Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse最新文献

The current study tested the association between life stressors and tobacco use and mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety, among Palestinian youths and whether quality of life (QoL) and physical activity can mediate the association between these variables. The sample consisted of 405 Palestinian youths, 245 male and 160 female; all were selected using online methods. Our findings revealed that life stressors were positively correlated with tobacco use (r = .20, p < .01), anxiety (r = -0.32, p < .01), and depression (r = .23, p < .01), while life stressors were negatively correlated with physical activity (r = -0.15, p < .01) and QoL (r = -0.41, p < .01). Results of structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that QoL and physical activity mediated the association between life stressors and depression and anxiety. Our findings underline the importance of increasing physical activity levels among youths as a protective factor against tobacco use, depression, and anxiety. Moreover, community and school-based interventions to promote QoL and positive mental health in adolescents and youths should incorporate frequent physical activity and engagement in individual or team sports.

Racialized individuals were disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition in Canada; however, the role of socioeconomic factors and neighborhood deprivation are not well understood. The current study examined race/ethnicity, individual socioeconomic factors, and neighborhood deprivation in relation to arrests and convictions for cannabis-related offenses. Repeat cross-sectional data were analyzed from two waves of the International Cannabis Policy Study (ICPS), a web-based survey conducted in 2019 (n = 12,226) and 2020 (n = 12,815) in Canada among those aged 16 to 65. Respondents were recruited through commercial online panels. Respondents' postal codes were linked to the INSPQ deprivation index. Multinomial regression models examined the association between race/ethnicity, individual socioeconomic factors, neighborhood deprivation, and lifetime arrests or convictions for cannabis offenses. Overall, 4.4% of respondents reported a lifetime arrest or conviction for a cannabis-related offense. Black and Indigenous individuals had more than three times the odds of conviction than White individuals (AOR = 3.90, 95% CI = 2.07-7.35, p = <0.01; AOR = 3.24, 95% CI = 1.78-5.90, p = <0.01, respectively). Differences were still statistically significant after adjusting for cannabis use and socioeconomic factors; however, after adjusting for neighborhood deprivation, only the difference for Black individuals remained. Neighborhood deprivation was associated with cannabis-related convictions: the odds of a conviction among the "most privileged" and "privileged" neighborhoods were approximately half of those in the "most deprived" neighborhoods (AOR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.29-0.86, p = 0.01; AOR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.27-0.92, p = 0.03, respectively). Arrests and convictions for cannabis-related offenses were disproportionately higher among racialized individuals and those living in the most marginalized neighborhoods. Future research should examine whether inequities change following the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada.

Preoperative drug screening is not routinely performed in Palestine, which poses challenges for medical management, especially during anesthesia for surgical procedures. We aimed to determine the prevalence and types of illicit drugs through preoperative screening of patients undergoing elective surgeries and to compare these findings with self-reported drug use. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 in the surgical departments of two tertiary hospitals. The study involved 236 participants aged 16-55 years from hospitals in the West Bank, who were interviewed about their drug use history and screened using a multidrug rapid test panel (12 drugs). Informed and parental consent were obtained, and assent was secured from participants under 18 years. Of the 224 participants who agreed to urine testing, 13.4% tested positive for at least one drug: benzodiazepines (3.6%), THC (3.1%), tramadol (2.7%), morphine (2.2%), ketamine (1.8%), and MDMA (0.4%). Cocaine, barbiturates, amphetamine, synthetic cannabinoids, and TCA tested negative in all samples. Additionally, 1.3% were users of multiple drugs. Furthermore, 7.6% reported current illicit drug use, and 3.8% were ex-users. Among those who self-reported illicit drug use, 41.2% tested positive for at least one drug, while 58.8% tested negative. Among participants who did not report illicit drug use, 10.6% tested positive. The study highlights significant discrepancies between urine screening results and self-reports, indicating high illicit drug use among surgical patients. Comprehensive preoperative screening, including interviews and urine tests, is essential for ensuring patient safety.

This study was conducted in a descriptive and cross-sectional design to determine the physical health status of individuals with substance use disorders receiving inpatient treatment at an addiction treatment center. Data were collected between April 2023 and April 2024 at the Adult Detoxification Center of a psychiatric hospital in Istanbul, Türkiye. The sample consisted of a total of 261 individuals with substance use disorders (218 males and 43 females) who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form and the Health Improvement Profile. The most common physical illness among people with substance use disorders is cardiovascular disease. Significant gender-based differences were observed across multiple health domains. In the measurement subscale, women had significantly higher pulse rates compared to men. In the blood test subscale, mean total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were also significantly higher among women. The screening subscale revealed significant gender differences in dental and eye examinations, breast self-examination, presence of constipation and/or diarrhea, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms, such as bloating, distention, or the need for laxative use. Similarly, lifestyle-related variables-including physical activity, daily alcohol and carbohydrate intake, fluid consumption, cannabis use, and engagement in safe sexual practices-differed significantly by gender. It is important to diagnose, monitor, and risk assess the physical health of individuals with substance use disorders. Therefore, mental health and psychiatric nurses should emphasize physical diagnosis and provide a holistic approach to individuals with substance use disorders.

Background: American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities experienced a disproportionate increase in opioid-related fatal and non-fatal poisonings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to treatment, such as medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), became even more critical, although research among this population is limited. We completed qualitative interviews with substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers (i.e., MOUD prescribers, non-prescribing clinicians, non-clinical support staff) to assess the impact of COVID-19 on MOUD care among AI/AN adults.

Methods: Sixty-minute semi-structured interviews were completed with providers working in SUD treatment (N = 25). Eligible providers represented 6 programs serving rural Tribal and urban areas primarily in the Pacific Northwest United States. Transcripts were independently reviewed and analyzed for themes based upon the research aims.

Results: Nineteen female and six male providers completed interviews. Four themes were identified: (1) Beneficial policy changes for MOUD delivery; (2) Telehealth as the biggest policy shift; (3) Addressing complexity, and (4) Cultural services. Findings indicated providers viewed the introduction of telehealth, implementation of mobile services, and expanded take home dosing as positive and leading to increased treatment access. However, barriers related to the internet, transportation, and reimbursement of telehealth remain.

Conclusions: Providers highlighted the utility in the expansion and sustainment of telehealth. Flexible policies for MOUD were particularly beneficial during the height of COVID-19 to maintain and increase access to treatment. Providing a menu of treatment options, emphasizing cultural engagement and social support were deemed necessary to enhance AI/AN community driven solutions in curbing the opioid poisoning public health crisis.

Shisha (waterpipe) smoking in Palestine is a social practice shaped by gender norms. This qualitative study examines the experiences of 50 university students (28 females, 22 males) at An-Najah National University, focusing on how shisha use reflects broader negotiations of autonomy, identity, and social control. Thematic analysis identified six themes: shisha as sanctuary and escape; social surveillance and stigma; honor and shame; health discourses and double standards; peer dynamics and gendered exclusion; and agency in redefining womanhood. Female participants described shisha as a rare space for personal freedom, yet one fraught with risks of exposure, familial censure, and social punishment. Men's use, by contrast, was normalized and free from comparable sanctions. Health warnings were often used to police women's behavior more than men's. Peer groups both enabled belonging and reproduced pressures for conformity among women, while men experienced fewer social risks. The findings illustrate how shisha functions as a contested site where gender, morality, and modernity intersect. This study highlights the need for gender-sensitive approaches that address the social meanings and risks of shisha use in Palestinian society.

Smokeless tobacco use represents a significant public health concern globally, yet comprehensive prevalence data across West Asian populations remain limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the pooled prevalence of smokeless tobacco use in West Asian countries across age groups and geographic regions. A systematic literature search was conducted across databases from inception to May 2025. Studies reporting prevalence data on smokeless tobacco use in West Asian countries were included. Heterogeneity was assessed using I² statistics, with subgroup analyses by age and country. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots. Meta-analysis was performed using CMA version 3.0 with statistical significance level less than 0.05. Out of 745 fount studies, 22 studies across 11 West Asian countries were included in the meta--analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of smokeless tobacco use was 16% (95% CI: 12%, 21%) with significant heterogeneity (I²=99.90%, p < 0.001). Age-specific analysis revealed a prevalence of 15% (95% CI: 12%, 18%) among adolescents and 18% (95% CI: 6%, 29%) among adults. Country-specific prevalence varied substantially, ranging from 6% in Iraq to 34% in Lebanon. Saudi Arabia demonstrated the most extreme variation (1%-86%), largely attributed to one outlier study. Funnel plot analysis suggested potential publication bias, though sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of pooled estimates. Smokeless tobacco use affects approximately one in six individuals across West Asian populations, with considerable geographic and methodological variation. The substantial heterogeneity observed emphasizes the need for country--specific tobacco control strategies and standardized surveillance methods.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have had many negative consequences, and yet a lot was left in its wake that could help shape mental health discussions in health care settings in Canada. This paper is shaped by stories told by Filipino nurses working in Northern Ontario. While there is a plethora of studies looking at mental health issues among nurses and other health care professionals in Canadian hospitals, a gap still remains in regard to the experiences of nurses and health care workers in Northern Ontario during COVID-19. This study seeks to look at the differentiated experiences of mental health among health care professionals during and after COVID-19. This qualitative study employs a narrative approach to discuss how neoliberal capitalism, gendered racism, substance use and colonialism shaped mental health outcomes among Filipino health care workers. While many studies have focused on mental health issues among health care providers, there has been minimal focus on race-based trauma and the ways in which substance use is employed to reduce mental health issues to an individual issue, leaving pharmaceutical companies free to boost their profits. This paper employs intersectional analysis to argue for a more comprehensive understanding of mental health issues among health care workers and allow an understanding of a culturally informed perspective to inform health care policies. The result to the study depicts the various forms of race-based trauma faced by Filipino health care workers and the use of over-the-counter medication to navigate themselves through the health care system. Note that the paper will employ the term healthcare workers and nurses interchangeably.

This relational survey study aims to examine the relationship between attachment styles, coping styles, and psychological resilience levels in adults seeking treatment for alcohol and substance use disorders. The study was conducted with 208 individuals who applied for treatment at an Alcohol and Substance Addiction Research, Treatment, and Education Center in Türkiye. Data were collected by a personal information form, the Three-Dimensional Attachment Styles Scale, the Connor-Davidson Psychological Resilience Scale-Short Form, and the Coping with Stress Inventory. Percentages and means, student t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, and regression analyses were used in the analysis of data. According to the research findings, it was determined that individuals had high secure and anxious attachment scores, and moderate avoidant attachment scores. In addition, it was determined that the participants had moderate psychological resilience, but their ineffective coping with stress scores were high. A positive and significant relationship was found between secure attachment and psychological resilience in individuals with alcohol and substance use disorders. Similarly, a positive significant relationship was found between secure attachment and effectively coping with stress. Finally, it was determined that the most important variables predicting ineffective coping with stress were family relationships, psychological resilience, and avoidant attachment. Based on these findings, it can be said that improving family relationships, increasing psychological resilience, and educating and supporting parents to establish secure attachment relationships can be beneficial in order to protect individuals from substance abuse.

Drug abuse is a pressing global public health issue. In the West Bank, Palestine, societal stigma around substance use obstructs open conversations and precise evaluations, underscoring the importance of a thorough assessment of drug users in rehabilitation facilities. This study aimed to explore the epidemiology of drug abuse among Palestinian patients in rehabilitation centers and the treatment modalities employed. The study examined 1,141 medical files of patients aged 14-73 years from two rehabilitation centers, covering the period from 2014 to 2023. The majority (73.67%) were young adults (18-39 years), tobacco smokers (97.3%), and alcohol users (44.3%). Additionally, 8.2% of patients were diagnosed with various infections, primarily hepatitis C. Most patients sought treatment voluntarily, with 78.2% entering the centers through self-referral. The most commonly detected substances in the urine samples were cannabis (35.2%), morphine (38.8%), benzodiazepines (32.8%), and ecstasy (21%). Furthermore, 35.37% of patients were prescribed carbamazepine, while 30.71% received methadone, with 61.3% struggling to adhere to their prescribed regimens. The relapse rate was high (82.5%), with 6.2% of patients experiencing three or more relapses. The key factors contributing to relapse included peer influence and withdrawal symptoms. The analysis of treatment modalities employed highlighted a comprehensive integration of pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and social support systems, emphasizing a holistic approach to recovery. The insights derived from this study aim to inform policymakers and healthcare providers about the specific needs of drug users in rehabilitation, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of treatment strategies and public health initiatives in the region.