In this paper we estimate the risk of becoming cannabis dependent within 24 months after first use of cannabis and examine subgroup variation in this risk. The study estimates are based on the ...National Household Survey on Drug Abuse conducted during 2000–2001, with a representative sample of U.S. residents ages 12 and older (
n
=
114,241). A total of 3352 respondents were found to have used cannabis for the first time within a span of up to 24 months prior to assessment. An estimated 3.9% of these recent-onset users developed a cannabis dependence syndrome during the interval since first use (median interval duration ∼12 months). Excess risk of cannabis dependence was found for those with cannabis onset before late-adolescence, those with family income less than US$ 20,000, and those who had used three or more drugs before the first use of cannabis (i.e., tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs). While these findings generally support previous study results, this study's focus on recent-onset users more closely approximates prospective and longitudinal research on the incidence (risk) of becoming cannabis dependent soon after onset of cannabis use, removing the influence of users with long-sustained or persistent cannabis dependence developed years ago.
In this paper, we present new estimates for the risk of becoming cocaine dependent within 24 months after first use of the drug, and study subgroup variation in this risk. The study estimates are ...based on the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse conducted during 2000-2001, with a representative sample of US residents aged 12 years and older (n=114 241). A total of 1081 respondents were found to have used cocaine for the first time within 24 months prior to assessment. Between 5 and 6% of these recent-onset users had become cocaine dependent since onset of use. Less corrected risk of recent cocaine dependence soon after onset of cocaine use was found for female subjects, young adults aged 21-25 years, and non-Hispanic Black/African-Americans. Use of crack-cocaine and taking cocaine by injection were associated with having become cocaine dependent soon after onset of use. These epidemiologic findings help to quantify the continuing public health burden associated with new onsets of cocaine use in the 21st century.
Objective: Identifying client factors that predict dropout is critical for the development of effective weight‐loss programs. Although demographic predictors are studied, there are few consistent ...findings. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of dropout in a large clinic‐based weight‐loss program using readily attainable demographic variables.
Research Methods and Procedures: All 866 weight‐loss patients in a clinic‐based weight‐loss program enrolled during 1998 to 1999 were followed. Attrition and retention rates were measured at 8 and 16 weeks. Six variables (sex, race, marital status, age, BMI, and treatment protocol) were evaluated using bivariate and multivariable statistics for relative association with dropout.
Results: The overall attrition rate for the 16‐week program was 31%. The retention rate was 69%. Significant risk for dropout, measured as bivariate relative risk (95% confidence interval), was found among patients who were: females, 1.32 (1.01 to 1.73); divorced, 1.54 (1.13 to 2.09); African Americans, 1.68 (1.26 to 2.23); age < 40, 1.66 (1.27 to 2.18); and ages 40 to 50, 1.33 (1.01 to 1.76). There were no significant differences in retention rates by BMI group or program protocol. After logistic regression analysis to control for all variables, young age < 50 years had the only significant association with dropout odds ratio = 1.39 (1.02 to 1.90).
Discussion: Multivariable modeling was helpful for prioritizing risk factors for program dropout. These findings have important implications for improving weight‐loss program effectiveness and reducing attrition. By knowing the groups at risk for dropout, we can improve or target program treatments to these populations.
Social capital is an increasingly popular construct in research examining social and behavioral determinants of health and well-being. Yet, comparing the results of social capital research is ...inhibited by inconsistencies in labeling, different definitions and subsequent disagreement on level of analysis, and limited evaluation of the psychometric properties of measures of social capital. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Social Capital Questionnaire (Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 36(1) (2000) 23). In the current study, the original Australian-based instrument was modified for telephone administration with a US sample. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a similar factor structure to that found during initial survey development. These findings lend support to the notion of social capital as a meaningful construct and suggest the Onyx and Bullen instrument deserves further attention as a practical tool for health researchers and community agencies interested in social capital.
Epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers have shared developmental pathways. Few studies have prospectively examined heterogeneity in risk factor associations across these ...three anatomic sites.
We identified 3,738 ovarian, 337 peritoneal, and 176 fallopian tube incident cancer cases in 891,731 women from 15 prospective cohorts in the Ovarian Cancer Cohort Consortium. Associations between 18 putative risk factors and risk of ovarian, peritoneal, and fallopian tube cancer, overall and for serous and high-grade serous tumors, were evaluated using competing risks Cox proportional hazards regression. Heterogeneity was assessed by likelihood ratio tests.
Most associations did not vary by tumor site (
≥ 0.05). Associations between first pregnancy (
= 0.04), tubal ligation (
= 0.01), and early-adult (age 18-21 years) body mass index (BMI;
= 0.02) and risk differed between ovarian and peritoneal cancers. The association between early-adult BMI and risk further differed between peritoneal and fallopian tube cancer (
= 0.03). First pregnancy and tubal ligation were inversely associated with ovarian, but not peritoneal, cancer. Higher early-adult BMI was associated with higher risk of peritoneal, but not ovarian or fallopian tube, cancer. Patterns were generally similar when restricted to serous and high-grade serous cases.
Ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers appear to have both shared and distinct etiologic pathways, although most risk factors appear to have similar associations by anatomic site.
Further studies on the mechanisms underlying the differences in risk profiles may provide insights regarding the developmental origins of tumors arising in the peritoneal cavity and inform prevention efforts.
Abstract New estimates for the risk of becoming stimulant dependent within 24 months after first extra-medical (EM) use of a stimulant drug compound are presented, with a focus on subgroup variations ...in this risk (e.g., alcohol dependence, male–female differences). The study estimates are derived from a representative sample of United States residents ages 12 and older ( n = 166,737) obtained from the 2003 to 2005 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. A total of 1700 respondents were found to have used stimulants extra-medically for the first time within 24 months prior to assessment. Approximately 5% of these recent-onset EM users had become stimulant dependent since onset of EM use. As hypothesized, alcohol dependence cases were found to have experienced an excess risk of becoming stimulant dependent soon after onset of stimulant drug use; there was no robust male–female difference in risk. Independently, initiates who had used multiple types of stimulants extra-medically, and methamphetamine users, were more likely to have become stimulant dependent soon after onset of use; by comparison, EM users of methylphenidate (Ritalin® ) were less likely to have developed rapid-onset dependence. These epidemiologic findings help quantify a continuing public health burden associated with new onsets of extra-medical stimulant use in the 21st century.
Abstract Background Recommended use of clinical preventive services (CPS) reduces morbidity and mortality from preventable conditions. Disparities in CPS utilization between individuals with and ...without disabilities have been shown, but a greater understanding of the disability subpopulations with lowest utilization is needed to better inform research, policy, and practice. Objective The objective was to conduct a scoping review of the literature to identify relevant studies on disparities in receipt of CPS among subgroups of individuals with disabilities. Methods In July 2010, electronic and manual literature searches were conducted for years 2000–2009. Review for inclusion/exclusion and data analysis occurred in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, the review was updated to cover abstracts published in 2010 and 2011. Identified abstracts, and then full-text articles of included abstracts, were reviewed according to inclusion/exclusion criteria by multiple reviewers. For articles meeting all criteria, two reviewers performed independent data extraction. A gap analysis was performed to identify areas of concentration and gaps in the literature. Results Twenty-seven articles met inclusion criteria for this review. Studies varied substantially in sample composition and research methods. CPS examined most often were cervical cancer screening (14 studies) and mammography (13 studies). Potential disparity factors studied most often were disability factors (i.e., disabling condition in 12 studies, disability severity in 10 studies). Stratification of CPS by disparity factors revealed substantial gaps in the literature. Conclusions The literature gaps point to a need for high quality research on access disparities among subgroups of individuals with disabilities.
Abstract This study, based upon epidemiological survey data from the United States (U.S.) National Household Surveys on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) from 2000 to 2001, presents new estimates for the risk of ...developing a hallucinogen dependence syndrome within 24 months after first use of any hallucinogen (median elapsed time ∼12 months). Subgroup variations in risk of becoming hallucinogen dependent also are explored. Estimates are derived from the NHSDA representative samples of non-institutionalized U.S. residents ages 12 and older ( n = 114,241). A total of 2035 respondents had used hallucinogens for the first time within 24 months prior to assessment. An estimated 2–3% of these recent-onset hallucinogen users had become dependent on hallucinogens, according to the NHSDA DSM-IV computerized diagnostic algorithm. Controlling for sociodemographic and other drug use covariates, very early first use of hallucinogens (age 10–11 years) is associated with increased risk of hallucinogen dependence ( p < 0.01). Excess risk of developing hallucinogen dependence was found in association with recent-onset use of mescaline; excess risk also was found for recent-onset users of ecstasy and of PCP. This study's evidence is consistent with prior evidence on a tangible but quite infrequent dependence syndrome soon after the start of hallucinogen use; it offers leads that can be confirmed or disconfirmed in future investigations.
Medical shared decision making has demonstrated success in increasing collaboration between clients and practitioners for various health decisions. As the importance of a shared decision making ...approach becomes increasingly valued in the adult mental health arena, transfer of these ideals to youth and families of youth in the mental health system is a logical next step. A review of the literature and preliminary, formative feedback from families and staff at a Midwestern urban community mental health center guided the development of a framework for youth shared decision making. The framework includes three functional areas (1) setting the stage for youth shared decision making, (2) facilitating youth shared decision making, and (3) supporting youth shared decision making. While still in the formative stages, the value of a specific framework for a youth model in support of moving from a client-practitioner value system to a systematic, intentional process is evident.
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