The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The DRAM, Vol. 7(3) – Adolescent drinking and risk of benign breast disease

Benign breast disease (BBD) is a risk factor for breast cancer, and evidence indicates that adult alcohol intake among postmenopausal women increases risk of BBD and breast cancer (e.g., Longnecker, Berlin, Orza, & Chalmers, 1988; Zhang, Lee, Manson, Cook, Willett, & Buring, 2007). Further, young adult alcohol consumption (i.e., ages 18-22) is associated with BBD later in life (Bryne, et al., 2002). This month, the DRAM reviews the first prospective examination of the relationship between adolescent alcohol consumption and BBD (Berkey et al., 2010). Methods The Growing Up Today Study (GUTS) began in 1996. A nationwide sample of 9,037 girls,... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 16(3) - Pleasure and Pain: The reinforcing role of dopamine and excitement level for pathological gambling

There is reason to believe that feelings of excitement while gambling reinforce maladaptive gambling behavior among a subtype of pathological gamblers (PGs). These individuals crave excitement to a greater extent than other PGs and recreational gamblers and, for them, gambling might be especially rewarding because it offers excitement (Vachon & Bagby, 2009). Though the neurotransmitter dopamine is linked to behavior reinforcement and feelings of “sustained interest and approach” (Marco, 2010), the role of dopamine and excitement among pathological gamblers is unclear. This week, the WAGER reviews a study that examined the association between dopamine release and feelings of excitement during... Read more →

Op-Ed/Editorials: March Madness - Gambling Madness

The NEW DOA BBGS e-Screening and Intervention system is coming soon! Check back next week for more information. Read more →

STASH, Vol. 7(3) – Can using pot lead to an increased incidence of psychotic experiences

Use of cannabis – the most popular illicit drug in the world - is associated with psychotic disorders (Wittchen et al., 2007). However, it is not clear if using cannabis actually prompts psychosis or vice versa. This week’s STASH reviews a study that examines if cannabis use among adolescents increases the risk for having psychotic experiences 10 years later (Kuepper et al., 2011). Method Adolescents from Germany, aged 14-24 at baseline, participated in the study. The baseline sample was randomly drawn from the population registry office of Munich metro area. Kuepper et al. analyzed data from 1923 participants who had... Read more →

Addiction & the Humanities, Vol. 7(2) - Drink Me: Looking into the rabbit hole of anti-energy drinks

Previous BASIS articles have discussed the increasing popularity of energy drinks (EDs) and have highlighted the risk factors (e.g., jolt and crash episodes) associated with consuming alcohol and EDs together (e.g., drinking more alcohol when co-administered with EDs) (STASH, Vol. 4(1), The DRAM, Vol. 6(8) and The DRAM, Vol. 6(10)). Forget the caffeine and sugar-packed energy drinks that can cause heart palpitations and a false sense of intoxication level, now you can sedate yourself with recently introduced to the market anti-energy drinks. Anti-energy drinks promise to slow things down instead of speeding things up. Anti-energy drinks (e.g., Slow Cow) claim... Read more →

ASHES, Vol. 7(2) - Slight prick, all better? Stage II trial results of a nicotine vaccine

Nicotine vaccines represent a potentially important treatment option for quitting and preventing tobacco smoking. Nicotine vaccines work by inducing the immune system to create antibodies (Ab) that bind to nicotine in the bloodstream and prevent it from reaching the brain. By keeping nicotine from the reward pathways in the brain, nicotine Ab eliminate the pleasurable (i.e., reinforcing) aspect of smoking (Hatsukami, et al., 2011). Today’s BASIS examines the results from the recently completed Stage II trials of NicVAX, the vaccine furthest along in development (Hatsukami, et al., 2011). Methods This study employed a double-blind, placebo-controlled design. 301 participants responded to... Read more →