Prevention Update

Mentor

Latest Research and News From the World of Drug Abuse Prevention

Research

Booze in the movies leads to adolescent binge drinking

This interesting study compares alcohol use portrayed in movies and alcohol marketing with a large range of other common influences in adolescent drinking. 6,522 US 10-14 year olds were confidentially surveyed four times over 2 years. Alcohol in movies and marketing was linked with both the onset of drinking and binge drinking, whereas family influences such as parental drinking were only linked with onset. The authors recommend family focused interventions and limitations on alcohol marketing and alcohol in the media. The report also addresses lower profile influences such as alcohol branded clothing. The study notes that limitations on smoking in the media have already achieved some success.

Links:

Research

Are prescription drug take-back programmes worth the cost?

A new report casts doubts on the effectiveness of investment in prescription drug take-back programmes. Carnevale Associates surveyed 148 US schemes, finding little evidence for the prevention of prescription drug abuse. The efficiency of schemes varied widely. More detailed research and data collection is called for, plus investment in alternative schemes such as monitoring programmes and initiatives to modify prescribing behaviours.

Links:

Policy

UNODC summary of work on International Standards on Drug Use Prevention

This UNODC webpage outlines the background to the establishment of International Standards on Drug Use Prevention and progress made to date. It also refers to progress in this field made by other organisations.

Links:

News

Will marijuana mouth spray be abused?

A UK company has developed a medical marijuana mouth spray, the first marijuana-based drug to be made by extracting the compounds from the plant rather than synthesizing them. Some experts worry about potential abuse but others believe that the combination of slow delivery rate and absence of the usual spliff smoking rituals will minimise it's popularity. 'Sativex' is available in the UK, Spain, Canada and New Zealand, and GW Pharmaceuticals is now seeking approval for the US market.

Links:

News

New standards to help prevention researchers and practitioners

The international Society for Prevention Research has written a set of shared standards for the advancement and training of prevention researchers and practitioners. SPR have now uploaded the full document to their website.

Links:

Research

New light shed on adolescent vulnerability to cocaine

Earlier studies have explained how the adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to cocaine addiction. These two new Yale studies published in Neuroscience identify the key genes involved. It is hoped that further research might lead to the possibility of desensitising the brains' response to cocaine and other drugs of abuse.

Links:

Resources

The Strengthening Families Program 10–14

The Strengthening Families Program 10–14 is a long running and well known substance abuse prevention programme developed at Iowa University, USA. It is designed for parents/carers and their children from ages 10 to 14 years. The 7 sessions aim to build skills for children and provide tools for parents. The programme has been used internationally and evaluated in different settings.

Mentor has not undertaken a thorough review of the resources mentioned as to their ultimate value and worth, however we welcome reader and user feedback.

Policy

Medical marijuana: analysis of a controversial issue

This discussion confronts the dilemma of wanting people in pain to have access to the best drugs, but on the other hand, also wanting to see medications evaluated scientifically and properly controlled. Kevin A. Sabet addresses the problem in Partnership @ Drugfree.org Newsroom. His two part series aims to break down several of the more controversial and complex issues concerning medical marijuana.

Links: