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Tag Archives: australia

Psychosocial therapeutic interventions for volatile substance use: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Aims  Volatile substance use (VSU) is associated with a range of adverse outcomes, including cognitive impairment and death. It occurs disproportionately within young and marginalized populations. A previous international systematic review of VSU treatment identified no relevant studies

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Brief Intervention for Illicit Drugs Linked to the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test…

Abstract Aims.  This study evaluated the effectiveness of a brief intervention (BI) for illicit drugs (cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants and opioids) linked to the WHO Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). The ASSIST screens for problem or risky use of 10 psychoactive substances,producing a score for each substance that falls into either a low’, moderate’ or high’ risk category.

Young people’s beliefs about the harmfulness of alcohol, cannabis and tobacco for mental disorders: Findings from two Australian national surveys of…

Abstract Aims  Using cross-sectional national survey data, we assessed young peoples’ beliefs about the role of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders as well as the predictors of these beliefs. We also compared these findings with those from a similar survey carried out in 2006.

Scheduling of Newly Emerging Drugs: A Critical Review of Decisions Over 40 Years

Abstract Aims:  Decisions on whether and how to schedule’ drugs (i.e. to determine their legal status and penalties to be applied for sale or possession) are often heavile criticised. We sought to assess more comprehensively the results of such decisions for newly emerging drugs

How much unsuccessful quitting activity is going on among adult smokers? Data from the International Tobacco Control 4-Country cohort survey

Abstract Aims To accurately document the amount of quitting, length of quit attempts, and prevalence of plans and serious thought about quitting among smokers.

The acceptability of nicotine containing products as alternatives to cigarettes: Findings from two pilot studies

Background: This study aimed to explore issues that might impact on the acceptability and feasibility of offering smokers nicotine containing products either to quit nicotine use altogether by using as a short term means of quitting cigarettes or as a longer term substitute.MethodTwo small pilot studies, one in the UK (n=34) involving face to face contact and direct provision of the product, the other in Australia (n=31) conducted remotely with products sent in the mail.

Immune System May Influence How Alcohol Affects Behavior

The changes in behavior that come about under the influence of alcohol, such as difficulty controlling muscles for walking and talking, may be influenced by immune cells in the brain, according to a new study from Australia published in the British Journal of Pharmacology this month…

Evidence of increasing age of onset of cannabis use among younger Australians

Abstract Aim  To determine whether declines in the prevalence of cannabis use in Australia have been accompanied by changes in age of onset of cannabis use. Design  A retrospective cohort study. To account for right censoring error we contrasted the mean age of onset for comparable age groups across the four surveys conducted from 1998 to 2007

The association between exposure to point-of-sale anti-smoking warnings and smokers’ interest in quitting and quit attempts: Findings from the…

ABSTRACT Aims This study aimed to examine the associations between reported exposure to anti-smoking warnings at the point-of-sale (POS) and smokers’ interest in quitting and their subsequent quit attempts by comparing reactions in Australia where warnings are prominent to smokers in other countries. Design A prospective multi-country cohort design was employed. Setting Australia, Canada, the UK and the US.

Association Between Alcohol Consumption And Colorectal Cancer

A meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies on the association of alcohol consumption with colorectal cancer was carried out, based on 22 studies from Asia, 2 from Australia, 13 from Western Europe, and 24 from North America. The paper provides evidence that alcohol, at least at higher levels of consumption, is associated with an increase in the risk of colorectal cancer…