The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The DRAM, Vol. 13 (6) -- Leave no one behind: Understanding problem drinking among veterans

Reports by journalists as well as research studies have taught us that American veterans returning home after their service often find it difficult to transition back to civilian life. Some estimates suggest that for every four returning veterans you meet, one of them is likely to report having symptoms that are consistent with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Researchers have also found that, for veterans, combat experience and PTSD are linked to higher rates of alcohol use and problems. In this week’s DRAM, we review a study by Stephen M. Miller and colleagues that investigates the pathways that lead from combat... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 22(6) – Gambling among the faithful

For many people, faith and religion are important parts of life and can have a profound effect on their choices. Although many religions condemn, if not outright forbid, recreational gambling, only a handful of studies have examined the relationship between religion and gambling. Even fewer studies have examined this relationship among young adults, whose minds often are still developing, making them more impressionable in a variety of ways. This week, THE WAGER reviews a longitudinal study by Jeremy Uecker and Charles Stokes that examined how religious background and participation relates to gambling among young adults. What is the research question?... Read more →

Self-development and Problem Gambling

Editor’s Note: This op-ed was prepared by Dr. Harold Wynne of Wynne Resources. For the past four decades, I have been intrigued with self-development, both as an adult educator and social scientist interested in human behaviour, addiction and problem gambling. As an adult educator, I have experienced first-hand how success in education programs leads to the personal growth and development of adult students. I have participated in graduation ceremonies for adult students who have achieved high school diplomas and witnessed the pride these people and their families have in this later-in-life accomplishment. I have witnessed the same sense of accomplishment... Read more →

STASH, Vol. 13(5) Opioid use among pregnant women in the US

Prescription opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone can, at least temporarily, relieve both emotional and physical pain. As a result, some people use opioids that are prescribed to them or that they otherwise obtained, to cope with sadness or anxiety. This kind of nonmedical opioid use is dangerous even in the short-term in part because it can lead to long-term opioid use or even dependence. Nonmedical opioid use during pregnancy can have potentially adverse health effects for both the pregnant woman and unborn child. This week, STASH reviews a study by Katy Kozhimannil and her colleagues that examined the predictors of... Read more →

ASHES, Vol. 13(5): Solo or duo? Spousal concordance in alternative tobacco product use

Spouses can have both positive and negative effects on people’s efforts to quit smoking. For example, people who encourage and complement their spouse on their attempt to quit tend to increase their spouse’s likelihood of quitting, while people who try to police their spouse or nag about smoking tend to decrease their spouse’s likelihood of quitting. However, not as much is known about the effects spouses can have on attempts to quit alternative tobacco products. This is especially true for newly popularized forms, such as e-cigarettes and hookah. One factor to consider is spousal concordance – if both spouses use... Read more →

Issues Surrounding Marijuana as Medicine

Editor's note: This essay was authored by Ken C. Winters, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Oregon Research Institute & Kevin A. Sabet, Ph.D., Director, Drug Policy Institute, University of Florida. This op-ed provides an overview of the key question at the center of the controversy: does marijuana’s potential benefit outweigh its potential harms. We summarize the extent of medical marijuana laws in the U.S., marijuana’s development as a medicine and conclude that health benefits of marijuana’s core elements - THC and CBD – are associated with a modicum of support for a very limited number of health problems. Introduction Currently, 29 states... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 13(5) – What experiences during senior year of high school can tell us about driving while intoxicated after graduation?

The transition for young adults after high school is marked by new found freedoms and responsibilities. For some, that freedom leads to increased substance use and possibly getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle while impaired. Factors that put people at increased risk for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) include alcohol availability, poly-substance use, and trauma, emotional, and mental health problems. Young adults who DWI are more likely than older adults who DWI to get into an accident, likely due to a combination of inexperience with driving, aggressive driving, and the effects of alcohol on the body. This week’s DRAM... Read more →