The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

ASHES, Vol. 12(10) – Either way, it’s a drag: Daily vs. non-daily smoking in adolescents

Many teens try smoking. The real danger comes when they develop nicotine dependence or transition into regular smoking. This week, ASHES reviews a study conducted by Mark L. Rubinstein and colleagues that compared intermittent adolescent smokers to regular adolescent smokers. Their goal was to learn more about preventing dangerous smoking patterns. What was the research question? How do daily cigarette smokers and intermittent users differ, and how difficult is quitting in both groups? What the researchers did? Rubinstein and colleagues recruited 202 adolescent smokers who reported smoking at least 1 cigarette a month. They compared two groups: Intermittent Smokers, who... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 12(10) – Moving beyond the numbers: Predictors of alcohol treatment outcomes

Editor’s Note: We’re proud to announce that Dr. Dawn Sugarman will speak on the topic of “Gender-Specific Treatment for Substance Use Disorders” at this fall’s Addiction Medicine continuing medical education course, presented by the Division on Addiction through Harvard Medical School. In today’s article, we review research from Dr. Sugarman and her colleagues at the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Program at McLean Hospital. Excess alcohol consumption is a serious public health concern and often requires inpatient treatment. Previous research has found that factors like gender, educational status, and marital status moderate alcohol treatment outcomes, historically defined by changes in... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 21(10) – How do gamblers use a web-based responsible gambling tool?

Although gambling is a very common activity, it also is associated with some serious risks. For some people, such risks can lead to negative consequences in various aspects of their personal and social lives. Responsible gambling tools might help protect gamblers from harm. This week, The WAGER reviews a study by David Forsstrom and his colleagues that examines how online gamblers use a new responsible gambling tool. What is the research question? How do gamblers use a web-based responsible gambling (RG) tool? What did the researchers do? The researchers analyzed the usage data from 9528 gamblers who used a voluntary... Read more →

Register Now: Addiction Medicine Continuing Education Course

We invite clinicians, practitioners, and allied health professionals who treat clients with addictive disorders to attend the 2016 Addiction Medicine Continuing Education course now on Harvard Medical School’s campus at The Joseph B. Martin Conference Center on September 30-October 1, 2016. The Division on Addiction, Cambridge Health Alliance presents "Addiction Medicine Best Practices of Today & Tomorrow: A Case-based Approach to the Treatment of Addiction" with a keynote address by Dr. A. Thomas McLellan, co-founder of the Treatment Research Institute and former Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Each year, this course provides cutting-edge... Read more →

STASH, Vol. 12(9) – Brain fry: Perfectionism and attitudes about smart drug use

College students who strive for high grades have a variety of overlapping reasons for studying and working hard. For some, college is a stepping stone to graduate school or a professional program, and a stellar transcript is crucial to getting into a top program. For others, the motivation to achieve is a byproduct of talent or interest in the subject matter. For others, it’s a matter of perfectionism. Regardless of the reason, the drive for academic performance can lead some to use cognitive enhancers (“smart drugs”) like Ritalin and Adderall. In this week’s STASH, we review a study by Joachim... Read more →