The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The WAGER, Vol. 21(6) – What did you expect? Ethnic differences in gambling expectancies

“Gambling expectancies” is a catch-all term to describe the different things people expect to happen as a result of gambling – both positive and negative. These expectations help explain why some people gamble more than others, or why people gamble at all, so it is important to understand where they come from. Some research suggests that gambling expectancies are at least partially rooted in ethnicity or cultural background. This week, to end our Special Series on Disparities in the Experience and Treatment of Addiction, The WAGER reviews a study by Alan Ka Ki Chan and others that compared the gambling... Read more →

STASH, Vol. 12(5) – Exploring the effects criminal history and socioeconomic status have on racial and ethnic disparities in substance use treatment

When it comes to treatment for addiction, racial disparity is a concerning problem. For example, Hispanics are more likely than non-Hispanics to need treatment for a substance use disorder, but those who need treatment are less likely to receive it. Relative to other population groups, Blacks are more likely to need treatment for using illicit drugs. This week, as we continue our Special Series on Disparities in the Experience and Treatment of Addiction, STASH reviews a study by Ben Cook and Margarita Alegría that examines the relationship between criminal history, socioeconomic status, and racial and ethnic disparities in substance use... Read more →

ASHES, Vol. 12(5) – Less likely to start but less likely to quit: Racial differences in smoking cessation

Cigarette smoking has been a leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States for a long time. However, certain health complications linked to smoking show up more in certain population groups than others. For example, when it comes to lung cancer, African American males are at much higher risk than white males, but African American females are at lower risk than white females. As part of our Special Series on Disparities in the Experience and Treatment of Addiction, this week’s ASHES examines a study by Theodore Holford and colleagues comparing smoking history patterns between African American and white adults.... Read more →

Op-ed/Editorial: Overcoming the U.S. Substance Use Treatment Crisis Requires a Focus on Issues of Equity

Editor’s note: This op-ed was written by Dr. Ben Cook, Director of the Health Equity Research Lab and the Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research at Cambridge Health Alliance. It is part of our Special Series on Disparities in the Experience and Treatment of Addiction. From a policy and public health perspective, the U.S. health care system is failing individuals with substance use disorder. Many of us know family or friends that struggle with substance use, and this is backed up by 2014 statistics that show that 27 million people age 12 or older, or 10.2% of the population, had... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 12(5) – Racial and ethnic disparities in alcohol-treatment

Alcohol misuse is a serious public health concern, currently the fourth leading cause of preventable death in the US. Previous research has found that African-American and Hispanic drinkers are more likely to report symptoms of alcohol dependence and negative consequences related to drinking than their white counterparts. Are these disparities the consequence of unequal access to treatment? This week, as part of our Special Series on Disparities in the Experience and Treatment of Addiction, The DRAM reviews a study by Nina Mulia and her colleagues, which used national survey data to measure disparities in alcohol treatment utilization. What was the... Read more →

Introduction to the Special Series on Disparities in the Experience and Treatment of Addiction

Imagine the stress that comes from living in inadequate housing within unsafe communities, struggling to afford food and other basic needs, and being physically isolated from good jobs, transportation, and health care. All of these stressors wreak havoc on the body and increase one’s risk for chronic diseases including addiction, heart disease, cancer, and mental illness. In the United States as in other countries, racial and ethnic group membership often tracks with socioeconomic status; Black and Hispanic Americans are especially likely to experience the stress of poverty and some of the resulting health disparities. Healthcare providers sometimes exacerbate these challenges... Read more →