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Biomedical subjects

H Adger

Publications and source records attributed to H Adger.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Tobacco use among high school students in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the prevalence and correlates of tobacco use among high school students in Buenos Aires, Argentina. METHODS: Anonymous, self-administered questionnaires were given to 3909 8th and 11th graders in a stratified random sample of 49 public and private schools. The instrument included items from American surveys, translated and validated among Argentinean teens. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate possible effects on smoking behavior of environment, students' personal characteristics, and their knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes regarding smoking. RESULTS: Of 8th and 11th graders, 20% and 43%, respectively, were classified as current smokers. Overall, 29% of males and 32% of females were current smokers. Students attending public schools were more likely to smoke than those in private schools (P < .05). Current smoking was associated with having a best friend who smokes, reporting that more than 50% of friends of the same sex smoke, having positive attitudes and beliefs toward smoking, and having a positive intention to smoke within the next year (all P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Over 20% of the 8th graders in our sample were current smokers; prevention efforts must therefore start early.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Office approach to drug abuse prevention.

The onset of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use generally occurs during adolescence. While many teens experiment with these substances, a significant number use them to the point that their behavior interferes with school, family, social relationships, and general productivity. It is the pediatrician's responsibility to identify young people who are at risk for the subsequent use of these substances and initiate a carefully designed prevention program in the office setting.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Early identification, screening, and brief intervention for adolescent alcohol use.

The high prevalence of alcohol and other drug use by adolescents poses a significant threat to the wellness of youth. Whereas there has been a significant decrease in the reported prevalence of use for most illicit drugs, there has been relatively little change in the reported use of alcohol and tobacco, the two most common drugs of abuse. As such, alcohol remains the drug of choice for most adolescents. In 1993, 67% of eighth graders had tried alcohol in their lifetime, as had 81% of 10th graders and 87% of high school seniors. More than a quarter of eighth graders (26%) had used alcohol in the past month, as had 42% of 10th graders and 51% of high school seniors. Most disturbing is that, in all three grade levels, among those who had used alcohol in the past 30 days, half or more had had five or more drinks in a row at least once (13.5%, 23%, and 28%, respectively). Although only 1% of adolescents consider themselves to have a drinking problem, 23% have often driven after excessive drinking, 17% report problems in peer relationships because of drinking, and 10% have been criticized by a close friend for drinking.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Adolescent medicine.

A disturbing observation is the recent increase in the use of LSD and other hallucinogens by younger adolescents. Almost 90% of high school seniors in 1992 reported some experience with alcohol in the past. In 1991, some of the highest rates of gonorrhea were among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The impact of anti-drug advertising. Perceptions of middle and high school students.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the perceived impact of anti-drug advertising on the knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and behavior pertaining to youth drug use and to evaluate the influence of demographic characteristics, media exposure, and substance use on the likelihood of perceiving a deterrent effect of anti-drug advertisements. DESIGN: Anonymous, self-administered survey. SETTING: Urban and suburban public schools. PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred thirty-seven students in middle and high school (52% suburban, 50% male, 48% white) were studied in group convenience samples. OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-report of the impact of anti-drug advertising on knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and behavior pertaining to drug use. RESULTS: Overall, 83% (95% confidence interval [CI], 80% to 86%) of the student sample was exposed to anti-drug advertising. A majority of these students reported a positive impact of anti-drug advertisements: 92% (95% CI, 89% to 95%) perceived an increase in their knowledge of drugs; 60% (95% CI, 56% to 64%) felt they gained stronger beliefs about the dangers of drugs; 52% (95% CI, 48% to 56%) felt they developed more negative attitudes toward drug users; and 75% (95% CI, 72% to 78%) reported that they had decreased, stopped, or been convinced never to initiate drug use. Multivariate analysis revealed that the non-drug-using, urban, and younger students were most likely to perceive a deterrent impact on behavior. CONCLUSION: Anti-drug advertising was perceived to have a deterrent effect on self-reported substance use among this population of adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Alcohol and Adolescents.

Multiple studies show that 45-50% of adolescent victims of violent death have been drinking alcohol before the fatal incident. The authors examine the acute effects of alcohol on the brain and on behavior, discuss the types of teenage alcoholism, and then focus on specific issues such as patterns of inheritance, alcohol use during pregnancy, and fetal alcohol syndrome.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Cigarette, alcohol, and other drug use by school-age pregnant adolescents: prevalence, detection, and associated risk factors.

Use of cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs among pregnant adolescents is just beginning to be documented. This study sought to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of cigarette, alcohol, and other drug use among school-age adolescents attending a comprehensive teenage pregnancy program. All enrollees completed a self-administered questionnaire and provided a breath sample for carbon monoxide analysis. Urine was obtained for quantitative determination of drug metabolites at the initial and one third-trimester visit. A chart review determined medical provider recognition of cigarette, alcohol, and other drug use. Results were analyzed for 93% of 229 eligible patients. Seventeen percent were positive for alcohol or other drug use by questionnaire self-report, provider report, or initial urine screen. Eleven percent were positive by urine screen alone at either the initial or third-trimester visit. Medical providers were successful in identifying nearly all of the cigarette smokers, but fewer than half of the alcohol drinkers and few of the other drug users. Forward stepwise multiple regression determined the most efficient model for predicting alcohol and other drug use. A report of having been high at school and personal or friends' use of cigarettes were the most significant risk factors. Results indicate a high prevalence of alcohol and other drug use and suggest a need for changes in current practice related to the detection and management of such drug use in pregnant adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Detection of alcoholism in hospitalized children and their families.

The study sought to measure provider recognition of family alcohol-related problems among hospitalized children and to identify characteristics distinguishing "positive" families. The study sample (N = 147) was drawn from admissions to the general pediatric medical service of a metropolitan teaching hospital. Positivity was assessed through parent and patient interviews that included standard alcohol abuse screening instruments. Provider recognition was assessed through record review and physician interview. Of the 22 families screened positive, only one was so identified by the child's attending or resident physician. Positive and "negative" families were similar in most respects, although parents in positive families were more likely to report stress and sleeping problems and adolescents were more likely to report being troubled by a parent's drinking. The similarity of positive and negative families and the low pediatrician recognition rate suggest that alcohol problems are likely to go unnoticed without a conscious screening effort.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Problems of alcohol and other drug use and abuse in adolescents.

In summary, although there has been much progress, alcohol and other drug use and abuse in adolescents remains a major medical and public health problem. Epidemiological studies of adolescents and young adults provide important information about the frequency, quantity, and types of drugs used among these populations. A number of theories on causation and initiation of use of alcohol and other drugs have been postulated, and each adds important new information to the field. Impressive gains have been made in the identification of risk profiles which lead to alcohol and other drug use. Although this work has been comprehensive in its approach, studying the influences of family and peer factors, psychological and biological variables, and environmental and demographic characteristics, many questions remain unanswered with regard to the distinguishing features of those at risk who progress to problem use. Additionally, although treatment programs have been developed specifically to meet the special needs of adolescents, treatment outcome studies and better assessment procedures to determine which adolescents need which specific types of treatment are still needed. Finally, effective physician education strategies are needed to ensure appropriate practice behaviors among health care providers, who should be an important link in the coordination of efforts as the health care community responds to the problem of alcohol and other drug abuse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Substance use by pregnant adolescents.

Alcohol and other drug use by adolescents and adolescent pregnancy are both considered to be major problems in the United States. The risk-taking behaviors of early sexual activity and substance use are associated and are part of a larger problem behavior constellation. Although substance use by adolescents and adolescent pregnancy have both been well documented and studied, substance use by pregnant adolescents is just beginning to be studied systemically. Current studies show significant substance use both by self-report and objective testing among pregnant adolescents, with self-report alone underestimating use. Early risk profiles show several significant risk factors for alcohol and drug use by pregnant adolescents. Future directions for work with substance abuse with pregnant adolescents include changes in practice behavior by physicians and other health providers, and family education and support regarding sexuality and substance use. Further research is needed to determine prevalence of substance use among pregnant adolescents, how better screening and early intervention can be implemented, and the long-term effects of substance use on the adolescent and her baby.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Substance abuse education in pediatrics.

Historically, physicians have received little formal education related to alcohol or other drug abuse and dependence. A survey of all pediatric programs in the United States was conducted to assess the current status of alcohol/drug education in pediatrics. At the medical student and residency training levels, only 44% and 40% of programs, respectively, required any formal instruction, and only 27% and 34%, respectively, offered an elective for medical students or residents. Although most respondents endorsed the inclusion of both required and elective alcohol and drug education in the curriculum, few programs that did not include it already had a future plan for it. Major impediments identified were curriculum time constraints (86% medical student level, 68% resident level) and the lack of a qualified instructor (55% medical student level, 50% resident level). The survey results suggest a strong need for development of faculty and structured alcohol and drug abuse educational plans specific to pediatrics.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1987

Microflora of the urethra in adolescent boys: relationships to sexual activity and nongonococcal urethritis.

Urethral cultures were obtained from 90 adolescent youth, 16 of whom denied previous sexual activity. Among the sexually active boys was a group of 32 with clinically significant pyuria, consistent with the diagnosis of urethritis, on a first-part urinalysis (FPU) specimen. To relate differences in urethral microflora to sexual activity, 42 sexually active patients with a negative FPU were compared with the never sexually active group. The profile of anaerobic, but not aerobic, bacteria isolated from the urethra was related to the presence or absence of previous sexual activity. Mycoplasma species and Ureaplasma urealyticum were isolated from sexually active patients only, and may be markers of sexual activity in adolescent boys. Of the 32 patients with FPU evidence of urethritis, 22 (69%) had cultures positive for Chlamydia trachomatis, and an additional three (9%) had cultures positive for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The findings in sexually active patients with a positive FPU were otherwise similar to those of sexually active patients without evidence of urethritis. C. trachomatis appears to be the most important agent of urethritis among adolescent boys with a positive FPU.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in adolescent males: value of first-catch urine examination.

50 adolescent males attending a general teen clinic (aged 13-21) were evaluated for urethritis. After examination of sediment from the initial 15-20 ml of voided urine, first-catch urine (FCU), specimen urethral swabs were taken for culture of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. 21 of 23 (91%) males with greater than 10 leucocytes per high-power field of resuspended sediment (FCU-positive) had positive urethral cultures for C trachomatis or N gonorrhoeae compared with only 1 of 27 (4%) FCU-negative subjects (p less than 0.001). 12 of 22 culture-positive subjects had no genitourinary symptoms and 11 of the 12 had C trachomatis infections. The sensitivity of FCU examination in identifying culture-positive urethritis was 95%, the specificity 93%, and the predictive value of a positive FCU 91%. FCU examination is a useful, noninvasive screening test to detect urethritis associated with C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae. The test may be especially helpful in identifying symptom-free males with chlamydia-associated urethritis.

Adolescent↗