The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

STASH Vol. 4 (11): The Need for Speed

The increasing frequency of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnoses (Center for Disease Control, 2005; Robinson, Sclar, Skaer, & Galin, 1999)) has created an opportunity for an increasing rate of illicit use of the drugs used to treat this disorder. But, compared to other drugs of abuse, the ingestion of ADHD drugs might occur for some atypical reasons. This week’s BASIS reviews DeSantis et al.’s research about undergraduates’ illicit use of ADHD medication. According to researchers, students use the medication illicitly not with the intent of achieving a “high” or “having fun”; instead, they intend to “study longer, stay focused... Read more →

Addiction & the Humanities Vol. 4 (9) – Addiction is more than just science

Although we hope that reading the BASIS provides the public with access to the latest scientific findings about addiction research, addiction information also includes personal accounts of struggles with various objects of addiction. Science often leaves little room for such personal accounts, but humanities-based studies provide such important opportunities. Undoubtedly, there are many different ways of approaching a humanities-based study of addiction, for example, the use of literature and the power of the written narrative. This week’s BASIS presents readers with a different approach to understanding addiction: an interview of a teacher who recently assigned the NY Times Bestsellers, A... Read more →

ASHES Vol. 4 (12) - Underestimating the Burning Desire to Smoke

For cigarette smokers, the experience of craving is a powerful motivator. When people are craving cigarettes, they think about more positive aspects of smoking, they think their craving will intensify over time (even though it doesn’t), and they experience a slowing down of time (a sense of “extended now”) (as reviewed by Sayette et al., 2008). This all contributes to a visceral desire to smoke. However, when smokers are not in a craving state, they might have trouble estimating how powerful the urge to smoke will be during future craving episodes. In other domains, underestimating the extent to which visceral... Read more →

The DRAM Vol. 4(10): Wait 'till your parents hear about this!

Is there any correlation between the presence of prevention measures and a decrease in substance use behavior? In their study about college youth smoking risks, Weitzman et al. also examine the correlation between binge drinking risks, ease of alcohol purchase, and college campus prevention policies (Weitzman, Chen, & Subramanian, 2005). Data Collection/Participants Researchers used data from the 2001 Harvard School of Public Health College alcohol study (HSPH-CAS)(Wechsler, Davenport, Dowdall, Moeykens, & Castillo, 1994; Wechsler et al., 2002) Total N = 10, 924 randomly selected full time undergraduate college students 2001 survey had a 50% general response rate Researchers asked participants... Read more →

Op-Ed/Editorials: Gambling and the Law®: An Attempt To Gut The UIGEA

On April 10, 2008, a Congressional odd couple introduced a bill that would eviscerate the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (“UIGEA”). Democrat Barney Frank, the first openly gay member of Congress, from Massachusetts, the most liberal and Democratic state, was joined by Ron Paul, from Texas, candidate for the Republican nomination for President. The two are actually not that far apart. They are both libertarians, who believe government should not be messing with individuals’ private affairs. Their bill, H.R. 5767, is short but to the point: “The Secretary of the Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve... Read more →

WAGER 13(10) – The Prevalence of Disordered Gambling Among U.S. Adolescents and Young Adults

Youth gambling has been a subject of great concern, especially given the increased access to gambling in recent years. Previous studies examining the prevalence of gambling problems among U.S. youths have produced inconsistent results (e.g., some rates higher than and some lower than adult rates) depending on the screening questionnaire, the definition of gambling problems, and the sample. This week the WAGER reviews a study by Welte, Barnes, Tidwell, and Hoffman (2008), which examines the prevalence of disordered gambling among a nationally representative sample of U.S. youths. Method Conducted a random-digit-dial telephone interview between August 2005 and January 2007 with... Read more →