The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The WAGER Vol. 7(31) - Toxicology Teachings: Substance Use and Pathological Gambling

Many researchers prefer to determine substance use by biological assays rather than self-report because they are relatively less prone to errors of falsification and memory distortion. This is particularly valuable for research that requires participants to report behaviors that many feel are socially undesirable, such as drug use or gambling. Some research has found no relationship between pathological gambling status and biologically evaluated drug use among cocaine-dependent patients in treatment with buprenorphine, a medication for opiate dependence (Hall et al., 2000). A recent study further explored this issue by examining problem gambling status and toxicological evidence of opiate and cocaine... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 7(30) - Bets, Beer, and Bettering Your Mood?

Several issues of the WAGER have discussed research pertaining to comorbid drinking and gambling (see WAGERs 7(20), 4(39), 4(38), 4(8)). This body of research demonstrated relatively frequent comorbid occurrences. This week the WAGER reports on recent research that relates drinking while gambling with bad moods (Stewart, McWilliams, Blackburn, & Klein, 2002). The researchers recruited 30 regular, at least monthly, Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) players via newspaper advertisements. Participants went to an experimental laboratory designed to look like a bar. There participants were paid $50CAN for their participation and completed a battery of baseline assessments including a gambling screen, the South... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 7(29) - A Rising Tide?

It is beneficial to step back periodically and take stock of the state of scientific research. The accumulation of knowledge takes time and research frequently lags behind need and desire for answers. For example, conventional wisdom suggests that along with the growing legalization and social acceptance of gambling, there is a similar growth in problem gambling among adolescents. But does research reflect this suggestion? A growing body of research now exists on youth gambling with which to test this hypothesis. Drawing on prevalence studies from the past two decades, Jacobs (2000) attempts to offer insights into long-term trends in youth... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 7(28) - Family Trees and Biological Roots

Neurobiological research is expanding our understanding of the biological roots and influences associated with pathological gambling behavior. Several neurotransmitters have been implicated in the development of pathological gambling (PG). In a recent review of the literature, Ibáñez, Blanco and Sáiz-Ruiz (2002) examined the research supporting each of the more popular theories of pathological gambling. This WAGER presents a summary of their work in table 1 below. Table 1. Neurobiological Hypotheses of Pathological Gambling with Supporting Empirical Evidence Researchers have been investigating the role of genes in the development of PG generally and in the various pathways specifically. Studies of the... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 7(27) - Don't Believe Everything You Read

Researchers and clinicians rely on peer-reviewed literature to keep them informed of the latest developments in their field. Although peer review provides prestige to empirical papers, it is unclear whether or not peer review warrants this prestige. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) recently devoted a special issue to the evaluation of the peer review process and its impact on the quality of resulting publications. The articles, mostly empirical studies and scientific investigations, were compiled from presentations at the Fourth International Congress on Peer Review in Biomedical Publication held last fall. This week’s WAGER highlights some of the... Read more →