The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

ASHES, Vol. 11(12) – Nicotine on the adolescent brain

It can be difficult to predict why some adolescents engage in certain substance abuse behaviors, and others do not. Similarly, we have a hard time predicting which adolescents will continue using drugs such as nicotine and alcohol through adulthood and which will age out. Adolescent smokers seem to be more likely than non-smokers to experiment with alcohol (Best et al., 2000), but it is unclear what mechanism drives this association. In addition, teen girls are more likely to smoke cigarettes than teen boys (Pogun & Yararbas, 2009); which in turn, according to the current study, may put girls at a... Read more →

The DRAM Vol. 11(12) – Do state-level alcohol control policies curb binge drinking?

Introduction Policies that restrict access to alcohol have the potential to dissuade risky drinking and related negative consequences. One recent study found US jurisdictions did not increase implementation of the most effective policies from 1999 to 2011. This week, The DRAM explores how alcohol control policies might affect rates of binge drinking (Xuan et al., 2014). Methods Researchers gathered state-level data on the implementation of alcohol control policies through the Alcohol Policy Information System and supplemented with data from 18 additional sources. Researchers categorized the policies based on the population and behavior they addressed. Then, experts rated the efficacy and... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 20(12) – Still the same game: Gambling fallacies in online and offline poker players

Last night, the Main Event of the 2015 World Series of Poker ended and a new world champion was crowned. Televised replays of the tournament will show that navigating the field of 6,420 competitors required a mix of luck and skill. In the poker community, that skill is celebrated, and many aspire to increase their skills as they study and play the game. In the months between now and the next World Series, both at live poker tables and online, players will be practicing and playing and attempting to improve. Some, however, will fail to improve because they hold on... Read more →

STASH Vol. 11(11) – Impulsivity as marker of adolescent substance use

People try drugs for a variety of reasons. Family history of use often is a significant predictor of substance use, and experimentation frequently starts during adolescence. Previous research shows that there are certain traits, such as novelty-seeking, that manifest within families along with substance use behaviors (Young et al., 2000). Consequently, it is possible that novelty seeking accounts for some of the transmission of substance use from parents to children. Further, people who are high or low in novelty seeking might respond differently to using the same drugs—so that novelty seeking itself might influence future use. This week’s STASH reviews... Read more →