The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The WAGER, Vol. 16(4) – Winning? Perspectives on problem gambling

Research tells us that few people with gambling problems seek treatment (Shaffer & Martin, 2011). Perhaps people’s views of addiction, gambling in particular, create barriers that deter disordered gamblers from seeking formal treatment. This week The WAGER reviews a study of beliefs about gambling addiction (Cunningham, Cordingley, Hodgins, & Toneatto, 2011). Methods Cunningham et al. conducted a random digit dialing telephone interview among adults residents living in Ontario (n=8,467) to: Assess their agreement with different views of gambling abuse (strongly agree to disagree): Gambling abuse is a disease or illness; a wrongdoing; a habit, not a disease; or an addiction... Read more →

STASH, Vol. 7(4) - Sex, Drugs and...Increased Stress: Perceived stress and risky sexual behaviors among young women who have used ecstasy

Ecstasy use and misuse among young adults is an important public health concern. A recent report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH, 2009) found an increase in both the incidence rate of new ecstasy users (i.e., 1.1 million new users during 2009 compared to 0.6 million during 2004, a recent low year) and the number of ecstasy-related emergency department visits (i.e., 22,816 visits, nearly double those recorded just two years earlier) (DAWN, 2007-2009), and it predicts a resurgence in ecstasy use for the years to come (CESAR FAX,... Read more →

Addiction & the Humanities, Vol. 7(3) - Four thousand years of marijuana use: A brief history

For thousands of years, cultures around the world have used marijuana in various ways for innumerable purposes. This issue of Humanities describes the history of marijuana use from ancient China to contemporary United States (Grinspoon, 1971; Nahas, 1973). Antiquity: Asia and Europe Nearly 4000 years ago, people in China used marijuana as a pain reliever and all-purpose medication. The use of cannabis spread from China to India and the surrounding Asian countries; then, its use spread to Europe. Early in its history, people started using marijuana for its euphoric properties. For instance, around 2000 BC in India, people used cannabis... Read more →

ASHES, Vol. 7(3) - Smoke, or e-Smoke?

Previously, we have discussed the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes (i.e., a battery-powered device with a refillable nicotine cartridge and a heater that vaporizes a nicotine solution; ASHES, Vol. 6(4)). Current research indicates that e-cigarette liquid and vapor contain significantly fewer chemicals than tobacco cigarettes. In fact, research suggests that harmful chemicals, if any, occur in trace amounts; these characteristics are similar to other nicotine replacement tools (Cahn & Siegel, 2011). This week’s ASHES reviews a study of the effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation (Siegel, Tanwar, & Wood, 2011). Methods Siegel et al. (2011) sent an online survey to... Read more →