Journal Of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse

Donohue, Brad; Azrin, Nathan H.; Lawson, Heather; Friedlander, Josh; Teichner, Gordon; Rindsberg, Jeff

doi: 10.1300/J029v08n01_01pmid: N/A

The present controlled study was the first to demonstrate a method of improving first session attendance in a population of conduct disordered and substance abusing adolescents. The results indicated that an intensive intervention involving the youth and parent was more effective in improving session attendance than a less intensive intervention that excluded the youth's involvement. The intensive intervention resulted in greater attendance to the first appointment (60% vs. 89%), greater attendance to appointments throughout the study (57% vs. 83%), and greater promptness to sessions that were attended (5.8 mins. vs. 0.8 mins.). Implications of this study are discussed in light of these results.

Dembo, Richard; Shemwell, Marina; Guida, Julie; Schmeidler, James; Pacheco, Kimberly; Seeberger, William

doi: 10.1300/J029v08n01_02pmid: N/A

Abdelrahman, A. I.; Rodriguez, Gloria; Ryan, John A.; French, John F.; Weinbaum, Donald

doi: 10.1300/J029v08n01_03pmid: N/A

This paper examines the correlates of substance use among New Jersey Middle School students, using a representative sample. It employs an epidemiological perspective in which an individual's risk of using cigarettes, alcohol and drugs is predicted to increase in relation to the amount of vulnerability and/or risk an individual faces. Results support the multiple effects of community, school, family, individual, peer and background factors on substance use. Results show that family history of substance abuse treatment is a strong and consistent predictor of current substance use. Abilities of families to institute clear rules against alcohol and drug use have stronger inhabiting effects on substance use than do characteristics of family structure or family conflict. Academic failure and peer use of substances show the strongest and largest effects on current substance use. There are no observed sex differences in smoking or alcohol use but sex differences in drug use persist when all the risk factors were controlled for. The effects of the risk factors on substance use differ by the type of substance being used.

Komro, Kelli A.; Flay, Brian R.; Hu, Frank Bingchang; Zelli, Arnaldo; Rashid, Jamila; Amuwo, Shaffdeen

doi: 10.1300/J029v08n01_04pmid: N/A

The objectives of this study were to explore sources of drugs (tobacco, alcohol, marijuana) and weapons (knives/razors, firearms) for a group of pre-adolescents living in disadvantages neighborhoods in Chicago. Two methods were used: a focus group and a self-administered survey implemented in classrooms. At least one-third of this sample of fifth grade students responded that it was easy for people their age to obtain each of the products. Across products, family members were the least likely source of products and neighborhood sources were the most likely sources perceived to be easy.