Negative Consequences of Substance Use in European University Students: Results from Project SNIPE

Background: University students are a risk group for heavy substance use and the experience of various potentially severe negative substance use consequences which may impact on their health, social, and academic functioning. Whilst the experience of negative consequences of substance use is well understood in North American student samples, there is little data on these experiences in European students. In order to develop effective harm prevention and reduction interventions for students’ substance use, there needs to be an understanding of the types of consequences experienced in European student samples. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and predictors of the experience of negative substance use-related consequences amongst university students in 7 European countries. Methods: University students (n = 4,482) in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Turkey, and the UK completed an online survey of their substance use behaviours and the experience of associated negative consequences. Results: European students reported that experiencing a hangover or illness, missing class, being short of money, and experiencing memory loss were the most commonly experienced negative consequences of substance use. Not living with other students and using alcohol, cannabis, sedatives, and cocaine were also associated with higher odds of experiencing these negative consequences. Conclusions: In contrast to North American data, European university students tended to experience consequences that are associated with lower level health risks rather than more severe consequences (e.g., drink-driving and physical injury). Harm prevention and reduction interventions for students should be targeted towards those consequences that are most salient to the target group to ensure feedback is relevant and potentially more effective in changing students’ substance use behaviours

Personal and Perceived Peer Use of and Attitudes Toward Alcohol Among University and College Students in Seven EU Countries: Project SNIPE.

The objective of this study was to explore perceptions of peer substance use and related attitudes among European students. Challenging perceptions about peer substance use has become the basis of a form of prevention and intervention known as the social norms approach, which can be delivered using personalized online feedback. This article reports baseline alcohol use and attitudes data for university students across Europe collected as part of the Social Norms Intervention for the prevention of Polydrug usE project (Project SNIPE)

Mental health trajectories in university students across the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from the Student Wellbeing at Northern England Universities prospective cohort study

Introduction: Psychological wellbeing in university students is receiving increased focus. However, to date, few longitudinal studies in this population have been conducted. As such, in 2019, we established the Student Wellbeing At Northern England Universities (SWANS) cohort at the University of York, United Kingdom aiming to measure student mental health and wellbeing every six months. Furthermore, the study period included the COVID-19 pandemic, giving an opportunity to track student wellbeing over time, including over the pandemic. Methods: Eligible participants were invited to participate via email. Data were collected, using Qualtrics, from September 2019 to April 2021, across five waves (W1 to W5). In total, n = 4,622 students participated in at least one wave of the survey. Data collection included sociodemographic, educational, personality measures, and mental health and wellbeing. Latent profile analyses were performed, exploring trajectories of student wellbeing over the study period for those who had completed at least three of the five waves of the survey (n = 765), as measured by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). Results: Five latent profile trajectories of student wellbeing were identified. Of these, the two latent classes with initially higher wellbeing scores had broadly stable wellbeing across time (total n = 505, 66%). Two classes had lower initial scores, which lowered further across time (total n = 227, 30%). Additionally, a fifth class of students was identified who improved substantially over the study period, from a mean WEMWBS of 30.4 at W1, to 49.4 at W5 (n = 33, 4%). Risk factors for having less favourable wellbeing trajectories generally included identifying as LGBT+, self-declaring a disability, or previously being diagnosed with a mental health condition. Conclusion: Our findings suggest a mixed picture of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on student wellbeing, with a majority showing broadly consistent levels of wellbeing across time, a smaller but still substantial group showing a worsening of wellbeing, and a small group that showed a very marked improvement in wellbeing. Those from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education were most at risk of poorer wellbeing. This raises questions as to whether future support for wellbeing should target specific student subpopulations

Illicit substance use among university students from seven European countries: A comparison of personal and perceived peer use and attitudes towards illicit substance use

Objective: To compare European students' personal use and approval of illicit substance use with their perceptions of peer behaviours and attitudes, and investigate whether perceptions of peer norms are associated with personal use of illicit substances and attitudes. Method: This study used baseline data fromthe Social Norms Intervention for the prevention of Polydrug usE (SNIPE) project involving 4482 students from seven European countries in 2012. Students completed an online surveywhich included questions on personal and perceived peer illicit substance use and personal and perceived peer attitude towards illicit substances. Results: 8.3% of students reported having used illicit substances at least once in their life. 49.7% of students perceived that the majority of their peers have used illicit substances more frequently than themselves. The perception was significantly associated with higher odds for personal illicit substance use (OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.53–2.54). The perception that the majority of peers approve illicit substance use was significantly associated with higher odds for personal approval of illicit substance use (OR: 3.47, 95% CI: 2.73–4.41). Conclusion: Students commonly perceived that their peers used illicit subtances more often than themselves. We found an association between the perceived peer norms/attitudes and reported individual behaviour/ attitudes

Influence of phosphorus fertilization programs on the interference of Amaranthus hybridus and Portulaca oleracea with lettuce grown in organic soils

2 ilus. 17 ref.Se llevaron a cabo estudios de campo en el sur de la Florida, Estados Unidos, para determinar las reducciones de rendimientos de lechuga causadas por densidades de bledo (Amaranthus hybridus) y verdolaga (Portulaca oleracea) bajo dos programas de fertilizaci?n fosforada. Para los complejos lechuga-bledo y lechuga-verdolaga se realizaron aplicaciones de f?sforo (P) en dos modalidades: a) al voleo, aplicando 250 kg P/ha y b) en bandas, a raz?n de 125 kg P/ha. As? mismo, se utilizaron las densidades de malezas 0, 2, 4, 8 y 16 plantas/6 m de hilera (5,4 m2). El dise?o utilizado fue de parcelas divididas, las densidades ocuparon las subparcelas. Los rendimientos comerciales obtenidos indican que ambas malezas siguieron patrones diferentes en cuanto a su interferencia con el cultivo. En las mezclas lechuga-bledo, las densidades cr?ticas de bledo fueron influenciadas seg?n el programa de fertilizaci?n utilizado. Con P al voleo, se observaron reducciones de rendimiento de entre 2 y 4 plantas/6 m de hilera (aproximadamente 20 por ciento). Cuando el P fue aplicado en bandas, las mermas alcanzaron 24 por ciento con densidades superiores a 8 plantas/6 m de hilera. En las mezclas lechuga-verdolaga, cuando P fue aplicado en bandas, el peso fresco de las cabezas de lechuga fue superior dentro de cada densidad, comparado con el uso de P al voleo (incremento de 13 por ciento). La densidad cr?tica para reducci?n de rendimientos ocurri? entre 0 y 2 plantas/6 m hilera, resultando en reducciones promedio de 17 por ciento, sin importar el nivel de P utilizado. Las m?ximas reducciones de rendimiento alcanzaron 48 y 44 por ciento cuando se permiti? la competencia de 16 plantas de verdolaga/6 m de hilera para P al voleo y en bandas, respectivamente. Field trials were conducted in South Florida, United States, to determine the extent of yield reductions due to population densities of smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus) and common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) under two P fertility regimes. For lettuce-pigweed and lettuce-purslane complexes, P was applied in two ways: a) broadcast at 250 kg P/ha and b) banded at 125 kg P/ha. Weed densities of 0, 2, 4, 8 y 16 plants/6 m row (5.4 m2) were established. Studies were conducted within a split-plot design, where weed densities were in the subplots. Based on lettuce commercial fresh weight, results showed that both weeds followed different interference patterns. In lettuce-pigweed complexes, critical weed densities were influenced by P regimes utilized. With P broadcast, yield reductions were observed between 2 and 4 plants/6 m row (approximately 20 percent). When P was banded, yield reductions reached 24 percent with densities higher than 8 plants/6 m row. In lettuce-purslane complexes, when P was banded, fresh weight was higher within each density (13 percent increase) as compared with P broadcast. Critical weed densities occurred between 0 and 2 plantas/6 m row (17 percent reduction), regardless of the P regime utilized. Maximum yield reductions reached 48 and 44 percent with 16 purslane/6 m row for P broadcast and banded, respectively

Allergy immunotherapy across the life cycle to promote active and healthy ageing: From research to policies

Allergic diseases often occur early in life and persist throughout life. This life-course perspective should be considered in allergen immunotherapy. In particular it is essential to understand whether this al treatment may be used in old age adults. The current paper was developed by a working group of AIRWAYS integrated care pathways for airways diseases, the model of chronic respiratory diseases of the European Innovation Partnership on active and healthy ageing (DG CONNECT and DG Santé). It considered (1) the political background, (2) the rationale for allergen immunotherapy across the life cycle, (3) the unmet needs for the treatment, in particular in preschool children and old age adults, (4) the strategic framework and the practical approach to synergize current initiatives in allergen immunotherapy, its mechanisms and the concept of active and healthy ageing. © 2016 The Author(s)