Harm reduction: concepts and practice. A policy discussion paper.

This paper provides an overview of the context, definition, and key features of the harm reduction approach, and provides several examples of current programs in various countries. Both licit and illicit drugs are included in these illustrations. Some of the critical issues, and the strategies needed to advance harm reduction, are discussed. [Translations are provided in the International Abstracts Section of this issue.]

The validity of a province-wide student drug use survey: lessons in design.

This study assesses the validity and reliability of a province-wide survey on drug use by high school students in Nova Scotia in 1991. The Nova Scotia instrument was derived from the prototype provided in the Canadian guidelines for self-reported adolescent drug use surveys. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the validity and reliability of the Canadian instrument, as applied in a province, since 1978. Two new methods are proposed as validity and reliability checks: a statistical method to assess possible exaggeration by the group claiming to have used a fictitious drug, and a method to review the entire instrument based on responding error distributions. Overall, this study provides strong evidence of the validity and reliability of the items specifically about drug use. The major source of error uncovered using the responding error distributions, was related to instrument design and occurred in items considered to be explanatory variables for drug use.

Parental versus peer influence on adolescents' alcohol consumption.

We surveyed 1128 students from Grades 7 through 12 on their average alcohol consumption. Students' drinking behaviors were categorized into four groups: only with parents, never with parents, and also for those who drank with and without parents, their consumption when parents were present and when parents were not present. Adolescents drink less in the presence of parents. However, when parents are not present, adolescents who never drink with their parents drink less than those who drink with and without their parents.

Trends in adolescent alcohol consumption in Halifax, Nova Scotia--1970-1986.

The drinking behaviours of 1,128 students from grades 7 to 12 in Halifax, Nova Scotia were surveyed and the results were compared to surveys done on similar samples of adolescents in 1970, 1976 and 1983. The survey instruments were self-administered, anonymous questionnaires administered in class groups. In the 1986 survey, while no differences (p greater than .05) in the frequency of drinking episodes exists between males and females, the former group were found to be drinking more heavily. Since 1983, the percentage of drinkers has declined significantly (p less than .05) among both sexes. The percentage of frequent drinkers (once a week or more) and heavy drinking (6+ drinks per sitting, more than once per week) has not changed significantly (p greater than .05) in either sex.

Marketing corporate wellness programs to small firms: a challenge for health educators.

Despite significant growth in the number of corporate wellness programs during the past decade, their full potential for improving health and reducing corporate health costs has yet to be realized. Most small firms still fail to offer any health promotion programs to their workers and many programs presently in place are poorly organized and fail to address employee needs. In order for the corporate wellness movement to gain momentum, health educators must overcome the misconceptions many small business people share about corporate wellness programs. In order for these programs to become viable, health educators need to become effective marketers incorporating the social marketing components of product, price, place, and promotion. Based on these components, this article outlines strategies the health educator can utilize when approaching, planning, or implementing health promotion programs for small businesses and concludes with a number of recommendations concerning appropriate program evaluation and follow-up.