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ABSTRACT: Long-term daily cannabis abusers (N = 25) who without treatment stopped using cannabis for at least one year were interviewed about their past substance use, antecedents to change, and factors supportive of change. Respondents' cannabis problems decreased in the year prior to their recovery compared to their lifetime use. Respondents described their successful quit attempts through structured interviews and autobiographical narratives. The narratives were content analyzed for factors related to recovery. The reports indicated that marijuana cessation was motivated more by internal than external factors, and the most common precipitants of quit attempts were cognitive anti-cannabis factors. The major reason reported by respondents for stopping cannabis was a change in how they viewed their cannabis use, followed by negative personal effects. The most common reported maintenance factors were avoidance of situations in which cannabis was used, changes in lifestyle, and the development of non-cannabis-related interests. Cognitive and respiratory functioning were also assessed. Lastly, more than 75% of respondents reported not seeking treatment because they believed it was not needed or because they wanted to quit on their own. Directions for future research are offered.
Addictive Behaviors 04/2006; 31(3):519-30. · 2.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study examined sample bias related to parental consent procedures in school-based survey research on alcohol-related behavior. Alcohol prevalence and severity of use estimates from a high school student survey using traditional-active parental consent (N = 1,429) were compared with estimates from 2 student surveys using alternative parental consent procedures (passive consent; N = 2,210 and N = 3,231). Traditional-active parental consent procedures resulted in underrepresentation of lifetime drinkers. Furthermore, traditional-active parental consent procedures resulted in lower levels of high-risk drinking, and this bias was most evident for Caucasians and both boys and girls. Findings accentuate the need for administrators, policymakers, and researchers to consider the impact consent procedure related bias may have on results and interpretation of findings from school-based substance use research.
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 01/2005; 18(4):307-15. · 2.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Although several critiques of the methodology of alcohol treatment outcome studies have been published, similar reviews of the methodology of drug treatment outcome studies are lacking. This paper reviews the methodology of drug treatment outcome studies published from 1993 through 1997 and draws comparisons with the most recent methodological review of alcohol treatment outcome studies. Each drug study was evaluated as to whether the following types of data were reported: (1) demographic, (2) drug use, (3) study characteristics, and (4) outcome and follow-up information. Although results for drug studies showed some areas of strength compared to alcohol studies, in general, the weaknesses were similar to or worse than in the alcohol field, including inadequate reporting of demographic and drug use variables. Weaknesses in follow-up procedures were particularly notable. Suggestions for improving the reporting of methodological and outcome variables for drug treatment outcome studies are discussed.
Addictive Behaviors 27(3):319-30. · 2.09 Impact Factor
