data are from research conducted between six and twelve months post discharge via a 230-item questionnaire that included the 14-item peer relations scale. The scale has questions that assess the degree to which the adolescents social contacts conform to norms of positive behavior and therefore foster non-use and recovery. The response rate was 62%.ResultsThe scale was decomposed by principal component factor analysis. When the matrix was rotated by varimax a three factor solution explaining 99.99% of the common variance emerged. The first factor yielded ten items that measure association with peers who engage in positive versus delinquent social behavior (positive versus negative social behavior). The three items in the second factor specify association with peers who use versus those who don’t use drugs, and thereby encourage recovery and discourage drug use (drug use). The third and factor contained two items measuring the degree to which the recovering adolescent associates with new or previous friends (post treatment peer association).ConclusionsThis scale is useful as a standard measure in that it begins to identify the measurable dimensions of peer relations that influence sustaining post treatment recovery.