27. Canadian journal discusses "air rage" and other topics

By Tom O'Connell

"Air rage" is one of the topics highlighted in a review of recent issues of The Journal published by the Addiction Research Foundation in Toronto. This essay includes excerpts about that subject and other interesting news briefs about the addictions.

Air rage fueled by alcohol: The U.S. Association of Flight Attendants is encouraging airlines to re-introduce alcohol serving limits to combat the increase of air rage, according to the Monday Morning Report. The incidence of passenger misconduct at American Airlines went from 296 cases in 1994 to 882 in 1995. A survey by the Air Transport Association found that most incidents were fueled by alcohol.

Kid smokers like tobacco gear: Tobacco paraphernalia is popular with kids, particularly those who smoke, reports the Boston Globe. A Dartmouth Medical School study of more than 1,200 Vermont and New Hampshire students in Grades six to 12 found that a third of the students owned items with cigarette logos. Those with promotional items, such as backpacks and T-shirts, were four times more likely to smoke.

Russians drinking more:  Russia's per capita alcohol consumption has jumped by 600 percent in the last 10 years, according to the Russian National Academy of Sciences. Georgetown University demographer Murray Feshback said Russians are not only drinking more, they are drinking more dangerously, Newsday reports. "It's chug-a-lug vodka-drinking that starts at the office during morning coffee break and goes right into the nighttime," he said. Excessive drinking has also been linked to the rise in alcohol-related crimes in Russia, which have more than tripled since 1991.

U.S. student drug use stabilizes: After a six-year rise, illicit drug use among American teenagers appears to have leveled off, according to the 1997 Monitoring the Future Survey released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The survey of 51,000 eighth, 10th and 12th graders showed that marijuana use did not increase, for the first time since 1991.

Europe bans tobacco advertising: The European Union has agreed to ban almost all tobacco advertising, including arts and sports sponsorships. The agreement allows car races up to nine seasons to phase out cigarette sponsorship. However, the motion still needs final approval by the European Parliament.

Alcoholics don't have higher mood disorder rate: A survey of 3,632 people found that alcohol-dependent people are not at greater risk for mood disorders....Problem drinkers did, however, have higher rates of independent bipolar, panic and anxiety disorders. Their risk of independent major depressive disorders was slightly, but significantly, lower. Nevertheless, almost 30 percent of alcoholic subjects had an "induced" major depressive episode in the context of heavy drinking or withdrawal, while close to 12 percent had concurrent anxiety disorders.

Smoking education weak in health schools: Students in health professions are not likely to be taught how to counsel people against smoking or how to quit, a Canadian survey has found. Questionnaires filed by senior staff of 165 professional schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy and psychology revealed that most programs spent an average of two hours over the whole curriculum on smoking....studying the diseases caused by smoking rather than on counseling. (Chronic Diseases in Canada, vol. 18)

- Back -