The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

Op-Ed/Editorials - Gambling and the Law®: Compulsive Gambler Just Can’t Win

A federal judge in New Jersey has issued the most complete and comprehensive judgment ever about whether a compulsive gambler can sue a casino. The short version of her 10-page-long legal analysis: “No.” Arelia Margarita Taveras, a disbarred lawyer, sued most of the casinos in Atlantic City, as well as many of their owners and employees. She alleged that “the Defendants facilitated Plaintiff’s gambling addiction and induced her to gamble away money belonging to her and others . . .” She pleaded 12 separate causes of action, including negligence, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract, unjust... Read more →

ASHES, Vol. 7(1) - Non-smokers, heavy smokers, and everything in between: Do adolescent boys and girls perceive smoking behaviors differently?

Research suggests that the desirability of certain “smoker” images increases smoking intentions among youth (Burton, Sussman, Hansen, Johnson& Flay, 1989). Consequently, the relationship between adolescents’ smoking identities and their actual smoking behaviors deserves further empirical attention. This week, ASHES reviews an article exploring gender differences among adolescents’ self-cognitions regarding their tobacco use, endorsed smoking identities (e.g., non-smoker, regular smoker, heavy smoker, and other sub-types), and their mental and physical tobacco dependence (Okoli, Torchalla, Ratner, & Johnson, 2011). Method Researchers recruited adolescents (n = 7,185, Median age = 15 years, 51.6 % female, grades 7 to 12) from 86 eligible schools... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 7(1) – Walk in a straight line, blow into the tube, and don’t mind the needle! Using biomarkers to detect potential DUI re-offense

DUI offenders exhibit high rates of alcohol use disorders (AUDs); among primarily first-time offenders, more than 85% qualify for alcohol abuse or dependence within the past year; among repeat offenders, the rate is above 98% (Lapham et al., 2001; Shaffer et al., 2007). Certain biomarkers (e.g., high levels of certain enzymes) can detect AUD accurately. These biomarkers, not surprisingly, appear to discriminate DUI offenders from people who do not exhibit DUI behavior. This week, the DRAM reviews a study by Couture and colleagues that attempts to determine whether biomarkers can distinguish between single and repeat DUI offenders (Couture et al.,... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 16(1) - A Closer Look at Co-occurring Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Pathological Gambling

Few people suffer only from pathological gambling (PG): most people also have some other co-occurring disorder that often preceded the onset of PG (Kessler et al., 2008). However, few studies have examined health profile differences between singly and doubly diagnosed individuals. This week, the WAGER reviews a recent study that examined individuals currently suffering with PG, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or both disorders (Najavits Meyer, Johnson, & Korn, Online First). Method The researchers used advertising, online postings, and local fliers, as well as outreach at treatment centers, to recruit 106 (36 current PTSD; 35 current PG; 35 dually... Read more →

STASH, Vol. 7(1) – A double dose of vulnerability: How a history of abuse impacts response to heroin substitution treatment

Adverse childhood experiences, such as sexual or physical abuse, increase individuals’ risk for subsequent substance use (Felitti et al., 1998). The trauma of experiencing sexual or physical abuse might make it especially difficult to recover from substance abuse. In this week’s STASH, we review a recent study (Oviedo-Joekes et al., 2011) that, using a sample of opioid-dependent individuals, achieved two goals: (1) to examine how substance abuse treatment seekers with an abuse history differ from those without an abuse history; and (2) to evaluate the relationship between abuse history and treatment outcomes following 12 months of substance abuse treatment. Methods... Read more →