Thomas Lyons

Early Vocabulary Growth: Relation to Language Input and Gender.

This study examines the role of exposure to speech in childrens early vocabulary growth. It is generally assumed that individual differences in vocabulary depend, in large part, on variations in learning capacity. However, variations in exposure have not been systematically explored. In this study we characterize vocabulary growth rates for each of 22 children by using data obtained at several time points from 14 to 26 months. We find a substantial relation between individual differences in vocabulary acquisition and variations in the amount that particular mothers speak to their children. The relation between amount of parent speech and vocabulary growth, we argue, reflects parent effects on the child, rather than child-ability effects on the parent or hereditary factors. We also find that gender is an important factor in rate of vocabulary growth. Early childhood is a period of rapid linguistic development. By 2 years, the average child acquires 900 root words (cf. Carey, 1978) and at least a rudimentary syntax (cf. Brown, 1973). Although there has been considerable recent interest in syntactic development, much less attention has been devoted to lexical development. Yet in tracing the development of language from its inception, lexical development must necessarily be a focus of study because the acquisition of words constitutes the childs initial achievement as a language user. A certain amount of vocabulary must be acquired before words can be combined into sentences, and, indeed, several months elapse between the time children start to produce words and the time they start to produce multiword utterances. In addition, vocabulary and syntax are not independent aspects of language knowledge; for example, verbs frequently encode actions involving relations among entities (e.g., give, feed) which are specified by the verb together with its arguments. A major concern in the recent work on syntactic development has been with the relative contributions of the childs innate preparedness for language versus language input. Yet the rapid growth of vocabulary in early childhood also is a manifestation of the human preparedness for language, and parallel questions arise concerning the relative contributions of capacity and input. Especially at the start of language learning, innate preparedness surely plays a role in acquiring word meanings because inferences about meanings are based on pairings of words with situations. As Quine (1969) has persuasively argued, the variety of aspects of a situation which might be encoded by a word is enormous. Because of this, Gleitman and Wanner (1982) point out, it seemscritical to posit innately available constraints on the possible meanings children entertain.

The Role of Recovery Capital in the Community Reentry of Prisoners with Substance Use Disorders

This article examines the concept of recovery capital, which is based on a socioeconomic understanding of addiction. Substance abuse treatment programs, especially those in the criminal justice system, should recognize the important relationship between abstinence and recovery capital. A program is described which fosters recovery capital among former prisoners with substance use disorders who are reentering the community.

“What Could Have Been Different”: A Qualitative Study of Syndemic Theory and HIV Prevention Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men

Young men who have sex with men (MSM) experience multiple health disparities, including alcohol and drug use, partner violence, victimization due to sexual orientation, and HIV infection. Syndemic theorists explain the clustering of these disparities among adult MSM as a result of cultural marginalization. To date, research on a similar emerging syndemic among young MSM has been limited to quantitative studies. The authors seek to better understand these disparities, and how they may cluster together, via qualitative interviews with 21 ethnically diverse, HIV-infected young MSM aged 18 to 24 years. These youth report a lack of gay-specific HIV prevention education, absence of role models, and lack of productive future goal-related activities as factors related to their acquisition of HIV and downplay substance use as a factor. Although not necessarily the components traditionally cited by syndemic theorists, these findings support the notion that multiple factors of cultural marginalization cluster together in the lives of young MSM and underscore the importance of community-level interventions, such as sexual health education, access to mentors, and assistance with future goal setting and planning.

Racial Disproportionality in the Criminal Justice System for Drug Offenses A State Legislative Response to the Problem

This article describes the work of the Illinois Disproportionate Justice Impact Study Commission, a nonpartisan, multidisciplinary group of policy makers, government leaders, and justice professionals that focused on understanding and alleviating the disproportionate incarceration of African Americans and Latinos in Illinois for drug law violations. The study data were obtained from arrest records statewide and court cases in Cook County (Chicago), which were both drawn from calendar year 2005. Results showed that racial disproportionality in arrests for drug crimes is found in urban, suburban, and rural counties of the state and is more pronounced among arrestees with arrest records than among first-time arrestees. Analyses of Cook County court data showed that controlling for other variables, including criminal history, African Americans were approximately 2.2 times more likely than Whites, and Latinos were approximately 1.6 times more likely than Whites, to be prosecuted for drug offenses. Unequal outcomes in court processing compound the disparities at arrest, perpetuating a vicious cycle. The article concludes with the Commission’s proposed remedies for racial disproportionality.

HIV Prevention and Education in State Prison Systems An Update

The prevalence rate of HIV infection in jails and prisons is approximately 5 times the rate in the U. S. general population. The authors surveyed state prison officials to assess HIV testing and HIV prevention policies—specifically voluntary testing, group HIV prevention counseling, and peer education—in the 50 states and to determine whether those policies are associated with the characteristics of the state and its prison population.

Prison Meditation Movements and Mass Incarceration

By some estimates, more than half of inmates held in jails and prisons in the United States have a substance use disorder. Treatments involving the teaching of meditation and other contemplative practices have been developed for a variety of physical and mental disorders, including drug and alcohol addiction. At the same time, an expanding volunteer movement across the country has been bringing meditation and yoga into jails and prisons. This review first examines the experimental research on one such approach—mindfulness meditation as a treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, as well as the research on mindfulness in incarcerated settings. We argue that to make a substantial impact on recidivism, such programs must mirror volunteer programs which emphasize interdependency and non-duality between the “helper” and the “helped,” and the building of meditation communities both inside and outside of prison.

Intimate Strangers? Social Networks in HIV Prevention Groups for Drug Users.

Group substance abuse treatment relies for its effectiveness on relationships formed within group sessions, but few studies have explored the importance of these relationships for group HIV-prevention interventions for drug users. We surveyed the literature on group HIV-prevention interventions, particularly for men of color, and analyzed qualitative data from a pilot intervention for out-of-treatment, drug-using men who have sex with men. We found that many participants were acquainted prior to the intervention and formed relationships that they attempted (often unsuccessfully) to maintain after the intervention was over.

Respiratory Illness, Gender, and Crack Cocaine Cessation Among Jail Detainees

We examine the association between recent crack smoking, gender, and self-reported respiratory illness among 360 drug-addicted jail detainees. A standardized questionnaire measured medical status and self-reported drug use. Logistic regression assessed the association of crack cocaine use (never, former, or recent use) with respiratory illness. After adjusting for demographics, other illnesses, other drug use, homelessness, and other characteristics, detainees who ceased smoking crack more than 1 year ago were less likely to report respiratory illness (adjusted odds ratio = .418). Women remained twice as likely as men to report respiratory illness after adjustment for crack use. We conclude that improvement in respiratory health status can be observed with cessation of crack cocaine use, even involuntarily, for a period as short as 1 year.

Development of a Small-Group Intervention for Stimulant-Using Men Who Have Sex With Men

Use of methamphetamine and cocaine has been shown to contribute to risky sexual behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM). Intensive research is under way to develop behavioral interventions to reduce sexual risk behavior among MSM stimulant users. We developed a 10-session small-group intervention based on social-cognitive theory and group process techniques and with a healthy sexuality curriculum. We conducted an uncontrolled pilot study with 87 men who had had unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) while using stimulants within the past 6 months. Of the 70 men who attended at least 1 session intervention, 64% attended 6 or more sessions. Significant declines were seen between baseline and follow-up in both stimulant use and UAI while using stimulants. In the absence of pharmacological therapies for stimulant addiction, and given the difficulty in breaking the association between stimulant use and sex, group interventions are a promising approach for reducing risky sex and stimulant use.

Self-reported psychological distress associated with steroid therapy for HIV

Anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) replacement therapy is standard care for patients with low testosterone, including HIV-related conditions. These medications have been associated with development of aggressiveness, anxiety disorders, and depression, but only in short-term clinical trials. We conducted an anonymous street survey at a gay and lesbian community event and a survey in a clinic-based setting to study the wider prevalence of psychiatric side-effects associated with androgenic steroids. In the street-based survey, almost half of those prescribed AAS reported psychological side-effects, most commonly aggression (29%) followed by depression (21%). In the clinic survey of mostly HIV+ male patients, changes in sex drive were the most commonly reported effect of treatment while impulsive aggression, anxiety and depression were reported at levels similar to those in the street fair survey. These findings suggest that AAS therapy may be more frequently associated with distress than has been reported in the clinical literature.