Introduction to contemporary understandings in psychoactive drugs. Includes pharmacology, Thorley's model, Roizen's model, Interactive model, statistics on drug harm, harm reduction, Stages of change model, motivation model, assessment and community development introductions and much more.

Ideal for students and post-graduates in psychology, humanities, behavioural sciences, health sciences (nursing, medicine, allied health), teaching, criminal studies (Police, law etc). Also appropriate background information to parents and significant others. Essentially, anybody having contact with drug using populations, which lets face it, is all of us!

Independent reviews: The product was tested with 270 rural health workers. A copy of the evaluation is available on request, but in summary demonstrates 95% improvement in knowledge and confidence in responding to drug use issues.

Site licences are available for US$1240, which entitles unrestricted use in the workplace.

Who Needs this CD-ROM?: Students and post-graduates in: Nursing, medicine, teaching, social work, psychology, criminology/justice studies, behavioural and social sciences and Parents.

System requirements: (recommended minimum) 75MHz Pentium PC, 4 speed cd-rom drive, 16 MB RAM, Sound Blaster or equivalent, Display running at 16 bit high colour or better, Windows 95. MTropolis Player for Windows 95, Apple Quicktime for Windows 95 version 2.1.1.57 or better (both included on disc).

For Questions about this CD-ROM, please contact:
David Wray (Writer/producer) Australia
Phone: +61 08 9792 2500
Fax: +61 08 9792 2503
Email: david.wray@health.wa.gov.au

Independent Review by David B. Cooper, Editor in Chief, Journal of Substance Misuse

Excellent, concisely sums up this package produced by Davis Wray. It is
clear a great deal of thought has gone in to this interactive package. I am
somewhat weary of such packages. They often turn out to be difficult to use
and have very little to say. This one is the complete opposite. It is
possible to go straight into the package, use and understand and just as
important, learn. The writer has it just about right when he say the package
is aimed at students and postgraduate nursing, psychology, social work,
welfare studies, humanities, health disciplines (OT, physiotherapy,
medicine), teaching, and justice studies. I think it has a place in schools
too but the establishment may not be ready for such a common sense view of
substance use!
Following a brief introduction, one is given the opportunity to progress
through six doors covering: What is a drug? Who uses drugs and why. What is
a drug problem (very much one to get a discussion going.)? Why do people
change? What can be done (part I: the individual)? and finally, What can be
done (part II: the community)?
The system allows the individual (or group) to move at his or her own pace.
It is possible to go back a stage and or back to re-enter a door once in the
programme. This is very useful if a teacher wants to include group
discussion or comment. . The only annoying part of the package is the need
to go through the introduction before getting back to the doors if for some
reason one needs to close down the system but that is a minor point in
comparison to all the pluses.
It is pitched at a level so as not to insult those with some knowledge and
yet not to loose the new comer to the substance uses. I particularly like
the way the writer has place drug use into perspective. No over
dramatisation of illicit drugs here merely a common sense approach to drug
use and misuse. It takes approximately 1hrs 30 minutes to 2 hours to go
through the whole package. In a group it could take longer if the group
wanted to branch off into a discussion or in a teaching situation. It is
probably best not to attempt the package in one sitting primarily because
there may be a danger of missing some key point. Also, the narrators' tones
are calm and appropriate but can be somewhat hypnotic in a prolonged period.
The viewer is given the opportunity to look at his or her own substance use,
to categories substances by effect, to examine various models and to
complete the WHO Alcohol use disorders indicator test (AUDIT - which come
complete with feedback)
.
The package relies heavily on Thorleys Model of intoxication, regular use
and dependence that I feel adds to the common sense approach of this
package. Using Prochaska and DiClemente's model of change and the good old 4
'L's (Liver, Livelihood, Law, Love) also fits well. There is no end to the
value of such a package. It travels well as the individual and community
advice could apply anywhere. If I had to make one wish about this package it
would be that every student nurse in the UK, whatever his or her intended
area a specialism, would be obliged to interact with this CD ROM during the
early stages of training. It may help an awful lot of people!
David B. Cooper
Editor in Chief
Journal of Substance Misuse
Parkholme
Ashreigney
Chulmleigh
Devon
EX18 7LY
United Kingdom
Tel (+44) (0) 1769 520 581
Fax (+44) (0) 870 055 7657
e-mail: Journal.Substance.Misuse@dbcooper.demon.co.uk