The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The DRAM, Vol. 14(2) – Who’s Got the Influence? Youth friend and family influences on DUI behavior

This week, The DRAM reviews one of the first longitudinal studies of the effects of peer and family factors on DUI, conducted by William Pelham III and Thomas Dishion. Read more →

The DRAM, Vol.14(1) - A new treatment program for recently incarcerated homeless women

As part of our Special Series on Addiction and Homelessness, The DRAM reviews a study examining the efficacy of a DBT treatment program designed for to help this subpopulation of women abstain from alcohol and drug use. Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 13(13) – “Please drink responsibly.” So many questions, so few answers.

We have all seen messages to “drink responsibly,” whether on television, online, on billboards, or in other forms of media. But are these messages actually effective in helping people drink responsibly? And what do we mean by responsible drinking? Responsible drinking for a college student might be very different than responsible drinking for someone struggling with a 10-year alcohol use disorder. With these questions in mind, Antony Moss and Ian Albery conducted a research review to examine the existing research on the effectiveness of responsible drinking messages. This week, The DRAM reviews their study. What was the research question? What... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol.13(12) - Running to recovery: Adding exercise to alcohol use disorder treatment

There are a number of effective, evidence-based treatments available for individuals suffering from alcohol use disorder. However, relapse rates are often high even for effective treatments, and not all individuals experience the same amount of relief from the standard treatments. In addition, people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) tend to have more health issues than those without AUD, which can complicate recovery. Some have suggested that including an exercise regimen in the treatment plan for individuals with AUD might improve outcomes and alleviate some of these health issues. Kirsten Roessler and her colleagues tested out this idea using a large... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 13(11) – Improved access: Opioid & Alcohol Use Disorders and primary care

Effective strategies exist to treat opioid and alcohol use disorders, yet access to treatment is often limited by service availability as well as the stigma associated with seeking help. One approach to overcome these challenges is to make these services available through collaborative care. Collaborative care involves integrating behavioral health into primary care. This week, The DRAM reviews a study on collaborative care by Katherine Watkins and her colleagues. What was the research question? Does use of a collaborative care model lead to higher treatment engagement and better outcomes among patients with opioid or alcohol use disorders than a usual... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 13(10) – Are alcohol-related disparities between LGB and heterosexual youth decreasing?

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth are more likely than their heterosexual peers to engage in risky alcohol behavior, including drinking at a younger age, drinking more often, and drinking more heavily. It’s likely that LGB kids are drinking more, in part, to cope with minority stress—the stress from being part of a stigmatized group. If so, we should expect to see that, as some communities have become more accepting of LGB people over time, alcohol-related disparities have also diminished over time. This week, as part of our Special Series on Youth Risky Behavior, the DRAM reviews a study by... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 13(9) – Bottoms up: Changes in alcohol use and misuse across a decade

Many substance use studies focus either on specific subpopulations or specific programs for reducing harms. To examine trends in the greater population, including trends that indicate increasing or decreasing prevalence of substance use disorders, researchers conduct large, population-wide studies. This week, The DRAM reviews a comparison of findings from two waves of a seminal study of alcohol use in the US by Bridget F. Grant and her colleagues. What was the research question? How have the prevalence rates for past-year alcohol consumption, high-risk drinking, and alcohol use disorder changed from 2001-2002 to 2012-2013? What did the researchers do? Grant and... Read more →

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 DRAM, Vol. 13(7) – Extra walls: GLB individuals and additional barriers to alcohol treatment

As a group, gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) individuals are more likely to suffer from alcohol use disorders than heterosexual individuals. They also use treatment services for alcohol use disorders at a higher rate than heterosexual individuals. What is not known, however, is whether GLB individuals are more likely than heterosexual individuals to use or gravitate towards one kind of treatment service over another (e.g., private therapists rather than clergy), or if GLB individuals experience additional barriers that might steer them away from treatment services in general. This week, as part of our Special Series on Addiction among the LGBTQ+... Read more →

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 →