IT TAKES A VILLAGE: IMPACT OF LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTING STRESS, PARENT MENTAL HEALTH, AND CHILD ADJUSTMENT

While LGBTQ+ parented families are largely the same as their cis-het parent counterparts, they still experience unique factors exclusive to them. One such factor is access to the LGBTQ+ community. While research has emphasized the importance of community within the family system, the role the LGBTQ+ community can play for LGBTQ+ parented families is largely unexplored. Additionally, LGBTQ+ research examining parents of adolescents is similarly lacking. Utilizing a sample of LGBTQ+ parents with adolescent children, and informed by ecological systems theory, self-determination theory, and the parenting stress model, I examine the influence parent’s sense of LGBTQ+ community has on the relationship between parenting stress, parent mental health, and child adjustment. Regression analyses demonstrated a series of positive associations between LGBTQ+ parent stress, parent mental health, and child adjustment. However, sense of community failed to moderate these associations. Unique differences were found across geographic region when looking at LGBTQ+ parent mental health. Implications for policy, clinical practice, and future research are discussed

Is alcohol dependence best viewed as a chronic relapsing disorder?

This 'For Debate' paper starts by recognizing the growing trend towards considering alcohol dependence as a chronic relapsing disorder. We argue that the adoption of this model results from focusing on those in treatment for alcohol dependence rather than considering the larger number of people in the general population who meet criteria for alcohol dependence at some point in their lives. The majority of the general population who ever experience alcohol dependence do not behave as though they have a chronic relapsing disorder: they do not seek treatment, resolve their dependence themselves and do not relapse repeatedly. We suggest that caution is therefore needed in using the chronic relapsing disorder label. Our primary concerns are that this formulation privileges biological aspects of dependence to the detriment of psychological and social contributions, it inhibits much-needed developments in understanding alcohol dependence and leads to inefficient distributions of public health and clinical care resources for alcohol dependence. We invite debate on this issue

Comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and substance use disorder complexity and chronicity in treatment-seeking adults

Introduction and Aims - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a known risk factor for substance use disorder (SUD); however, the potential additive contribution of comorbid ADHD to drug-specific dependence in SUD populations is largely unknown. The current study aimed to assess this association between ADHD symptoms and drug-specific SUD complexity and chronicity. Design and Methods - A cross-sectional survey was administered to a convenience sample of 489 adults receiving SUD treatment at 16 Australian drug and alcohol treatment centres between September 2010 and August 2011. Participants were screened for adult ADHD symptoms using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale. Associations between ADHD screening status and drug-specific SUD complexity and chronicity were assessed using multivariate logistic and modified Poisson regression analysis, controlling for a range of potential confounders. Results - Overall, 215 (44%) patients screened positive for concurrent adult ADHD and SUD. After Simes' correction, a significant positive association was observed between ADHD screening status and current amphetamine SUD (odds ratio (OR) = 1.85; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19–2.36). Patients who screened positive for ADHD were significantly more likely to report SUD history for heavy alcohol use (OR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.21–3.45) and amphetamine (OR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.26–3.06) as well as significantly increased risk of moderate (3–4 years) duration for benzodiazepine and amphetamine SUDs and long (≥5 years) duration for alcohol, opiates other than heroin or methadone, and amphetamine SUDs. Discussion and Conclusions - The findings provide evidence that there is increased drug dependence complexity and chronicity in treatment-seeking SUD patients who screen positively for ADHD, specifically for amphetamine, alcohol, opiates other than heroin or methadone, and benzodiazepines

The Evolution of Fiscal Impact Analysis and Where it Needs to Go

Communities need analytical tools and technical support to assess and balance multiple priorities when making land use and development decisions. For many communities, priorities to be considered regarding land use decisions include resource conservation and climate adaptation, economic development, investing in new versus existing communities, and maintaining fiscal responsibility. This article examines the historical use of fiscal impact analysis and some thoughts on where the field should go in the future

The Evolution of Fiscal Impact Analysis and Where it Needs to Go

Communities need analytical tools and technical support to assess and balance multiple priorities when making land use and development decisions. For many communities, priorities to be considered regarding land use decisions include resource conservation and climate adaptation, economic development, investing in new versus existing communities, and maintaining fiscal responsibility. This article examines the historical use of fiscal impact analysis and some thoughts on where the field should go in the future

Symptom Prevalence of ADHD in a Community Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program

Objective: ADHD is a common comorbid condition with substance use disorder. This study seeks to examine the discrepancy in the prevalence rate between those previously diagnosed with ADHD and those diagnosed while in treatment. It is hypothesized that clients with ADHD would have earlier unsuccessful terminations from treatment than non-ADHD clients and that the ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS Version 1.1) would be a reliable predictor. Method: Participants (N = 87) are admitted to a publicly funded 28-day residential treatment program. All participants are screened with the ASRS and participate in a clinical assessment evaluation. Results: A significant difference is found between the clinical record rate of 3.44% and the 43.68% rate found during treatment. The ASRS significantly predicts ADHD. Conclusions: The use of the ASRS is recommended and should be incorporated into standard intake assessment protocols. Careful diagnostic interviews are urged to determine if clients in residential treatment have ADHD

Symptom Prevalence of ADHD in a Community Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program

Objective: ADHD is a common comorbid condition with substance use disorder. This study seeks to examine the discrepancy in the prevalence rate between those previously diagnosed with ADHD and those diagnosed while in treatment. It is hypothesized that clients with ADHD would have earlier unsuccessful terminations from treatment than non-ADHD clients and that the ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS Version 1.1) would be a reliable predictor. Method: Participants (N = 87) are admitted to a publicly funded 28-day residential treatment program. All participants are screened with the ASRS and participate in a clinical assessment evaluation. Results: A significant difference is found between the clinical record rate of 3.44% and the 43.68% rate found during treatment. The ASRS significantly predicts ADHD. Conclusions: The use of the ASRS is recommended and should be incorporated into standard intake assessment protocols. Careful diagnostic interviews are urged to determine if clients in residential treatment have ADHD

Symptom Prevalence of ADHD in a Community Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program

Objective: ADHD is a common comorbid condition with substance use disorder. This study seeks to examine the discrepancy in the prevalence rate between those previously diagnosed with ADHD and those diagnosed while in treatment. It is hypothesized that clients with ADHD would have earlier unsuccessful terminations from treatment than non-ADHD clients and that the ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS Version 1.1) would be a reliable predictor. Method: Participants (N = 87) are admitted to a publicly funded 28-day residential treatment program. All participants are screened with the ASRS and participate in a clinical assessment evaluation. Results: A significant difference is found between the clinical record rate of 3.44% and the 43.68% rate found during treatment. The ASRS significantly predicts ADHD. Conclusions: The use of the ASRS is recommended and should be incorporated into standard intake assessment protocols. Careful diagnostic interviews are urged to determine if clients in residential treatment have ADHD