Predictors of marijuana use and uptake among teenagers in Sydney, Australia.

Information on drug-related behaviors was obtained from a random sample of teenagers aged 14 to 19 years in Sydney, Australia, interviewed in their homes in 1985 (N = 996) and 1986 (N = 756). The 1985 prevalence of current marijuana use was 10%. The predictors of marijuana use were: male sex; heavier, more frequent alcohol use; use of drugs other than alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana; marijuana use by siblings, friends, and other acquaintances; attitudes and beliefs favoring drug use; the attitude that possession of marijuana should not be a criminal offense; and the attitude that marijuana is not an important drug issue. In the 756 reinterviewed respondents, prevalence of marijuana use rose from 7% in 1985 to 9% in 1986. The rate of uptake was 6% and peaked at 12% at age 17. The predictors of uptake were: age; male sex; heavier, more frequent alcohol use; tobacco smoking; attitudes and beliefs favoring drugs use; and the attitude that marijuana smoking should be legal. Strategies to prevent marijuana use need to take into account the strong association between heavy drinking and marijuana use, the influence of drug users in the social network, and attitudes and beliefs about drugs.

Drug use among Sydney teenagers in 1985 and 1986.

To investigate adolescent drug use behaviour, a random community sample of Sydney teenagers aged 14 to 19 years was interviewed at home in 1985 (N = 996) and again in 1986 (N = 756). Respondents were asked about current use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, other illicit drugs, medications and inhalants. Drug use was common: 16 per cent of respondents were heavy drinkers, 28 per cent smoked tobacco, 10 per cent used marijuana and 4 per cent used drugs other than alcohol, tobacco or marijuana. Seventeen per cent were multiple drug users. Drug use was more common among boys than girls, except for tobacco smoking, and increased with age: older males had particularly high prevalences of heavy drinking, tobacco and marijuana use. The prevalence of heavy drinking, tobacco and marijuana use increased by 2-3 per cent over the one year follow-up period. About half of the heavy drinkers and marijuana users, and 80 per cent of tobacco smokers had not changed one year later, which indicates the stability of these behaviours. One-third of eligible teenagers contacted at the first interview declined to participate: it is likely that this study underestimates the prevalence of drug use in the community. Heavy drinking, tobacco smoking and marijuana use remain important target behaviours for adolescent drug use prevention programs.

Predicting intention to use cocaine in teenagers in Sydney, Australia.

Recently in Australia, the question has been raised of whether cocaine poses a threat to our community. We investigated this question in a random community sample of 1002 teenagers aged 14 to 19 years in Sydney, Australia. Subjects were asked whether they or members of their social network used drugs, and questioned on their beliefs about and attitudes to drugs. Intention to use cocaine was measured by the statement, "If a friend I trusted offered me cocaine, I might try it." The predictors of intention were: personal use of illicit drugs, tranquilizers, or inhalants; exposure to cocaine users; pro-drug beliefs; self-perceived consumption of too much alcohol; age; and parental use of drugs. The results suggest that a demand for cocaine--indicated by intention to use cocaine--already exists in the community. The association between intention to use cocaine, drug beliefs, personal use of drugs and exposure to drug users in the social network should be kept in mind when proposing strategies for preventing a cocaine problem in Australia.

Infant mortality in the Marshall Islands.

PIP: Levy and Booth present previously unpublished infant mortality rates for the Marshall Islands. They use an indirect method to estimate infant mortality from the 1973 and 1980 censuses, then apply indirect and direct methods of estimation to data from the Marshall Islands Women's Health Survey of 1985. Comparing the results with estimates of infant mortality obtained from vital registration data enables them to estimate the extent of underregistration of infant deaths. The authors conclude that 1973 census appears to be the most valid information source. Direct estimates from the Women's Health Survey data suggest that infant mortality has increased since 1970-1974, whereas the indirect estimates indicate a decreasing trend in infant mortality rates, converging with the direct estimates in more recent years. In view of increased efforts to improve maternal and child health in the mid-1970s, the decreasing trend is plausible. It is impossible to estimate accurately infant mortality in the Marshall Islands during 1980-1984 from the available data. Estimates based on registration data for 1975-1979 are at least 40% too low. The authors speculate that the estimate of 33 deaths per 1000 live births obtained from registration data for 1984 is 40-50% too low. In round figures, a value of 60 deaths per 1000 may be taken as the final estimate for 1980-1984.^ieng

Fertility and contraception in the Marshall Islands.

Data on fertility and contraception in Micronesian women in the Marshall Islands were collected during a women's health survey in 1985. High total fertility rates were found. The reproductive pattern of many Marshallese women is one that has been associated with adverse health consequences: pregnancies in teenagers and in women over 39 years, high parities of four or more births, and short birth intervals. The practice of breastfeeding is declining in younger women. The prevalence of contraceptive use is low, and the availability of reversible methods is limited. Most contraceptive nonusers would like to practice contraception, but are inhibited by the lack of information about family planning. It is suggested that more attention needs to be given to family planning services in the Marshall Islands, in particular to improving the availability of reversible methods of contraception and of information about family planning. Further research is also needed on how family planning services might best be organized to maximize participation by women and their partners who wish to use such services.

PIP: Fertility and contraception data were collected from 4 islands in the Marshall Islands group, as part of the South Pacific Regional Women's Health Survey. 1419 women from Majuro, Ebeye, Allinglaplap and Wotje were interviewed in health centers in 1985. The Marshall Islands are independent but linked by compact to the U.S. There were 30,873 people, increasing at 2.7%, some on the most densely populated island in the Pacific, Ebeye atoll (about 6000 on 0.3 sq. km.). The total fertility rate ranged from 6.0 children per woman in Majuro to 9.4 in the 2 outer islands. The age-standardized mean number of births per woman was 3.5 in Majuro, 3.9 in Ebeye and 4.5 in the outer islands. 92 to 98% breast feed their infants. About 1/3 of all fecund women practice contraception. The most common methods are tubal ligation, and either pill, rhythm or breastfeeding. Most families use contraception to limit births (47%), or because it was recommended for health reasons (25%). The most common reasons for not using contraception were lack of information, unavailability or fear of health risks. Over half of those not practicing contraception said they did want to do so. This information suggests that reproductive behavior in these islands is associated with adverse health consequences, but that the total fertility rate may have declined slightly, to 7.7, since the figure of 8.4 was reported in 1973.

Evidence for an amino-terminal extension in high-molecular-weight collagens from mature bovine skin.

Insoluble, mature collagen fibers from bovine skin have been partially solubilized by mild, denaturing, but nonhydrolytic means. The soluble denatured collagen was fractionated by alcohol coacervation, and a fraction rich in high-molecular-weight alpha-chains was obtained. The heavy alpha-chains were isolated by carboxymethylcellulose chromatography. Renaturation, followed by measurements of optical rotation at 365 nm, showed that stable, in-register renaturation was more readily accomplished in mixtures of heavy alpha-chains than in alpha1-beta(11)-chain mixtures. Renatured heavy alpha-chain preparations were precipitated in SLS form, negatively stained, and examined by electron microscopy. The SLS precipitates were compared with SLS segments from native soluble collagen and were found to match in band pattern and spacing along their entire length from the COOH-terminal region, except for an NH(2)-terminal extension of 170 +/- 30 A in the heavy alpha-chain SLS. The heavy alpha-chains correspond chromatographically with those previously reported to be intermediates in the conversion of procollagen to collagen, on the basis of their molecular weight and of labeling studies. The presence of NH(2)-terminal extensions, and their existence in mature insoluble collagen, suggest that these intermediates may have a special role in fibril formation.

Broadening the concept of marketing.

PIP: Marketing in business is the task of finding and stimulating buyers for a firms's output. Product development, pricing, distribution, and communication are the mainstays of marketing, while progressive firms also develop new products and chart the trends and changes in people's needs and desires. Marketing can either apply its knowledge to social problems and organizations or remain in a narrowly defined business activity. Every organization has basically the same functions: personnel management, production, income, and promotion, which are using modern marketing skills in commercial sectors. Suppliers and consumers are needed by all organizations. In Canada a group wished to promote an antismoking campaign but they had little money compared to the tobacco companies. This group used modern marketing techniques to combat their lack of funds and found many ways, e.g., books, articles. A business firm uses a multitude of marketing tools to sell its product. Nonbusiness organizations frequently do not integrate their programs the way the businesses place all activities under one marketing vice president and department. Astute marketing depends on continuous feedback from consumers and suppliers. They are dependent upon up-to-the-minute research that tells them about changes in the environment and moves of competitors. Nonbusiness organizations are often casual about the research upon which they base their vital decisions.^ieng