In 6 years of operation, the outpatient drug free treatment program at a comprehensive youth serving agency in a mid-sized northeastern city had never performed to the funder's satisfaction, had received substantial cuts in grant awards each year, and was in danger of further budget cuts. An administrative intervention was designed to improve…

With the passage of the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act in 1986 a regional technical assistance center program was expanded to train school teams, assist state educational agencies, assist local educational agencies and institutions of higher education, and evaluate and disseminate information on effective drug and alcohol abuse education…

It has been estimated that as many as 75% of individuals treated for substance abuse relapse within 90 days after completion of treatment. Studies of relapse have typically defined the problem as a return to the specific substance for which the individual was originally treated. Because multiple substance appears to be common, this study examined…

Assigned problem drinkers to waiting-list control condition or to treatment conditions based on behavioral self-management strategies or on a modified developmental counseling approach. Drinkers in both treatment programs reported significant improvements pre- to postassessment and at followup, in alcohol consumption, mood, and participation in…

This guide was produced by the Leadership To Keep Children Alcohol Free, a coalition of governors' spouses, federal agencies, and public and private organizations which aims to alert the nation of and mobilize action to prevent this critical public health problem. It is the only national effort that focuses on this age group. The guide is an…

Describes study results that compared different ways of measuring frequency of alcohol use employed in previous research. Results of intake interviews with clients (N=832) indicate that frequency-of-alcohol-use reports can be affected by the type of response options used and by the location of items in a self-administered microcomputer interview.…

Examines a radical change in policy enforcement and sanctions regarding alcohol use on the campus of the University of Rhode Island; describes the implementation of that policy over an eight-semester period. Evaluation of the policy revealed an increase in violations addressed and a decrease both in more serious violations and in repeat offenders.…

This study of 60 Swedish university students examined whether or not acute alcohol intoxication inhibits or facilitates the incubation phase of the creative process. Results found that the participants in the alcohol group produced significantly more incubations in their diaries and significantly higher levels of originality. (Author/CR)

Explores whether components of brief interventions could be effectively administered to mixed groups of drinking and non-drinking students. Among at-risk drinkers, significant reductions in heavy drinking episode frequency at four-week follow-up were found for the self-norm group only. Results suggest that self-norm discrepancy enhancement…

Examines factors related to aggression at school, particularly involving alcohol use. Finds school aggression higher among students who are male, rebellious, have a weak sense of school identification, low academic achievement, and drink alcohol during the school day. Schools that encourage school involvement and alcohol resistance may help…

Reviewed 120 closed client folders from the Family Counseling Service of Northern Nevada to study outcomes related to anxiety level. Indicated clients with higher state-anxiety and trait-anxiety generally benefited less from treatment. Showed test scores could be used to predict treatment-outcome group. (FC)

Surveyed children in a large suburban school regarding factors affecting the use of cigarettes and tobacco. While experimentation rates for cigarette use was low, use increased significantly from fourth to fifth grade. Alcohol use was much higher than cigarette use, and it also increased significantly from fourth to fifth grade. (RJM)

Using a classroom survey among 3061 secondary school students, focuses on the relationship between choice of different alcohol types and two indicators for regular drinking. Results indicate experience with western alcohol types to be associated with indicators for frequent drinking as well as experience with being drunk. Other findings are…

Examines the relationship between level of alcohol consumption and self-esteem for college males and females. Study of 130 males and 130 females at a major state university indicates that this relationship was moderated by gender, with females at greater risk for low self-esteem associated with heavy alcohol consumption. (RJM)

Study examined relationships among self-reported stress, drinking related problems (socio-emotional, community-related), and gender, with three distinct drinking contexts (convivial, intimate, negative coping). Results support the relationship between stress and excessive drinking across all three contexts, but also show stress and self-reported…