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HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <254> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2008606812 Authors Ashtari M. Cervellione K. Cottone J. Ardekani B.A. Kumra S. Institution (Ashtari) The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States. (Cervellione) The Department of Clinical Research, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, Jamaica, NY, United States. (Cottone) The Department of Psychiatry Research, the Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY, United States. (Ardekani) The Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, Orangeburg, NY, United States. (Kumra) The Department of Psychiatry, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Diffusion abnormalities in adolescents and young adults with a history of heavy cannabis use. Source Journal of Psychiatric Research. 43(3)(pp 189-204), 2009. Date of Publication: January 2009. Publisher Elsevier Ltd Abstract Background: There is growing evidence that adolescence is a key period for neuronal maturation. Despite the high prevalence of marijuana use among adolescents and young adults in the United States and internationally, very little is known about its impact on the developing brain. Based on neuroimaging literature on normal brain developmental during adolescence, we hypothesized that individuals with heavy cannabis use (HCU) would have brain structure abnormalities in similar brain regions that undergo development during late adolescence, particularly the fronto-temporal connection. Method: Fourteen young adult males in residential treatment for cannabis dependence and 14 age-matched healthy male control subjects were recruited. Patients had a history of HCU throughout adolescence; 5 had concurrent alcohol abuse. Subjects underwent structural and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging. White matter integrity was compared between subject groups using voxelwise and fiber tractography analysis. Results: Voxelwise and tractography analyses revealed that adolescents with HCU had reduced fractional anisotropy, increased radial diffusivity, and increased trace in the homologous areas known to be involved in ongoing development during late adolescence, particularly in the fronto-temporal connection via arcuate fasciculus. Conclusions: Our results support the hypothesis that heavy cannabis use during adolescence may affect the trajectory of normal brain maturation. Due to concurrent alcohol consumption in five HCU subjects, conclusions from this study should be considered preliminary, as the DTI findings reported here may be reflective of the combination of alcohol and marijuana use. Further research in larger samples, longitudinal in nature, and controlling for alcohol consumption is needed to better understand the pathophysiology of the effect of cannabis on the developing brain. copyright 2008 Elsevier Ltd. ISSN 0022-3956 Publication Type Journal: Article Journal Name Journal of Psychiatric Research Volume 43 Issue Part 3 Page 189-204 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication January 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <267> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2008587985 Authors Uhart M. Wand G.S. Institution (Wand) Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Ross Research Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States. (Uhart, Wand) Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States. (Wand) Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Stress, alcohol and drug interaction: An update of human research. Source Addiction Biology. 14(1)(pp 43-64), 2009. Date of Publication: January 2009. Publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd Abstract A challenging question that continues unanswered in the field of addiction is why some individuals are more vulnerable to substance use disorders than others. Numerous risk factors for alcohol and other drugs of abuse, including exposure to various forms of stress, have been identified in clinical studies. However, the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie this relationship remain unclear. Critical neurotransmitters, hormones and neurobiological sites have been recognized, which may provide the substrates that convey individual differences in vulnerability to addiction. With the advent of more sophisticated measures of brain function in humans, such as functional imaging technology, the mechanisms and neural pathways involved in the interactions between drugs of abuse, the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system and stress systems are beginning to be characterized. This review provides a neuroadaptive perspective regarding the role of the hormonal and brain stress systems in drug addiction with a focus on the changes that occur during the transition from occasional drug use to drug dependence. We also review factors that contribute to different levels of hormonal/brain stress activation, which has implications for understanding individual vulnerability to drug dependence. Ultimately, these efforts may improve our chances of designing treatment strategies that target addiction at the core of the disorder. copyright 2008 The Authors. ISSN 1355-6215 Publication Type Journal: Review Journal Name Addiction Biology Volume 14 Issue Part 1 Page 43-64 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication January 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <268> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2008583329 Authors Sinha R. Institution (Sinha) Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519, United States. (Sinha) Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, United States. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Modeling stress and drug craving in the laboratory: Implications for addiction treatment development. Source Addiction Biology. 14(1)(pp 84-98), 2009. Date of Publication: January 2009. Publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd Abstract Addition is a chronic relapsing illness affected by multiple social, individual and biological factors that significantly impact course and recovery of the illness. Stress interacts with these factors and increases addiction vulnerability and relapse risk, thereby playing a significant role in the course of the illness. This paper reviews our efforts in developing and validating laboratory models of stress and drug cue-related provocation to assess stress responses and stress-related adaptation in addicted individuals compared with healthy controls. Empirical findings from human laboratory and brain imaging studies are presented to show the specific stress-related dysregulation that accompanies the drug-craving state in addicted individuals. In order to adequately validate our laboratory model, we have also carefully examined relapse susceptibility in the addicted individuals and these data are reviewed. The overarching goal of these efforts is to develop a valid laboratory model to identify the stress-related pathophysiology in addiction with specific regard to persistent craving and compulsive seeking. Finally, the significant implications of these findings for the development of novel treatment interventions that target stress processes and drug craving to improve addiction relapse outcomes are discussed. copyright 2008 The Author. ISSN 1355-6215 Publication Type Journal: Review Journal Name Addiction Biology Volume 14 Issue Part 1 Page 84-98 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication January 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <269> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2008583323 Authors Haney M. Institution (Haney) Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY 10032, United States. (Haney) Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, United States. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Self-administration of cocaine, cannabis and heroin in the human laboratory: Benefits and pitfalls. Source Addiction Biology. 14(1)(pp 9-21), 2009. Date of Publication: January 2009. Publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd Abstract The objective of this review is to describe self-administration procedures for modeling addiction to cocaine, cannabis and heroin in the human laboratory, the benefits and pitfalls of the approach, and the methodological issues unique to each drug. In addition, the predictive validity of the model for testing treatment medications will be addressed. The results show that all three drugs of abuse are reliably and robustly self-administered by non-treatment- seeking research volunteers. In terms of pharmacotherapies, cocaine use is extraordinarily difficult to disrupt either in the laboratory or in the clinic. A range of medications has been shown to significantly decrease cocaine's subjective effects and craving without decreasing either cocaine self-administration or cocaine abuse by patients. These negative data combined with recent positive findings with modafinil suggest that self-administration procedures are an important intermediary step between pre-clinical and clinical studies. In terms of cannabis, a recent study suggests that medications that improve sleep and mood during cannabis withdrawal decrease the resumption of marijuana self-administration in abstinent volunteers. Clinical data on patients seeking treatment for their marijuana use are needed to validate these laboratory findings. Finally, in contrast to cannabis or cocaine dependence, there are three efficacious Food and Drug Administration-approved medications to treat opioid dependence, all of which decrease both heroin self-administration and subjective effects in the human laboratory. In summary, self-administration procedures provide meaningful behavioral data in a small number of individuals. These studies contribute to our understanding of the variables maintaining cocaine, marijuana and heroin intake, and are important in guiding the development of more effective drug treatment programs. copyright 2008 The Author. ISSN 1355-6215 Publication Type Journal: Review Journal Name Addiction Biology Volume 14 Issue Part 1 Page 9-21 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication January 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <284> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009282593 Authors Kertesz S.G. Crouch K. Milby J.B. Cusimano R.E. Schumacher J.E. Institution (Kertesz) Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham School of Medicine, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294, Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Housing First for Homeless Persons with Active Addiction: Are We Overreaching? Source Milbank Quarterly. 87(2)(pp 495-534), 2009. Date of Publication: June 2009. Publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd Abstract Context: More than 350 communities in the United States have committed to ending chronic homelessness. One nationally prominent approach, Housing First, offers early access to permanent housing without requiring completion of treatment or, for clients with addiction, proof of sobriety. Methods: This article reviews studies of Housing First and more traditional rehabilitative (e.g., "linear") recovery interventions, focusing on the outcomes obtained by both approaches for homeless individuals with addictive disorders. Findings: According to reviews of comparative trials and case series reports, Housing First reports document excellent housing retention, despite the limited amount of data pertaining to homeless clients with active and severe addiction. Several linear programs cite reductions in addiction severity but have shortcomings in long-term housing success and retention. Conclusions: This article suggests that the current research data are not sufficient to identify an optimal housing and rehabilitation approach for an important homeless subgroup. The research regarding Housing First and linear approaches can be strengthened in several ways, and policymakers should be cautious about generalizing the results of available Housing First studies to persons with active addiction when they enter housing programs. copyright 2009 Milbank Memorial Fund. ISSN 0887-378X Publication Type Journal: Review Journal Name Milbank Quarterly Volume 87 Issue Part 2 Page 495-534 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication June 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <292> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009275722 Authors Koppel B.S. Institution (Koppel) New York Medical College, Department of Neurology, Metropolitan Hospital Center, 1901 First Avenue, New York, NY 10029, United States. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Treatment of acute and remote symptomatic seizures. Source Current Treatment Options in Neurology. 11(4)(pp 231-241), 2009. Date of Publication: 2009. Publisher Current Science Ltd Abstract In principle, the use of anticonvulsant drugs does not differ between acute and remote symptomatic seizures, but control of acute symptomatic seizures requires simultaneous treatment of the underlying etiology. Prevention of remote seizures when the risk is known to be high has been the subject of intense efforts at antiepileptogenesis, but the optimal duration of treatment after an injury is not yet known. Appropriate evaluation of a seizure depends on individual circumstances, but findings on examination, laboratory tests (serum electrolytes, magnesium, glucose, assessment of hepatic and renal function), and brain imaging (CT scan or MRI) are necessary to determine the most likely cause. Lumbar puncture is always required when there is suspicion of meningitis or encephalitis. Preferred medications for treatment of acute symptomatic seizures or status epilepticus are those available for intravenous use, such as benzodiazepines, fosphenytoin or phenytoin, valproate, levetiracetam, and phenobarbital. Diazepam is also available as a gel for rectal administration. Seizures that occur in patients with epilepsy because of missed antiepileptic drugs or inadequate serum levels should be treated with additional doses of their regular medications; loading doses can be administered with minimal toxicity in tolerant patients. Surgery is rarely necessary in the acute setting except for intracerebral lesions with rapidly rising intracranial pressure and impending herniation. After seizures are controlled, the provoking condition must also be determined and treated. copyright Current Medicine Group, LLC 2009. ISSN 1092-8480 Publication Type Journal: Review Journal Name Current Treatment Options in Neurology Volume 11 Issue Part 4 Page 231-241 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <297> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009280120 Authors Bohnert A.S.B. Bradshaw C.P. Latkin C.A. Institution (Bohnert) VA Ann Arbor SMITREC (11H), 2215 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States. (Bohnert) VA Ann Arbor National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research, 3Evaluation Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States. (Bohnert, Latkin) Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States. (Bradshaw) Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title A social network perspective on heroin and cocaine use among adults: Evidence of bidirectional influences. Source Addiction. 104(7)(pp 1210-1218), 2009. Date of Publication: July 2009. Publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd Abstract Aims While several studies have documented a relationship between initiation of drug use and social network drug use in youth, the direction of this association is not well understood, particularly among adults or for stages of drug involvement beyond initiation. The present study sought to examine two competing theories (social selection and social influence) in the longitudinal relationship between drug use (heroin and/or cocaine) and social network drug use among drug-experienced adults. Design Three waves of data came from a cohort of 1108 adults reporting a life-time history of heroin and/or cocaine use. Setting Low-income neighborhoods with high rates of drug use in Baltimore, Maryland. Participants Participants had weekly contact with drug users and were 18 years of age or older. Measurements Drug use data were self-report. Network drug use was assessed through a social network inventory. Close friends were individuals whom the participant reported seeing daily or rated as having the highest level of trust. Findings Structural equation modeling indicated significant bidirectional influences. The majority of change in network drug use over time was due to change in the composition of the network rather than change in friends' behavior. Drug use by close peers did not influence participant drug use beyond the total network. Conclusions There is evidence of both social selection and social influence processes in the association between drug use and network drug use among drug-experienced adults. copyright 2009 Society for the Study of Addiction. ISSN 0965-2140 Publication Type Journal: Article Journal Name Addiction Volume 104 Issue Part 7 Page 1210-1218 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication July 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <298> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009280119 Authors Homish G.G. Leonard K.E. Kozlowski L.T. Cornelius J.R. Institution (Homish) Department of Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214-8028, United States. (Homish, Kozlowski) Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States. (Homish, Leonard) Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States. (Leonard) Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States. (Cornelius) Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA, United States. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title The longitudinal association between multiple substance use discrepancies and marital satisfaction. Source Addiction. 104(7)(pp 1201-1209), 2009. Date of Publication: July 2009. Publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd Abstract Aims The objective of this work was to examine the relation between patterns of substance use among newly married couples and marital satisfaction over time. In particular, this work examined if differences between husbands' and wives' heavy alcohol use and cigarette smoking, rather than simply use per se, predicted decreases in marital satisfaction over the first 7 years of marriage. Methods Married couples (n = 634 couples) were assessed on a variety of substance use and relationship variables at the time of marriage and again at the first, second, fourth and seventh years of marriage. Results After controlling for key socio- demographic variables, discrepancies in husband and wife cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol use were related to significant reductions in marital satisfaction. Importantly, couples who were discrepant on both substances experienced the greatest declines in marital satisfaction over time. Conclusions Patterns of substance use among newly married couples are important predictors of changes in marital functioning over time. It was not simply the heavy alcohol use or cigarette smoking that predicted dissatisfaction but, rather, differences between husbands' and wives' substance use that impacted the relationship. 2009 Society for the Study of Addiction. ISSN 0965-2140 Publication Type Journal: Article Journal Name Addiction Volume 104 Issue Part 7 Page 1201-1209 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication July 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <304> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009280112 Authors Kuhns J.B. Wilson D.B. Maguire E.R. Ainsworth S.A. Clodfelter T.A. Institution (Kuhns) Department of Criminal Justice, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223, United States. (Kuhns) Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States. (Wilson, Ainsworth) Administration of Justice, George Mason University, Sterling, VA, United States. (Maguire) Department of Justice, Law and Society, American University, Washington DC, United States. (Clodfelter) Public Policy, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title A meta-analysis of marijuana, cocaine and opiate toxicology study findings among homicide victims. Source Addiction. 104(7)(pp 1122-1131), 2009. Date of Publication: July 2009. Publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd Abstract Aim To synthesize the results of marijuana, cocaine and opiate drug toxicology studies of homicide victims and examine variation in results across person and setting characteristics. Methods A meta-analysis of 18 independent studies identified from an extensive review of 239 published articles that met the inclusion criteria of reporting marijuana, cocaine and/or opiate toxicology test results for homicide victims. A total of 28 868 toxicology test results derived from 30 482 homicide victims across five countries were examined. Results On average, 6% of homicide victims tested positive for marijuana, 11% tested positive for cocaine, and 5% tested positive for opiates. The proportion of homicide victims testing positive for illicit drugs has increased over time. Age had a strong curvilinear relationship with toxicology test results, but gender differences were not apparent. Hispanic and African American homicide victims were more likely to test positive for cocaine; Caucasians were most likely to test positive for opiates. Cocaine use appeared to be related to increased risk of death from a firearm and was a greater risk factor for violent victimization in the United States than in Newfoundland and Scandinavia. Conclusion There are relatively few studies of illicit drug toxicology reports from homicide victims that allow for cross-cultural comparisons. This study provides a basis for comparing future local toxicology test results to estimates from existing research. copyright 2009 Society for the Study of Addiction. ISSN 0965-2140 Publication Type Journal: Review Journal Name Addiction Volume 104 Issue Part 7 Page 1122-1131 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication July 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <307> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009280109 Authors Goudriaan A.E. Slutske W.S. Krull J.L. Sher K.J. Institution (Goudriaan) Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Goudriaan, Slutske, Krull, Sher) University of Missouri-Columbia, Midwest Alcoholism Research Center, Columbia, MO, United States. (Goudriaan) Department of Psychiatry and Amsterdam, Institute for Addiction Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Krull) Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Longitudinal patterns of gambling activities and associated risk factors in college students. Source Addiction. 104(7)(pp 1219-1232), 2009. Date of Publication: July 2009. Publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd Abstract Aims To investigate which clusters of gambling activities exist within a longitudinal study of college health, how membership in gambling clusters change over time and whether particular clusters of gambling are associated with unhealthy risk behaviour. Design Four-year longitudinal study (2002-2006). Setting Large, public university. Participants Undergraduate college students. Measurements Ten common gambling activities were measured during 4 consecutive college years (years 1-4). Clusters of gambling activities were examined using latent class analyses. Relations between gambling clusters and gender, Greek membership, alcohol use, drug use, personality indicators of behavioural undercontrol and psychological distress were examined. Findings Four latent gambling classes were identified: (1) a low- gambling class, (2) a card gambling class, (3) a casino/slots gambling class and (4) an extensive gambling class. Over the first college years a high probability of transitioning from the low-gambling class and the card gambling class into the casino/slots gambling class was present. Membership in the card, casino/slots and extensive gambling classes were associated with higher scores on alcohol/drug use, novelty seeking and self-identified gambling problems compared to the low-gambling class. The extensive gambling class scored higher than the other gambling classes on risk factors. Conclusions Extensive gamblers and card gamblers are at higher risk for problem gambling and other risky health behaviours. Prospective examinations of class membership suggested that being in the extensive and the low gambling classes was highly stable across the 4 years of college. copyright 2009 Society for the Study of Addiction. ISSN 0965-2140 Publication Type Journal: Article Journal Name Addiction Volume 104 Issue Part 7 Page 1219-1232 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication July 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <331> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009320402 Authors Davis C. Institution (Davis) 343 Bethune College, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada. (Davis) Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Psychobiological traits in the risk profile for overeating and weight gain. Source International Journal of Obesity. 33(SUPPL. 2)(pp S49-S53), 2009. Date of Publication: June 2009. Publisher Nature Publishing Group Abstract Our dramatically changed food environmentsince periods in our history when food sources were highly constrainedhas presented new challenges for obesity research. For example, these alterations have strongly emphasized the physiological differences between the homeostatic and the hedonic regulation of food intakethe latter being largely responsible for the pronounced increase in obesity in the past few decades. There is also increasing agreement that compulsive overeating shares many parallels with addiction disorders such as drug abuse. These factors have also fostered a renewed interest in identifying individual differences in personality and motivational systems that increase the risk for overeating and weight gain in our population. Reward sensitivity has been the focus of a recent body of compelling research, with evidence favoring two seemingly opposite points of view. On the one hand, studies have found support for a link between low reward sensitivity and obesity, whereas other evidence suggests that a strong appetitive motivation leads to overeating and weight gain. Arguments are provided to reconcile these apparently disparate theories. Finally, the role of impulsivity and its links with symptoms of attention deficithyperactivity disorder are discussed, as well as their respective roles in the risk profile for obesity. copyright 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited. ISSN 0307-0565 Publication Type Journal: Conference Paper Journal Name International Journal of Obesity Volume 33 Issue Part SUPPL. 2 Page S49-S53 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication June 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <351> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009288022 Authors Taylor A. Stanbury L. Institution (Taylor, Stanbury) Acute Pain Service, Anaesthetic Department, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, United Kingdom. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title A review of postoperative pain management and the challenges. Source Current Anaesthesia and Critical Care. 20(4)(pp 188-194), 2009. Date of Publication: August 2009. Publisher Churchill Livingstone Abstract Inadequate postoperative pain management is an international problem and the need to improve its management is well documented. This review outlines some of the commonly used treatments such as multimodal analgesia, patient controlled analgesia, epidurals, perineural infusions and adjuvant drugs. Barriers to improvement including inaccurate pain assessment, communication issues, knowledge deficits, difficulties integrating evidence into practice and the challenges in the modern healthcare environment will be discussed. Following this, some options for the way forward will be outlined. A continued focus on improving the basics including accurate pain assessment and prompt treatment with appropriate analgesic regimes would make a considerable difference for many patients. Although this has been a focus for some time now, effort in this area must continue and innovative ways need to be sought to improve the basics. In addition to this, new resources recommending evidence based, procedure specific treatment and new drugs may have an impact. However, ultimately, pain management needs to become a greater priority and responsibility needs to be shared to ensure improvements are made. copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ISSN 0953-7112 Publication Type Journal: Article Journal Name Current Anaesthesia and Critical Care Volume 20 Issue Part 4 Page 188-194 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication August 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <360> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009070450 Authors Weatherburn D. Institution (Weatherburn) NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, GPO Box 6, Sydney, NSW, Australia. (Weatherburn) NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Dilemmas in harm minimization. Source Addiction. 104(3)(pp 335-339), 2009. Date of Publication: March 2009. Publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd Abstract This paper discusses the dilemmas inherent in pursuing a philosophy of (drug) harm minimization. The dilemmas arise (i) because all drug control policies produce harms as well as benefits; (ii) because many of these harms and benefits cannot be measured; and (iii) because even when they can be measured, judgements about what harms matter the most are irreducibly political. The paper concludes by proposing that the interests of drug policy might be better served if we abandoned the idea of an overarching goal in favour of a set of goals dealing with specific identifiable problems. copyright 2008 The Author. ISSN 0965-2140 Publication Type Journal: Review Journal Name Addiction Volume 104 Issue Part 3 Page 335-339 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication March 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <368> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009330898 Authors Davis C. Carter J.C. Institution (Davis) York University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada. (Carter) Department of Psychiatry, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Compulsive overeating as an addiction disorder. A review of theory and evidence. Source Appetite. 53(1)(pp 1-8), 2009. Date of Publication: August 2009. Publisher Academic Press Abstract In this paper we argue that compulsive overeating has compelling similarities to conventional drug addiction. Our case is based on their comparable clinical features, the biological mechanisms they have in common, and on evidence that the two disorders have a shared diathesis. In making the argument for overeating as an addictive behaviour, it is clearly not appropriate to include all cases of excessive food consumption in this taxon. Nor are we claiming that obesity and addiction are one and the same. However, it is proposed that Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a phenotype particularly well-suited to such a conceptualization, and that sound clinical and scientific evidence exists to support this viewpoint. We have provided some recommendations for treatment modifications that recognize the similarities between treating drug dependence and compulsive overeating. copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ISSN 0195-6663 Publication Type Journal: Review Journal Name Appetite Volume 53 Issue Part 1 Page 1-8 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication August 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <413> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009354499 Authors McCabe S.E. Hughes T.L. Bostwick W.B. West B.T. Boyd C.J. Institution (McCabe) Substance Abuse Research Center, Institute for Research on Women and Gender, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States. (Hughes) College of Nursing, National Center of Excellence in Women's Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States. (Bostwick) Adler School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL, United States. (West) Center for Statistical Consultation and Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States. (Boyd) Department of Women's Studies, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States. (McCabe) University of Michigan, Substance Abuse Research Center, 2025 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105-2194, United States. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Sexual orientation, substance use behaviors and substance dependence in the United States. Source Addiction. 104(8)(pp 1333-1345), 2009. Date of Publication: August 2009. Publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd Abstract Aims To assess past-year prevalence rates of substance use behaviors and substance dependence across three major dimensions of sexual orientation (identity, attraction and behavior) in a large national sample of adult women and men in the United States. Design Data were collected from structured diagnostic face-to-face interviews using the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule DSM-IV version IV (AUDADIS-IV). Setting Prevalence estimates were based on data collected from the 2004-2005 (wave 2) National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Participants A large national sample of 34 653 adults aged 20 years and older: 52% female, 71% white, 12% Hispanic, 11% African American, 4% Asian and 2% Native American. Findings Approximately 2% of the population self-identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual; 4% reported at least one life- time same-sex sexual partner and 6% reported same-sex sexual attraction. Although non- heterosexual orientation was generally associated with a higher risk of substance use and substance dependence, the majority of sexual minority respondents did not report substance use or meet criteria for DSM-IV substance dependence. There was considerable variation in substance use outcomes across sexual orientation dimensions; these variations were more pronounced among women than among men. Conclusions Results support previous research findings of heightened risk of substance use and substance dependence among some sexual minority groups and point to the need for research that examines the reasons for such differences. Results also highlight important gender differences and question previous findings indicating uniformly higher risk for substance dependence among sexual minorities. Risks appear to vary based on gender and how sexual orientation is defined. Findings have implications for more effective prevention and intervention efforts that target subgroups at greatest risk. copyright 2009 Society for the Study of Addiction. ISSN 0965-2140 Publication Type Journal: Article Journal Name Addiction Volume 104 Issue Part 8 Page 1333-1345 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication August 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <427> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009373748 Authors Naghavi M. Abolhassani F. Pourmalek F. Lakeh M. Jafari N. Vaseghi S. Mahdavi Hezaveh N. Kazemeini H. Institution (Naghavi, Jafari, Vaseghi, Kazemeini) Health Programs Management Bureau, Health Network Development Center, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Hafez Jomhouri Crossroad, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of. (Naghavi) Department of Global Health, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States. (Abolhassani) Internal Diseases Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Keshavarz Boulevard, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of. (Pourmalek) Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, Faculty of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Keshavarz Boulevard, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of. (Pourmalek) Department of Global Health, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States. (Lakeh) Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Hemmat Expressway, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of. (Mahdavi Hezaveh) Psychosocial Health Bureau, Mental Health Department, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Hafez Jomhouri Crossroad, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of. (Mahdavi Hezaveh) Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title The burden of disease and injury in Iran 2003. Source Population Health Metrics. 7, 2009. Article Number: 9. Date of Publication: 15 Jun 2009. Publisher BioMed Central Ltd. Abstract Background: The objective of this study was to estimate the burden of disease and injury in Iran for the year 2003, using Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) at the national level and for six selected provinces. Methods: Methods developed by the World Health Organization for National Burden of Disease (NBD) studies were applied to estimate disease and injury incidence for the calculation of Years of Life Lost due to premature mortality (YLL), Years Lived with Disability (YLD), and DALYs. The following adjustments of the NBD methodology were made in this study: a revised list with 213 disease and injury causes, development of new and more specific disease modeling templates for cancers and injuries, and adjustment for dependent comorbidity. We compared the results with World Health Organization (WHO) estimates for Eastern Mediterranean Region, sub-region B in 2002. Results: We estimated that in the year 2003, there were 21,572 DALYs due to all diseases and injuries per 100,000 Iranian people of all ages and both sexes. From this total number of DALYs, 62% were due to disability premature deaths (YLD) and 38% were due to premature deaths (YLL); 58% were due to noncommunicable diseases, 28% - to injuries, and 14% - to communicable, maternal, perinatal, and nutritional conditions. Fifty-three percent of the total number of 14.349 million DALYs in Iran were in males, with 36.5% of the total due to intentional and unintentional injuries, 15% due to mental and behavioral disorders, and 10% due to circulatory system diseases; and 47% of DALYs were in females, with 18% of the total due to mental and behavioral disorders, 18% due to intentional and unintentional injuries, and 12% due to circulatory system diseases. The disease and injury causes leading to the highest number of DALYs in males were road traffic accidents (1.071 million), natural disasters (548 thousand), opioid use (510 thousand), and ischemic heart disease (434 thousand). The leading causes of DALYs in females were ischemic heart disease (438 thousand), major depressive disorder (420 thousand), natural disasters (419 thousand), and road traffic accidents (235 thousand). The burden of disease at the province level showed marked variability. DALY estimates by Iran's NBD study were higher than those for EMR-B by WHO. Conclusion: The health and disease profile in Iran has made the transition from the dominance of communicable diseases to that of noncommunicable diseases and road traffic injuries. NBD results are to be used in health program planning, research, and resource allocation and generation policies and practices. copyright 2009 Naghavi et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. Publication Type Journal: Article Journal Name Population Health Metrics Volume 7 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication 15 Jun 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <446> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009412438 Authors Des Jarlais D.C. McKnight C. Goldblatt C. Purchase D. Institution (Des Jarlais, McKnight, Goldblatt) Beth Israel Medical Center, 160 Water Street, New York, NY 10038, United States. (Purchase) North American Syringe Exchange Network, Tacoma, WA, United States. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Doing harm reduction better: Syringe exchange in the United States. Source Addiction. 104(9)(pp 1441-1446), 2009. Date of Publication: September 2009. Publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd Abstract Objective To trace the growth of syringe exchange programs (SEPs) in the United States since 1994-95 and assess the current state of SEPs. Methods Annual surveys of US SEPs known to North American Syringe Exchange Network (NASEN). Surveys mailed to executive directors with follow-up interviews by telephone and/or e-mail. Response rates have varied between 70% and 88% since surveys were initiated in 1996. Results The numbers of programs known to NASEN have increased from 68 in 1994-95 to 186 in 2007. Among programs participating in the survey, numbers of syringes exchanged have increased from 8.0 million per year to 29.5 million per year, total annual budgets have increased from $6.3 to $19.6 million and public funding (from state and local governments) has increased from $3.9 to $14.4 million. In 2007, 89% of programs permitted secondary exchange and 76% encouraged it. Condoms, referrals to substance abuse treatment, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) counseling and testing and naloxone for overdose were among the most commonly provided services in addition to basic syringe exchange. Each of these services was provided by 40% or more of SEPs in 2007. Conclusions While syringe exchange has remained controversial in the United States, there has been very substantial growth in numbers of programs, syringes exchange and program budgets. Utilizing secondary exchange to reach large numbers of injecting drug users and utilizing SEPs as a new platform for providing health and social services beyond basic syringe exchange have been the two major organizational strategies in the growth of SEPs in the United States. copyright 2009 Society for the Study of Addiction. ISSN 0965-2140 Publication Type Journal: Review Journal Name Addiction Volume 104 Issue Part 9 Page 1441-1446 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication September 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <475> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009403725 Authors Wilson G.T. Perrin N.A. Rosselli F. Striegel-Moore R.H. DeBar L.L. Kraemer H.C. Institution (Wilson) Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 152 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8020, United States. (Perrin) School of Nursing, Oregon Health and Sciences University, 3455 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97239, United States. (Rosselli, Striegel-Moore) Department of Psychology, Wesleyan University, 207 High Street, Middletown, CT 06459- 0408, United States. (DeBar) Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, 3800 N Interstate Avenue, Portland, OR, 97227, United States. (Kraemer) Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Beliefs about eating and eating disorders. Source Eating Behaviors. 10(3)(pp 157-160), 2009. Date of Publication: August 2009. Publisher Elsevier Ltd Abstract Beliefs about foods and binge eating may influence the development and maintenance of eating disorders and the likelihood that people will seek treatment. We found that the majority of a random sample of members of a large health maintenance organization considered binge eating a problem for which there are effective treatments. Self-reported binge eaters, however, were significantly less likely to agree that there are effective treatments. Two thirds of the sample reported that certain foods are addictive and also believed that strict dieting is an effective means of reducing binge eating. Therapeutic implications of these attitudes are discussed. copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ISSN 1471-0153 Publication Type Journal: Article Journal Name Eating Behaviors Volume 10 Issue Part 3 Page 157-160 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication August 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <511> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009462358 Authors Bradvik L. Berglund M. Frank A. Lindgren A. Lowenhielm P. Institution (Bradvik) Clinical Sciences, Lund, Sweden. (Berglund, Frank) Clinical Alcohol Research, Malmo, Sweden. (Lindgren) Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Lund, Sweden. (Lowenhielm) Forensic Medicine, Lund, Sweden. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Number of addictive substances used related to increased risk of unnatural death: A combined medico-legal and case-record study. Source BMC Psychiatry. 9, 2009. Article Number: 48. Date of Publication: 04 Aug 2009. Publisher BioMed Central Ltd. Abstract Background: Substance use disorders have repeatedly been found to lead to premature death, i.e. drug-related death by disease, fatal intoxications, or trauma (accidents, suicide, undetermined suicide, and homicide). The present study examined the relationship between multi-drug substance use and natural and unnatural death. Methods: All consecutive, autopsied patients who had been in contact with the Addiction Centre in Malmo University Hospital from 1993 to 1997 inclusive were investigated. Drug abuse was investigated blindly in the case records and related to the cause of death in 387 subjects. Results: Every substance apart from alcohol used previously in life added to the risk of unnatural death in a linear way. There were independent increased risks of fatal heroin overdoses or undetermined suicide. Death by suicide and violent death were unrelated to additional abuse. Conclusion: The number of drugs used was related to an increased risk of unnatural death by undetermined suicide (mainly fatal intoxications) and heroin overdose. copyright 2009 Bradvik et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. Publication Type Journal: Article Journal Name BMC Psychiatry Volume 9 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication 04 Aug 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL (A) 2009 <527> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009481222 Authors Heyne A. Kiesselbach C. Sahun I. McDonald J. Gaiffi M. Dierssen M. Wolffgramm J. Institution (Heyne, Kiesselbach, Gaiffi, Wolffgramm) Medimod Pharmacology Services GmbH, Germany. (Sahun, McDonald, Dierssen) Genes and Disease Program, Genomic Regulation Center-CRG, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title An animal model of compulsive food-taking behaviour. Source Addiction Biology. 14(4)(pp 373-383), 2009. Date of Publication: October 2009. Publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd Abstract The increase in the incidence of obesity and eating disorders has promoted research aimed at understanding the aetiology of abnormal eating behaviours. Apart from metabolic factors, obesity is caused by overeating. Clinical reports have led to the suggestion that some individuals may develop addictive-like behaviours when consuming palatable foods, and compulsive eating plays a similar dominant role in obesity as compulsive drug taking does in drug addiction. The progress made in the development of treatment strategies for obesity is limited, in part, because the physiological and neurological causes and consequences of compulsive eating behaviour are not clearly understood and cannot readily be studied in human subjects. We have developed experimental approaches that reflect the functioning of the components of eating control, including compulsive food taking in rats. Rats that are given free choice between standard chow and a palatable, chocolate-containing 'Cafeteria Diet' (CD) develop distinct signs of compulsive food taking that appear at an early stage. These include the inability to adapt intake behaviour in periods of limited or bitter-tasting CD access, continued food intake during resting phases and changes in fine structure of feeding (duration, distribution and recurrence of feeding bouts). The model will help examine the neurobiological underpinnings of compulsive food seeking and food taking and provides a possibility to study the effects of novel anti-obesity compounds on compulsive eating and other components of food-taking behaviour in detail. For future use of genetic models, the possibility of a transfer to a mouse was discussed. copyright 2009 Society for the Study of Addiction. ISSN 1355-6215 Publication Type Journal: Review Journal Name Addiction Biology Volume 14 Issue Part 4 Page 373-383 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication October 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <563> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009375424 Authors Zubaran C. Foresti K. Institution (Zubaran) School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. (Foresti) School of Medicine, University of Caxias Do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil. (Zubaran) Department of Psychiatry, West Sydney Area Health Service, PO BOX 6010, Blacktown, NSW 2148, Australia. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Quality of life and substance use: Concepts and recent tendencies. Source Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 22(3)(pp 281-286), 2009. Date of Publication: May 2009. Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Abstract PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Quality of life (QoL) has become an important clinical and research outcome in clinical drug and alcohol studies. Yet, further advancement in this field is hindered by the lack of a consensual definition of QoL in that often investigators use the constructs of health status and QoL interchangeably. This article reviews the conceptual definitions of QoL as a researchable construct. It also presents the most commonly used questionnaires to evaluate QoL in the context of substance use. RECENT FINDINGS: In the area of substance use research, the evaluation of QoL has been conducted mainly via generic instruments. Most of the studies reporting results of QoL measurements have obtained their data from opiate users receiving different treatment modalities at various healthcare agencies. Recent studies have used the Injection Drug User QoL Scale as a specific assessment tool. Specific QoL instruments have also been developed in the area of alcohol and nicotine dependence. SUMMARY: QoL is an important clinical and research outcome in the context of substance use. However, the indiscriminate use of nonspecific measurement tools may produce questionable results. A new generation of specific tools takes into particular consideration the life areas that have a greater influence on the QoL of substance users. It is hoped that the new impetus toward a specific QoL assessment in the context of substance use will promote further scientific advancement in this area. copyright 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. ISSN 0951-7367 Publication Type Journal: Review Journal Name Current Opinion in Psychiatry Volume 22 Issue Part 3 Page 281-286 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication May 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <580> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009486199 Authors Elger B.S. Sekera E. Institution (Elger) University Center of Legal Medicine of Geneva and Lausanne, CHE, (Sekera) Centre Envol, Fondation Fenix for the Treatment of Drug Addicts, Geneve, Switzerland. (Elger) Institut Universitaire de Medecine Legale, 9 Av. de Champel, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Prospective evaluation of insomnia in prison using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: Which are the factors predicting insomnia? Source International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice. 13(3)(pp 206-217), 2009. Date of Publication: 01 Sep 2009. Publisher Informa Healthcare Abstract Objectives. To measure the subjective sleep quality of prisoners complaining of insomnia and to compare it to the subjective sleep quality of prisoners who report "good sleep", in order to determine factors that predict insomnia and severity of insomnia. Participants and methods. PSQI and GHQ scores and patient history were obtained for 86 randomly chosen remanded prisoners complaining of insomnia and 61 randomly chosen prisoners who did not complain of insomnia. Results. PSQI total and component scores were significantly different between insomniac and not insomniac prisoners, except for C7 (daytime dysfunction). A history of sleeping problems before prison (odds ratio: 13.3), the subjective experience of having had stressful events during the past week (odds ratio: 8.5), being separated or divorced (odds ratio: 8.8), GHQ 10 (odds ratio: 8.8), a history of psychiatric problems (odds ratio: 8.3) and the consumption of opiates (odds ratio: 7.9), and to a lesser degree no sports in prison and stress related to judicial, familial and prison problems, were predictors of insomnia. We did not find any evidence in this study that work or consumption of caffeine in prison were factors that distinguished good sleepers from insomnia patients. Conclusions. Our study helps prison physicians to identify prisoners at risk for insomnia and to obtain some orientation for treatment decisions. Psychological support to reduce context related stress should be routinely offered to insomniac prisoners. copyright 2009 Informa UK Ltd. ISSN 1365-1501 Publication Type Journal: Article Journal Name International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice Volume 13 Issue Part 3 Page 206-217 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication 01 Sep 2009

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <586> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009531988 Authors Haber P.S. Demirkol A. Lange K. Murnion B. Institution (Haber, Demirkol, Murnion) Drug Health Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. (Lange) Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Management of injecting drug users admitted to hospital. Source The Lancet. 374(9697)(pp 1284-1293), 2009. Date of Publication: 20091010/16. Publisher Elsevier Limited Abstract General hospital clinicians frequently deal with injecting drug users because substance use has diverse medical and psychiatric complications. Non-specialist clinicians often initiate management when specialist consultation is not available or accepted by the patient. Here, we summarise evidence for the management of hospitalised injecting drug users. The first challenge is to engage a drug user into medical care. A non-judgmental approach towards patients and acceptance of their lifestyle choices facilitates engagement. Pragmatic clinical goals can be negotiated and achieved. We also describe common conditions of injecting drug users. Accurate diagnosis and appropriate management focus on common issues such as intoxication, withdrawal, pain management, drug seeking, psychological comorbidity, behavioural difficulties, and pregnancy. Effective management can reduce the medical and social effect of these conditions and is not difficult. copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ISSN 0140-6736 Publication Type Journal: Review Journal Name The Lancet Volume 374 Issue Part 9697 Page 1284-1293 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication 20091010/16

HEALTH AND SOCIAL 2009 <597> Database EMBASE Accession Number 2009487540 Authors van Laere I. de Wit M. Klazinga N. Institution (van Laere, de Wit, Klazinga) GGD Municipal Public Health Service Amsterdam, Dr Valckenier Outreach Primary Care Practice for the Homeless, PO BOX 2200, 1000 CE Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Klazinga) Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Department of Social Medicine, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Country of Publication United Kingdom Title Preventing evictions as a potential public health intervention: Characteristics and social medical risk factors of households at risk in Amsterdam. Source Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 37(7)(pp 697-705), 2009. Date of Publication: 2009. Publisher SAGE Publications Ltd Abstract Aims: The public health problems precipitating evictions are understudied and no systemic data have been collected. We aim to identify the magnitude of evictions and the characteristics and social medical risk factors of households at risk in Amsterdam. This will help inform policies designed to prevent eviction. Methods: In 2003, case workers of housing associations dealing with rent arrears, and case workers of nuisance control care networks, were interviewed and completed questionnaires about households at risk of eviction. Questionnaires included the processes that resulted in eviction and the characteristics and social medical problems of the households involved. Evicted households were compared with non-evicted households. Results: In Amsterdam, over recent years 1,400 evictions, or four per 1,000 dwellings, took place annually. Of 275 households with rent arrears, 132 were evicted. Of 190 nuisance households, 136 were evicted. In both groups, the largest household group were single male tenants between 25 and 44 years. For those reporting rent arrears, social problems were reported in 71%, medical problems in 23%; independent risk factors for eviction were being of Dutch origin (OR 2.38 (1.30-4.36)) and having a drug- addiction problem (OR 3.58 (0.96-13.39)). For the nuisance households, social problems were reported in 46% and medical problems in 82%, while financial difficulties were a risk factor for eviction (OR: 8.04 (1.05-61.7)). Conclusions: In Amsterdam, households at risk of eviction consisted mainly of single (Dutch) men, aged between 25 and 44 years, often with a combination of social and medical problems. Financial difficulties and drug addiction were independent risk factors for eviction. Because of the social medical problems that were prevalent, for prevention practice evictions should be considered both a socioeconomic and a public health problem. Preventing evictions deserves full attention as a potential effective public health intervention. copyright The Nordic Societies of Public Health. ISSN 1403-4948 Publication Type Journal: Article Journal Name Scandinavian Journal of Public Health Volume 37 Issue Part 7 Page 697-705 Year of Publication 2009 Date of Publication 2009