The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The Dram, Volume 1 (9) - Improving Access to Self-Help Resources: Online toolkits for Problem Alcohol Use

Social stigma, unwillingness to admit to a problem, and many other events might make taking a step toward formal therapist-guided treatment for alcohol abuse and/or dependence too great an effort despite real need. Self-help approaches, especially those available online, might provide an alternative approach that is psychologically easier for people to consider, as well as more accessible. Online self-help resources offer more privacy and are easier to finance than formal treatment programs (Green & Fost, 1997; Havas et al., 1995). Further, more than half of the population in the U.S. has Internet access at home (U.S. Department of Commerce, 2002)... Read more →

Op-Ed/Editorials - Another step towards change: announcing the BASIS self-change resource for drinking

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. Two years ago The Division on Addictions created the Your First Step to Change self-change resource (i.e., The First Step series) and published the first edition, dedicated to gambling. The gambling edition met with great success and was downloaded thousands of times worldwide. People report using the gambling edition of the First Step series themselves and in creating treatment plans. Currently, the gambling edition is being translated into 17 languages. (1)... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 10(10) - Risky Business: Youth Gambling

Websites, radio commercials, and television coverage, increasingly are exposing adolescents to gambling and the potential problems that can accompany gambling. However, there are other factors besides media exposure that influence the development of gambling among youth. Several of these factors are also relevant to developing other risky behaviors (e.g., drug use). Studies have shown, for example, that parents and peers play an important role in children’s risk for potential problem behaviors like underage gambling (Vachon, Vitaro, Wanner, & Tremblay, 2005; Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Rohde, & Seeley, 2004). Currently, many researchers are studying whether some of these factors are more risky than others... Read more →

Addiction and the Humanities, Volume 1(12) - Moral relativity -- Why do the Chinese people gamble if their culture considers gambling to be morally bad?

Although some popular Chinese philosophies consider gambling to be morally bad, Raylu and Oei (Raylu & Oei, 2003) suggest that many Chinese people perceive gambling activities as a way of life. Interviews with 375 local residents in Macao (China) found that although most (57%) were morally against gambling, 63% felt comfortable with gambling and a little over 50% believed that gambling can contribute to the community (Kwan, 2004). The week’s issue of Addiction and the Humanities discusses some possible explanations for this ambivalent and seemingly paradoxical finding. A Chinese book (Guo & Xiao, 1996) titled “Zhong Guo Du Bo Shi”... Read more →

ASHES Vol. 1(8) - Weighty Matters: To Quit or Not to Quit?

Smokers who want to quit face many obstacles that make it difficult for them to stay stopped despite the aid of treatment or nicotine patches. One of these obstacles is concern about weight gain after stopping smoking. Survey the kitchens of people who are trying to quit smoking and you’re likely to find stashes of lollipops, chocolates, or candy bars. This week’s ASHES reports on a study by Jeffery, Hennrikus, Lando, Murray, & Liu (2000) that examined the relationships among weight concerns, smoking, and attempts to quit. Some research (e.g., Glasgow, Strycker, Eakin, Boles, & Whitlock, 1999) found no significant... Read more →

Dram, Volume 1(8) - Expanding care available in the ER: Assessing user-friendly screenings for alcohol misuse

Alcohol use disorders and hazardous drinking increase a person’s risk of developing a variety of illnesses, injuries, and diseases, and contribute to public health threats such as drunk driving (Rehm, Gmel, Sempos, & Trevisan, 2002). There are approximately 17.6 million people in the U.S. who abuse or are dependent on alcohol (Grant et al., 2004). Unfortunately, many of these cases go undetected because there are few situations in which time permits completion of the elaborate screening currently available. Even brief instruments such as the CAGE (4 items) or the AUDIT (10 items) are under-utilized because of their length. Consequences of... Read more →

Op-Ed/Editorials - Do Public Awareness Campaigns Work?

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. Public awareness campaigns focused on the addictive disorders have various objectives including enhancing public understanding, encouraging philanthropy, promoting moderation and responsible behaviors, and alerting individuals affected by addiction to resources for help. Our airways, billboards and publications are filled with admonitions to not drink and drive, to quit smoking and to talk to your kids about drugs. We assume that such well-produced, well-funded and well-intentioned efforts must work, don’t they? However,... Read more →