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Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 Jun 16:1-15. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Sociology, University of Central Florida , Orlando, Florida.

Background: The U.S. is experiencing an opioid overdose health crisis, largely driven by opioid use disorder (OUD). Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 Jun 12:1-12. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Department of Preventive Medicine, Universidade Federal De São Paulo , São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Because of the shortcomings of traditional pharmacotherapy for major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there has been growing interest in the rapid mood-enhancing effect of ketamine.

Objectives: To analyze what has been posted about ketamine use for dealing with self-reported depression and/or PTSD on one of the biggest international message boards on the internet.

Methods: Qualitative study with online observation of threaded discussions on Bluelight. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 Jun 12:1-9. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Division of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction, McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School , Belmont, MA, USA.

Background: People with substance use disorders (SUD) and co-occurring chronic pain report the use of myriad substances, which is concerning due to the heightened risk of overdose associated with polysubstance use. Identifying malleable factors associated with polysubstance use in this population can inform interventions. In this study, we examined whether two pain processes - pain interference and pain catastrophizing - were associated with polysubstance use. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 Jun 9:1-10. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Graduate School of Social Welfare, Yonsei University , Seoul, Korea (The Republic Of).

Background: Little is known regarding trends in cannabis use among justice-involved youth. We hypothesize that cannabis use will be higher over time among justice-involved youth who, on average, are more likely to be exposed to and seek out cannabis.

Objectives: The present study compares trends in cannabis use among justice-involved youth (past year) with youth in the general population age 12-17 who have not been arrested in the past year. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 Jun 9:1-3. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK.

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 Jun 9:1-11. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Systems Science Graduate Program, Portland State University , Portland, Oregon, USA.

Background: The U.S. opioid epidemic has caused substantial harm for over 20 years. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 29:1-7. Epub 2020 May 29.

VA San Diego Healthcare System , San Diego, CA, USA.

Background: Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug on college campuses. Research suggests that Student Service Members/Veterans (SSM/V) may be more likely to use alcohol than civilian students, but little research has focused on cannabis use in these two samples.

Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to compare cannabis use frequency, cannabis use disorder (CUD) symptoms, and cannabis-related problems between civilian students and SSM/V. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 27. Epub 2020 May 27.

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 7:1-10. Epub 2020 May 7.

Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.

Due to underreporting, a major challenge associated with drug use surveys is obtaining precise estimates of drug use. This study examined reliability of self-reported lifetime marijuana use among electronic dance music (EDM) party attendees - a high-risk population for drug use. 794 adults (35. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 7:1-6. Epub 2020 May 7.

Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Background: The prevalence of tobacco cigarette smoking in the US has declined to approximately 15%, yet, it remains over 90% among individuals with opioid use disorder regardless of whether they are currently using opioids illicitly or as opioid substitution therapy. This disparity raises the question of whether opioids facilitate smoking among individuals with opioid use disorder and whether opioid antagonists may reduce it.

Objectives: Determine whether injectable extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) treatment of opioid use disorder patients is associated with a spontaneous smoking reduction. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 Apr 28:1-12. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

: Emerging evidence suggests that opioid receptor antagonists, such as naltrexone, are effective pharmacotherapies for alcohol, opioid, and possibly stimulant use disorders. It is posited that naltrexone exerts its effects, in part, by increasing functional connectivity between neural reward circuitry and frontal systems implicated in executive function. Yet no studies had examined whether executive function moderates these effects. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 26;46(3):263-265. Epub 2020 Apr 26.

Department of Pediatrics, Section of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine , Aurora, CO, USA.

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 05 20;46(3):385-386. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

Mental Health Research Center, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 Mar 16:1-15. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

School of Education, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA.

: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and its consumption subscale (AUDIT-C) are international gold standard screeners for identifying at-risk drinkers. Items have been modified to reflect United States low-risk drinking guidelines in the USAUDIT and USAUDIT-C, which also perform well in identifying at-risk drinkers. The USAUDIT may also be used to screen for potential AUD, an important first step to identify individuals needing diagnostic testing and treatment referrals. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 Mar 5:1-7. Epub 2020 Mar 5.

School of Social Work, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT, USA.

: Identification of hazardous alcohol use is a critical step in connecting individuals to treatment and child protective services (CPS) is a treatment entry-point for parents if hazardous use is identified. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a common screening tool in this setting. However, prior research identifies one to three factors in the AUDIT, revealing uncertainty in the perception and/or impact of alcohol use. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 Feb 26:1-9. Epub 2020 Feb 26.

School of Social Work, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

: Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been repeatedly linked to future problem drinking. Depression has been identified as a potential factor contributing to problematic alcohol use in maltreated individuals. However, depression has been operationalized as the presence or number of depression symptoms in the majority of previous studies. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 24;46(3):266-272. Epub 2020 Feb 24.

Public Health Institute, Alcohol Research Group , Emeryville, CA, USA.

Full and partial opioid agonists and opioid antagonist medications play an important role in containing the opioid epidemic. However, these medications have not been used to their full extent. Recovery support services, such as recovery residences (RRs), also play a key role. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 28;46(3):325-332. Epub 2020 Jan 28.

Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University , Hat Yai, Thailand.

Background: Underage drinking contributes to numerous health and social problems among adolescents. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, issued in Thailand in 2008, contains several clauses aiming at preventing underage and novice drinking, such as raising the minimum legal purchasing age from 18 to 20, banning alcohol sale and consumption in places frequented by youth, and banning alcohol advertisements.

Objectives: To estimate the changes in the prevalence of alcohol consumption and perceptions of drinking norms among high-school students 8 years after the Act was implemented. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 28;46(3):368-384. Epub 2020 Jan 28.

Department of Psychology, University "Vita-Salute San Raffaele" , Milan, Italy.

Backgrounds: Dialectical behavior therapy skills training (DBT-ST) is an effective treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUD frequently co-occurs with other addictive behaviors.

Objective: s: These secondary analyses of prior studies on the effectiveness of a 3-month DBT-ST program for AUD investigated pre- post-treatment changes in the severity of concurrent addictive behaviors. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 Jan 26:1-6. Epub 2020 Jan 26.

, British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

: Since 2013, fentanyl-contaminated drugs have been driving North America's opioid-overdose epidemic. Drug checking, which enables people who use illicit drugs (PWUD) to test and receive feedback regarding the contents of their drugs, is being considered as a potential tool to address the toxic drug supply. While some PWUD witness overdoses, little is known about the impact of these experiences on subsequent risk reduction practices. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 Jan 22:1-9. Epub 2020 Jan 22.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Severity of substance use disorder (SUD) is typically evaluated by tabulating the number of symptoms. The resulting estimate of disorder severity is, however, biased due to intercorrelations among symptoms and their unequal salience. . Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 21;46(2):141-142. Epub 2020 Jan 21.

Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 14;46(2):251-261. Epub 2020 Jan 14.

Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

: Comorbid depression and substance use disorders (SUDs) are associated with poor health and social outcomes disproportionately affecting under-resourced communities.: To test the hypothesis that a coalition approach to collaborative care (CC) for depression would improve outcomes of hazardous drinking and behavioral health hospitalizations, relative to technical assistance, for individuals with comorbid substance use problems. Substance use problems were defined by meeting criteria for DSM-IV substance abuse or dependence, hazardous drinking by AUDIT-C, or treatment in a SUD program within the prior 6 months. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 14;46(3):340-347. Epub 2020 Jan 14.

Department of Epidemiology, College of Medicine and College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida , Gainesville, FL, USA.

Background: Non-medical use of prescription drugs is a major public health concern in the United States. Prescription opioids and sedatives are among the most widely abused drugs and their combined use can be lethal. Increasingly rigid prescribing guidelines may contribute to the changing context of opioid use and increase drug diversion. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 9;46(3):333-339. Epub 2020 Jan 9.

Center for Violence Prevention, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston , Galveston, TX, USA.

Background: Substance use is found to associate with gun violence. However, mixed findings have been reported for gun access/ownership. To date, studies have examined gun access/ownership and gun-related experiences (e. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 8;46(2):184-193. Epub 2020 Jan 8.

Mental Health Care Line, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA.

The α antagonist doxazosin reduces cocaine use in individuals with cocaine use disorder (CUD) through a functional polymorphism of the . The regulatory role of the α () gene polymorphism in CUD is uncharacterized. To study how the genetic variant of gene (T1848A, rs2236554) may affect the treatment efficacy of doxazosin in reducing cocaine use. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 20;46(2):241-250. Epub 2019 Dec 20.

School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia.

: Methadone, buprenorphine, and implant naltrexone have comparable efficacy in preventing death from drug intoxication during treatment, but there may be differences between treatments in the specific drugs contributing to death and in the risk of death during different phases of treatment.: The objective of this study was to compare concentrations of individual drugs in decedents for evidence that the three medications use to treat opioid use disorders differed in the protection they offered against fatal overdose.: Fatalities with a primary or co-diagnosis of alcohol or other drug poisoning in patients treated with methadone (n = 66, 74. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 20;46(3):289-296. Epub 2019 Dec 20.

Division on Substance Use Disorders New York State Psychiatric Institute , New York, NY, USA.

Background: Extended-release (XR) naltrexone can prevent relapse to opioid use disorder following detoxification. However, one of the barriers to initiating XR-naltrexone is the recommendation for a 7-10-day period of abstinence from opioids prior to the first dose.

Objectives: The current study evaluated the feasibility of an XR-naltrexone induction protocol that can be implemented over 1 week in the outpatient clinic. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2019 Dec 20:1-13. Epub 2019 Dec 20.

Center for Brain Research and School of Medicine Department of Physiology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.

Alcohol and tobacco are among the leading substances that are misused together and shared genetic vulnerability is likely. Increased susceptibility to nicotine self-administration has been shown in alcohol-preferring rat-lines. However, a nicotine-preferring (nP) rat-line has not been studied for alcohol preference. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 20;46(2):232-240. Epub 2019 Dec 20.

Addictions Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

: There is inconsistent evidence in the literature as to whether or not Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a risk factor for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).: We evaluated the risk of developing PTSD after trauma exposure in individuals with AUD. As a secondary analysis, we also tested if alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse separately increased the risk of PTSD development. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 11;46(2):216-223. Epub 2019 Dec 11.

Center for Health Policy and Healthcare Research, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.

The brand name Suboxone and its generic formulation buprenorphine/naloxone is a medication for treating opioid use disorder. While this medication has been shown to be effective, little research has examined the extent to which it is being prescribed and under what circumstances. This study examined patterns of prescription claims for buprenorphine/naloxone in terms of volume and associated clinical conditions. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 6;46(2):149-157. Epub 2019 Dec 6.

Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, Lexington, KY, USA.

: Deceptive responding during eligibility screening presents a significant concern for assessing inclusion/exclusion criteria. This problem is compounded in settings for which biomarkers or other objective verification (e.g. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 6;46(3):273-288. Epub 2019 Dec 6.

School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University , Detroit, MI, USA.

Background: Opioid-related deaths have risen dramatically in rural communities. Prior studies highlight few medication treatment providers for opioid use disorder in rural communities, though literature has yet to examine rural-specific treatment barriers.

Objectives: We conducted a systematic review to highlight the state of knowledge around rural medication treatment for opioid use disorder, identify consumer- and provider-focused treatment barriers, and discuss rural-specific implications. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 4;46(1):1-3. Epub 2019 Dec 4.

School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

In 2018, the Trump Administration took the unprecedented step of allowing states to impose work requirements as a condition of Medicaid eligibility. States can apply for a demonstration waiver to require Medicaid beneficiaries aged 19-64 who do not meet exemption criteria (e.g. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2019 Dec 3:1-7. Epub 2019 Dec 3.

Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.

: There are several benefits to using short message service surveying (SMS) to gather data on substance use from homeless youth, including capturing data "in the moment" and verifying the timing of one behavior relative to another. Though SMS is a valuable data collection tool with highly mobile populations that otherwise are difficult to longitudinally sample, the reliability of SMS compared with surveys is largely unknown with homeless youth. Examining the reliability of SMS is important because these data can provide a more nuanced understanding of the relationships between various risk behaviors, which may lead to better intervention strategies with these youth. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2019 ;45(6):707-712

Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2019 ;45(6):547-550

Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA.

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2019 Nov 19:1-8. Epub 2019 Nov 19.

Addiction Sciences Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

: Understanding the potential impact of cannabis use on cardiovascular health is increasingly important as cannabis use rises in the U.S.Objectives: This study evaluated the associations between regular cannabis use, with and without tobacco co-use, and cardiovascular outcomes. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 15;46(3):357-367. Epub 2019 Nov 15.

Nonprofit Research Organization/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute , Albuquerque, NM, USA.

Background: While attentional bias modification therapy (ABMT) alters drug-related behaviors in some substance users, results have been mixed in individuals with cocaine use disorders (CUD).

Objectives: The current study examined whether ABMT affected brain functioning during independent measures of cue reactivity (i.e. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 14;46(3):348-356. Epub 2019 Nov 14.

Adolescent Health Research Program, Department of Psychology, Reed College , Portland, OR, USA.

Background: Alcohol use during adolescence has been predicted by motives to drink or abstain, as well as parental attitudes to youth drinking. As peers can provide access and opportunities to drink, permissiveness of peers' parents toward alcohol is also of importance.

Objectives: We examined whether adolescent alcohol use is predicted by motives to drink or abstain, strictness of one's own parents, alcohol permissiveness by peers' parents, and an interaction between these factors. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 5;46(1):4-12. Epub 2019 Nov 5.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.

: A growing body of evidence highlights the role of the intestine in the development of various alcohol use disorder (AUD) complications. The intestinal microbiome has been proposed as an essential factor in mediating the development of AUD complications such as alcoholic liver disease.: To provide a comprehensive description of alcohol-induced intestinal microbiome alterations. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 5;46(2):143-148. Epub 2019 Nov 5.

Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.

Recent advances in technology have allowed for innovative targeting of high-risk alcohol users. We propose the implementation of an alcohol purchase license linked to a state agency managed database, or so-called Banned Drinker Register (BDR). Individuals who are unable to drink safely will be identified by a well-founded criterion and their ability to purchase alcohol proscribed. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2019 5;45(6):580-595. Epub 2019 Nov 5.

Divison of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Zuckerberg San Francisco General, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

: Pain is the most frequent indication for which medical cannabis treatment is sought.: The clinical potential of cannabis and cannabis-derived products (CDPs) relies on their efficacy to treat an indication and potential adverse effects that impact outcomes, including abuse liability and neurocognitive effects. To ascertain the extent to which these effects impact therapeutic utility, studies investigating cannabis and CDPs for pain were reviewed for analgesic efficacy and assessments of abuse liability and neurocognitive effects. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2019 21;45(6):673-688. Epub 2019 Oct 21.

Humboldt State, Humboldt Interdisciplinary Institute for Marijuana Research, Arcata, California, USA.

: The legalization of cannabis for adult use is being increasingly embraced in several countries and local entities. A driving force for these changes has been the individual, family, community, societal, and economic costs of cannabis prohibition, which have fallen most heavily upon disadvantaged minority populations.: In this review, we explore whether the legalization of cannabis has begun to correct the injustices of cannabis prohibition. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2019 Oct 17:1-11. Epub 2019 Oct 17.

Psychology Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln , Lincoln , NE , USA.

: Past research identified that a desire for dissociative experiences, rather than dissociative tendencies, mediate the relationship between early sexual abuse and problem drinking in college students. Desire to dissociate was conceptualized as a mechanism facilitating substance-induced dissociation or the use of substances to achieve dissociative-like experiences and was measured using a modified version of the Dissociative Experiences Scale-II. The validity and cross-cultural generalizability of the modified scale are not yet known. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 14;46(3):304-315. Epub 2019 Oct 14.

Immunoregulation Research Center, Shahed University , Tehran, I.R. Iran.

Background: Studies indicate that food restriction (FR) reinforces the effects of morphine. The exact mechanisms by which FR influences the reward circuitry of morphine have not yet been determined.

Objectives: We hypothesized that the effects of FR on the oxytocin (OXT) system and HPA axis can be associated with substance abuse disorders. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2019 11;45(6):644-663. Epub 2019 Oct 11.

Economics, Sociology, and Statistics Department, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA.

The past decade has seen unprecedented shifts in the cannabis policy environment, and the public health impacts of these changes will hinge on how they affect patterns of cannabis use and the use and harms associated with other substances. To review existing research on how state cannabis policy impacts substance use, emphasizing studies using methods for causal inference and highlighting gaps in our understanding of policy impacts on evolving cannabis markets. Narrative review of quasi-experimental studies for how medical cannabis laws (MCLs) and recreational cannabis laws (RCLs) affect cannabis use and use disorders, as well as the use of or harms from alcohol, opioids, and tobacco. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 11;46(2):203-215. Epub 2019 Oct 11.

Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.

: Prescription opioid non-medical use (NMU) and its associated consequences have been of concern in the US in recent years.: We examined peer influence and parental guidance, in addition to peer and parental sources of alcohol, on patterns of prescription opioid use, including NMU, among males and females separately. We hypothesized that peer influence and parental guidance would have a differential influence for males and females. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 11;46(1):13-21. Epub 2019 Oct 11.

Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.

Selecting which variables to include in multiple regression models is a pervasive problem in medical research. Based on questionnaire data (n = 18538, 69.9% men) from the Norwegian Opioid Maintenance Treatment Program, this study aims to compare the performance of different variable selection methods and the potential clinical consequences of choice of method. Read More

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2020 May 9;46(3):297-303. Epub 2019 Oct 9.

Friends Research Institute , Baltimore, MD, USA.

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment remains greatly underutilized. Innovative strategies are needed to improve AUD treatment access and patient engagement. The Ria Treatment Platform (RTP) is a patient-centered telemedicine AUD treatment program accessed through a smartphone application (app) that includes a package of physician visits (with AUD prescriptions as appropriate), text- and phone-based support from a recovery coach, video monitoring of medication adherence, and Bluetooth-linked breathalyzer tracking of alcohol intake. Read More