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Biomedical subjects

R G Smart

Publications and source records attributed to R G Smart.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Comparison of the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and drugs between students and delinquents in the Bahamas].

Surveys of drug use were conducted among 4,767 junior and senior high school students in 1987 and 74 incarcerated delinquents in 1988 in the Bahamas. It was found that the majority of both groups reported having drunk alcohol, and substantial proportions had also smoked tobacco, although over twice as many delinquents as students had smoked. However, use of illicit drugs was far more common among delinquents, at seven times the student rate for marijuana and six times for cocaine. Many social and demographic similarities were found among users in both groups, who were likely to be males who had trouble in school or did not attend school, were not religiously active, and came from families where drugs were used or sold. Over one-third of the delinquents had sold drugs, but almost half (44%) of the delinquents and 25% of the students said they would use or sell marijuana or cocaine if they had it. The results of the studies point to the need for increased drug education in the Bahamas and for efforts involving schools, churches, parents, the media, and Government.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Recent international reductions and increases in liver cirrhosis deaths.

This paper examines changes in liver cirrhosis death rates in 29 countries between 1974 and 1983 or the latest year available. Seven countries show a decline in death rates, six an increase, and the remaining 17 show no clear significant trends. Changes were more common among countries with high rates of alcohol consumption and high rates of liver cirrhosis deaths. Limited evidence for a widespread amelioration in liver cirrhosis seems to exist.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

Reductions in liver cirrhosis mortality and morbidity in Canada: demographic differences and possible explanations.

In Canada, deaths from liver cirrhosis have declined by about 25% since 1974. To gain further insight into the nature of this decline, mortality rates for the years 1974-1984 and morbidity (hospital separation) rates for the years 1974-1980 were examined by age and sex and by province and sex. As well, survey data on drinking practices in Ontario were analyzed. Both mortality and morbidity declined over the time period involved, although variations over provinces, age groups, and sex were observed. The pattern of variations (largest declines in provinces with highest per capita alcohol consumption and in young to middle-aged males) strongly suggests decreased incidence of alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Among the factors which may be contributing to these declines are: the stabilization and small decreases in per capita consumption of alcohol; consumption pattern changes consistent with observed mortality and morbidity changes; expanded health promotion activities; and increases in the numbers of alcoholics receiving treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Drinking under special occasion permits: a neglected aspect of alcohol control measures?

Drinking that occurs under special permits in Canada, such as at weddings, private receptions and parties, is a neglected aspect of alcohol research. These permits are issued for many different occasions and are most common in the provinces with the highest per capita alcohol consumption. Special permit drinking is becoming a social and alcohol-control issue but information on the problems it creates is sparse. Specific problem areas such as excessive drinking and drinking by minors have not been studied, but because such drinking is rarely monitored they may be substantial. Further study of special permit drinking is recommended.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1988

Does alcohol advertising affect overall consumption? A review of empirical studies.

This article reviews the empirical warrant for the assertion that alcohol advertising affects overall alcohol consumption. Econometric, exposure, experimental studies and advertising bans are examined. The evidence indicates that advertising bans do not reduce alcohol sales, total advertising expenditures have no reliable correlation with sales of alcoholic beverages, and that experimental studies typically show no effect of advertising on actual consumption. However, one set of studies does show that drinkers are exposed to more television alcohol advertisements, without making the causal connection clear. In general, the evidence indicates little impact of alcohol advertising on alcohol sales or drinking. However, some results are suggestive and there is a need for more sophisticated econometric, exposure and experimental studies that take into account a wider range of variables.

Advertising↗
PubMed1988

Drug abuse and prevention programs in 29 countries.

In this paper, drug prevention programs in 29 countries are reviewed and summarized. The material was gathered from the reports that each country had prepared for the World Health Organization project on Guidelines for Drug Abuse Prevention. Each report provided a detailed schedule of background data on drug abuse and prevention programs in that country. The sophistication of prevention programs varies considerably from one country to another and depends on the degree and nature of the problem. An analysis of this material indicates that the seriousness of the drug problem is well recognized in some countries but not in others. In some of the latter countries it is obvious that no real problem exists, while in others little is known about the extent of the problem and little effort is spent in this area.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed1987

Changes in alcohol problems as a result of changing alcohol consumption: a natural experiment.

Alcohol consumption declined by about 10.5% in Quebec and 2.5% in Ontario but increased by 9.5% in Alberta in the years 1974-1983. This created a 'natural experiment' in which the effects of various changes in alcohol consumption on alcohol problems could be assessed. Declines in rates of most alcohol problems were found in Quebec and Ontario despite their different rates of decrease in consumption. However, there were declines in alcoholism rates, and deaths from liver disease and the alcohol dependency syndrome in Alberta. Some problems such as impaired driving and toxic or accidental deaths from alcohol increased in Alberta, probably because of its relatively youthful population compared to Ontario and Quebec. Changes in alcohol consumption appeared to be an unreliable indicator of how various problems are changing.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

Wine, women, suspiciousness and advertising.

Women college students (N = 66) viewed videotapes of a soap opera episode and a rock music program, ostensibly to evaluate the appeal of such material to college women. Different versions of the videotape included zero, three or nine wine commercials. Refreshments, including white wine, were available to the subjects. Suspiciousness about the experiment was evaluated through an open-ended questionnaire, responses to which were independently content-analyzed by two scorers. Major findings were as follows: Women exposed to nine wine commercials consumed more wine than those exposed to three. Twelve women were judged suspicious about the experiment, but none showed continued specific awareness of the study's true purpose. The differential consumption patterns of women in the three-wine-commercial and nine-wine-commercial conditions were exaggerated among suspicious women. These findings, in light of previous observations, suggest opposite reactions to soft-sell versus hard-sell persuasive appeals by men and women, notably ones predisposed to be suspicious about the purpose of experiments.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Patterns of drug use among adolescents: the past decade.

In recent years investigators have examined patterns of drug use among various populations. None, however, have examined the changes in drug patterns over time. The present study analyzed changes in patterns of drug use among a population of drug-using adolescent students in Ontario (Canada). Three cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1968, 1977 and 1985, which sampled students in grades 7, 9, 11 and 13 (ranging in age from 12 to 20 years), were employed. Using eight substance types as measures (cannabis, barbiturates, stimulants, tranquillizers, inhalants, LSD, heroin and others), four general patterns were constructed: single-drug psychotherapeutic users; multiple psychotherapeutic users; exclusive cannabis users; and multiple-illicit. The findings indicated the following: a significant decrease in the representation of both exclusive and multiple psychotherapeutic users between 1968 and 1977; a significant increase in exclusive cannabis users between 1968 and 1977, and following this a decline into 1985; and a significant increase in multiple illicit users between 1968 and 1977. In all a major shift from a psychotherapeutic-illicit dichotomy to an overwhelming illicit pattern has occurred during the past decade.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Banning happy hours: the impact on drinking and impaired-driving charges in Ontario, Canada.

The effect of happy hour discounts on alcohol consumption has become an important policy concern. Few studies, however, have examined this relationship. To examine the impact of banning happy hours in Ontario, an observational study of patron alcohol consumption was conducted in five taverns before and after the ban. Aggregate alcohol sales and impaired-driving charges were also collected. The results indicated no significant preban-postban differences in alcohol consumption among all individuals nor within taverns. Aggregate alcohol sales data also indicated no significant trends over a similar period. Although a significant decline for impaired-driving charges was suggested, it could not be causally attributed to the independent effect of the happy hour ban. Substantial price reductions may be required before increased alcohol consumption is discernable. Future research could focus on this issue.

Accidents, Traffic↗