The first part of this report on alcohol and drug abuse summarizes major recommendations from testimony and written statements from a hearing on alcohol and drug abuse. Testimony from these witnesses is included: (1) Reed Bell, Director, Office of Substance Abuse Prevention, United States Department of Health and Human Services; (2) Merita…

Alcohol on college campuses is not a new problem, but recent concerns have centered on heavy episodic drinking, binge drinking. To address these concerns, the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism established two panels of nongovernmental experts to help develop a national research agenda. This report represents the work of one…

This chapter describes the SUBSTANCE-Q, and atheoretical assessment scale designed for use as a clinical interview with students who potentially abuse alcohol and other drugs (AOD). The scale is founded upon a clustering effect of 10 literature-identified risk factors that commonly occur among AOD abusing students. Each high risk factor is…

This digest discusses binge drinking on U.S. college campuses. Male binge drinking is defined as five or more drinks in a row one or more times during a 2-week period; female binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks in a row one or more times during a two-week period. A drink is defined as twelve ounces of beer or wine cooler, four ounces…

Alcohol use by youths has been linked to delinquent behaviors, such as stealing, illicit drug use, and problems in school. Research also indicates that early drinkers are more likely than nondrinkers to engage in delinquent behaviors. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) asks persons aged 12 or older to report their alcohol use in…

Assessed the association between parental monitoring and adolescent alcohol risk. Surveys of adolescents in a managed care setting examined alcohol involvement and forms of parent influence. Frequent monitoring related to less likelihood of being engaged in a variety of alcohol risk behaviors or other risk situations. Choosing to share alcohol…

Describes history and development of Veterans Administration's Alcohol and Drug Counselor Training Program at Fort Lyon Veterans Administration's Medical Center. Notes that, from program's inception in 1968 to its close in 1985, school graduated 1,052 counselors who subsequently have been employed in virtually every state in county, state, and…

Asserts that the use and abuse of drugs is prevalent in high schools and is becoming increasingly popular with much younger children, and that elementary school is the place to begin the attack on alcohol and drug abuse. Describes components of successful drug and alcohol education and prevention programs and discusses the implementation of…

Obtained information on addiction history, intervention and treatment, and family and community patterns from 221 Catholic Sisters in residential treatment for alcoholism. Findings suggest that, although respondents were similar to other women in their vulnerability to addiction, they carried added burdens because of societal expectations of…

Examined scenes taken from eight seasons of prime-time television programs beginning in 1976 which depicted incidents involving youth and drinking. Scenes were evaluated as to their appropriateness with respect to youth and alcohol. Results indicated that young people were seldom seen drinking, with the exception of troubled youths. Suggestions…

Notes campus alcohol abuse presents campus administrators with a myriad of problems and seemingly conflicting goals. Suggests a systemic campus response, informed by applicable statutes and court decisions. Concludes that colleges are confronted by an urgent opportunity in the field of alcohol awareness. (Author/ABL)

Discusses a psychoeducational, experiential group for members of an alcohol treatment program which addressed loss, personal reaction to loss, and grief as a healing process. Explores the relationship between grieving and addiction, and presents the protocol for the group experience. (Author)

Based on experiences at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and other campuses, this report attempts to define the extent of alcohol use and resultant problems of college students. Concludes that by drawing upon various models available in the literature, college and university faculty, staff, and students can approach alcohol problems in…

Offers model to teach counselor trainees about behaviors exhibited by alcohol abusers in need of detoxification. Discusses behaviors displayed by helpers while conducting initial intake interviews with abusers seeking detoxification in a community setting and offers suggestions for how novice practitioners can establish rapport with such clients…

Investigated relationship between alcohol use and misuse and personality in 347 high school students. Students completed measures of alcohol involvement and personality. Results demonstrated that as adolescents increasingly became involved with alcohol, the more their personality characteristics differed from those of adolescents not involved or…