The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The DRAM, Vol. 13(8) – Treating alcohol use disorder with motivational interviewing in active-duty army soldiers

Over time, more active duty soldiers have reported heavy alcohol use and prescription drug misuse. Some of these soldiers will require professional treatment. Even though treatment options exist, a very small number of soldiers actually receive treatment for substance use problems. Many soldiers drop out of mental health treatment early, either because they feel they can handle their problems on their own, feel they don’t have enough time for treatment, or experience stigma. Therefore, brief interventions might be especially helpful for this population This week, the DRAM reviews a study by Denise Walker and her colleagues that evaluates the use... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 22(8): Game selection: Alexithymia and depression in strategic and non-strategic gamblers

Some people separate gamblers into strategic gamblers and non-strategic gamblers. Strategic gamblers prefer games where analysis and skill matter, such as poker, sports betting, and political markets. Non-strategic gamblers prefer games where strategy plays little to no role, such as scratch tickets, lotteries, and slot machines. In a recent study, Céline Bonnaire and her colleagues speculated that these preferences could create different pathways to gambling problems. Those with difficulty regulating their emotions might excessively play strategic games in order to seek excitement; on the other hand, those with depression might play non-strategic games excessively in order to avoid negative emotions.... Read more →

STASH, Vol.13(7) - Examining the relationship between mental health and rates of prescription opioid use

Prescription opioid misuse has become a national crisis in the United States, impacting an estimated 2 million Americans in 2015. For some individuals, using a doctor-prescribed opioid to treat pain symptoms can lead to dependence and even death. A 2017 study by Matthew Davis, Lewei Lin, Haiyin Liu, and Brian Sites examined the relationship between mental health disorders and prescription opioid use. This week, STASH reviews their work. What was the research question? Are individuals with mental health disorders more likely to receive prescription opioids for pain than individuals without mental health disorders? What did the researchers do? The researchers... Read more →

ASHES, Vol. 13(7) – Child cognitive ability and smoking in adulthood: Does education also affect the ability to start and stop?

Children with relatively low IQ levels are more likely than others to take up smoking as adults; they also have a harder time quitting. Can education break this cycle? This week, ASHES reviews a prospective study by Michael Daly and Mark Egan examining the relationship between childhood intelligence, lifetime educational attainment, and adult smoking behavior. What is the research question? What is the relationship between child cognitive ability and smoking behavior in adulthood, when accounting for educational attainment? What did the researchers do? The authors analyzed data from 16,653 individuals involved in two separate birth cohort studies: the 1970 British... Read more →