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R G Smart

Publications and source records attributed to R G Smart.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Procurement of alcohol and underage drinking among adolescents in Ontario.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to examine the procurement of alcohol among underage drinkers. METHOD: The data are based on a survey of 3,571 students in Ontario schools. Underage drinkers were those younger than 19 years of age. Data were gathered with an anonymous questionnaire administered in classrooms in 1992. The data include descriptive analysis of underage procurement and a cluster analysis of underage drinker types (n = 1,125: 566 female). RESULTS: Most students found alcohol easy to obtain, with the most common access being from parents' supplies or older friends. Four types of underage drinkers were identified: bar drinkers (5%), frequent purchasers (10%), frequent obtainers (3%) and infrequent obtainers (83%). CONCLUSIONS: Frequent self purchasers and infrequent secondary purchasers have the highest levels of consumption and problems. However, most underage drinkers report no problems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Alcohol-related measures as factors in traffic fatalities.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if alcohol-related measures (per capita consumption, drinking-driving arrest rate, alcohol abuse treatment rate and Alcoholics Anonymous [AA] membership rate) were related to differences between states in traffic fatality rates (total and alcohol-related). METHOD: Fatality rates were regressed onto the alcohol-related variables, using state level data for 1982 and 1990 as well as measures of relative change between the 2 years. RESULTS: Fatality rates demonstrated significant positive relationships with per capita consumption and drinking-driving arrest rates, and significant negative relationships with AA membership rates, for the years 1982 and 1990. Also, changes in per capita consumption were significantly and positively related to changes in both traffic fatality measures. CONCLUSIONS: Per capita alcohol consumption measures were the strongest and most consistent determinants of traffic fatality measures. The negative relationship between AA membership rates and traffic fatality measures for 1982 and 1990 suggests a beneficial impact of AA on these measures at the aggregate level, although other explanations are possible.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1996

Behavioral and social consequences related to the consumption of different beverage types.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to review the literature on the effects of beer, wine and spirits on the behavioral consequences of alcohol consumption. METHOD: The methods involve library research and analysis of the various published articles relating to experimental and survey studies of different effects RESULTS: The major results indicate that (1) after spirits consumption blood alcohol concentrations rise more quickly than after beer; (2) for most behavioral tasks beer creates less impairment than brandy at the same dose levels; (3) brandy also leads to more emotional and aggressive responses; (4) those who drink beer or beer and spirits have more alcohol-related problems than others; and (5) beer drinkers are more likely than others to drink and drive, to be arrested for drinking-driving and to be in alcohol-related accidents. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that beer and spirits lead to greater problems than does wine consumption. However, there is a need for more studies of women and confirmed drinkers of various beverages. There is also a need to study the effects of wine consumption on behavioral impairment. Lastly, there is a need to determine if there is a beer-drinking culture which supports heavy drinking and driving after drinking.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1995

Do some types of alcoholic beverages lead to more problems for adolescents?

OBJECTIVE: In surveys of alcohol use the alcoholic beverage preferred is sometimes noted but rarely given much attention. What little research exists on how beverage type relates to alcohol problems, delinquency and drug use has produced inconsistent results. This study identifies groups of high school students who drink beer, wine or spirits exclusively as well as those who drink multiple beverage types and examines whether problems are limited to a beverage type or a combination of types. METHOD: This study uses data from the 1991 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey. The sampling design employs a stratified (grade by region) single-stage cluster sample of homeroom classes. Students who drank alcohol at least once a month are included (N = 1,557). RESULTS: Most students (82%) drink a combination of beer, wine and spirits. However, drinker type is not related to alcohol problems, drinking and driving, tobacco use, cannabis use or drug problems, holding constant age, gender and alcohol consumption. Only for heavy drinking and delinquency is there a significant association with drinker type. Exclusive beer and spirits drinkers and drinkers of all three beverages are more likely than the other drinker types to consume five or more drinks on a single occasion and to engage in delinquent behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Drinkers of beer and spirits and all three beverage types are not only heavier drinkers but probably more rebellious and deviant. Wine, if taken exclusively, appears to be the beverage of moderation.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1995

People with physical disabilities admitted to a residential addiction treatment program.

This exploratory study used data on admissions to a 28-day residential addiction treatment program to explore differences between disabled and nondisabled cases with respect to patterns of substance use and other characteristics. Relationships between length and type of disability, substance use, and other characteristics were also explored. The focus was on cases aged 18 to 65 identified as having physical disabilities that limit participation in the work force. The results showed that 5.3% of the sample reported disabilities which prevented them from working, and a further 8.6% reported that physical disabilities limited their participation in the work force. The results also showed that self-identified problems with tranquilizers were more common among the disabled than the nondisabled and that more severely disabled people are more likely to report attempting suicide and to express the need for mental health counseling. Having prescriptions as a main source of drugs was also more common among females with major disabilities than among other groups. Priorities for further research are suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Changes in cancer mortality rates and per capita alcohol consumption in Ontario, 1963-1983.

Data on Ontario per capita alcohol consumption and alcohol-related cancer mortality rates from 1963 to 1983 generally correlated positively and significantly. Correlations for the period of rising consumption (1963-1974) were similar to those observed for the total period, but during the period of stabilization and decline of alcohol consumption the magnitude of nearly all relationships decreased substantially. The overall positive and significant correlation between per capita alcohol consumption and various cancer site mortality rates may be partly due to lag effects from the period when consumption was on the rise.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Treatment, health promotion and alcohol controls and the decrease of alcohol consumption and problems in Ontario: 1975-1993.

We report information on trends in alcohol problems, alcohol consumption, alcohol availability and prevention measures in Ontario for the period 1975-1993. Problem measures show substantial declines over the period. Measures of consumption have declined as well, but not as much as problem measures. Economic availability (relative price) has remained stable, while physical availability has increased. Prevention measures show substantial increases over the period.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1994

Is the association between drug use and delinquency weakening?

In this paper we examine period or secular changes in the association between drug use and delinquency among Ontario adolescent students between 1983 and 1991. The results show that during this period drug use and drug-selling declined significantly, whereas reported non-drug-related delinquency increased. In addition to differing secular trends in rates of drug use and delinquent behaviour, the association between the two behaviours weakened. There was a steady decline in the correlations between drug use and delinquency across time, and the typological patterning of drug use and delinquency changed significantly.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The relationships between declines in drinking and alcohol problems among Ontario students: 1979-1991.

This article reports data from a 12-year cross-sectional study of drinking and drinking problems among students in grades 7-13 in Ontario schools. It was expected that rates of drinking and levels of drinking problems would be related. Large declines in drinking levels were found, however declines were found for only about half of the drinking-problem items. No declines were found in rates of the most serious problems and this indicates there is an unchanging proportion of students with drinking problems who will likely need interventions such as treatment and counseling.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Street youth in substance abuse treatment: characteristics and treatment compliance.

This study reports on the characteristics of street youth in treatment in Ontario. Data came from eleven substance abuse treatment programs. It was found that street youth in treatment had a larger number of social and drug abuse problems than did non-street youth. They were more likely to be unemployed, on welfare, and to have legal problems. They had more depression and lower self-esteem, and use more alcohol and drugs. Discharged street and non-street youth had similar lengths of stay and drop-out rates in one residential program and similar, although limited, amounts of treatment in outpatient programs. However, street youth were more likely to leave outpatient programs without telling staff. The need for more experimentation in the provision of service for youth is identified.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Recent liver cirrhosis declines: estimates of the impact of alcohol abuse treatment and alcoholics anonymous.

This paper examines the proposition that increased treatment for alcohol abuse and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) membership can account for a large part of the recent declines in cirrhosis mortality and morbidity. Data on treatment and AA membership in the USA between 1979 and 1987 and in Ontario between 1975 and 1986 are used, together with estimates of cirrhosis risk and the likely impact of treatment and AA membership. The results show that increased treatment levels and AA membership could account for all of the reductions in cirrhosis deaths and hospital admissions in Ontario. In the USA all of the deaths and about 40% of the admissions could be accounted for by these factors.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1993

Declining drug use in relation to increased drug education: a trend study 1979-1991.

During the 1980s alcohol and drug education increased in Ontario schools, especially at the Grade 7 level. This article reports aggregate relationships between increased levels of exposure to classroom alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis education, and the use of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis by students in Ontario schools. The data were derived from repeated cross-sectional probability surveys of alcohol and drug use conducted every two years since 1979. There were strong inverse associations between increases in exposure to alcohol and drug education and reported levels of use of these substances, especially for alcohol and for Grade 7 students.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Predictors of depression in street youth.

The extent of depression and other psychiatric problems among adolescent "street" and homeless populations is largely undocumented. Using a sample of 145 adolescent street youth interviewed in Toronto, Canada, this study attempted to extend the knowledge of street youth by examining the association of depression with alcohol and drug use and related problems, social supports, self-esteem, family background, and alcohol and drug use among family members. The results indicated that the best predictors of depression among street youth were self-esteem and length of time spent in a hostel.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Adolescent drug sellers: trends, characteristics and profiles.

This study examines drug selling among representative samples of high school students in Ontario. It involves three approaches, (i) examining the trend in drug selling between 1983 and 1989, (ii) assessing differences between sellers and non-sellers on demographic characteristics, levels of alcohol and drug use, and problems, and (iii) drawing detailed profiles of drug seller types. Drug selling declined considerably between 1983 and 1989. Sellers were more likely to be males and to use alcohol and drugs more often than non-sellers. Sellers also had more alcohol and drug problems and engaged in more delinquent acts. Drug sellers who sold cannabis only were less frequent users of drugs, less likely to have drug problems, and were also delinquent.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Substance use and work disabilities among a general population.

Using data derived from a representative survey of 869 Ontario adults, we examined the association between work disabilities and substance use, i.e., drinking, alcohol problems, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers. Overall, we found a significant association between substance use and disability. For alcohol problems, we found that those with moderate limitations reported the greatest number of problems, holding constant age, gender, income, and frequency of drinking. For the use of sleeping pills and especially tranquilizers, we found a strong positive relationship to limitation status. A number of significant interactions involving tranquilizer use showed that two groups, females with total limitations and those aged over 40 years with sensory disabilities, reported exceptionally high rates of tranquilizer use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Substance use and problems among Toronto street youth.

The extent of substance use and problems among adolescent 'street' and homeless populations is largely undocumented. This study describes the prevalence of drug use among a sample of 145 adolescent street youth interviewed during February and March 1990 in Toronto, Canada, and compares these data to those derived from other adolescent street and mainstream populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Factors in recent reductions in liver cirrhosis deaths.

Since the mid-1970s, there have been substantial declines in liver cirrhosis deaths in many Western countries following a long period of increases. There is variability in the pattern of changes observed: in a sample of 29 countries between 1974 and 1982-83, seven countries showed a significant linear decline, three revealed a curvilinear pattern, increases were observed in six and the rest (13) showed no notable changes. Although reductions in per capita consumption of alcohol may be a contributing factor, these reductions do not seem to account for all of the decreases in cirrhosis deaths that have been observed. Among other factors that might contribute, changes or increases in treatment for alcohol abuse and AA membership have been most strongly linked to these declines; changes in patterns of consumption, dietary habits, prevention efforts and reduced exposure to predisposing factors may also be involved. In view of the importance of these declines for the understanding and prevention of alcohol problems, further research on this issue, perhaps involving international collaborative studies, is needed.

Alcoholism↗