Computer-assisted drug prevention. 1990

J G Barber
Department of Social Work, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.

Although the psychological treatment of addiction is premised on the notion that addictive behavior is learned behavior, addiction workers have been slow to exploit the capacity of the computer to promote new learning. The best computer-assisted learning programs are fully adaptive; their design anticipates the responses a user can make, classifies them, and provides feedback for each. This paper reports on two recent attempts to achieve this level of sophistication in computer-assisted drug prevention. One program seeks to prevent heroin relapse among currently abstinent prisoners, and the other promotes controlled drinking in alcohol abusers. Given the fact that most drug users can be expected to opt for self-help materials over the offer of formal therapy, and that most (licit) drug users who solve their addiction problems do so without recourse to professional help anyway, the use of computer-assisted drug prevention programs like these provides an important new direction in substance abuse treatment.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D010353 Patient Education as Topic The teaching or training of patients concerning their own health needs. Education of Patients,Education, Patient,Patient Education
D011613 Psychotherapy A generic term for the treatment of mental illness or emotional disturbances primarily by verbal or nonverbal communication. Psychotherapies
D012008 Recurrence The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. Recrudescence,Relapse,Recrudescences,Recurrences,Relapses
D003194 Computer-Assisted Instruction A self-learning technique, usually online, involving interaction of the student with programmed instructional materials. Programmed Instruction, Computerized,Self-Instruction Programs, Computerized,Computer Assisted Instruction,Computer-Assisted Instructions,Computerized Programmed Instruction,Computerized Self-Instruction Program,Computerized Self-Instruction Programs,Instruction, Computer-Assisted,Instruction, Computerized Programmed,Instructions, Computer-Assisted,Program, Computerized Self-Instruction,Programs, Computerized Self-Instruction,Self Instruction Programs, Computerized,Self-Instruction Program, Computerized
D005260 Female Females
D006556 Heroin Dependence Strong dependence or addiction, both physiological and emotional, upon HEROIN. Heroin Abuse,Heroin Addiction,Heroin Smoking,Abuse, Heroin,Addiction, Heroin,Dependence, Heroin,Heroin Smokings,Smoking, Heroin
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000437 Alcoholism A primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic. (Morse & Flavin for the Joint Commission of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine to Study the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism: in JAMA 1992;268:1012-4) Alcohol Abuse,Alcoholic Intoxication, Chronic,Ethanol Abuse,Alcohol Addiction,Alcohol Dependence,Alcohol Use Disorder,Abuse, Alcohol,Abuse, Ethanol,Addiction, Alcohol,Alcohol Use Disorders,Chronic Alcoholic Intoxication,Dependence, Alcohol,Intoxication, Chronic Alcoholic,Use Disorders, Alcohol
D012648 Self Care Caring for self when ill or positive actions and adopting behaviors to prevent illness. Self-Care,Care, Self

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