The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The DRAM Vol. 4(7) - Relapse After an Organ Transplant

Long term alcohol abuse and or dependence can lead to organ disease, sometimes creating a need for organ transplant. Returning to substance use after a transplant increases the risk of medical complications and even death (e.g., Kran & DiMartini, 2005). Organs for transplant are scarce (Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, 2008). Some observers believe recipient prioritization should take alcohol use history into account. This week we examine a meta-analysis to measure relapse among people who require organ transplants and have a history of alcohol misuse (Dew, DiMartini, Steel, De Vito Dabbs, Myaskovsky, et al., 2008). Data Meta-analysis of 54 studies,... Read more →

The Wager Vol. 13(7) - Binges and bets: Links between drinking problems and gambling problems

Few studies have examined the impact of drinking behavior among individuals experiencing gambling problems. This week, the WAGER reviews a study by French, Maclean, and Ettner (2008), which examined the relationship between alcohol use and abuse and gambling-related problems among a large, representative sample of U.S. citizens. Methods: Data from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) using a sub-sample of participants who experienced 1 or more gambling-related problem(s) during the past year (N=1,203). Measures included number of gambling-related problems experienced by participants during the past year, alcohol use frequency, drinking to intoxication, and alcohol abuse or... Read more →

STASH Vol. 4(7) - Do You Feel What I Feel? Amphetamine Exposure and Personality

Some scientists have speculated that substance misuse affects people differently depending on their personality (Nurnberger Jr et al., 1982; Reif & Lesch, 2003). This week we report on a study that examined the influence of personality-traits on individuals’ reactions to amphetamine exposure (White, Lott, & de Wit, 2006). Participants: 128 healthy individuals recruited from the community Experiment: In random order, researchers administered a placebo(1), 10mgs, and 20mgs of amphetamine to all participants, under double-blind conditions, over the course of three sessions separated by a minimum of 48 hours Research Objective: To measure how personality traits (i.e., reward sensitivity, physical fear,... Read more →

Addiction & the Humanities Vol 4. (6) - Can the spirit move you?

Research has linked spirituality with both physical and mental well-being (Hawks, Hull, Thatma, & Richins, 2005; Kass, Friedman, Lesserman, Zuttermeister, & Benson, 1991). Moreover, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, popular 12-step programs, endorse the concept of addiction as a combination of spiritual, biological, and psychological disorders. However, few studies have examined the influence of spirituality on addiction recovery. This week’s Humanities reviews a study focusing on the relationship between the development of spirituality and relapse among individuals receiving treatment for alcohol dependence. Methodology: Study Design Retrospective case-control study Participants and their survey responses were selected from 278 individuals after they... Read more →