Examining the Protective Effect of Ethnic Identity on Drug Attitudes and Use Among a Diverse Youth Population

Ethnic identity is an important buffer against drug use among minority youth. However, limited work has examined pathways through which ethnic identity mitigates risk. School-aged youth (N?=?34,708; 52?% female) of diverse backgrounds (i.e., African American (n?=?5333), Asian (n?=?392), Hispanic (n?=?662), Multiracial (n?=?2129), Native American (n?=?474), and White (n?=?25718) in grades 4–12 provided data on ethnic identity, drug attitudes, and drug use. After controlling for gender and grade, higher ethnic identity was associated with lower past month drug use for African American, Hispanic, and Multiracial youth. Conversely, high ethnic identity was associated with increased risk for White youth. An indirect pathway between ethnic identity, drug attitudes, and drug use was also found for African American, Hispanic, and Asian youth. Among White youth the path model was also significant, but in the opposite direction. These findings confirm the importance of ethnic identity for most minority youth. Further research is needed to better understand the association between ethnic identity and drug use for Multiracial and Hispanic youth, best ways to facilitate healthy ethnic identity development for minority youth, and how to moderate the risk of identity development for White youth.     

Geschützte Meeresflächen im Bereich der deutschen ausschließlichen Wirtschaftszone von Nord- und Ostsee

In der Bundesrepublik Deutschland gibt es erstmals zwei Naturschutzgebiete des Bundes. Grunds?tzlich ist es Aufgabe der L?nder, schützenswerte Teile von Natur und Landschaft zum Schutzgebiet zu erkl?ren. In der deutschen ausschlie?lichen Wirtschaftszone obliegt die Unterschutzstellung allerdings dem Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit. In Erfüllung der Verpflichtungen aus der EU-Vogelschutz-Richtlinie wurden je ein Gebiet in Nord- und Ostsee aufgrund ihrer besonderen ornithologischen Bedeutung zum Naturschutzgebiet erkl?rt. Der Aufsatz führt in die komplexe Rechtslage im Bereich der ausschlie?lichen Wirtschaftszone ein, gibt einen überblick über die in den Naturschutzgebietsverordnungen getroffenen Regelungen und unternimmt eine erste Bewertung. Betroffenen Nutzern und zust?ndigen Beh?rden will der Beitrag eine erl?uternde Hilfestellung geben.     

Natur hat Recht: 30 Jahre Bundesnaturschutzgesetz als Säule eines neuen Umweltgesetzbuches

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Closing the Organ Gap: A Reciprocity-Based Social Contract Approach

Organ transplantation has become a proven, cost-effective lifesaving treatment, but its promise is contingent on the number of available organs. The growing gap between the demand and supply results in unnecessary loss and diminished quality of life as well as high costs for surviving patients and health insurers. Twenty years after the enactment of the National Organ Transplantation Act, it is time to rethink the moral basis and overall design of organ transplantation policy. We propose a national plan for organ transplantation insurance under which the federal government would assume responsibility for increasing the organ supply and would cover all costs associated with transplantation for patients not otherwise covered.     

Hanging — A review

A study of 201 cases of death due to hanging, 95% being suicidal in nature and 5% being accidental; in addition there was one judicial hanging. The majority of deaths were in persons over 50 years of age, males predominating particularly in the 50 – 60 age group. In contrast to the Registrar General's annual returns for suicide which show a steady decrease over the past 20 years, deaths due to hanging have increased considerably, particularly in the last decade. This trend could be related to the dramatic fall in carbon monoxide poisoning and more circumspect prescribing of barbiturate drugs.