The prevalence of elevated psychological distress among Canadian undergraduates: findings from the 1998 Canadian Campus Survey.

For a study of elevated psychological distress, the authors used data based on a national probability sample of 7,800 Canadian undergraduate students from 16 universities. They used the 12-item General Health Questionnaire to assess mental health. Thirty percent of the students in the sample reported elevated psychological distress, which varied significantly according to sex, region, year of study, and recreational and academic orientation. Rates of elevated distress were significantly higher among the students than among the general population in Canada.

Social costs of untreated opioid dependence.

Using cost-of-illness methodology applied to a comprehensive survey of 114 daily opiate users not currently in or seeking treatment for their addiction, we estimated the 1996 social costs of untreated opioid dependence in Toronto (Ontario, Canada). The survey collected data on social and demographic characteristics, drug use history, physical and mental health status, the use of health care and substance treatment services, drug use modality and sex-related risks of infectious diseases, sources of income, as well as criminality and involvement with the law enforcement system. The annual social cost generated by this sample, calculated at Canadian $5.086 million, is explained mostly by crime victimization (44.6%) and law enforcement (42.4%), followed by productivity losses (7.0%) and the utilization of health care (6.1%). Applying the $13,100 cost to the estimated 8,000 to 13,000 users and 2.456 million residents living in Toronto yields a range of social cost between $43 and $69 per capita.

Comparing opiate users in methadone treatment with untreated opiate users: results of a follow-up study with a Toronto opiate user cohort.

Untreated opiate use is correlated with major social harms and costs in Canada. While methadone treatment has existed in Canada since the 1960s, there is little specific Canadian research on its effects. This paper reports on the one-year follow-up results of a Toronto cohort study of opiate users (N = 114) who were not in treatment at baseline. Sixty-nine people were recruited for re-interviewing. A number of these individuals (N = 29) had entered methadone treatment during the year between baseline and follow-up interviews. Comparisons with respect to social functioning, health status and health care utilization, drug use and related risks, and criminal justice system involvement were made between the follow-up subsample who remained untreated, and the subjects who entered methadone treatment. Differences were found with respect to illegal income generation, illicit opiate and other drug use, illicit drug market activities and emergency care and aspects of socio-economic integration, but no major effects on health and criminal justice status could be shown. Research and policy implications are discussed.

Prevalence and factors associated with physical and sexual assault of female university students in Ontario.

The authors examined the prevalence of physical and sexual assault of female university students and associated factors. In a survey of a random sample of 3,642 female students from 6 universities across Ontario, 24% of female students reported being physically assaulted and 15% reported being sexually assaulted during the previous year. When the assault measures were combined, 32% of university women reported being either physically or sexually assaulted during the previous year. Of those experiencing assault, 40% had been the victim of 2 or more types of assaults. Logistic regression analysis revealed that assault was associated with year of study, marital status, alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, prescription drug use, unhealthy eating and stress behaviors, less time spent on academics, and more time involved in social activities. University programs and activities directed toward the reduction of assault should incorporate the factors identified in this study to increase awareness of the situational factors surrounding likelihood of assault.

Toward comprehensive school drug policy in Ontario.

The study reported here examines the development and implementation of School Drug Policy in Ontario Boards of Education, the components of these policies, and the composition of policy development committees. Data from 125 Boards of Education were obtained from responses to a questionnaire administered in the Fall of 1991. Findings from the study indicate that school drug policies are increasingly comprehensive-including not only disciplinary measures, but also a preventive curriculum and early intervention component. The composition of policy development working groups normally consisted of such groups as board personnel, teachers, and practitioners from other fields. Students were not often included in the process of policy development. Thus, the development and implementation of school drug policy in Ontario indicates a "top down" rather than "bottom up" approach.

The role of alcohol providers in prevention: an evaluation of a server intervention programme.

Server intervention is a relatively new approach in the attempt to reduce the incidence of drinking and driving. Although a number of evaluations have suggested that the approach may be effective, there have been few comprehensive evaluations of such programmes. The present study utilized process evaluation techniques to assess reactions to a programme developed by the Addiction Research Foundation, and a quasi-experimental design to determine the impact of the programme on the serving practices of servers. Actors portrayed behaviours often faced by servers, and observers rated the reactions of the servers, who were unaware of the simulations, to these situations. The programme appears to have been effective in changing behaviour, in that trained servers exhibited less inappropriate responses than did untrained servers. In addition the results suggested that the programme increased servers' knowledge about their obligations and potential strategies for dealing with these situations. The implications of these findings for future implementations of such programmes are discussed.

Influence of religion and culture on drinking behaviours: a test of hypotheses between Canada and the USA.

American Roman Catholic and mainstream Protestant students consume more alcohol and have more alcohol abuse problem compared to Canadian students within the same religious groups. Among abstinent oriented Protestants there was no difference in regards to alcohol consumption or problems related to drinking between the countries. For Jews there were mixed results with Americans exhibiting similar consumption rates but reporting more problems related to drinking compared to the Canadians. Among this sample it was concluded that religious norms have a greater influence in cohesive religious groups while cultural norms are more influential among less cohesive groups. The results also support the Canadian 'Mosaic' and American 'Melting Pot' assumption.

Consequences of alcohol use: behavior changes and problems during first year of university.

A sample of students registered to begin first-year university were surveyed 1 month prior to their arrival on campus about experiences they had had with alcohol. The same students were surveyed again 8 months later, toward the end of their first academic year. Overall, the results showed an increase in problems in three problem domains--Personal Effects, Social/Legal Effects, and Major School Problems--although males and females did not show identical patterns of change. The implications for prevention programming in universities are discussed.

Alcohol availability, alcohol consumption and alcohol-related damage. I. The distribution of consumption model.

One of the major approaches to alcoholism prevention is referred to as the distribution of consumption model. This prevention model can be summarized as a causal model whereby the availability of alcoholic beverages has a direct causal effect on the aggregate level of alcohol consumption in the population and, in turn, an indirect effect on the incidence and prevalence of alcohol-related damage. This article summarizes an application of a statistical technique known as the analysis of linear structural relations (LISREL) to a set of Ontario data concerning alcohol availability, alcohol consumption and alcohol-related damage. Results substantiated the existence of specific causal paths consistent with the model. Several procedures for assessing the overall goodness-of-fit of the model suggested that it adequately fit the data. The results provide reasonable statistical evidence that government policies restricting the retail availability of alcoholic beverages will reduce the per capita rates of alcohol consumption and, in turn, reduce the level of alcohol-related mortality and morbidity in the general population.

Alcohol availability, alcohol consumption and alcohol-related damage. II. The role of sociodemographic factors.

Based on the encouraging findings in part I of our study, and on the relevant research literature, several sociodemographic factors were added to the causal sequence proposed by the distribution of consumption model and corroborated by a statistical technique known as the analysis of linear structural relations (LISREL). The sociodemographic factors were added in two alternative fashions. Although neither approach proved to be significantly superior, the basic causal sequence identified in part I was maintained, and the sociodemographic factors were found to be intimately involved in the process that leads to alcohol-related morbidity and alcohol-related mortality in the general population. The findings are discussed with reference to their implications for prevention via public policy.