- Email: [email protected]
Prevalence of tobacco use and problem drinking among career firefighters
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Abstracts / Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 43 (2012) e1–e25
expensive means by which substance abuse treatment in criminal justice settings could be extended to reach the large portion of offenders whose substance use problems are typically not treated.
analysis of a computerized substance abuse intervention delivered in 10 prisons and four states. In addition to the conceptual issues, preliminary estimates for incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves will be presented.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.112 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.114
Comparative economic costs of two substance abuse treatment interventions delivered in prison: Computerized psychosocial treatment vs. counselor-delivered group therapy Bisma Sayed University of Miami E-mail address: [email protected] Economic evaluation of substance abuse treatment interventions requires that detailed and reliable data are obtained on economic or opportunity costs. Accounting costs or direct expenditures differ from economic costs because the latter are linked directly to resource utilization. This presentation will outline the principles of economic cost estimation, and then apply these principles in comparing the costs of two substance abuse treatment interventions; i.e., (1) experimental (E), the therapeutic education system, a computerized substance abuse intervention, vs. (2) control (C), standard care, group therapy delivered by a certified addictions counselor. The two interventions (E and C) were delivered in a randomized clinical trial conducted among incarcerated substance abusing offenders in 10 prisons located in four states. In addition to the empirical information reviewed, this presentation will discuss some of the nuances and challenges associated with estimating the costs of computerized interventions delivered in prison settings.
Symposium Substance use issues among male career firefighters Walker Poston National Development and Research Institutes E-mail address: [email protected] Firefighters/emergency medical services personnel are vital for public safety and are lead responders to all domestic crises. Their duties expose them to a plethora of dangers and traumatic events including accidents, injuries, fatalities, other medical emergencies (e.g., cardiac events and suicides), and rescues and fighting fires under arduous conditions. While fire service members agree that they must maintain high fitness levels due to strenuous mental/ physical job requirements, recent evidence suggests that many develop substance use problems. The results of two large-scale studies will be presented highlighting the high prevalence of smokeless tobacco use and heavy/binge drinking which can negatively impact their fitness for duty and health. Data from the first population-based study will be used to examine the prevalence of these substance use issues and their correlates. Data from the first national qualitative study will be used to examine some of the reasons firefighters believe lead to abuse of these substances. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.115
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.113
Cost-effectiveness analysis of a computerized substance abuse intervention in prison Michael French, Ph.D. University of Miami E-mail address: [email protected] Conducting economic evaluations of substance abuse treatment interventions poses a unique set of challenges and uncertainties, rather than, for example, when evaluating primary medical care treatments. In particular, substance abuse interventions often involve services delivered in disparate settings (e.g., community-based programs, mental health clinics, jails, prisons), with multiple stakeholders (e.g., client, family, providers, payers, schools, criminal justice agencies, citizens), and numerous outcomes (e.g., substance use, health care, criminal activity, earnings, employment). This presentation will discuss the unique aspects associated with performing a cost-effectiveness
Prevalence of tobacco use and problem drinking among career firefighters Christopher K. Haddock National Development and Research Institutes E-mail address: [email protected] Our study provides the first comprehensive examination of tobacco and alcohol use among career firefighters. Data are from a population-based cohort of randomly selected departments (N=478 male firefighters; 97% participation rate). Rates of smoking and smokeless tobacco use were 13.6% and 18.4%, respectively. While unadjusted/adjusted smoking rates are substantially lower than comparable occupations or the US general population, smokeless use rates are significantly higher. With respect to alcohol use, career firefighters drank approximately 10 days per month (i.e., half of off-duty days), with 56% reporting binge drinking on the days they consumed alcohol and 9% selfreporting driving while intoxicated in the previous 30 days.
Abstracts / Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 43 (2012) e1–e25
Binge drinking was significantly associated with poorer health status, higher levels of alcohol dependence, and greater smokeless tobacco use. Prevalence of smokeless use, binge drinking, and driving while intoxicated were three, two, and four times greater, respectively, than found in national surveys of men. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.116
Exploring factors associated with smokeless tobacco use among firefighters Walker Poston National Development and Research Institutes E-mail address: [email protected] Firefighters have substantially lower smoking rates than similar occupational groups and US adults, but very high rates of smokeless tobacco use. We used association data from a population-based study (N=478) and focus groups in a national, purposively sampled group (N=332) to examine correlates of smokeless use and understand the reasons for its use among career firefighters. Smokeless users were younger (p= .001) and had fewer years in the fire service (p= .001). Typical use was 2.8± 3.5 tins/week. Qualitative data from the focus groups suggested several reasons for the decline in smoking in the fire service including changes in the fire service culture, concerns about the impact of smoking on their ability to perform their job, regulations around smoking, and the costs of smoking. In contrast, greater use of SLT was primarily due to increasing
e25
restrictions on smoking and the perception that it was less dangerous than smoking. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.117
Exploring factors associated with problem drinking among firefighters Sara A. Jahnke National Development and Research Institutes E-mail address: [email protected] Alcohol plays a central role in firefighting culture and rates of binge drinking are high. We used association data from a population-based study (N=478) and focus groups in national, purposively sampled group (N=332) to examine problem drinking correlates and to understand the cultural norms, traditions and perceived motivation behind high rates of alcohol use in career firefighters. Personnel reported low tolerance for intoxication on duty and severe penalties for job-related infractions, but high rates of problematic drinking when off duty. Binge drinkers demonstrated poorer health indices, but surprisingly were not more stressed or otherwise psychologically impaired. Reasons for heavy drinking discussed in focus groups included the firefighting shift schedule, drinking as a form of camaraderie, and alcohol use as a way of managing stress from occupational exposures. Some firefighters reported a lack of awareness about negative health implications related to excessive alcohol use or knowing what is considered excessive use. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.118
Abstracts / Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 43 (2012) e1–e25
expensive means by which substance abuse treatment in criminal justice settings could be extended to reach the large portion of offenders whose substance use problems are typically not treated.
analysis of a computerized substance abuse intervention delivered in 10 prisons and four states. In addition to the conceptual issues, preliminary estimates for incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves will be presented.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.112 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.114
Comparative economic costs of two substance abuse treatment interventions delivered in prison: Computerized psychosocial treatment vs. counselor-delivered group therapy Bisma Sayed University of Miami E-mail address: [email protected] Economic evaluation of substance abuse treatment interventions requires that detailed and reliable data are obtained on economic or opportunity costs. Accounting costs or direct expenditures differ from economic costs because the latter are linked directly to resource utilization. This presentation will outline the principles of economic cost estimation, and then apply these principles in comparing the costs of two substance abuse treatment interventions; i.e., (1) experimental (E), the therapeutic education system, a computerized substance abuse intervention, vs. (2) control (C), standard care, group therapy delivered by a certified addictions counselor. The two interventions (E and C) were delivered in a randomized clinical trial conducted among incarcerated substance abusing offenders in 10 prisons located in four states. In addition to the empirical information reviewed, this presentation will discuss some of the nuances and challenges associated with estimating the costs of computerized interventions delivered in prison settings.
Symposium Substance use issues among male career firefighters Walker Poston National Development and Research Institutes E-mail address: [email protected] Firefighters/emergency medical services personnel are vital for public safety and are lead responders to all domestic crises. Their duties expose them to a plethora of dangers and traumatic events including accidents, injuries, fatalities, other medical emergencies (e.g., cardiac events and suicides), and rescues and fighting fires under arduous conditions. While fire service members agree that they must maintain high fitness levels due to strenuous mental/ physical job requirements, recent evidence suggests that many develop substance use problems. The results of two large-scale studies will be presented highlighting the high prevalence of smokeless tobacco use and heavy/binge drinking which can negatively impact their fitness for duty and health. Data from the first population-based study will be used to examine the prevalence of these substance use issues and their correlates. Data from the first national qualitative study will be used to examine some of the reasons firefighters believe lead to abuse of these substances. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.115
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.113
Cost-effectiveness analysis of a computerized substance abuse intervention in prison Michael French, Ph.D. University of Miami E-mail address: [email protected] Conducting economic evaluations of substance abuse treatment interventions poses a unique set of challenges and uncertainties, rather than, for example, when evaluating primary medical care treatments. In particular, substance abuse interventions often involve services delivered in disparate settings (e.g., community-based programs, mental health clinics, jails, prisons), with multiple stakeholders (e.g., client, family, providers, payers, schools, criminal justice agencies, citizens), and numerous outcomes (e.g., substance use, health care, criminal activity, earnings, employment). This presentation will discuss the unique aspects associated with performing a cost-effectiveness
Prevalence of tobacco use and problem drinking among career firefighters Christopher K. Haddock National Development and Research Institutes E-mail address: [email protected] Our study provides the first comprehensive examination of tobacco and alcohol use among career firefighters. Data are from a population-based cohort of randomly selected departments (N=478 male firefighters; 97% participation rate). Rates of smoking and smokeless tobacco use were 13.6% and 18.4%, respectively. While unadjusted/adjusted smoking rates are substantially lower than comparable occupations or the US general population, smokeless use rates are significantly higher. With respect to alcohol use, career firefighters drank approximately 10 days per month (i.e., half of off-duty days), with 56% reporting binge drinking on the days they consumed alcohol and 9% selfreporting driving while intoxicated in the previous 30 days.
Abstracts / Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 43 (2012) e1–e25
Binge drinking was significantly associated with poorer health status, higher levels of alcohol dependence, and greater smokeless tobacco use. Prevalence of smokeless use, binge drinking, and driving while intoxicated were three, two, and four times greater, respectively, than found in national surveys of men. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.116
Exploring factors associated with smokeless tobacco use among firefighters Walker Poston National Development and Research Institutes E-mail address: [email protected] Firefighters have substantially lower smoking rates than similar occupational groups and US adults, but very high rates of smokeless tobacco use. We used association data from a population-based study (N=478) and focus groups in a national, purposively sampled group (N=332) to examine correlates of smokeless use and understand the reasons for its use among career firefighters. Smokeless users were younger (p= .001) and had fewer years in the fire service (p= .001). Typical use was 2.8± 3.5 tins/week. Qualitative data from the focus groups suggested several reasons for the decline in smoking in the fire service including changes in the fire service culture, concerns about the impact of smoking on their ability to perform their job, regulations around smoking, and the costs of smoking. In contrast, greater use of SLT was primarily due to increasing
e25
restrictions on smoking and the perception that it was less dangerous than smoking. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.117
Exploring factors associated with problem drinking among firefighters Sara A. Jahnke National Development and Research Institutes E-mail address: [email protected] Alcohol plays a central role in firefighting culture and rates of binge drinking are high. We used association data from a population-based study (N=478) and focus groups in national, purposively sampled group (N=332) to examine problem drinking correlates and to understand the cultural norms, traditions and perceived motivation behind high rates of alcohol use in career firefighters. Personnel reported low tolerance for intoxication on duty and severe penalties for job-related infractions, but high rates of problematic drinking when off duty. Binge drinkers demonstrated poorer health indices, but surprisingly were not more stressed or otherwise psychologically impaired. Reasons for heavy drinking discussed in focus groups included the firefighting shift schedule, drinking as a form of camaraderie, and alcohol use as a way of managing stress from occupational exposures. Some firefighters reported a lack of awareness about negative health implications related to excessive alcohol use or knowing what is considered excessive use. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.118