Steve Baldwin – författare

Smoking and tobacco have received much attention in the literature throughout this century, particularly in the last 30 years. The causal role of smoking in a large number of fatal diseases has been established. Concern about the ill effects of smoking has led to anti-smoking campaigns revolving around primary prevention and smoking cessation. This book focuses on the literature directed to those who cannot or will not quit smoking and offers an informed risk reduction approach aimed directly at the chronic smoker. A large number of smoking interventions are represented as well as the characteristics of smokers and the outcome of the respective interventions. The importance of continued research on controlled or reduced smoking as opposed to that of smoking cessation is outlined and methodological flaws are offered to alert future researchers. This literature will be an invaluable resource to health professionals, therapists, and others involved in the issue of health and the hazards of continued smoking.

Since the establishment of the first alcohol education course (ABC) for young offenders in 1981, this fono of service delivery has been expanded across the United Kingdom. While some before-and-after data have been reported, no con­ trolled evaluations have been completed on effectiveness with this type of inter­ vention. The present research reports a series of evaluation studies to investigate the impact of ABCs on offending and drinking behavior. Young offenders were recruited from local courts. The first study, completed in Dundee, reported results from a comparative evaluation between two types of ABCs. As an attention-placebo study, one group received a behavioral ABC with program contents designed to reduce drinking and offending behaviors. Some dependent variable differences between the two groups were observed at follow-up. The second study was established in Glasgow as a replication of the main study. The third study used a quasi-experimental design to establish a no-intervention control group in the Perth courts. Young offenders were recruited to complete screening interviews, without any intervention. The intervention group was re­ cruited from courts in Forfar, a similar rural town. This group completed an infonoation-based ABC, using educational materials about alcohol and its effects. Some dependent variable differences were observed at follow-up. The fourth study was based in a Young Offender Institution at Forfar. Prerelease young offenders were randomly assigned to either a no-intervention control group or a behavioral ABC group. Some dependent variable differences were reported at follow-up.

Why write another book on ethics? As practitioners we are involved both in the design and delivery of services to people with mental health problems. In common with all other professionals, our work has led to the experience of ethical dilemmas: typically, these have involved major confrontations, either with our col­ leagues or our consciences. This book, however, is not limited to a discussion of such major themes. Rather, we have tried to use a broader canvas: ethics, in our view, is really about the judgement of right and wrong in ordinary, everyday life. Ethics are highly personal: we fashion our own personal code from our experi­ ence of others, and from the 'tests' which bring meaning to our lives. Such experiences shape our individual values. We bring these codes and values to our work. We are not always aware of their influence in our dealings with people. Although we may not always be aware of it, all our actions pose an ethical question. Given that our work involves us in helping others to live ordinary, satisfying lives, this challenge heightens the intensity of our ethical dilemmas. This is most evident where our personal code conflicts with the implicit code of the health setting.

This text aims to throw new light on the current debate around the perceived "failure" of community care. The debate is being carried out not only among therapists, planners and providers, but also amongst consumers of that care and the general public. The author argues that as community care is not working, there is an alternative, more natural neighbourhood model to explore.

Since the establishment of the first alcohol education course (ABC) for young offenders in 1981, this fono of service delivery has been expanded across the United Kingdom. While some before-and-after data have been reported, no con­ trolled evaluations have been completed on effectiveness with this type of inter­ vention. The present research reports a series of evaluation studies to investigate the impact of ABCs on offending and drinking behavior. Young offenders were recruited from local courts. The first study, completed in Dundee, reported results from a comparative evaluation between two types of ABCs. As an attention-placebo study, one group received a behavioral ABC with program contents designed to reduce drinking and offending behaviors. Some dependent variable differences between the two groups were observed at follow-up. The second study was established in Glasgow as a replication of the main study. The third study used a quasi-experimental design to establish a no-intervention control group in the Perth courts. Young offenders were recruited to complete screening interviews, without any intervention. The intervention group was re­ cruited from courts in Forfar, a similar rural town. This group completed an infonoation-based ABC, using educational materials about alcohol and its effects. Some dependent variable differences were observed at follow-up. The fourth study was based in a Young Offender Institution at Forfar. Prerelease young offenders were randomly assigned to either a no-intervention control group or a behavioral ABC group. Some dependent variable differences were reported at follow-up.

Why write another book on ethics? As practitioners we are involved both in the design and delivery of services to people with mental health problems. In common with all other professionals, our work has led to the experience of ethical dilemmas: typically, these have involved major confrontations, either with our col­ leagues or our consciences. This book, however, is not limited to a discussion of such major themes. Rather, we have tried to use a broader canvas: ethics, in our view, is really about the judgement of right and wrong in ordinary, everyday life. Ethics are highly personal: we fashion our own personal code from our experi­ ence of others, and from the ''tests'' which bring meaning to our lives. Such experiences shape our individual values. We bring these codes and values to our work. We are not always aware of their influence in our dealings with people. Although we may not always be aware of it, all our actions pose an ethical question. Given that our work involves us in helping others to live ordinary, satisfying lives, this challenge heightens the intensity of our ethical dilemmas. This is most evident where our personal code conflicts with the implicit code of the health setting.