The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

National Policymakers versus Internationally Minded Researchers? Lessons from a Case Study

Editor's Note: This piece was written by Simon Planzer, Ph.D., Lecturer at the University of St.Gallen (Switzerland) and member of the Academic Council of the International Center for Gaming Regulation at UNLV. Dr. Planzer is a member of The BASIS Editorial Board. In Europe, numerous countries have already passed or are in the process of passing online gambling legislation. It seems obvious that new gambling jurisdictions would have an interest in learning from the legislative experiences of other countries. “Yes, they should do so – but they rarely do,” has been my summary on a recent panel discussion. This Op-Ed... Read more →

STASH, Vol. 13(2) - Who is using medical marijuana and how do they compare to recreational users?

More than half of the U.S. states and territories have laws permitting medical use of marijuana. Knowing who is using medical marijuana can inform efforts to reduce the potential harms. This week STASH reviews research from Dr. Wilson Compton and his colleagues published in JAMA that explores medical marijuana use among US adults. What was the research question? Are medical marijuana users distinctly different from non-medical marijuana users? What did the researchers do? The researchers analyzed data, including demographics, substance use, health issues, and topics related to medical marijuana from the 2013-14 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. They... Read more →

ASHES, Vol. 13(2) – Is a picture worth a thousand words? Effects of pictorial cigarette pack warnings on smoking

The individual, familial and societal costs of smoking are staggering. Adding pictures that warn about the dangers of smoking to cigarette packs is one policy approach to nudge smokers towards quitting. Most studies – across several countries -- that have studied the effect of these pictorial warnings have found that they increase quit attempts and reduce the prevalence of smoking. However, a few studies have shown that the effect does not always hold. The ASHES, this week, reviews a study by Dr. Noel T. Brewer and colleagues, that used a randomized clinical trial design to test the effect of these... Read more →

Gambling and gaming are converging: “Won’t someone think of the children!”?

Editor's Note: This piece was written by Sally Gainsbury, Ph.D., Deputy Director of the Gambling Treatment Clinic & Research Group and Senior Lecturer of the School of Psychology, The University of Sydney. Dr. Gainsbury is a member of The BASIS Editorial Board. Gambling and gaming industries are highly dynamic with change largely driven by new technological capabilities which allow users to access online activities with ease and affordability. Global access allows companies to market to large potential audience of consumers and reach beyond their traditional users. This has resulted in a cross-over between gambling and gaming products and across platforms... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 13(2) – Divorce’s impact on alcohol use disorder

While the rate of divorce in the US has decreased over the last 20 years, there were over 800,000 divorces in 2014 alone. Previous epidemiological studies have shown an association between divorce and increased alcohol use and risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD), but the nature of this relationship is not well understood. Many of the factors that predict alcohol use disorders may also influence divorce. Understanding how divorce impacts risk for AUD could help clinicians provide care or preventative services for those who are particularly vulnerable. Today The DRAM reviews a longitudinal study by Dr. Kenneth Kendler and his... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 22(2) – Why do people experiencing gambling problems use social casino games?

For a long time, excessive gambling meant spending too much time or money at casinos or slot parlors. Today, the gambling environment extends into our home computers and mobile devices. Recently, The WAGER reviewed a study that described high risk patterns among social casino gamers. An unanswered question concerns why and how problem gamblers use social casino games. This week, The WAGER reviews a study by Sally Gainsbury and her colleagues that examines problematic social casino game use among at-risk gamblers. What was the research question? Why do people who have problems with gambling say that they use social casino... Read more →