The role of research in drug policy in Hong Kong: highlighting life satisfaction from two longitudinal studies of drug abusers

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the role of research in the development of drug policy in Hong Kong. The upsurge of the prevalence of psychoactive drug abuse in young people since the mid-1990s had brought about a great demand for medical and social science research on psychoactive drugs and users. Among a large number of Beat Drugs Fund-funded projects, two longitudinal studies, conducted between 2000 and 2002 and between 2009 and 2011, respectively, were used to illustrate the possible contributions of research findings to treatment and rehabilitation services. The most salient finding present in both studies was the significant and negative relationship between life satisfaction and continuation of drug use. The finding suggested that subjective well-being should be incorporated into treatment programmes, and there is a need to provide post-treatment services to young rehabilitated psychoactive drug abusers in the form of life planning programmes and organisation of sustainable social activities in the community.     

Qualitative data analysis with hypertext: A case of New York City crack dealers

Ethnography has become a useful method in procuring sensitive information from the ‘hidden population’ who may not be accessed with quantitative survey techniques. Researchers are generating huge amounts of qualitative/textual data. Qualitative data require careful planning in storage, coding, retrieval, and analysis. Personal computers have solved data management problems, but data analysis remains problematic. The paper describes some qualitative data management and analytic problems faced by a team of ethnographers engaged in a longitudinal epidemiological study of cocaine and crack distribution/abuse in New York City. Ethnographic data was collected through multi-session open-ended interviews with more than one hundred cocaine/crack dealers and extensive field-notes were kept. Compared to other programs, a hypertext software — Folio Views — was more useful in solving (a) data management and (b) analytical problems. Authors used this software to handle more than twenty-five thousand pages of texts; search and sort the database by any words or codes; and retrieve relevant textual materials needed to complete comparative and thematic analysis. Authors analyzed the data from outsiders’ point of view (etic) as well as from the viewpoint of the subject populations (emic).     

色谱——质谱联用法在新药研究中的应用

气一质联用法(GC-MS)和液一质联用法(LC-MS)将色谱的高分离性能和质谱的高鉴别特点相结合,组成了较完美的现代分析技术,在新药研究的含量测定,有关物质检查、质量标准制定以及药物动力学研究的代谢物分析、药物及代谢物的体内浓度分布等试验中,成为有力的分析工具,文章综述了近年来色谱一质谱联用在以上领域的应用实例,展示了它的发展前景。     

The Impact of Methamphetamine Use on Parenting

SUMMARY

Children whose parents abuse substances are often exposed to chaotic and neglectful lifestyles. Because of the increase in methamphetamine abuse, especially by females of child-bearing age, it is important to understand how the use of this drug impacts parenting. In this qualitative study, ten parents being treated for methamphetamine abuse were interviewed. Results indicated that while using, parents utilized a polarized style of parenting and specific drug management strategies, allowed exposure to violence, created upheaval in their children's daily living structure, and felt ambivalence when discussing these effects on children. Implications for social work practice include early intervention focusing on strengthening parenting skills.     

Resistance,Space and Political Identities: The Making of Counter-Global Networks

Activists in seven US cities were interviewed about why they thought people in their communities mobilized against alcohol-related problems. The data were analyzed in light of the focus on resource mobilization theory in the social movement literature. In contrast with claims that resources are the primary catalyst for change, informants emphasized the role of grievances, and to a lesser extent, bridging factors that caused residents to be more aware of or frustrated by problems, and thus ready for change. Resources seemed to provide necessary but insufficient conditions for explaining movement participation, suggesting that, to be effective, resources must be channeled to address and be linked to the grievous social conditions of inner city communities.     

六盘水市毒情及禁毒对策研究

当前,国际毒潮泛滥,国内毒情蔓延发展,危害日益严重,毒品问题是当今世界各国十分关注的问题。1999年7月,我省六盘水市被国家禁毒委和公安部列为全国毒品问题重点整治地区。2001年7月国家禁毒委检查验收,决定将六盘水市的毒品重点整治区域从市缩小为六盘水市盘县,继续开展重点整治工作。这对今后六盘水市禁毒工作任务顺利开展起到具有重要作用。     

降脂中药的研究进展

从传统的中药中寻找具有降脂作用的药物是国内外研究的热点之一，降脂中药的研究包括降脂实验研究、降脂临床研究以及降脂的机理研究。     

Substance Use and Abuse and the Role of Social Workers in Germany

SUMMARY

The paper outlines major trends in consumption patterns of alcohol and other drugs in Germany with special focus on the use of cannabis among young people. It discusses primary prevention efforts and describes the current treatment system with its two branches: one for people with alcohol problems and the other for those with drug problems. It highlights the developing role of social work and identifies the research topics that are influenced by social workers and that will influence the debate regarding the future role of the profession.