2005 NIDA International Forum Abstracts

respondents used substances through injection and 36% used through multiple routes. Frequency of psychopathology among PLWHA was as follows: Depressive Episode and Dysthymia (68%), Drug Dependence (63%), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (41%), Alcohol Dependence (17%), Panic Disorder (7%), Single Psychotic Episode (6%), Social Phobia (2%), Recurrent Psychotic Episode (2%), and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (1%). There was a significant relationship between the stage of AIDS (p= 0.035) and the level of knowledge about HIV (p=0.046) with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. There was also a significant relationship between the age of respondents (p=0.004), sex (p=0.002) and low level of education (p=0.087) with Drug Dependence. The result of the study is in favor of the importance of preventive educational programs and public information for high-risk groups or those already infected by HIV/AIDS. A Bibliomctric Study of Drug Addiction Specialty Journals: A Preliminary Report Epidemiology United States Winstanley, Erin, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, IQ Solutions, Inc. Background. The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the field of published addiction research and in particular describe the type and focus of research being conducted, sources of funding, and the involvement of the international community of researchers. Methods. A search in PubMed was conducted to identify all of the articles published in Addiction (ADD) and Drug and Alcohol Dependence (DAD) from 1998 to 2002. The analysis was limited to articles reporting empirical research publications and the final sample size was 1,317 articles. Results. The United States, United Kingdom and Australia had the greatest number of publications. After adjusting for country gross domestic product and population, the leading countries were The Netherlands, Iceland and Switzerland. NIDA funded the majority of articles reporting a funding source and other funding sources were primarily NIH institutes. There was an increase in the following subject areas: psychology (+45), methods (+35), treatment (+22) and public health (+21). New growth areas are driving, authorship, amphetamine and hallucinogens. The largest absolute decreases were for therapeutic use (-33) and pharmacology (-30). Discussion. While drug abuse is a global phenomenon, most articles published in DAD and ADD are authored by researchers from the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. The diversity of NIH institutes funding drug abuse articles suggests a cross-disciplinary approach to drug abuse research. The next steps are to expand the available data up to 2004, add data on co-authors locations, and verify the MedLine data on funding sources. Conclusions. In sum, this is the first study to provide a macro-perspective of a diverse field of research that spans the globe. The field of licit and illicit substance use and misuse is truly a multi-disciplinary field, including a broad scope of activities and funding sources. Substance Abuse and Drug-Policy: Strategies and National Priorities in the U.S.A. and in Russia (Comparative Approach) Epidemiology Russia/United States Zakirova, Venera, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Substance abuse remains a major concern for every nation. Illicit drugs are a truly global phenomenon. An estimated 185 million people, or three percent of the global population, that is 4.7% of the population aged 15 to 64, consume illicit drugs annually. These people live in both developed and developing countries. Poor countries are particularly vulnerable and need help. Poverty, conflicts, and poor governance are fertile ground for drug production, trafficking and abuse. The global dimensions of the drug problem are equally important. Illicit drug markets know no borders. Sttioking, drinking, prescription drug Misuse, illicit drug and toxical substance use are major causes for morbidity and mortality. The drug problem has a negative impact on the functioning of societies as a whole. At this point, adequate state drug policy has become an urgent public agenda. Government bodies cannot do everything. Interventions are far more effective when they are integrated with various institutions in civil society (such as families, non -governmental organizations, and the media) in a common purpose and program. As it says in the U.N. 2004 World Drug Report, "In 2003, governments called for a comprehensive strategy, as well as further development of evidence-based initiatives and of data collection, analysis and evaluation tools to support them". The effectiveness of society's response to the nation's substance abuse depends on adequite political will and how accurately it (society) identifies and understands the substance abuse problem. Drug policy and intervention efforts also largerly depend on the valid and reliable data. In terms of health impact, as measured by the demand for treatment services, opiates remain the most serious problem drug in the world. Among the types of drugs of consumption, cannabis herb is the most commonly used illicit drug in the world. During the last decade, the highest increases, after cannabis, were for the ATS (mainly ecstasy), followed by cocaine and opiates. The U.S.A. and Russia aren't exceptions. In both countries, widespread drug abuse is society's main concern. In the U.S.A., more than 12% age 12 and older reported illicit drug use during the past year and 41.7% reported some use of an illicit drug at least once during their lifetimes. Thus, American society set the National Drug Control Strategy based on threefold national priorities: (a) Stopping Use Before It Starts; (b) Healing America's Drug Users; and (c) Disrupting the Market. This strategy and priorities led the way for fewer users (reduction of 11% to 17% among students) in 2003 in the U.S. A. In Russia, it is estimated that 3 to 5 million people (2% of the population) are drug addicts and 1.5 million (1% of population) are HIV positive. At the same time, Russia has become a model of repression of drug users and stigmatization of HIV-positive people. This policy does not contribute to eliminating demand for drugs and does not address any of the economic, social or health factors associated with the use of illicit drugs.

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