The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

Tuesday, March 10, 2015 is Gambling Disorder Screening Day: Are you going to do a brief screen?

Last year, through a grassroots email and social media campaign, the Division on Addiction, Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital (Division) promoted the development of the first Gambling Disorder Screening Day. To support the screening day, the Division freely made available screening toolkit materials that (1) explained Gambling Disorder; (2) described why screening is important; (3) provided a brief screen, the Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS); and (4) listed a wide variety of gambling resource and referral information. The screening day was successful in raising awareness about Gambling Disorder, and promoting screening and other activities across the... Read more →

STASH, Vol 11(2) – Automated ASSISTance: Using a computer-based system to screen for substance abuse problems

Extremely brief screens, such as the three-question Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen or BBGS, are an economical way for clinicians to identify patients at risk for addictive behavior. Using longer screens may allow clinicians to differentiate between different levels of risk or test for more risky behaviors. However, due to time and resource constraints, longer screens are infrequently integrated into routine care. One potential solution is to install a computerized system to automate screening. This week, STASH reviews a study that examined the reliability of a computer-based screening system (McNeely et al., 2014). Methods At a primary care clinic in a... Read more →

ASHES, Vol. 11(2) - Is the safety of E-cigarettes about to go up in smoke?

Awareness and use of e-cigarettes is growing across the globe (ASHES, Vol. 9(6)). Some have suggested that e-cigarettes might be a healthy alternative to cigarettes (ASHES, Vol. 6(4)) or be used for nicotine replacement therapy to help people quit cigarettes (ASHES, Vol. 7(3); ASHES, Vol. 9(13). However, because e-cigarettes are not well regulated, their components and the effects of exposure to these components are not well understood. This week’s ASHES reviews a study that examined the effects of e-cigarettes on the lungs of mice, particularly in terms of susceptibility to infection (Sussan et al., 2015). Methods Researchers randomly assigned 2... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 11(2) - Investigating interlock device compliance: Who gets better and who gets by?

All 50 states require convicted repeat, and in some cases first-time DUI offenders to install ignition interlock devices (IIDs). These devices require drivers to breathe into them and allow the car to start only if the driver’s breath alcohol concentration is below the programmed limit. IIDs are very effective at reducing DUI recidivism while they are installed (Voas et al., 1999). However, offenders often return to drunk driving once their IIDs are removed (e.g., Marques, Voas, Roth, & Tippetts, 2010). One potential explanation for this problem is that some DUI offenders are unable or unwilling to change their broader drinking... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 20(2) - You are what you play? Personality correlates of gambling activity

Researchers have suggested that personality might be involved in shaping gambling behaviors (McDaniel & Zuckerman, 2003; Mowen et al., 2009). For example, sensation-seeking and impulsivity are associated with excessive gambling (McDaniel & Zuckerman, 2003). What is less clear is the relationship between specific personality traits and specific types of gambling activities, such as slot machines, online gambling, or sports betting. In this week’s edition of The WAGER, we review a study that examined associations between personality traits and gambling activity choices (Savage, Slutske, & Martin, 2014). Methods The researchers analyzed data from a sample of 4,669 Australian individuals (mean age=... Read more →