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Biomedical subjects

Samuel A MacMaster

Publications and source records attributed to Samuel A MacMaster.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Applying behavior change models to understand spiritual mechanisms underlying change in substance abuse treatment.

Despite increasing attention directed to conceptual and methodological issues surrounding spirituality and despite the centrality of "spiritual transformation" in the recovery literature, there is little systematic evidence to support the role of spiritual change as a necessary condition for substance abuse behavior change. As an explicit conceptualization of mechanisms underlying behavior change is fundamental to effective interventions, this article: 1) briefly reviews relevant behavior change theories to identify key variables underlying change; 2) presents an integrative conceptual framework articulating linkages between program components, behavior change processes, spiritual change mechanisms and substance abuse outcomes; and 3) presents a discussion of how the mechanisms identified in our model can be seen in commonly used substance abuse interventions. Overall, we argue that spiritual transformation at an individual level takes place in a social context involving peer influence, role modeling, and social reinforcement.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2005

Experiences with and perceptions of, barriers to substance abuse and HIV services among African American women who use crack cocaine.

Significant health disparities in the rates of HIV infection exist that primarily impact African American women. While research has demonstrated that HIV is preventable through changes in high-risk behaviors facilitated by substance abuse treatment, an individual must first be able to access and engage with treatment to derive any benefit from these services. While there is some research that identifies barriers to treatment access and engagement for African American women who use crack cocaine, these barriers require further examination. Current literature has focused primarily on internal motivation and treatment readiness without placing these concepts within the unique environmental context of social stressors for crack cocaine-using African American women. This study presents the results of eleven focus groups with eighty-nine African American women in which respondents document the HIV risk behaviors of crack cocaine users, present their experiences in accessing substance abuse and HIV services, and documents their perceptions of barriers and services needs. The results of this study may further develop an understanding of the means by which individual service users experience their relationships with service providers and the factors that affect these relationships in order to better target potential interventions to reduce the spread of HIV.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Harm reduction: a new perspective on substance abuse services.

This article provides information on harm reduction, a recent development in substance abuse services in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The author outlines abstinence and harm reduction perspectives and the stages of change model and discusses how these perspectives can be integrated in social work practice. He proposes using harm reduction strategies for individuals for whom the abstinence perspective may not be appropriate. Together, the traditional abstinence and harm reduction perspectives provide a basis for a more comprehensive continuum of care for individuals experiencing problems related to their substance use.

Harm Reduction↗
PubMed2004

The Poverty and Housing Scale: report on a pilot study.

The measurement of beliefs and attitudes on poverty and housing is important to researchers and social workers interested in examining the role that belief structures have on the development of policy and programs in these areas. This article reports pilot study findings of a new scale, The Poverty and Housing Scale (PHS), that measures this concept and evaluates its psychometric properties. Preliminary reliability was in the very good range. Examinations of content and face validity provided support of the instrument as a valid measure of beliefs and attitudes on poverty and housing. The factor analysis emerged a one factor, 13-item scale. Unlike other related scales, the PHS attempts to link the social factor of poverty and housing together. Theoretical and methodological strengths and weaknesses are considered and the implications for social work practice are discussed. The authors provide recommendations for additional testing of the instrument.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Indentifying co-occurring disorders in adolescent population.

A structured diagnostic interview (Practical Adolescent Diagnostic Interview) designed to gather basic information about substance use disorders, other mental health conditions, and related experiences was used in a variety of clinical settings. Anonymous data from 279 adolescents interviewed as part of routine clinical assessments in a variety of clinical programs were analyzed to assess the ability of the questions to identify potential problem areas and to provide a preliminary exploration of interrelationships between those problems. Results demonstrated that the vast majority of individuals manifested indications of multiple problems. For a given diagnostic condition, the trend is for those meeting at least the minimal DSM-IV criteria to exhibit substantially more than the minimum number of symptoms. Internal consistencies for item groups defining the various conditions range from more than .700 to over .900 indicating adequate to excellent internal consistency and reliability. Utility of the instrument for routine clinical use is also discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Demystifying the injection drug user: willingness to participate in traditional drug treatment services among participants in a needle exchange program.

Injection drug users have been vilified in our culture as being wild-eyed and willing to do anything for the next hit. These individuals are typically seen as being unemployed, uneducated and completely disinterested in making any changes in their lives. Sixty-one participants in a syringe exchange program in Cleveland, Ohio were interviewed using the NIDA Risk Behavior Assessment. Fifty (81%) of the respondents were either in an abstinence-based program or reported a willingness to participate in such a program. Importantly, although the sample consisted of long-term daily users of injection drugs (m=19.95 years), the majority of the sample was employed (69%) and were high school graduates (51%). The results of this study suggest that injection drug users are willing to make changes in their use-related behaviors, involvement in a needle exchange program does not preclude involvement in abstinence-based programming, and needle exchange services may serve as an important component in a continuum of care when coupled with traditional abstinence-based services.

Adult↗