New Survey Data Show Drug Use Rising

2010 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kostyantyn Dumchev ◽  
Marina Kornilova ◽  
Roksolana Kulchynska ◽  
Marianna Azarskova ◽  
Charles Vitek

Abstract Background It is important to understand how HIV infection is transmitted in the population in order to guide prevention activities and properly allocate limited resources. In Ukraine and other countries where injecting drug use and homosexuality are stigmatized, the information about mode of transmission in case registration systems is often biased. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a random sample of patients registered at HIV clinics in seven regions of Ukraine in 2013-2015. The survey assessed behavioral risk factors and serological markers of viral hepatitis B and C. We analyzed the discrepancies between the registered mode of transmission and the survey data, and evaluated trends over three years. Results Of 2,285 participants, 1,032 (45.2%) were females. The proportion of new HIV cases likely caused by injecting drug use based on the survey data was 59.7% compared to 33.2% in official reporting, and proportion of cases likely acquired through homosexual transmission was 3.8% compared to 2.8%. We found a significant decrease from 63.2% to 57.5% in the proportion of injecting drug use-related cases and a steep increase from 2.5 to 5.2% in homosexual transmission over three years. Conclusions The study confirmed the significant degree of misclassification of HIV mode of transmission among registered cases. The role of injecting drug use in HIV transmission is gradually decreasing, but remains high. The proportion of cases related to homosexual transmission is relatively modest, but is rapidly increasing, especially in younger men. Improvements in ascertaining the risk factor information are essential to monitor the epidemic and to guide programmatic response.


1973 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 355-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D. Orcutt ◽  
Donald A. Biggs

Survey data on various risks attributed to drug use are analyzed through two-way comparisons of non-users and regular users of marijuana and alcohol. For both drugs, non-users perceive considerably greater risk in use than do regular users. For most kinds of drug-related risks, alcohol use is perceived as involving the same or greater degrees of risk than is marijuana use. The findings suggest that young people will not attach a great deal of credibility to propaganda emphasizing the risks of marijuana use.


1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luechai Sri-Ngernyuang

The paper describes the situation of drugs and drug sources found available at the village level in Thailand. It concludes, from village-survey data (N = 195) and village case studies (N=15), that drugs are available in abundance. A vast variety of drugs, including prescription drugs, are available at various sources, of which the most common ones are grocery stores. The situation reflects the failure of the drug regulation system as well as the influence of commercial pharmaceutical sector in drug provision. This situation hampers attempts to rationalize drug use by consumers.


2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia M. Acocella

Nonprescription drug use among university students was investigated using survey and behavioral diary methodologies to assess usage of nonprescription drug use and to compare survey and diary methodologies. Surveys were completed by 183 students (136 females and 47 males) that asked how often they used nonprescription drugs and what those drugs were. Of these participants, 61 (53 females and 8 males) voluntarily completed behavioral diaries for nonprescription drug use for a three week period. Survey data showed 83.1% of participants used nonprescription drugs in the past week, with pain relievers being the most common drug used. There was a significant correlation between the number of times participants reported using nonprescription drugs on the surveys and what the participants reported in their diaries, with no differences in the mean number of uses between survey and diary. This indicates that participants can recall information about their medication-taking behavior with some accuracy. Behavioral diaries were also able to show some of the misuse that is associated with using nonprescription medications. In most cases of misuse, too large a dose was taken. Students should be provided with information about the possible long- and short-term effects of these medications.


1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph F. Sheley

Despite considerable public attention to the issue, little has occurred in the way of a systematic assessment of the gun-possession and gun-use profiles of young persons involved in the use and distribution of drugs. This article reports the results of an analysis of survey data collected from juveniles incarcerated in maximum security reformatories. The data pertain to firearms possession, carrying, and use, use of heroin, cocaine, and crack, the sale of drugs, and involvement in armed robbery. The findings offer no evidence of a progressive, linear relationship between level of drug use and gun possession (including number of guns owned and the routine carrying of guns) and use. However, disregarding level of drug use, when nonusers were compared with users who did not sell drugs, significant differences in involvement in gun possession and use did appear. Also, when we separated users who did not sell drugs from users who did, the latter generally displayed higher involvement in gun possession and use. Drug selling clearly increased gun-related behavior. Finally, drug users who also committed robberies exceeded drug users who did not in involvement in gun possession and use. Drug sellers who robbed similarly were higher in the same activities than sellers who did not.


2021 ◽  
pp. 263208432110612
Author(s):  
Nicoline Toresen Lokdam ◽  
Marianne Riksheim Stavseth ◽  
Anne Bukten

Objectives This paper demonstrates how to investigate the external validity of a study sample by triangulating survey and registry data, using data from the Norwegian Offender Mental Health and Addiction (NorMA) Study as a case. Methods We use survey data from the NorMA study ( n = 1495), including the NorMA cohort ( n = 733), and data from the Norwegian Prison Registry on all people imprisoned on 1 September 2013 ( n = 3386). Triangulation was performed by (1) comparing the NorMA cohort to those lost to follow-up ( n = 762), using survey data from the NorMA study. Secondly, we compared the NorMA cohort to the one-day population, using data from the Norwegian Prison Registry. We also stratified the one-day sample by possession of a Norwegian personal identification number (PIN). Results We found differences in birthplace, imprisonment and drug use between the NorMA cohort, lost to follow-up and the one-day population. Twenty-three percent of the one-day population did not have a Norwegian PIN. The NorMA cohort was more similar to those with a Norwegian PIN in the one-day population. Our triangulation demonstrates that 56–62% of the Norwegian prison population had an indication of drug use before imprisonment. Conclusions The NorMA cohort was overall representative of the one-day prison population holding a Norwegian PIN and less representative of prisoners without a Norwegian PIN. Using this method provides tangible inputs on the strengths and limitations of a study sample and can be a feasible method to investigate the external validity of survey data.


2000 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Earl P. Steinberg ◽  
Benjamin Gutierrez ◽  
Aiman Momani ◽  
Joseph A. Boscarino ◽  
Patricia Neuman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
THOMAS ELLSWORTH ◽  
RALPH A. WEISHEIT

This article presents an analysis of intake survey data from 3,698 adult offenders placed on probation in a midwestern state. The data describe differences between urban and rural adult probation admissions. Included in the analysis and discussion is the identification of drug use and abuse and the ability of probation systems in the state to provide adequate screening and treatment. Other demographic and offense characteristics aid in profiling rural probation offenders, including similarities and differences with their urban counterparts.


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