The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

ASHES, Vol. 7(8) – Smoking tobacco with a hookah: Replacing the cigarette as high schoolers' smoke of choice?

Cigarette use among high school students has been on a steady decline during recent years (SAMHSA, 2010). Media and regulatory campaigns have targeted and attempted to reduce cigarette smoking, but more exotic forms of tobacco smoking, such as hookah, have received relatively little attention (Smith, Novotny, Edland, Hofstetter, Lindsay & Al-Dalaimy, 2011). Because Hookah smoking can involve the use of many substances (e.g., opium, marijuana, or tobacco), we want to note that for the remainder of this article, ‘hookah use’ will refer to specifically and only to smoking tobacco. Previously, the BASIS published a history and introduction to hookah, as... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 7(8) - Severe DUI Offenders: One Size Doesn’t Fit All

This week, the DRAM continues its series focusing on driving under the influence (DUI). This is the fourth of five issues concentrating on the body of recent DUI research. In the first three issues, DRAM Vol. 7(5), DRAM Vol. 7(6), and DRAM Vol. 7(7) we addressed DUI-related trends, methods to detect heavy alcohol consumption and recidivism, and the use of ignition interlock devices to reduce DUI behavior. DUI research suggests that DUI offenders exhibit an array of characteristics that distinguish them from the general population – mental health issues, personality characteristics, and criminal behavior, among others. It is tempting to... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 16(8) – Impaired decision making among at-risk young gamblers

Researchers are investigating the neurological factors that might play a role in the development of pathological gambling. For example, cognitive deficits, such as dementia and reduced executive functioning are well-known correlates of pathological gambling (PG; Manes, Torralva, Roca, Gleichgerrcht, Bekinschtein, & Hodges, 2011). Grant and colleagues suggested that cognitive deficits create risk because they lead to impaired decision-making, which in turn leads to PG (Grant, Brewer, & Potenza, 2006). Today’s WAGER reviews a study that explores whether young adults with decision-making impairments are also more likely to be at-risk for the development of PG (Grant, Chamberlain, Schreiber, Odlaug, & Kim,... Read more →

STASH, Vol. 7(8) - Patterns of cocaine use among male and female undergraduates

Recent studies reveal that cocaine use is more prevalent among young adults compared to other user population groups (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), 2008). Estimates of past-year cocaine use among young adults have steadily increased over the last ten years (Kasperski et al., 2011). However, male and female college students might be different in terms of cocaine use in some important ways. While some studies cite higher prevalence rates of cocaine use in young males, others cite riskier behavior in female cocaine users, suggesting that young females might be more susceptible than males to developing serious problems with... Read more →