The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

STASH Vol. 3(1) - The transition from drug use to drug dependence: The bridge to more troubled waters

At some point in life, most of us have used, perhaps even repeatedly, substances with the potential for dependence. Many people at least try drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, or cocaine. However, few people progress from being users to becoming abusers or drug dependent. This issue of STASH presents a series of related reports investigating the transition from drug use to drug dependence for alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. The reports provide probabilities for drug use and drug dependence (Anthony, Warner, & Kessler, 1994), compare the time lag between initiation of use and development of drug dependence across the different drugs... Read more →

Op-Ed/Editorials - Why does the apple fall near the tree?

The theme of the 2006 Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders annual conference on gambling addiction was Lost in Translation? The Challenge of Turning Good Research into Best Practice. During the next few weeks, The BASIS is pleased to present a series of editorials from some of the faculty members of that conference. In this week's editorial, Dr. Donald W. Black discusses pathological gambling and the issue of genetic inheritance. Donald W. Black, MD University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine Faculty, The 2006 Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related... Read more →

Op-Ed/Editorials - The Challenge of Translating Research to Practice: Are We Getting Lost in Translation?

The theme of the 2006 Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders annual conference on gambling addiction was Lost in Translation? The Challenge of Turning Good Research into Best Practice. During the next few weeks, The BASIS is pleased to present a series of editorials from some of the faculty members of that conference. In this week's editorial, Dr. Howard Shaffer discusses The Challenge of Translating Research to Practice: Are We Getting Lost in Translation? Dr. Howard J. Shaffer Director, Division on Addictions Faculty, The 2006 Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders annual conference on... Read more →

Addiction & the Humanities Vol. 3(1) - The Ticket to Addiction: Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky was one of the great writers of the 19th century. His image on a Russian lottery ticket (NPR, 2005) is ironic considering his life-long gambling addiction. Dostoevsky lived a tumultuous life, undergoing many personal tragedies. He often pawned his wedding rings and wife’s valuables to purchase a ticket home from gambling binges only to be swayed by what he described as a “fever” until he reached the table (Hughes, 2005). He would then write his wife again when he gambled away the proceeds (Amoia, 1993; Freeborn, 2003; Gocsik, 2003; Goodwin, 2003; The Existential Primer, 2007). Despite his success... Read more →

ASHES 3(1) - “Just Say NO,” to advertising?

Using meta-analysis, researchers observed that exposure to pro-tobacco marketing increased the odds of youth holding positive attitudes toward tobacco use, and more than doubled the odds of initiating tobacco use compared to young people that had not been exposed (Wellman, Sugarman, DiFranza, & Winickoff, 2006). These researchers concluded that pro-tobacco marketing and media stimulated tobacco use among youth; the investigators suggested that, to protect children, societies ban all tobacco promotions. It is uncertain, however, whether such bans will have the desired significant protective effect. This week’s ASHES examines a study by Galduroz, Fonseca, Noto, and Carlini (In press), which examines... Read more →

The DRAM Vol. 3(1) - It runs in the family: Maternal and paternal influence on adolescent drinking

Evidence related to family factors and adolescents’ decisions about using alcohol is mixed. Brody, Ge, Katz, and Arias (2000) found that parental alcohol-related norms and alcohol use was related to children’s drinking. However, Yu (2003) found that parents’ attitudes about alcohol and alcohol use had no impact on their children’s alcohol use; however, this study also found that spending time with parents who drank related positively to adolescent drinking. Thus, to clarify the specific factors that are involved in adolescents’ decisions regarding drinking, it is important to explore further the relationship between parents and teen drinking. For example, parental gender... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 12(1) - Where the Chips Fall: Another Look at Disordered Gambling and Other Psychiatric Disorders

Past research has shown that people with gambling problems are at higher risk for comorbid disorders, particularly substance use disorders, than the rest of the population (see WAGER 10(12)), and that people with psychiatric disorders are at higher risk than others for gambling problems (Crockford & el-Guebaly, 1998; Shaffer, Hall, & Vander Bilt, 1999). However, this research is constrained by small samples and questionable measures. This week’s WAGER focuses on a recent study of pathological gambling among a large sample of psychiatric outpatients using a structured diagnostic interview. Zimmerman, Chelminski, and Young (2006) measured psychiatric disorders among a sample of... Read more →