Mental illness and substance use : an Australian perspective

This paper presents a review of the literature of service trends and practice recommendations for management of those with the dual diagnosis of mental illness and substance abuse. The method for the review was to search bibliographical data bases and hand held literature published in English between 1990 and 2007. Using the search terms dual diagnosis, and co-morbidity and mental illness, 93 abstracts were selected and reviewed. The authors concluded that a collaborative approach to care with better integration of drug and alcohol services within mental health would benefit clients with a dual diagnosis. Improved education to enhance the assessment and diagnosis of this client group is also considered essential for clinicians in both mental health and alcohol and drugs services.

Optical microsensor for counting food substance particles in lab-on-a-chips

Integrated optical detection is considered to be an important operation in lab-on-a-chips. This paper presents an optical fiber-based micro-sensor that is capable of detecting food substance particles in a lab-on-a-chip. The system consists of a microcontroller and associated circuitry, a laser emitter, a laser receiver, fiber optic cables, a microfluidics chip, and the food substance samples to be tested. When the particles flow through the microfluidic channel in the chip, the receiver’s output voltage varies due to the particles blocking the passage of the laser ray. The changes in the collected signals are analyzed to count the number of particles. Experiments are conducted on several food substance samples including talcum powder, ground ginger, and soy sauce. The experimental results are presented and discussed.

Can emotion-focused coping help explain the link between posttraumatic stress disorder severity and triggers for substance use in young adults

High rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been reported among people seeking treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), although few studies have examined the relationship between PTSD and substance use in young drug users. This study compared levels of substance use, coping styles, and high-risk triggers for substance use among 66 young adults with SUD, with or without comorbid PTSD. Young people with current SUD–PTSD (n = 36) reported significantly higher levels of substance use in negative situations, as well as emotion-focused coping, compared to the current SUD-only group (n = 30). Severity of PTSD was a significant predictor of negative situational drug use, and emotion-focused coping was found to mediate this relationship. The findings underscore the need for youth substance abuse treatment programs to include coping skills training and management of affect regulation for those individuals with comorbid SUD–PTSD.

Alcohol use and related harms in school students in the USA and Australia

Recognizing there have been few methodologically rigorous cross-national studies of youth alcohol and drug behaviour, state student samples were compared in Australia and the USA. Sampling methods were matched to recruit two independent, state-representative, cross-sectional samples of students in Grades 5, 7 and 9 in Washington State, USA, (n = 2866) and Victoria, Australia (n = 2864) in 2002. Of Washington students in Grade 5 (age 11), 10.3% (95% CI 7.2–14.7) of boys and 5.2% (95% CI 3.4–7.9) of girls reported alcohol use in the past year. Prevalence rates were markedly higher in Victoria (34.2%, 95% CI 28.8–40.1 boys; 21.0%, 95% CI 17.1–25.5 girls). Relative to Washington, the students in Victoria demonstrated a two to three times increased likelihood of reporting substance use (either alcohol, tobacco or illicit drug use), and by Grade 9, experiences of loss-of-control of alcohol use, binge drinking (frequent episodes of five or more alcoholic drinks), and injuries related to alcohol were two to four times higher. The high rates of early age alcohol use in Victoria were associated with frequent, heavy and harmful alcohol use and higher overall exposure to alcohol or other drug use. These findings reveal considerable variation in international rates of both adolescent alcohol misuse and co-occurring drug use and suggest the need for cross-national research to identify policies and practices that contribute to the lower rate of adolescent alcohol and drug use observed in the USA in this study.

Importance of assessing family dysfunction in conjunction with standardised measures when treating substance abuse

In this thesis, the link between substance abuse and family dysfunction is examined, and an argument is made for the assessment of family dysfunction when treating clients with substance abuse issues. Family dysfunction has been associated with a broad range of problems in children (e.g., low self esteem, increased risk of child abuse) through to adolescence and adulthood (e.g., increased risk of mental disorders such as depressive disorders, substance abuse disorders, and personality disorders) (Kaplan & Sadock, 1998). It is not the purpose of this thesis to suggest that family dysfunction causes substance abuse but rather to highlight that family dysfunction can in some cases place the individual at greater risk of substance abuse. Therefore, in order to understand the reasons why substance abuse developed and how it is maintained in the present requires the assessment of family dysfunction. Further, the importance of assessing the role and impact that family dysfunction may have had on the client, may help to better understand the nature and extent of substance abuse so that relevant and appropriate treatment goals for change may be set, progress monitored, and risk of relapse reduced. Chapter 1 provides a brief introduction to this thesis, and Chapter 2 is a review of the literature on the impact of family dysfunction including poor parental attachment and supervision, neglect, physical and sexual abuse, in adolescence and adulthood. Four case studies are presented to illustrate how family dysfunction and substance abuse may be related, thus highlighting the importance of assessing family dysfunction when treating substance abuse clients. All of the case studies include an individual with a substance abuse disorder (namely heroin) but they are diverse in terms of the types and extent of family dysfunction. The final chapter discusses the case studies in relation to the literature reviewed. Lastly, it gives consideration to the implication of a history of family dysfunction, and how it may impact negatively on treatment and therefore prognosis.

Aspergillus species, cyclic dimeric dipeptide derivative substance P antagonist biosynthetic products thereof, and process for preparation thereof

A novel Aspergillus species, cyclic dimeric dipeptide derivatives which are biosynthetic products thereof and are useful as Substance P antagonists and therefore as analgesic and/or antiinflammatory agents, and a process for preparation of the biosynthetic products are disclosed.

Readiness for substance abuse treatment amongst Victorian prisoners

The thesis examined treatment readiness in offender rehabilitation. Findings empirically refuted the notion that treatment readiness occurs in sequential progression through stages. Instead the study offered two treatment readiness models based on concurrent states of thought and behaviour. Furthermore, the treatment readiness models were found to be significantly predicted by offenders' cognitive styles and self-efficacy. The portfolio seeks to demonstrate, through four case studies, how different variables within the three-part ecological framework can either promote or constrain the reintegration process of ex-prisoners and ex-offenders.

Benzodiazepine and pharmaceutical opioid misuse and their relationship to crime : an examination of illicit prescription drug markets in Melbourne, Hobart and Darwin : Victorian report

This report presents the findings of the major research project 'benzodiazepine and pharmaceutical opioid misuse and their relationship to crime', and is an examination of illicit prescription drug markets in Melbourne.

Does family intervention for adolescent substance use impact parental wellbeing?

Adolescent substance abuse is a prevalent problem and family interventions are increasingly used to prevent this problem and to assist family coping. The effectiveness of a prevention-focussed family intervention was evaluated within a randomised school trial for its secondary impacts on improving parental mental health and family functioning.