The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

Op-Ed/Editorials - Paradigms and Paradoxes that Inform Prevention of Alcohol Misuse by College and Other Youth

The views expressed in the Op-Ed/Editorials page are solely the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the BASIS, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Elissa Weitzman Harvard School of Public Health Editorial Board Member, The BASIS Two recent scientific discussions raise important questions about substance abuse among youth in this country and how we prevent it. The first discussion reflects work on patterns of brain development and the implications of these findings for how we think about health risk behaviors including substance use. NIH scientists using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging have documented that development of... Read more →

The WAGER Vol 10(4) - Separate Profiles: Gambling Participation and Gambling Problems in the US

In the process of creating effective treatments and prevention programs for any addiction, it is important to identify the populations most likely to experiment with the substance or activity, and the population sub-groups at higher risk for developing problems. A recent issue of The WAGER (9(36)) reviewed a study by Welte and his colleagues which found that even after accounting for crime, substance abuse and gambling behaviors, certain demographic groups were more vulnerable to developing gambling-related problems. This week The WAGER reviews another study by Welte et al. (Welte, Barnes, Wieczorek, & Tidwell, 2004) seeking to determine what pattern of... Read more →

Addiction and the Humanities, Volume 1(7) - “Truth” in Advertising: Understanding the American Legacy Foundation's Anti-tobacco Truth Campaign

A television advertisement begins with a group of young men and women setting up a platform and chairs; onlookers stop and stare. The caption on the screen reads, “Outside a major tobacco company.” After the stage is assembled, a young woman steps up to the podium and states that tobacco companies have been targeting women for 70 years and suggesting that smoking could help women find their own voice. Then, an older woman steps up to the microphone and, using her electronic voice box, says “Is this the voice you expected me to find?” The commercial, one of many created... Read more →

Op-Ed/Editorials - It's Not Just About Voting

The views expressed in the Op-Ed/Editorials page are solely the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the BASIS, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. I. Nelson Rose, MD Professor, Whittier Law School, Costa Mesa, CA BASIS, editorial board member Should 14-year-olds be allowed to play poker for money in California card clubs? As silly as the idea sounds, that could be the unexpected result of an even sillier proposal by State Sen. John Vasconcellos’ (D-Santa Clara), to give 14-year-olds one-quarter of a vote and 16-year-olds one-half in state elections. Until the mid-1960s, American society conventionally... Read more →

ASHES Vol. 1(3) - An Unlikely Protector: Understanding the Link between Smoking and Schizophrenia

The prevalence of smoking among schizophrenics is higher than in the general population (Zammit, Allebeck, Dalman, Lundberg, Hemmingsson, & Lewis, 2003). It is unclear whether this association is an antecedent risk or an effect of the illness. This week, ASHES reports on a recent study by Zammit and his colleagues (2003) that investigated the relationship between smoking as a young adult and the risk for developing schizophrenia. The authors examined records for 50,087 men who entered1 the Swedish army during 1969-1970 and were 18 through 20 years old upon entry. Upon enrollment into the army, men were asked to take... Read more →

Op-Ed/Editorials - Repaving the Road to Recovery

The views expressed in the Op-Ed/Editorials page are solely the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the BASIS, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Mark J. Albanese, MD Medical Director, Addictions Cambridge Health Alliance BASIS, editorial board member People who drink and drive continue to kill children in the United States. While we have made some significant progress over the last couple of decades, driving under the influence (DUI) is still an epidemic. Of special concern are the repeat offenders, those people who are arrested more than once for DUI. Despite the hardships caused by... Read more →

Dram, Volume 1(3) - One Zygote or Two? Understanding the Influence of Genes and Environment use, and problematic use. on Adolescent Substance Use Behavior

For decades, scientists have debated whether risky behavior is the result of nature (i.e., genetics and/or other biological factors), or nurture (i.e., environment). Though scientists now agree the interaction of these two factors influences behavior, they still have to determine how much and in what way these causes work. This week the DRAM reviews research by Rhee, Hewitt, Young, Corley, Crowley, and Stallings (2003) that estimated the relative contribution of genes and environment to adolescent substance use behaviors. To address this question, researchers compared different types of twins and other siblings whose genetic and environmental similarity is known. Rhee et... Read more →

Op-Ed/Editorials - Going for the Gold A Guest Editorial by Blase Gambino, with comments from Marc Potenza and David Korn

The recent commentary exchange on gold standards between Claus and the WAGER staff (2004; touched on a number of interesting issues. Questions about gold standards or the lack of them, as the WAGER notes, are important and merit discussion. The WAGER clarified several important concepts and noted some of the difficulties that prevail in their response to Claus but their focus was on diagnostic criteria and diagnostic instruments. The construct of the gold standard, however, may be viewed within a wider and more general framework. One in which a number of gold standards will be needed. First, let me clear... Read more →

The WAGER - Vol. 10(3)- Addiction and sensation seeking: It’s the thrill of the chase, or is it?

Personality characteristics are some of the most noticeable aspects of the people we meet and might play a role in directing individuals’ behavior. Although many other factors also influence a person’s actual behavior, such as the social setting or specific powerful events, personality characteristics seem like they should be reliable predictors of future behavior. If so, then certain characteristics would associate with certain behavior patterns, such as thrillseeking associating with pathological gambling. Zuckerman (1994) recognized and quantified sensation seeking as one important attribute of personality; he described sensation seeking as a “trait defined by the need for varied, novel and... Read more →