Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs最新文献

Aims: Involvement in minor drug offences at an early age can be a signal of the onset of a potential drug issue. This is why Sweden has considered the criminalization of personal use as a strategy to deter the progression of drug use. This study investigated how the judiciary and social services succeed in identifying and providing support to adolescents convicted of drug offences. Methods: Characteristics of all 15-17-year-olds convicted of offences against the Act on Penal Law on Narcotics (drug offence) in 2017 were examined using Swedish longitudinal registry data (N = 1847). Furthermore, the decision process rendering different legal responses was examined by use of social services files for a subsample of 189 adolescents. Results: About two-thirds of the adolescents had their first conviction for the index offence and the majority received legal responses consisting of rehabilitative measures. Background factors indicated that those with severe drug and criminal issues encounter risk factors relating to their upbringing (e.g., neuropsychiatric disorders were notably more prevalent in this group than among similar peers). Around 61% of adolescents were reconvicted for new drug offences during the three-year study period, but with variations among subgroups. Younger boys who received rehabilitative measures had lower reconviction rates compared to those without. Conclusions: Addressing the underlying factors contributing to adolescent drug offences requires a multifaceted approach that prioritizes early intervention, personalized support, and collaboration across systems to promote positive outcomes and reduce recidivism rates.

Aims: This research explores patterns of views on substance use among Norwegian adolescent girls aged 16-19 years. By examining the participants' experiences, attitudes and needs, the study seeks to uncover how teenage girls experience the use of substances, how the use impacts their daily lives, and their relationships with peers, family and welfare professionals. Methods: To achieve this understanding, we utilised Q methodology to capture the perspectives of 42 Norwegian adolescent girls. Q methodology provides a comprehensive understanding of participants' shared viewpoints and offers insight into their perspectives on substance use. We use the concept of "mattering" to interpret the perspectives on substance use revealed through the Q methodological analysis. Results: We identified three distinct perspectives among the participants: (1) Confident - against illegal substances; (2) Ambivalent - substance use normalised, yet with negative consequences; and (3) Outgoing - positive and curious about illegal substances. The key differences lie in the adolescents' attitudes to illegal substances, parental relationships, and openness about their own substance use. Substance use serves different functions and has varying consequences for each perspective. Conclusions: Secure interpersonal relationships within families, peers and broader social contexts are crucial in shaping adolescent girls' attitudes to substance use. Feeling valued and experiencing mattering within these contexts can protect against problematic behaviours and encourage healthier choices. To support adolescent girls' well-being, healthcare and social work professionals should consider the family's emotional climate and the girls' sense of connectedness to family, peers and society.

Aim: Peer support is a recommended approach within mental health and substance use policy and practice. The aim of this study is to explore how the peer-led, manual-based course, "Recovery is up to you," developed in the Netherlands, is experienced in a Norwegian context. Method: Qualitative semi-structured individual and group interviews involving eight-course attendees and 12 course leaders, recruited from two community services where the course was implemented. The interviews were analyzed using Tjora's stepwise deductive induction. Prilleltensky's mattering theory was used in the analysis of the results. Results: Both course attendees and leaders described the course as helpful, emphasizing the potential in sharing with equals through fellowship with like-minded people and in this the ability to process shame and access hope. Furthermore, study participants expressed that the course functions as a step in the process to recovery by rebuilding that framework and preparing for life beyond the course, and where the role of course leaders for some of the study participants represented one such step. Using Prilleltensky's concept of mattering, we interpret the participants' experiences of the course as promoting recovery through the processes of feeling valued and adding value, facilitating a "we-culture" that initiates processes regarding the self, relationships, work, and community. Conclusions: "Recovery is up to you" appears to be a relevant and accessible intervention to facilitate recovery processes, and a good method for utilizing peer competence. More research is needed on the utilization of the course in other settings.

Aims: Research has identified the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) as a gap between treatment needs and available facilities for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in Norway. State policy emphasizes the need for measures to ensure coordinated treatment services. This study aims to explore whether clinical pathways of mental health and substance abuse and team-based organisation function as intended in the treatment of patients with AAS use. Design: A qualitative research design was used. Individual semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with eight professionals who we assumed had experience with this patient group. The participants were asked about the clarification process regarding assessment and treatment for AAS and internal and external cooperation. Everyday work, roles and task distribution, structure and routines, and knowledge of AAS were topics that were addressed. We analysed by interpreting the data considering relevant theoretical perspectives of organisational- and sociology of profession perspective. Results: We found that it was arbitrary whether AAS use was discovered, which may indicate a lack of attention to this form of abuse. Organisation in teams seems to as an adequate horizontal coordination mechanism within SUD treatment. However, the teams lacked both knowledge of AAS as well medical expertise, which may lead to a lack of a treatment programme that is in line with the patient's needs. Conclusion: There still seems to be a need for increased awareness of AAS among the professionals and organisations involved. Team-based organisation within SUD seemed to function well, however loss of coordination between SUD and local services may indicate that the clinical pathway for mental health and substance abuse do not function as intended.

Aims: There has been relatively little research on professional competencies in social work with individuals with alcohol use problems. The present study investigates the patterns of competencies and abilities that constitute different competence dimensions in this field of social work. Additionally, the study attempts to confirm the validity and assess the reliability in the use of the Perceived Social Work Competence Scale (PSWCS) for measuring professional competencies in Lithuania. Exploratory factor analysis was used for both purposes. Methods: First, the translated scale's reliability and validity were examined, after which an interpretative competence dimension analysis was performed. Results: The study shows that the translated scale, consisting of 30 items covering eight competence dimensions (consultation, emotional support, case management, professional resilience, retrospective consultation, team working, community work and relationship formation), demonstrates strong reliability. Conclusions:The study provides insight into the ways in which Lithuanian social workers employ a combination of procedural and meta-competencies with field-specific characteristics in their work with alcohol use problems.

Aims: In the UK, nicotine pouches are growing in popularity, particularly among young people. This study investigated the Instagram marketing strategies of one leading brand, Nordic Spirit. Methods: A total of 496 Instagram posts published by Nordic Spirit between 2019 and 2023 were collected and organised into themes using qualitative content analysis to identify recurring patterns. Then, multimodal critical discourse analysis was employed to explore the different linguistic and other semiotic resources at work in posts, their ideological patterns and how they work together to frame nicotine pouches as an essential product for young people. Results: The study identified four key messages that Nordic Spirit uses to target young people: (1) fun and freedom; (2) Nordic happiness; (3) fuss-free and discreet; and (4) healthy and scientifically rational. It found that posts are often misleading, underplay the dangers of nicotine and frame nicotine pouches as trendy lifestyle products rather than as smoking alternatives. Conclusion: The results underline the dangers of such marketing strategies in encouraging nicotine addiction and dependence. Consequently, the UK government and Advertising Standards Authority should do more to clamp down on these social media posts and introduce tighter regulations to protect young people and uphold their freedom from exploitation.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify and elucidate the differences between highly affiliated and low/non-affiliated participants in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. Methods: A qualitative study of 24 participants was conducted in Romania between March and June 2021. Data were collected by means of in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used to obtain a comprehensive synthesis of the data collected. Findings: Highly affiliated individuals are those who identify themselves as AA members, are sober, have worked the 12 Steps, are satisfied with their lives, experience a state of well-being, accept the Higher Power, have hit the bottom, have a strong desire for abstinence, attend AA meetings on a regular basis, and are committed to both AA and their sobriety. Conclusion: Although there are common themes among both highly and low/non-affiliated individuals, the results suggest that addiction specialists should pay more attention to organisational commitment, spirituality, well-being and addiction-related concepts as it seems some of them may determine successful AA affiliation, while others may reflect on recovery outcomes. These findings could prove useful to motivate individuals who struggle with alcohol addiction and are reluctant in joining AA, since high AA affiliation is associated with a wide range of recovery benefits.

Aim: To explore gambling in the indigenous Sámi culture by studying thoughts, ideas and attitudes towards gambling among Sámi and people living in majority Sámi areas with knowledge of the culture. Methods: The topic was investigated in an inductive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 14 people (n = 13 self-reported Sámi ethnicity). Results: The majority of the informants knew of superstitious practices that were specific to the Sámi culture, though most did not believe that these could influence gambling outcomes. Several features of the Sámi culture, including religious commitment (Laestadianism), family-oriented societies, non-materialistic ideals and self-sufficiency ideals, were presumed to protect against developing gambling issues. There were reports of reduced trust in the Norwegian healthcare system and a lack of treatment services with sufficient knowledge about Sámi culture. Conclusion: Culture-specific factors protecting against development of gambling problems could be a factor in maintaining established gambling problems by increasing associated shame and stigma, resulting in a higher threshold for help-seeking among Sámi. The findings and their potential implications with regards to the existing literature are discussed.