Sexual Orientation and Mental Health

In the spring of 2018, the Institute for the Prevention of Addictions conducted a survey of students at Andrews University (N=650). While a wide variety of health data were collected, this study focused on sexual orientation and mental health. Mental health was measured using the DASS depression, anxiety and stress scales. Sexual orientation was determined from the survey data. Bisexual students were significantly more likely to be classified in the extreme categories of the DASS compared to heterosexual students. These large differences indicate a significant mental health issue that the university needs to address

“Life Is Getting Better”: Understanding Stabilizing Factors in Conservative Christian Families Post-Coming Out

© 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This article explores the perceptions of Millennial-age LBGTQ + individuals raised in conservative Christian families (Seventh-day Adventist) about their coming out experiences with family members. The analysis examines six strategies that participants identified as helping regain family equilibrium post-coming out. These strategies included: parent’s expression of unconditional love, passing of time, having a long-term relationship with a partner, communicating openly with parents, creating distance and independence from parents, and avoiding the LGBTQ + topic entirely

The Role of Public Health Agencies in Providing Access to Adolescent Drug Treatment Services

Purpose: To examine the role of public health agencies (PHAs) in providing access to drug treatment services for adolescents by describing the proportion of youth who obtain access to these services through PHA involvement in school health clinics, juvenile drug courts, and other community agencies. Methods: Analysis of cross-sectional telephone interview data collected from 1999-2003 from a national sample of 1793 PHA key informants from communities surrounding schools in the nationally representative Monitoring the Future (MTF) study of 8th, 10th and 12th grade students. Results: Fifty-eight percent of youth in the MTF sample were served by PHAs that participated in some way in school health clinics, with 30% served by PHAs that provided resources for drug treatment in schools. Twenty-nine percent of youth were served by PHAs involved in juvenile drug court (JDC) programs, 23% by PHAs acting as JDC referral agencies, and 13% by PHAs providing direct JDC drug assessment, treatment and monitoring services. In addition, 44% of youth were served by PHAs providing drug treatment resources in community settings. Treatment access for youth through PHAs varied by region, race/ethnicity, urbanicity, community income level, and youth population density. The largest variation occurred in access via JDC programs. Conclusions: PHAs may help bridge gaps between drug treatment need and service provision for adolescents who need access to drug treatment services. Strengthening the linkages between PHAs and schools, juvenile drug courts, and other community settings may serve to increase youth access to drug treatment. © 2006 Society for Adolescent Medicine

Parental Influence on Inhalant Use

The purpose of this article is to examine the dynamics of the relationship between parents and their adolescent children and their association with lifetime and past-month inhalant usage. The population studied was seventh- through ninth-grade students in rural Idaho (N = 570). The authors found a small, but consistent, significant inverse correlation between parental bonding and monitoring of behavior and inhalant usage. There was also a significant positive correlation between verbally aggressive behavior in the family and inhalant use. The data imply that family interaction may play a significant role in the use of inhalants and that the family can play a major role in prevention

State Drug Policy Reform Movement: The Use of Ballot Initiatives and Legislation to Promote Diversion to Drug Treatment

For most of the past 25 years, the federal government and many states have adopted a tough, punitive approach to drug offenses. In recent years, changes in public perception and state budget shortfalls have spurred a policy reform movement across the political spectrum that advocates diverting low-level, nonviolent drug offenders into treatment rather than incarcerating them. In nine of the 24 states where ballot initiatives are permitted, citizens have attempted or have successfully placed initiatives on the ballot since 1996. In an additional 12 states, drug policy reformers have successfully passed legislation that allows for diversion. In this paper we briefly trace the history of the diversion-to-treatment policy reform movement, identify the successful diversion-related ballot initiatives and enacted laws from each state, and, using a qualitative content analysis approach, describe the nature and extent of those laws. Finally, we discuss the implications of these differences for state criminal justice policies. © 2006 by the Journal of Drug Issues

The Joys of Mentoring

This symposium will focus on the key elements for a successful mentoring experience. The session will be led by Duane McBride who Chaired an NIH Grant Review Committee that provided federal funds for mentoring. Specifically, the session will focus on: 1. How to seek a mentor and a mentee within and outside of Andrews University.2. The need to count mentoring as a core part of workload and for promotion and tenure.3. The need for overlapping interests in successful mentoring in mentoring students and junior faculty.4. Steps to building a symbiotic mentoring relationship. View Presentation Recordin