Journal of Drug Issues

The study uses qualitative interviews conducted with 19 crack using women to explore their experiences of stress and their views regarding the relationship between stress and drug use. Fifteen of the women participated in follow-up interviews conducted 5–7 years after the baseline. Life history interviews unveiled a pattern of close connection between the intensity of women's drug use and the level of stress they experienced in relation to their past adversities and current life circumstances. The majority of the women viewed stress as an important causal explanation of their drug use. Tensions related to romantic relationships, traumatic childhood, motherhood failures, unabated grief, and humiliating experiences of “crack life” were discussed as the most common sources of psychosocial stress. Most women had very limited positive coping resources and skills. Crack use was perceived as a very common, although highly maladaptive, way to deal with stress. Implications for interventions are discussed.

This paper aimed to examine the prevalence, correlates and nature of violent crime by, and upon, regular drug users by conduct disorder (CD) status. Interview data was collected from 299 regular psychostimulant and/or opioid users. Conduct disorder significantly increased the lifetime and past 12 month risk of violent victimization and offending. While CD did not independently predict recent violent victimization, it did predict recent violent offending. Greater alcohol dependence and involvement in drug dealing were predictors of both recent victimization and offending. The study indicates that there is significant temporal stability between childhood CD behaviors and later violent behavior among individuals with substance use problems. The study also highlights that there is heterogeneity in the risk of violence exposure in drug using populations, a finding which has implications for early intervention and for treatment interventions among dependent drug user populations.

Nearly 50,000 drug offenders are annually offered treatment in lieu of traditional sentencing as a result of California's voter-approved Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act (SACPA). The challenges SACPA currently faces and their potential solutions may be similar to those faced by diversion programs in other regions. Stakeholders responsible for SACPA implementation were surveyed about the impact of recent budget cuts and were asked for suggestions on how to improve SACPA. Budget cuts undermined portions of the law that stakeholders agreed with and stakeholders themselves sought to circumvent portions of the law that they disagreed with. However, two areas of broad stakeholder agreement emerged: 1) funding should be increased, and 2) the option of brief jail sanctions for noncompliant participants should be made available. To address current challenges, key stakeholder groups should collectively draft and propose a revised version of the law using these areas of agreement as a foundation.

Using Agnew's general strain theory (GST) as a theoretical framework, we make an argument that health problems are sources of strain that influence substance use. Health strain's influence on the initiation and frequency of substance use is then empirically investigated using two waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Results from logistic and zero inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression models show that health related strains affect the initiation of marijuana, cocaine, and other drug use, but were inconsistently associated with the frequency of use of these substances. Adolescents with more frequent minor health problems experience greater levels of strain and may choose to cope with this strain through abusing both licit and illicit substances. In some instances negative affect mediates the effects of health strain on initiation and frequency of use. Study limitations and future directions for research on health strain are discussed.

This paper explores the knowledge and opinions of cannabis users regarding Canadian laws regulating possession of cannabis. Our study is based on data from 165 in-depth interviews with adult cannabis users from four Canadian cities. Our participants revealed a limited awareness of cannabis policy in Canada. When researchers informed them about actual Canadian laws, the majority of participants regarded the specified laws as “harsh,” “excessive,” “absurd” and/or “ridiculous.” In practice, the common experience of participants suggests the existence of two sets of enforcement practice in Canada—“there's what's on paper and then there's what happens, out on the sidewalk.” We situate our analysis of these practices in the context of broader debates regarding the putative normalization of drugs like cannabis in Canada. We conclude that greater consideration of the character of local law enforcement practices has the capacity to add further conceptual and analytical clarity to existing theories of normalization.

Despite the value of accurately identifying inmates with substance use disorders, little attention has been given to response bias in routine screening. Although individuals with likely substance use disorders are contributing to overcrowding and increased incarceration costs in correctional systems, a lack of accurate routine screening precludes the efficient implementation of programs to address these conditions and thereby reduce criminal recidivism. This study explored the accuracy of inmates' responses on an addiction screen used during standard classification procedures in a county jail. The UNCOPE screen for addictions, validated on arrestee and prison populations, was used to determine risk for substance dependence. Results indicated that inmates significantly underreported their substance use issues on the addiction screen when administered by a correctional officer, but were much more candid when interviewed by an individual not identified as a law enforcement or correctional officer. Recommendations for accurate routine screening are provided.

Counselors play a supportive role in patients' substance abuse treatment, including tobacco cessation. Thus, counselors should be knowledgeable about tobacco cessation medications (TCMs). This study examined differences in counselors' knowledge of and familiarity with (i.e., diffusion) bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) between 2002 and 2008 and identified predictors of diffusion. Repeated cross-sectional questionnaire data were obtained in 2002/04 from 992 counselors and in 2007/08 from 1,226 counselors working in private treatment programs. Results indicated that more counselors in 2007/08 did not know about bupropion to rate its effectiveness than in 2002/04; no differences were found for NRT. Among both samples of counselors who were familiar with TCMs, effectiveness was rated higher in 2007/08 than in 2002/04. Findings suggest that educated and trained counselors are important in diffusing TCMs. Knowledgeable counselors may be able to educate patients interested in tobacco cessation about available treatments and encourage compliance with TCMs.

A sizeable number of crack cocaine users trade temporary use of their vehicles for small amounts of the drug. While the majority of these crack-for-car contracts are fulfilled without police intervention, many are not. These failed arrangements have the potential to cause a wide range of problems for police and the community. Using semi-structured interviews with police officers and active crack cocaine users, we examine how crack-for-car transactions come to law enforcement officers' attention and how police respond to and perceive the practice. Findings reveal that police believe that these incidents: artificially increase motor vehicle theft rates, waste police resources, perpetuate the drug market, and contribute to tenuous police-citizen relations. Findings have important implications for understanding police-citizen interactions and for developing effective policies.