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Driving under the influence of drugs poses risks for traffic safety. Most research attention has been focused on the most prevalent drugs of abuse, such as alcohol, illegal drugs, and prescription drugs with high abuse potential. The objectives of this study were to determine the types of drugs used by convicted DUI offenders on the day of their arrest, prevalence of poly-substance use, and offender characteristics associated with different drug use patterns. Data were collected from 6,339 individuals enrolled in the court-mandated Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program. After alcohol, cannabis was the most frequently used substance, followed by sedative medications and prescription analgesics. Among poly-substance users, 78.4% reported combining alcohol with other drugs. Findings could be used to inform public education campaigns, law enforcement training, and highway safety policies about the prevalence of combining alcohol with other drugs, as well as how poly-substance use further impairs traffic-related risks.

Drug abusing offenders have high rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). To date, the HIV/STI prevention needs of offenders in drug court programs have been ignored. This multi-method study employed interviews to assess drug court professionals’ perceptions of the need for an HIV risk reduction intervention to be integrated into the services provided to drug court participants. Then, surveys were completed by 235 drug court participants to assess whether their sexual risk behaviors affirmed the need for such an intervention. The survey also assessed demographic characteristics, drug use prior to program entry, HIV knowledge, and condom attitudes. The relationship between duration in the drug court program and sexual risk behavior was also examined. Implications for the development and delivery of HIV risk reduction interventions within drug court programs are discussed.

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Examining the Efficacy of a 1-Session Brief Behavioral Activation Intervention with University Students with Mild to Moderate Depressive Symptoms D. Lee McCluskey Early intervention may increase the likelihood that students with depressive symptoms complete degree requirements and reduce the likelihood of negative outcomes associated with depression in adults. The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of a 1-session version of Brief Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression-Revised (BATD-R; Lejuez, Hopko, Acierno, Daughters, & Pagoto, 2011) with university students with mildto-moderate depressive symptoms. Participants (N = 39) were randomly assigned to either a clinical or a control group. Participants completed measures of depression, negativity bias, mindfulness, and experiential avoidance at pre-intervention, two-week follow-up, and one-month follow-up. Both ITT and study completer analyses were conducted. There was a significant main effect of session, such that depression scores decreased from Session 1 to Session 2 and increased from Session 2 to Session 3. Depression scores at Session 3 were significantly lower than scores at Session 1. No significant differences were identified for condition at any time, suggesting that factors other than the intervention were causing the changes in depression scores. Implications for theory and practice are discussed. iii Acknowledgments I would like to express my gratitude for Natalie Shook, Ph.D., my mentor and dissertation chair, without whom this study would not have been possible. I am deeply indebted to Dr. Shook for the work that she has done to foster my growth throughout my graduate school career, and across the design and execution of this study. I would also like to acknowledge Daniel W. McNeil, Ph.D., who has provided indispensable guidance to me throughout my academic journey. Dr. McNeil spent considerable time training and supervising study therapists, for the clinical component of this study and I am truly indebted to him as well. I would also like to thank Rebecca Gilley, B. S.; Cameron Ford,

Effect of fashion industry media on consumers attitudes and values for social responsibility.