Alcohol and Drug Studies: Prevention and Determinants

Study Notes

Pharmacokinetics: Study of how drugs move through the body, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
Pharmacodynamics: Study of how drugs affect the body, focusing on mechanisms of action and drug-receptor interactions.

Prenoxad®: 400ug doses in 0.4 ml (2mg/2ml syringe) for intramuscular use.
Nyxoid®: 1.8 mg in 0.1 ml for intranasal administration.
Availability: Over the counter and on prescription (S3 and S4), supplied through Needle Syringe Program.

Analogy: Snowball Effect - Early onset of drug use increases long-term risk.
Analogy: Snowstorm Effect - Multiple concurrent risks heighten likelihood of harmful drug use.
Quote: "The more risk factors that persist over longer periods of time, the greater the subsequent impact" (Loxley, p 72).

Prior to Birth:
- Social disadvantage
- Family breakdown
- Genetic influences
- Maternal smoking and alcohol use
- Birth outside Australia
Social Disadvantage / Low SES:
- Higher drug use and problems in low SES areas
- Economic discrepancies lead to personal and interpersonal insecurities, tensions, and conflicts impacting health and well-being (Bonomo, 2004)
Recent Use by Socioeconomic Area (2022-23):
- Most advantaged areas have higher recent use of hallucinogens, cocaine, inhalants, pharmaceutical stimulants
- Lowest SES areas see higher use of pain-relievers and opioids
Illicit Drug Use Trends:
- Decrease in risky alcohol consumption among 14–17-year-olds from 9.5% to 5.5%
- Higher illicit drug use among young females than young males for the first time
Genetic/Biological Factors:
- Variations in substance metabolism
- Temperament
- Behavioral problems
- Personality factors
- Quote: "Genes load the gun and environment pulls the trigger" (George Bray)

Ethnicity:
- Being born outside Australia can be both protective and a risk factor depending on various elements
- Indigenous risk factors are related to poverty, disadvantage, cultural dispossession, and exclusion rather than biological or genetic predispositions
Developmental Stages and Risk/Protective Factors:
- Infancy/Pre-school:
  - Risk: Parental neglect and abuse
  - Protective: Easy temperament
- Primary School (5-11 years):
  - Risk: Early school failure, conduct disorder, aggression
  - Protective: Social and emotional competence, shy and cautious temperament
- Secondary School (12-17 years):
  - Risk: Low involvement in activities with adults, perceived high level of community drug use, community disadvantage, availability of drugs, parental attitudes
  - Protective: Attachment to family, low parental conflict, parental communication and monitoring, religious involvement
- Adulthood (18-64 years):
  - Risk: Frequent drug use in late adolescence, unemployment, mental health problems
  - Protective: Well-managed environment for alcohol use, early marriage
- Retirement/Old Age (65+ years):
  - Risk: Losing a spouse, retirement, loneliness, poor health
  - Protective: Good health, social support

Definition: Measures to prevent or delay the onset of drug use and protect against risk and reduce harm associated with drug supply and use (Loxley et al., 2004)
Objectives:
- Delay initiation of drug use
- Reduce harm associated with drug use
- Increase resilience and other protective factors