Illicit drug use at licensed premises and the potential for prevention: A qualitative interview study of stakeholders.

The aim of this study was to explore how stakeholders perceive illicit drugs at licensed premises, existing and potential prevention interventions, and to identify facilitators and barriers to reduce illicit drugs at these locations. Semi-structured interviews with police officers, licensed premises owners, security staff and municipality officials ( = 28) in seven counties in middle Sweden were conducted and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The informants reported frequent illicit drug use and dealing at licensed premises, causing a negative influence on the restaurant environment.

Long-term effects of an alcohol prevention program at licensed premises: a Swedish 20-year follow-up study.

Background: In 1996, a multicomponent community-based alcohol prevention program in Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) targeting licensed premises was developed by STAD (Stockholm Prevents Alcohol and Drug Problems) and implemented in Stockholm, Sweden. The program consists of community mobilization and collaboration, training, and enforcement. Early evaluations have shown a significant increase in the refusal rates of alcohol service to intoxicated patrons, from 5% in 1996 to 70% in 2001, and a 29% decrease in the frequency of police-reported violence.

Effectiveness of a Web-Based Individual Coping and Alcohol Intervention Program for Children of Parents With Alcohol Use Problems: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Children whose parents have alcohol use problems are at an increased risk of several negative consequences, such as poor school performance, an earlier onset of substance use, and poor mental health. Many would benefit from support programs, but the figures reveal that only a small proportion is reached by existing support. Digital interventions can provide readily accessible support and potentially reach a large number of children.

Police officers' perspective on doping and prevention among recreational athletes: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The use of anabolic androgenic steroids among recreational athletes has received growing attention in recent decades. Several countries have implemented bans on doping; however, recreational athletes and other subpopulations continue to use doping substances. Recognizing that the police play a crucial role in preventing the use and dealing of doping substances in Sweden, efforts have been made to intensify police interventions and enhance collaboration with other key actors.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, working, and life situation of employees in the Swedish hospitality industry.

Introduction: Previous studies reported that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of employees in the hospitality industry internationally, however, its effect in Sweden has not been studied. Unlike several other countries, Sweden never enforced a lockdown. Restaurants, bars, and hotels could remain open and host a limited number of guests but had to abide by certain restrictions.

Mental health problems, health risk behaviors, and prevention: A qualitative interview study on perceptions and attitudes among elite male soccer players.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of mental health problems and health risk behaviors among Swedish male elite soccer players and their attitudes toward possible prevention strategies.

Method: Twenty elite soccer players, aged 15-30 years, were recruited through purposive sampling and interviewed a digital video calling platform. A semi-structured interview guide, encompassing questions about mental health problems, health risk behaviors among soccer teams, peer-relations, relations to coaches, and attitudes toward health risk behaviors, along with proposals for effective interventions, was employed.

Feasibility of using breath sampling of non-volatiles to estimate the prevalence of illicit drug use among nightlife attendees.

The prevalence of drug use among nightlife attendees needs to be accurately estimated to, for example, evaluate preventive interventions. This study tested the feasibility of using a breath-sampling device to estimate the prevalence of drug use among nightlife attendees. The study was conducted at five nightclubs and a large music festival in Stockholm, Sweden.

Compliance Checks Decrease Cigarette Sales Rates to Pseudo-Underaged Mystery Shoppers: A Quasi-Experimental Control Group Study.

To control adherence to age limits regarding sales of tobacco products, Swedish authorities can conduct compliance checks. Compliance checks involve prior information to all retailers, mystery shopping, and subsequent feedback to the retailers. This study investigated whether compliance checks can decrease the rates of cigarette sales to underaged adolescents.

Facilitators and barriers in preventing doping among recreational athletes: A qualitative interview study among police officers.

Background: Doping is a societal problem associated with health problems, violence, and other crimes, especially when combined with alcohol and drugs. Elite, as well as recreational athletes who exercise in gyms may use doping to enhance their performance and/or improve their appearance. According to Swedish law, manufacturing, selling, supplying, possessing, and using anabolic androgenic steroids and growth hormones is forbidden.

Risky Drinking Cultures Among Affluent Youth in Sweden.

There is a growing scientific interest in drinking behavior among young people in affluent areas, who report higher levels of alcohol consumption compared to youth in less privileged areas. This phenomenon has been observed in several Western countries. The research has been dominated by variable-oriented analyses and has presented interesting explanations, but there has been little research into these young people's own experiences of and attitudes toward alcohol consumption.

Sales of cigarettes to pseudo-underage mystery shoppers: Experiences from Stockholm County.

Aims: There is an 18 years age limit for cigarette purchase in Sweden and in order to implement this law outlets need to perform ID checks. This study investigates the rate of cigarette sales and ID checks when pseudo-underage mystery shoppers attempted to purchase cigarettes. It explores possible factors associated with sales outcomes.

Drug Use Changes at the Individual Level: Results from a Longitudinal, Multisite Survey in Young Europeans Frequenting the Nightlife Scene.

Background: Monitoring emerging trends in the increasingly dynamic European drug market is vital; however, information on change at the individual level is scarce. In the current study, we investigated changes in drug use over 12 months in European nightlife attendees.

Method: In this longitudinal online survey, changes in substances used, use frequency in continued users, and relative initiation of use at follow-up were assessed for 20 different substances.

How to prevent alcohol and illicit drug use among students in affluent areas: a qualitative study on motivation and attitudes towards prevention.

Background: The use of alcohol and illicit drugs during adolescence can lead to serious short- and long-term health related consequences. Despite a global trend of decreased substance use, in particular alcohol, among adolescents, evidence suggests excessive use of substances by young people in socioeconomically affluent areas. To prevent substance use-related harm, we need in-depth knowledge about the reasons for substance use in this group and how they perceive various prevention interventions.

Prevalence of Parental Alcohol Problems among a General Population Sample of 28,047 Norwegian Adults: Evidence for a Socioeconomic Gradient.

The aim of the study presented here was to estimate the prevalence of parental alcohol problems during childhood in a general population of Norwegian adults, and to investigate associations between parental alcohol problems during childhood and lower socioeconomic status in adulthood. This cross-sectional study recruited 28,047 adults (≥18 years) to an online health survey (Norwegian Counties Public Health Surveys). We evaluated demographic and socioeconomic measures and responses to a shortened version of the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST-6) scale to assess whether respondents perceived parental alcohol consumption during childhood as problematic.

Illicit Drug Use and Associated Problems in the Nightlife Scene: A Potential Setting for Prevention.

Illicit drug use is prevalent in the nightlife scene, especially at electronic dance music (EDM) events. The aim of the present study was to investigate illicit drug use patterns and consequences of drug use among frequent visitors of EDM events. Young adults (18-34 years old) who had visited at least six EDM events in Sweden during the past year participated in a web-based survey on drug use patterns and its consequences.

Drug dealing and drug use prevention - a qualitative interview study of authorities' perspectives on two open drug scenes in Stockholm.

Background: The use of illicit substances causes various health and social problems globally. Moreover, open drug use and dealing in urban areas, i.e.

Evaluation of the Implementation of a 25-Year Outdoor School Ground Smoking Ban: A Qualitative Interview Study With Implications for Prevention Practise.

Tobacco use, often initiated in younger ages, is a serious health challenge worldwide. In Sweden, smoking has been prohibited on school grounds since 1994. Municipal environmental and health inspectors control the compliance of the ban.

Effects of a multi-component alcohol prevention intervention at sporting events: a quasi-experimental control group study.

Background And Aims: Alcohol intoxication among spectators and related problems are common at sporting events. This study estimated the impact a multi-component community-based alcohol prevention intervention, implemented at Swedish Premier Football (soccer) League matches, had on intoxication levels among spectators and refusal rates of alcohol service to, and arena entry of, obviously intoxicated spectators.

Design: A quasi-experimental controlled study using a repeated cross-sectional design.

Compliance to the Alcohol Law: Overserving to Obviously Intoxicated Visitors at Music Festivals.

Music festivals are often high-risk settings associated with large numbers of visitors and high alcohol intoxication levels, which contribute to a number of public health-related problems. According to the Swedish Alcohol Act, servers are responsible for not overserving alcohol to obviously intoxicated patrons. The aim of the current study was to examine compliance to the Swedish Alcohol Act at music festivals by assessing the rate of alcohol overserving to festival-goers.

Breath alcohol concentration, hazardous drinking and preloading among Swedish university students.

Background: Approximately half of all young adults in Sweden are university students, and alcohol consumption is often a central part of students' social lives. Heavy drinking is associated with negative consequences, such as poor study skills, sexual risk-taking, violence and accidents. The aim of the present study is to assess the levels of alcohol intoxication as well as hazardous alcohol use among students at Swedish universities.

Psychometric properties of the short version of the children of alcoholics screening test (CAST-6) among Swedish adolescents.

Aims: The Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST-6) is a brief screening instrument developed to identify children with parents having problematic alcohol use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the CAST-6 among adolescents aged 15-18 years, and also to identify an optimal cut-off score for this age group.

Methods: A total of 3000 15 to18 year-olds were randomly selected from a register of postal addresses in Sweden.

Effectiveness of a Community-Based Intervention to Increase Supermarket Vendors' Compliance with Age Restrictions for Alcohol Sales in Spain: A Pilot Study.

In Spain the legal age to buy alcohol is 18 years. However, official surveys show that minors perceive alcohol availability to be easy. This paper describes the impacts of a community-based intervention to increase vendors' compliance with age limits regarding alcohol sales in supermarkets.

Illicit Drugs in the Nightlife Setting: Changes in Employee Perceptions and Drug Use over a Fifteen-Year Period.

Illicit drug use is common in nightlife settings and associated with various public health-related problems, making this an important arena for prevention. : To assess perceived prevalence of illicit drug use in the Stockholm nightlife setting, use of and attitudes toward illicit drugs among employees at licensed premises. Also, to make comparisons with two identical measurements from 2001 and 2007/08, and to explore potential differences related to own drug use, type of licensed premise, age or gender.