The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The DRAM Vol. 11(8): How high? The prevalence and comorbidity of newly-defined alcohol use disorders in the general population

The American Psychiatric Association updated its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders during 2013. The resulting DSM-5 changed some of the diagnostic categories, as described here. For example, the DSM-5 combined alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence into one single construct called Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD; see Table 1). AUDs are highly prevalent in the United States, and people with AUDs often experience other forms of mental illness (Hasin et al., 2007). However, published national estimates of AUD prevalence are based on older DSM-IV criteria, considering abuse and dependence separately. Today’s DRAM reviews the first nationally representative study on the... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 20(8) – We have a new challenger: Gambling habits of video game players

From the design of games to the people who play them, there is important overlap between video gaming and gambling. At least as far back as the 80’s (e.g., Super Mario Bros. 2 in 1988), game designers have used gambling mechanics such as slot machines and card games, to give players extra resources and help them progress through the story. More recently, on streaming sites such as Twitch.tv, viewers are watching video game players dabble in online gambling, and online poker services and professional gamblers are broadcasting footage of poker tables and tournaments. This week, the WAGER reviews a study... Read more →

STASH Vol. 11(7) - Just what the doctor ordered: Washington State’s comprehensive approach to opioid epidemic sees results.

Globally, countries such as Australia, Canada, the US, and much of Western Europe have experienced large increases in the rates of per capita opioid usage. Increased prescribing of opioids provides relief to those who suffer from chronic pain, but not without an unintentional increase in the morbidity and mortality associated with opioid abuse. According to the latest national figures during 2013, 1.9 million people in the US were abusing prescription opioids and 16,235 people died from an opioid overdose. Recently, states such as Massachusetts have announced comprehensive plans to address opioid abuse. This week’s STASH describes a recent review of... Read more →

ASHES, Vol. 11(7) - Chasing clouds: Changes to health and behavior as people begin using e-cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), introduced to the American market in the beginning of the 21st century, are battery-operated vaporizers that allow users to inhale vaporized nicotine without any combustion or smoke. They are lauded as useful tools in smoking cessation because they simulate both the chemical and behavioral aspects of smoking, without the physical harms that accompany tobacco smoke. This week’s ASHES reviews one of the first naturalistic observation studies to examine smoking and vaping behaviors and change in health status among current cigarette smokers who initiate e-cigarette use (Berg, Barr, Stratton, Escoffery, & Kegler, 2014). Methods Researchers conducted a small,... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 11(7) – Don’t preach what you practice? Abstinence vs. harm reduction parental messages and drinking among college-bound students

Editor's Note: This DRAM was written by Kelly Chen, as part of her participation in the Division on Addiction's Undergraduate Summer Research Mentorship. Kelly is a student at Williams College. This summer, many parents will sit down and engage in conversations about drinking habits with their soon-to-be college freshmen. Although research over the past decade has established the importance of parent-teen alcohol communication in preventing alcohol-related problems, parents might still be confused about what to say during these conversations, especially when their kids have already started drinking. In this week’s DRAM, we review a recent study that compared drinking behavior... Read more →