Addiction Rehab: Prevalence and Nature of Criminal Offending in a National Sample of Veterans in VA Substance Use Treatment Prior to the Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Conflicts.
Prevalence and Nature of Criminal Offending in a National Sample of Veterans in VA Substance Use Treatment Prior to the Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Conflicts.
Filed under: Addiction Rehab
Psychol Serv. 2012 Nov 12;
Weaver CM, Trafton JA, Kimerling R, Timko C, Moos R
This study evaluated the prevalence and types of criminal arrest among 99,512 male veterans in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment across 150 VA facilities from 1998 to 2001. Participants were assessed with the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), which includes detailed information about lifetime criminal activity. A majority of the patients (58.2%) had three or more previous arrests, with 46.0% reporting one or more criminal convictions. Criminal arrests were frequent and varied. A majority of patients (69.3%) had at least one arrest that was not due to drug possession, drug sale, or intoxication. Nearly 24% reported at least one arrest for a violent crime. Patterns of arrest for specific crimes varied across SUD diagnostic categories. Screening for specific types of offending is informative and viable. Existing VA SUD treatment is a potentially underrecognized point of intervention for justice involvement among veterans. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).
HubMed – addiction
Snus user identity and addiction. a Swedish focus group study on adolescents.
Filed under: Addiction Rehab
BMC Public Health. 2012 Nov 13; 12(1): 975
Edvardsson I, Troein M, Ejlertsson G, Lendahls L
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The teenage years are the years when adolescents seek their identity, and part of this involves experimenting with tobacco. The use of tobacco as such, and norms among their friends, is more important to the adolescents than the norms of parents when it comes to using tobacco or not. The aim was to explore the significance of using snus for adolescents, and attitudes to snus, as well as the reasons why they began using snus and what maintained and facilitated the use of snus. METHODS: Adolescents who use snus were interviewed in focus groups. The material was analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: Four groups of boys and one group of girls were interviewed, a total of 27 students from the upper secondary vocational program. Three themes related to the students’ opinions on and experiences of using snus were found: Circumstances pertaining to snus debut indicate what makes them start using snus. Upholding, which focuses on the problem of becoming addicted and development of identity, and approach, where the adolescents reflect on their snus habits in relation to those around them. A number of factors were described as relevant to behaviour and norm building for the development into becoming a snus user. Attitudes and actions from adults and friends as well as — for the boys — development of an identity as a man and a craftsman influenced behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that development of identity was of major importance when adolescents start using snus. The adolescents were initially unable to interpret the early symptoms of abstinence problems, but subsequently became well aware of being addicted. Once they were stuck in addiction and in the creation of an image and identity, it was difficult to stop using snus. These factors are important when considering interventions of normative changes and tobacco prevention in schools as well as among parents.
HubMed – addiction
Bradford Health Services – Overcoming Fear of Losing Friends, As Well As Your Stress Release.mp4 – Recovery Moments If you’re in need of treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, one of the biggest hurdles you may have to get over is a fear of losing your close circle of friends. But if these are people who also have addictions, or who enable your addiction, then you must leave them behind in order to get healthy. This is a hard decision to make, but an essential one for recovery. The good news is that there’s lots of help out there. Through treatment programs, meetings, and other support groups, you can find a host of new friends who understand what you’re going through. Another deeply rooted fear you might have could be that you became an addict in the first place due to a stressful situation…and now you fear you can’t cope without drugs and alcohol. But you can overcome stress and stay sober. Start by trying to eliminate as much stress as possible in your life. If you’re in a treatment program, you should be learning different techniques for managing stress. While stress is a fact of life, it becomes much easier to deal with when you have a solid network of support and healthy coping mechanisms in place. Thank you for watching this short video and taking the first step to build a solid foundation to recovery. A foundation built on knowledge, love and compassion. We want you, your family and friends to live a life free from addiction. A life full of Hope. Help is out there. Don’t miss the opportunity to reach out for help. Be prepared with the knowledge and a plan …
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