Interviews of 434 college students revealed that prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) was 6.8 percent; of alcohol abuse, 8.2 percent; and of substance abuse, 9.4 percent. Alcohol and substance abuse were associated with MDD. Substance abuse was associated with other psychiatric diagnoses as well. MDD usually preceded alcohol or substance…

Attempts to assess current alcohol-policy changes on campus and their possible implications for student personnel administrators. Reports results from completed surveys (N=600) on alcohol policy. Makes recommendations based on findings from the study. (Author/ABB)

Critically examines the causal relationship of alcohol abuse to homicidal violence in the black communities. Identifies specific implications for further research and for developing abuse prevention strategies. Though the article focuses on black men, much of the discussion has wider applications. (LHW)

This study evaluated the usefulness of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) in the medical assessment of college students. The MAST was administered randomly to 200 students at a student health center and was found to be useful as part of individual health assessments. (Author/MT)

Offers suggestions for identifying children of alcoholic parents and through school counseling, helping them to understand and cope with their familial problems. Points out the difficulties in identifying and offering assistance to these children. (Author/ABB)

Explains how caregivers can reach and help children of alcoholics in a variety of settings, including schools and youth groups as well as specialized treatment centers. (HOD)

A representative household sample of adolescents (ages 12-17) and their parents were interviewed. Findings support the theory that adolescent alcohol abuse is part of a complex psychosocial problem behavior syndrom. A high degree of parental nurturance may be a significant deterrence to alcohol abuse and more general deviant behavior. (Author/BS)

Assessed older alcoholics and psychiatric patients (N=235, N=60) on a standard psychological test battery to examine left and right hemisphere functioning. Results indicated visual-spatial and constructional tasks, newer learning tasks, and secondary memory showed a more pronounced decline than verbal or left hemisphere tasks. (JAC)

Summarizes research on social determinants (e.g., parental, peer, school, and religious influences) and personal determinants (e.g., self-esteem, rebelliousness, impulse-control, and interpersonal trust) of adolescent use and abuse of alcohol and marijuana. Provides a summary of generalizations to assist practitioners in the process of designing…

One issue that has concerned investigators in recent years has been alcoholics' perception of their ability to control events that affect them. The current study investigated the relationship of locus of control scores to dropping out of treatment at various stages. Results are discussed. (Author)

Subjects selected on the basis of their drinking histories (alcoholics, heavy drinkers, and social drinkers, N=24) were tested on a series of tasks in order to assess organizational processes in memory. (Editor)

Explores the potential causes of abusive use of alcohol among young blacks, focusing on the black family, with emphasis given to the children, their peers, their communities, and the conditions that influence their life styles and drinking patterns. The data includes interviews with 13 males, age 8-13 years, and 9 females, age 13-15 years, and…

Results indicate that respondents holding medical images of deviance are less likely than those holding moralistic images to impute personal responsibility, stigma, and noncurability to the alcoholic and addict. (Author/AM)

The OEO-funded Sangre de Cristo Comprehensive Health System in Costilla and Conejos Counties, Colorado, and northern Taos County, New Mexico, utilizes medical practitioners who are certified to practice a variety of medical techniques under the supervision of licensed physicians. (JM)