Assessment of an AIDS intervention program during drug abuse treatment.

Since 1985, many drug abuse treatment centers and health care providers have implemented special education programs for individuals who inject drugs. They focus primarily on increasing awareness of the threat of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) being spread through drug injection equipment and by sexual activities. As part of the Drug Abuse Treatment for AIDS-Risk Reduction (DATAR) project, the AIDS/HIV Risk Reduction Module was designed to meet these special intervention needs.

Using knowledge maps and scripted cooperation to inform college students about patterns of behavior related to recurring abuse of alcohol.

Objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness of using a specific information format--graphic representations called knowledge maps--and an information processing strategy--scripted cooperation--in teaching college students about behavior patterns that underlie recurring abuse of alcohol. Participants in this three-session, 6-hour study were 111 Texas Christian University students recruited from undergraduate psychology classes. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two materials format conditions (map vs.

Using conceptual matrices, knowledge maps, and scripted cooperation to improve personal management strategies.

Research in the area of substance abuse suggests that ineffective personal management strategies appear to be a major factor in abuse behavior. In this study, fifty-seven students in an intermediate level psychology class were provided with three tools previously found to enhance academic learning strategies--knowledge maps, scripted peer cooperation, and conceptual matrices--as a means of understanding and improving personal management strategies. Student ratings of the value of these activities were significantly higher than an average or moderate response.