Context of substance initiation among urban Native Americans: an exploratory retrospective case-control study.

Background: Addiction is a significant problem among many Native American groups but has rarely been examined in urban populations. In particular, little is known about the context in which urban Native Americans first use substances. This study compares cases (people with a history of addiction) to controls (people without a history of addiction) on demographics, substance use history, context of first substance use, and polysubstance use. In addition, this appears to be the first study to overcome the lack of Native American professionals by employing and training lay community members to identify criteria of substance use disorders in survey participants. Employing community members helped foster trust that enabled the revelation of sensitive and often illegal activity. As a result, the investigators were able to recruit participants who likely would not have engaged with traditional researchers. Methods: The trained Native American lay research assistants recruited community members and administered surveys. They first asked questions regarding the criteria for substance use disorders. Individuals who were determined to have met criteria for a substance use disorder in the past were classified as cases (n = 38) and those who never met such criteria were classified as controls (n = 42). They then asked demographic, substance use, and polysubstance use questions. Lastly, eight cases and eight controls were randomly selected for a second interview by a licensed drug and alcohol counselor (LDAC) who conducted a blinded assessment regarding the presence or absence of a history of a substance use disorder. Results: Both groups reported a relatively young age of first substance use (age 16 years for cases and age 15 years for controls). Alcohol was the first substance most commonly used in both groups. Controls reported first benzodiazepine use at a younger age than cases but no other significant differences were found. Both groups reported first obtaining their first drug from family, friends, or at home (rather than a party, bar, or store). Most commonly, the location of their first use of drugs occurred at a friend's home, a party, a bar, or school rather than at their own home. Cases were marginally more likely to report that their first drug use occurred with a friend rather than with a family member when compared with controls. The majority of both groups reported that their first drug use occurred with other Native Americans rather than with non-Native Americans. Polysubstance use was common in both groups (43-45%). There were no significant differences between the groups regarding polysubstance use. The LDAC arrived at the same determination as the trained research assistants on all eight cases and eight controls.

Vaping Media Literacy, Harm Perception, and Susceptibility of E-Cigarette Use Among Youth.

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to E-cigarette marketing and media advertisements is prevalent among adolescents. A validated vaping media literacy scale is needed to inform effective vaping prevention programs. METHODS: A 6-item vaping media literacy scale was adapted from validated smoking and general media literacy scales with an emphasis on marketing influences. A school-based survey (N=856) was conducted to assess the reliability of vaping media literacy and 3 subscales (i.e., authors and audiences [vaping Authors and Audiences], messages and meanings [vaping Messages and Meanings], and representation and reality [vaping Representation and Reality]). Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to examine the associations of vaping media literacy with perceived harmfulness of E-cigarette use and susceptibility to use E-cigarettes. Analyses were conducted in 2021. RESULTS: The mean vaping media literacy among students was 2.6 (range=0-6). There were significant disparities with lower vaping media literacy among middle-school (versus high-school, p=0.03) students, males (versus females, p=0.003), and racial/ethnic minority students (Blacks, Hispanics, others versus Whites, p=0.0009). A higher vaping media literacy was significantly associated with increased perceived harmfulness of E-cigarette use (AOR=1.2; 95% CI=1.1, 1.2; p<0.0001). All subscales were also associated with E-cigarette harm perception. Among never E-cigarette users, students with a higher (versus those with a lower) vaping media literacy had lower susceptibility to initiating E-cigarettes (AOR=0.90; 95% CI=0.83, 0.97; p=0.005). Both vaping Messages and Meanings and vaping Representation and Reality subscales were adversely associated with susceptibility to vaping. CONCLUSIONS: The vaping media literacy scale may gauge the influence of E-cigarette marketing on adolescents with high reliability and validity. Racial minorities, younger adolescents, and males appear relatively vulnerable to vaping marketing influence. Efforts to increase vaping media literacy are needed to curb youth E-cigarette use.

Addiction peer recovery coach training pilot: assessment of confidence levels.

BACKGROUND: Peer recovery coaches (PRCs) have become a critical tool in addiction treatment in many areas of the world. Despite this fact, no identified research has examined the process or impact of PRC training. Furthermore, no scales were identified to measure trainee confidence in various PRC techniques. The goal of this article is to analyze the process and immediate impact of PRC training of twelve American Indians (AIs) in a culturally-specific program. We focus most specifically on trainee confidence levels. METHODS: No written consent was obtained and completion of the assessment was considered consent. Trainees completed self-assessments before and after the training. The self-assessment examined nine areas ranging from understanding the role of PRCs to knowledge of effective PRC techniques. Paired t-tests were used to assess for changes in individual trainee responses between the pre- and post-assessments. RESULTS: Pre-training responses ranged from moderate to high. Questions with the lowest average confidence levels address PRC activities or specific techniques to facilitate recovery. All nine questions showed statistically significant mean improvements in the post-training self-assessments. Questions regarding specific PRC activities and techniques showed the greatest improvement. Questions relating to helping people more generally showed the smallest improvement. Average post-training responses fell within a very narrow range indicating relatively consistent confidence levels across skills. Analysis indicates participants were possibly over-confident in certain areas (i.e., maintaining boundaries). This small pilot represents an initial attempt to measure confidence levels of PRC trainees. The findings may inform future training by identifying certain areas where emphasis might be most helpful for trainees. In addition, it is hoped that this work will encourage more systematic analysis of the impact of PRC training on individuals.

Historical Trauma, Ethnic Experience, and Mental Health in a Sample of Urban American Indians[Formula: see text].

BACKGROUND: Historical trauma (HT) among American Indians (AIs) has been linked with poor mental health but has been inadequately studied among urban populations. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe historical trauma, historical loss associated thoughts, ethnic experience, and psychological symptoms among a population of urban AIs. METHOD: This was a mixed methods study. In addition to focus groups, survey participants were administered the Historical Losses Scale, the Historical Losses Associated Symptoms Scale, the Scale of Ethnic Experience, and the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment Adult Self-Report. Rates of psychological symptoms were compared with matched controls from a normative data set. RESULTS: Participants reported a strong sense of ethnic identity, a moderate desire to associate with other AIs, moderate comfort within mainstream society, and moderately high perceived discrimination. The most common HT themes were loss of culture, respect by children of traditional ways, and language. Compared with controls, participants had higher rates of aggressive behavior, substance use, thought problems, and obsessive symptoms, but some of these issues are likely explained by cultural factors. A greater number of participants met the clinical threshold for multiple problems compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: This sample of AIs reported frequent experiences of discrimination. HT is a significant factor in the lives of many urban AIs who also have significantly higher rates of a number of mental health problems. Providers must be aware of these issues to provide the most effective care to AIs.

Psychiatric Comorbidities and BMI: An Exploratory Analysis.

Years of research and clinical practice have demonstrated that individuals with certain mental health conditions are at an increased risk of obesity. However, no identified research has examined associations between multiple comorbid psychiatric disorders and body mass index (BMI). This study uses a secondary analysis to examine associations between a large number of combinations of various mental health conditions and BMI. Surprisingly, the results of this study indicate that the most comorbid psychiatric disorders are not associated with an increased risk of elevated BMI. However, bipolar disorder, agoraphobia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and panic disorder had the greatest number of comorbid disorder associations linked with elevated BMI. The effect sizes ranged from a significant but relatively small Cohen's d of 0.3 to a more notable effect size of 0.7. The results of this study indicate that practitioners should be especially vigilant in helping their patients to avoid weight gain when they have one of the four identified disorders in combination with at least one other disorder. Future research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying this increased risk and evaluate targeted interventions that would be the most effective for people with these diagnoses.

Adverse Events in Childhood as a Risk Factor for Elevated BMI among People with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder.

Diseases of obesity have become a major cause of morbidity and mortality among people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Childhood adversity has been associated with adult obesity in the general public, but has not been examined among people with mental illness. This study used a secondary analysis to examine childhood adversity and body mass index in people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Among females, a history of physical abuse from parents or paternal emotional neglect was associated with an increased risk for obesity (OR = 3.34 and 2.44, respectively).

Policy considerations for improving influenza vaccination rates among pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Influenza exposure during pregnancy can cause severe health problems for both the mother and her offspring, including an increased risk of mortality. Influenza vaccination during all trimesters of pregnancy is safe and effective, and recommended by professional organizations such as the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Despite these recommendations, the U.S. vaccination rates remain low in this high-risk population. METHOD: A policy analysis based on the five-part method identified by Teitelbaum and Wilensky () addresses factors to consider in identifying the best voluntary policy options to improve the vaccination rates. The authors provide discussion of the background, landscape, and stakeholder interests and the pros and cons of two voluntary policy options to increase vaccination. The policy options include: (a) financial incentives for providers and (b) an education emphasis for providers and staff. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that based on considerations of cost, provider preference, and practicality of implementation, a continuing educational intervention is the preferred policy venue to increase vaccination rates.