Research

Drug treatment presentations at a treatment centre in southern Nigeria (2015–2018): Findings and implications for policy and practice

James BO, Olotu SO, Ayilara OO, Arigbede OO, Anozie GI, Ogiku HO, Ariyo JO, Efiong V, Adeyelu AO, Oni MA, Odu DO. Drug treatment presentations at a treatment centre in southern Nigeria (2015–2018): Findings and implications for policy and practice. Niger Postgrad Med J 2019;26:211-5
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Alcohol Consumption, Cardiac Biomarkers, and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation and Adverse Outcomes

Dora Csengeri, Ngoc-Anh Sprünker, Augusto Di Castelnuovo, Teemu Niiranen, Julie Kk Vishram-Nielsen, Simona Costanzo, Stefan Söderberg, Steen M Jensen, Erkki Vartiainen, Maria Benedetta Donati, Christina Magnussen, Stephan Camen, Francesco Gianfagna, Maja-Lisa Løchen, Frank Kee, Jukka Kontto, Ellisiv B Mathiesen, Wolfgang Koenig, Blankenberg Stefan, Giovanni de Gaetano, Torben Jørgensen, Kari Kuulasmaa, Tanja Zeller, Veikko Salomaa, Licia Iacoviello, Renate B Schnabel, Alcohol consumption, cardiac biomarkers, and risk of atrial fibrillation and adverse outcomes, European Heart Journal, , ehaa953, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa953
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Abstract

Aims 

There is inconsistent evidence on the relation of alcohol intake with incident atrial fibrillation (AF), in particular at lower doses. We assessed the association between alcohol consumption, biomarkers, and incident AF across the spectrum of alcohol intake in European cohorts.

Methods and results 

Combination Medication Therapy for Methamphetamine Use Disorder

Trivedi MH, et al. Trial of Bupropion and Naltrexone in Methamphetamine Use Disorder(link is external). New England Journal of Medicine. January 14, 2020.
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A combination therapy of injectable naltrexone and oral bupropion was found in a randomized clinical trial to improve outcomes for patients with methamphetamine use disorder. This is important because there are no widely approved medication regimens to treat methamphetamine use disorder.

The Decline of Heavy Episodic Drinking in Adolescents in Finland, Norway and Sweden

Raitasalo, K., Kraus, L., Bye, E. K., Karlsson, P., Tigerstedt, C., Törrönen, J., & Raninen, J. (2020). Similar countries, similar factors? Studying the decline of heavy episodic drinking in adolescents in Finland, Norway and Sweden. Addiction.

Around the world, there has been a decline in heavy drinking among adolescents.

In this study, researchers compared these trends in Finland, Norway and Sweden using information from the ESPAD survey- a project that has data on substance use among 15-16 year old students throughout Europe.

Toxins in Marijuana Smoke May Be Harmful to Health, Study Finds

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30441-7/fulltext
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Smoking weed may expose people to the same type of toxic chemicals found in tobacco smoke, a new study finds. People who only smoked marijuana had higher blood and urine levels of several smoke-related toxins such as naphthalene, acrylamide and acrylonitrile than nonsmokers. 

HIV and Methamphetamine Use: Double Jeopardy for Transmission of the Novel Coronavirus.

https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/science-highlight/hiv-methamphetamine-use-double-jeopardy-transmission-novel-coronavirus
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A cross-country group of researchers funded by NIDA has identified needed areas of research related to the intertwining epidemics of HIV, COVID-19 and the increasing use of methamphetamine in the United States among men who have sex with men. The authors suggest that co-occurring methamphetamine use and HIV present compounded risk for contracting the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), helping to fuel the current COVID-19 pandemic.

E-cigarette Use Among Adults in China

Zhao, Z., Zhang, M., Wu, J., Xu, X., Yin, P., Huang, Z., ... & Wang, L. (2020). E-cigarette use among adults in China: findings from repeated cross-sectional surveys in 2015–16 and 2018–19. The Lancet Public Health, 5(12), e639-e649. Chicago

Despite China being the main producers of the world's e-cigarette, there is little research examining the trends in e-cigarette use.

Since 2018, policies in China have restricted e-cigarette use. Therefore, it is of interest to researchersto examine trends in e-cigarette use in China before policy implementation.

Gender Matters? How Does Gender Shape Risk Environment for Syringe Sharing among People who Inject Drugs in Northern Mexico. Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey

Ospina-Escobar, A., & Juárez, F. (2019). Gender matters? How does gender shape risk environment for syringe sharing among people who inject drugs in northern Mexico. Results from a cross-sectional survey. Salud Mental, 42(4), 165-172. doi:https://doi.org/10.17711/SM.0185-3325.2019.022
Abstract

 

Adapting an Internet-Delivered Intervention for Depression for a Colombian College Student Population: An Illustration of an Integrative Empirical Approach

Salamanca-Sanabria, A., Richards, D., & Timulak, L. (2019). Adapting an internet-delivered intervention for depression for a Colombian college student population: an illustration of an integrative empirical approach. Internet interventions, 15, 76-86.
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Abstract

Background

Culturally adapted psychotherapy (CAP) studies are limited and until now there are few published examples that illustrate the process of cultural adaptation with internet-delivered treatments.

Logging into Therapy: Adolescent Perceptions of Online Therapies for Mental Health Problems

Sweeney, G. M., Donovan, C. L., March, S., & Forbes, Y. (2019). Logging into therapy: Adolescent perceptions of online therapies for mental health problems. Internet interventions, 15, 93-99.
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Abstract

Objectives

This study describes adolescent attitudes towards online therapies and explores the factors that predict these attitudes.

Building Capacity in Tobacco Control by Establishing the Eastern Europe Nurses’ Center of Excellence for Tobacco Control

Bialous, S. A., Nohavova, I., Kralikova, E., Wells, M. J., Brook, J., Sarna, L. (2020). Building capacity in tobacco control by establishing the Eastern Europe Nurses’ Center of Excellence for Tobacco Control. Tobacco Prevention & Cessation, 6(December), 68. https://doi.org/10.18332/tpc/128190
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ABSTRACT

Associations between Tobacco Use Patterns and Demographic Characteristics of Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Youth: Results from a Nationwide Online Survey

Hart, J. L., Ridner, S. L., Wood, L. A., Walker, K. L., Groom, A., Kesh, A. ... Vu, T. T. (2020). Associations between tobacco use patterns and demographic characteristics of sexual minority and heterosexual youth: Results from a nationwide online survey. Tobacco Prevention & Cessation, 6(December), 69. https://doi.org/10.18332/tpc/130348
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ABSTRACT

Treatment Experiences with Norwegian Health Care among Immigrant Men Living with Co-Occurring Substance Use- and Mental Health Disorders

Kour, P., Lien, L., Kumar, B., Biong, S., & Pettersen, H. (2020). Treatment Experiences with Norwegian Health Care among Immigrant Men Living with Co-Occurring Substance Use-and Mental Health Disorders. Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, 14, 1178221820970929.
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Abstract

Immigrants are considered at risk of psychological distress and therefore involvement in substance abuse, due to a variety of pre- and post-migration factors. Further, there is lower treatment engagement, a higher dropout rate, and less frequent hospitalizations among this group compared to the general population.

Motivations for Treatment Engagement in a Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program: A Qualitative Study

Dillon, P. J., Kedia, S. K., Isehunwa, O. O., & Sharma, M. (2020). Motivations for Treatment Engagement in a Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program: A Qualitative Study. Substance abuse: research and treatment, 14, 1178221820940682.
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Abstract

 

Aims:

The aim of this study was to explore perspectives on motivations for treatment engagement from substance use disorder (SUD) clients in a long-term residential rehabilitation program.

 

Design and Methods:

Domestic Violence, Substance Misuse and Mental Ill-health: The Toxic Trio

Skinner, G. C., Bywaters, P. W., Bilson, A., Duschinsky, R., Clements, K., & Hutchinson, D. (2020). The ‘Toxic Trio’(domestic violence, substance misuse and mental ill-health): how good is the evidence base?. Children and Youth Services Review, 105678.
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Within research examining adverse childhood experiences, the toxic trio describes the risk of child abuse and neglect stemming from a child’s exposure to domestic violence, parental mental health issues and/or learning disability, and  parental substance misuse. 

In this systematic review, researchers examine the evidence underpinning the ‘toxic trio’ in child safeguarding policy and practice.

Addictions Counseling Today Update Newsletters (ACT-SAB Update)

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Each issue of the Addictions Counseling Today: Substances & Addictive Behaviors (ACT-SAB) Update provides select research highlights, most of which will appear in subsequent editions of ACT-SAB.

In each update the cited references appear on the last page, ensuring your ease of finding the actual reference should this be important to you.

Updates

Terapia cognitivo‐conductual para los trastornos de ansiedad en niños y adolescentes; Revisión Cochrane

James AC, Reardon T, Soler A, James G, Creswell C. Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020, Issue 11. Art. No.: CD013162. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013162.pub2. Accessed 24 November 2020.

Antecedentes

Sex and Gender Effects in Recovery From Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol Research. 2020;40(3):03. https://doi.org/10.35946/arcr.v40.3.03
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The current article provides a summary of biopsychosocial gender differences in alcohol use disorder (AUD), then reviews existing literature on gender differences in treatment access, retention, outcomes, and longer-term recovery. Among psychotherapies for AUD, there is support for the efficacy of providing female-specific treatment and for female-only treatment settings, but only when female-specific treatment is included.

Changes in Cigarette Consumption With Reduced Nicotine Content Cigarettes Among Smokers With Psychiatric Conditions or Socioeconomic Disadvantage 3 Randomized Clinical Trials

Higgins ST, Tidey JW, Sigmon SC, et al. Changes in Cigarette Consumption With Reduced Nicotine Content Cigarettes Among Smokers With Psychiatric Conditions or Socioeconomic Disadvantage: 3 Randomized Clinical Trials. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(10):e2019311. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.19311
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Abstract

Importance: This study is part of a programmatic effort evaluating the effects of reducing nicotine content of cigarettes to minimally addictive levels.

Objective: To examine whether very low-nicotine-content (VLNC) cigarettes decrease smoking rates and dependence severity among smokers with psychiatric disorders or socioeconomic disadvantage.

Modeling Mitigation Strategies to Reduce Opioid-Related Morbidity and Mortality in U.S.

Ballreich J, Mansour O, Hu E, et al. Modeling Mitigation Strategies to Reduce Opioid-Related Morbidity and Mortality in the US. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(11):e2023677. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.23677
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A decision analytic dynamic Markov model on the US population aged 12 years or older was used to project the number of fatal overdoses caused by any opioid between 2020 – 2029 and project the number of deaths that can be averted by prescribing restrictions, naloxone distribution, and expansion of MAT interventions.

The Epigenetic Secrets Behind Dopamine, Drug Addiction and Depression

Lepack AE, Werner CT, Stewart AF, Fulton SL, Zhong P, Farrelly LA, Smith ACW, Ramakrishnan A, Lyu Y, Bastle RM, Martin JA, Mitra S, O'Connor RM, Wang ZJ, Molina H, Turecki G, Shen L, Yan Z, Calipari ES, Dietz DM, Kenny PJ, Maze I. Dopaminylation of histone H3 in ventral tegmental area regulates cocaine seeking. Science. 2020 Apr 10;368(6487):197-201. doi: 10.1126/science.aaw8806. PMID: 32273471; PMCID: PMC7228137. Farrelly LA, Thompson RE, Zhao S, Lepack AE, Lyu Y, Bhanu NV, Zhang B, Loh YE, Ramakrishnan A, Vadodaria KC, Heard KJ, Erikson G, Nakadai T, Bastle RM, Lukasak BJ, Zebroski H 3rd, Alenina N, Bader M, Berton O, Roeder RG, Molina H, Gage FH, Shen L, Garcia BA, Li H, Muir TW, Maze I. Histone serotonylation is a permissive modification that enhances TFIID binding to H3K4me3. Nature. 2019 Mar;567(7749):535-539. doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1024-7. Epub 2019 Mar 13. PMID: 30867594; PMCID: PMC6557285.
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This article explains new research on the epigentics of addiction in layman's terms. 

Educational Needs in the Sphere of Addictology in Georgia

Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D., & Javakhishvili, D. J. (2011). Educational Needs in the Sphere of Addictology in Georgia.

Aim

The purpose of the report provided here is to assess drug education needs in Georgia and, specifically, to reveal the gaps on the different levels of the system of education (public schools, universities’ relevant Bachelor’s and Master’s courses, the system of lifelong education for teachers, school psychologists, addictologists, journalists, etc.), as well as in the service-providing organisations.

Substance Use Disorders and COVID-19: Multi-Faceted Problems Which Require Multi-Pronged Solutions

Jemberie WB, Stewart Williams J, Eriksson M, Grönlund A-S, Ng N, Blom Nilsson M, Padyab M, Priest KC, Sandlund M, Snellman F, McCarty D and Lundgren LM (2020) Substance Use Disorders and COVID-19: Multi-Faceted Problems Which Require Multi-Pronged Solutions. Front. Psychiatry 11:714. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00714
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Persistent use of alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, opioids and stimulants increase risk of substance use disorders (SUDs).  SUDs are increasingly viewed as biopsychosocial disorders with multiple risk factors interacting at individual and contextual levels with multiple health consequences.

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