The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The WAGER Vol. 10(9) - Suicide and Pathological Gambling – The State of the Evidence and the Need to Improve Scientific Methods (Part 2)

An important question to ask when interpreting scientific research is: Does the association between variables represent a cause-effect relationship? This article is the second in a two-part series presenting the methodological issues confronting researchers who seek to identify a causal relationship between pathological gambling (PG) and suicide. As in the first part of this series, we hope to convey to readers the importance of reading research studies with a clear understanding and healthy skepticism of study methodology in order to better evaluate scientific evidence. The previous issue of the WAGER discussed how methodological problems such as bias (i.e., systematic error)... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 10(8) - Suicide and Pathological Gambling – the State of the Evidence and the Need to Improve Scientific Methods (Part 1)

On their own, suicide and pathological gambling wreak havoc and create turmoil: together their potential for devastation is certainly higher. Although many researchers have reported higher than expected suicide rates among pathological gamblers (see The WAGER: 1(12), 3(8), 3(48), 4(9), 4(28), 5(41), 7(35), 8(24), and 8(25)) and anecdotal evidence of a link is prolific, flaws in the scientific research have precluded definitive evidence that would allow us to draw confident conclusions about the presence or absence of a causal relationship between gambling and suicide within larger populations (National Research Council, 1999). Given the importance of this issue, this situation is... Read more →

Addiction and the Humanities, Volume 1(11) - Absolut Addiction?

From the frogs of Bud Light to the glossy Bacardi ads, the major alcohol industry media campaigns have gained massive popularity and pronounced cultural impact. In particular, the innovative Absolut advertisements are internationally famous. This popular brand of vodka is the only alcohol product whose advertising the American Marketing Association deemed worthy of including in its Hall of Fame (www.absolutad.com). Fusing popular culture with witty statements like “Absolut Perfection,” the ads are collectors’ items. Websites such as www.absolutad.com and www.absolutad.org and books, Richard W. Lewis’s Absolut Book, cater to this growing interest in Absolut ad icons. The Absolut marketing campaign... Read more →

ASHES Vol. 1(7) - Environmental Tobacco Smoke in Asia: Tobacco Industry Documents Reveal a Sinister Agenda

Though normally we applaud good preparation in the pursuit of science, the activities described in this quote are suggestive of an attempt to influence public debate about the effect of smoking on health. Researchers suggests that the tobacco industry conducts research designed to facilitate its business interests, as well as support national and international conference “road shows” to obtain favorable exposure in the popular media and extensive political lobbying. Well known in the West, such efforts now target Asian countries; however, little is known about how the tobacco industry influences the science of secondhand smoke in Asia. This week, ASHES... Read more →