The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The DRAM, Vol. 16(8) - Red Bull and vodka?: How alcohol-energy drink combinations influence aggression in bars

This week, The DRAM reviews a study by Brian Quigley and colleagues that examined how alcohol mixed with energy drinks might increase aggression in bars. Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 16(7) - What is the role of racism in the development of alcohol problems among African American young adults?

This week, as part of our Special Series on Race and Addiction, The DRAM reviews a study by Jinni Su and colleagues that examined how overt racism and more subtle racism in the form of microaggressions are associated with alcohol problems among African American young adults. Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 16(6) - What is the link between childhood adversity and binge drinking during pregnancy?

This week, The DRAM reviews a study by Cheryl L. Currie and colleagues that investigated the association between maternal adverse childhood experiences and patterns of binge drinking during pregnancy. Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 16(5) - Do state tax rates on alcohol and responsible drinking policies reduce risky alcohol use?

This week, The DRAM reviews a study by Brian Fairman and colleagues that examined how different state-level alcohol policies might influence young adults’ drinking patterns. Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 16(4) - Driving tipsy below the legal limit: An investigation of lower BAC motor vehicle crash fatalities

The DRAM reviews an article that characterized motor vehicle crash fatalities that involve positive blood alcohol concentrations that are below the federal legal limit. Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 16(3) - Can this evidence-based intervention help reduce alcohol use in rural African-American youth? Let’s find out.

This week, as part of our Special Series on Community Approaches to Addiction, The DRAM reviews an investigation into the effectiveness of the Strong African-American Families intervention in reducing drinking frequency in rural African-American youth. Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 16(2) - Super Bowl swigs: Applying social practice theory to alcohol consumption

This week, as part of our Special Series on Theories of Addiction, The DRAM reviews a paper by Petra Meier and colleagues that advocates for approaching alcohol research through a social practice theory lens, with a focus on (1) the current state of the research and (2) what social practice theory has to offer. Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 16(1) - How do self-affirmation and graphic health warnings on beer cans influence beliefs about drinking?

Today’s review is part of our month-long special series, Open Science Practices in Addiction Research. During this special series, The BASIS features recent publications that have used contemporary open science practices. Despite large-scale public health campaigns, diseases related to alcohol are still leading causes of death in the US. One approach to harm reduction that has not yet been implemented here are graphic pictorial health warnings on alcohol containers, similar to those used on cigarette packs in the EU. Although these types of warnings are perceived to be effective, they also can elicit defensive coping mechanisms, such as avoiding looking... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 15(13) - Alcohol use during pregnancy: Who is at greatest risk?

This week, the DRAM reviews a study by Dvora Shmulewitz and Deborah S. Hasin where they looked for indicators of women who are more likely to drink during their pregnancy. Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 15(12) - Family history of alcoholism is associated with brain activation to a rewarding stimulus

Dysfunction in the brain’s reward system response, and familial history of alcoholism, each increase the risk for problem drinking. Is it possible that these factors exert their effects not just in isolation, but in conjunction? In other words, is someone with a family history of alcoholism more likely to have an exaggerated brain response to rewarding stimuli? This week, the DRAM reviews a study by William J.A. Eiler II and his colleagues that explores this question. Read more →