Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Magura

Publications and source records attributed to S Magura.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Parental substance abuse as a predictor of child maltreatment re-reports.

This longitudinal study of child abuse and neglect cases closed after investigation examined the impact of parental substance abuse on family functioning and on subsequent referrals to child protective services. The findings support the hypothesis that parental substance abuse would have a negative impact on family functioning, which, in turn, would result in a higher rate of re-reports. As expected, substance abuse also had a direct impact on re-reports. It is critical that the child welfare system recognize and respond to parental substance abuse problems in these families through expanded and improved voluntary, and perhaps, mandatory services.

Adolescent↗

Daily cocaine use patterns: effects of contextual and psychological variables.

This study identifies factors that predict daily cocaine use among clients in a methadone maintenance program who participated in a cocaine treatment trial. Cocaine use decreased the longer clients remained in treatment, and the amount of cocaine used depended upon the day of the week, with Saturday typically having the greatest use and Sunday having the least. Logistic regression analyses showed that several other factors were related to daily cocaine use: peak cocaine craving, resistance to use cocaine, and several triggers or stimuli to use cocaine. These stimuli included receiving money, being offered cocaine, and seeing cocaine and/or related paraphernalia. However, even with these variables controlled, day of the week and time in treatment continued to be significant predictors. This suggests that (a) other time-varying variables need to be included in order to fully account for cocaine use variation from day to day and (b) time in treatment is a robust predictor of reduced cocaine use despite the strong influences of craving, external stimuli, and day of the week.

Adult↗

Validity of self-reported drug use in high risk populations: a meta-analytical review.

Research involving drug users and treatment evaluations continue to rely extensively on self-reports of drug use. This paper presents a meta-analytical review of 24 studies published since 1985 that examined the validity of drug self-reports in high risk populations. Only studies employing a biological criterion of validity (e.g., urinalysis, hair analysis) are included. Coefficients of chance-corrected agreement between self-reports and the validity criteria are calculated from published data to facilitate cross-study comparisons. The median conditional kappa (kappa c) was .42, considerably below the level of kappa c = .80 that represents acceptable reporting accuracy. The magnitude of drug use underreporting documented in this review could seriously bias prevalence estimates and treatment outcome studies.

Alcoholism↗

Video techniques with chemically-dependent patients.

This paper describes the use of videotaping as an adjunctive intervention in the treatment of substance-dependent patients. In the context of a cognitive-behavioral treatment extensively modified to work with inner-city, methadone-maintained cocaine users, videotaping in both individual and group formats is described. Video sessions create an opportunity for patients to reflect on their experience, enhance their self-esteem, aid in teaching social skills, and help hard-to-engage patients begin to participate in treatment. In order to compete with both the powerfully reinforcing qualities of cocaine and the extreme degree of avoidance exhibited by this population, therapy has to provide intense capturing experiences at the outset of treatment. Patient's reactions indicate that the experience they have is captivating and stimulating more than most other early therapy experiences. It is additionally concluded that the use of video can be instrumental in addressing the severe psychological deficits of this population that otherwise impede treatment efforts. While the role of video was not independently evaluated for its contribution to patient retention, 62% of patients were retained through completion of an intensive 6-month protocol.

Adult↗

Evaluation of an AIDS education model for women drug users in jail.

This paper reports outcome evaluation results of an AIDS education program for drug-using women in jail, of whom the majority were current drug injectors, had high-risk sexual partners, and never used condoms for insertive sex. The women participated in four small-group health/HIV education sessions. Education participants and controls were followed-up 7 months after their release from jail; the two groups did not differ significantly on drug- or sex-related HIV risk behaviors at follow-up. However, being in drug dependency treatment (primarily methadone maintenance) at follow-up was associated with reduced heroin use, crack use, drug dealing, and criminal activity. Although improved HIV education in jail is important, better networks of community resources, including more accessible community drug dependency treatment, also must be developed to support drug-dependent women after their release from jail.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Outcomes of intensive AIDS education for male adolescent drug users in jail.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to conduct and evaluate an intensive AIDS education program for incarcerated male adolescent drug users. METHODS: The study was conducted in New York City's main jail facility for detained and sentenced male youths aged 16-19 years. A four-session, group-oriented AIDS education program based on Problem-Solving Therapy was conducted. The program was voluntary and all youths on designated dormitories were invited to participate. The evaluation compared youths participating in the AIDS education with waiting list controls who were discharged or transferred before they could be offered the education. Behavioral outcomes for AIDS education participants and controls were determined at a five month follow-up after release from jail. Behaviors were measured through personal interviews at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: High rates of HIV risk behaviors were documented, including alcohol, marijuana and cocaine/crack use that may predispose youths to sexual risk-taking: practice of heterosexual anal sex; multiple and high-risk sexual partnerships; and no, or inconsistent, use of condoms. Education participants as compared with controls were significantly more likely to increase their condom use, to increase positive attitudes towards condoms, and possibly to decrease high-risk sexual partnerships. However, other sexual risk variables and substance use were unchanged. CONCLUSION: Intensive AIDS education provided in jail can be useful in reducing certain HIV risk behaviors of criminally-involved male adolescents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Condom use among criminally-involved adolescents.

Condom use was studied for 421 sexually active, minority male adolescents who were currently in jail in New York City. Over three-quarters of the youths were users of alcohol and marijuana and about one-quarter were users of cocaine or crack, but drug injectors were rare. In the six months before arrest they had multiple sexual partners and about one-third had engaged in anal intercourse. Inconsistent condom use was the norm, with 17% reporting that they never used condoms and only 15% reporting that they used condoms every time for insertive sex. In multivariate analysis, more frequent condom use was independently predicted by gay/bisexual preference, greater acceptability and accessibility of condoms, partners' receptivity to use, self-initiation of use, and self-efficacy of avoiding AIDS. Condoms were used less frequently with steady than with causual partners, and rarely for anal or oral sex. AIDS prevention curricula addressing these factors should be delivered to high risk adolescents while they are temporarily accessible in jail.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Neurobehavioral treatment for cocaine-using methadone patients: a preliminary report.

Preliminary outcome evaluation results are reported for an innovative cocaine abuse treatment model adapted for cocaine-using methadone patients. Sixty-two patients were randomly assigned to six months of high intensity ("neurobehavioral") or lower intensity ("control") therapy for cocaine dependence. Therapy was completed by 49% of neurobehavioral and 53% of control patients. In paired comparisons between intake and six-month follow-up, neurobehavioral patients but not controls showed significant declines in cocaine and other drug use (measured by urinalysis and self-reports), as well as significant improvement in psychological status. The findings suggest that specialized cocaine abuse treatment can benefit methadone patients; intake to the study is continuing.

Adult↗

Correlates of cocaine/crack use among inner-city incarcerated adolescents.

Inner-city male adolescents in jail in New York City (N = 427) were interviewed to examine correlates of cocaine or crack use. Twenty-three percent had used cocaine or crack in the month before arrest and 32% reported lifetime use. Substantial rates of robbery, murder, other violent crime, weapons possession, and drug dealing were found. However, type of crime, including violent crime, was not related either to cocaine/crack use or to drug dealing. Current cocaine/crack users were more likely to use alcohol, marijuana, and intranasal heroin; to have multiple previous arrests; to be out of school; to be psychologically distressed; to have been sexually molested as a child; to have substance abusing parents; and to have cocaine/crack-using friends. They were also more likely to have frequent sex with girls, to be gay or bisexual, and to engage in anal intercourse. The findings should be considered in developing more effective drug abuse prevention and treatment interventions, and HIV prevention education, for incarcerated at-risk adolescents.

Adolescent↗

ARRIVE: an AIDS education/relapse prevention model for high-risk parolees.

An AIDS prevention training program for parolees recently released from prison with histories of drug injection was developed and evaluated. Key program elements included: a social learning approach to prevention which emphasized resistance skills training; a self-help orientation stressing individual responsibility; therapeutic community principles such as credible role models and community building; and job readiness training for the AIDS prevention/outreach field. A total of 394 eligible parolees (81% male, 19% female) were recruited, of whom 241 attended the program, including 164 completers. One year follow-up results showed that ARRIVE participation significantly decreased certain sexual and drug-related risk behaviors and improved parolees' community adjustment.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

HIV risk among women injecting drug users who are in jail.

Female offender populations and females in jail include large proportions of injecting drug users (IDUs), who are at high risk of contracting or transmitting HIV. Women IDUs (n = 165) were recruited and interviewed at New York City's central jail facility for women. The study examined these women's patterns of HIV risk behaviors related to drugs and sex and identified behavioral and attitudinal correlates of HIV serostatus. The women typically used both injectable and non-injectable drugs prior to arrest, primarily heroin, cocaine powder, crack, and illicit methadone. Self-reported HIV seropositivity was 43%. Variables correlated with HIV serostatus in the bivariate analysis were: cocaine injection frequency; lifetime injection risk behavior; providing oral sex during male crack use; Hispanic ethnicity; sharing of needles/syringes; sharing of cookers; sharing injection equipment with friends; heroin smoking (negative); injection risk acceptance; peer norms and behavior; lifetime sexual risk behavior; frequency of sex with men; provision of sex for money or drugs; and knowing people with AIDS. The first four variables listed retained statistical significance in a multiple logistic regression analysis. The paper considers the need to tailor AIDS prevention interventions for woman IDUs in jail, including taking into account risk behaviors that occur within frequently reported same-sex partnerships.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

The validity of hair analysis for detecting cocaine and heroin use among addicts.

Radioimmunoassay of hair (RIAH) was compared with two criterion measures, confidential EMIT urinalysis and self-reporting of cocaine/heroin use, for a purposive sample of 134 persons in methadone treatment. Positive or negative RIAH was "confirmed" by urinalysis and/or self-report in 87 and 84% of the cases for cocaine and heroin (morphine), respectively. Corroborative evidence indicated that "excess" RIAH positives were attributable to the narrow window of detection for urinalysis (2 days), failure to admit drug use even to researchers, and/or inadvertent ingestion of small amounts of drug. A global self-report of cocaine use intensity was related to amount in the hair.

Adult↗