Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs
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J Stud Alcohol Drugs · Nov 2011
Behavioral approach system moderates the prospective association between the behavioral inhibition system and alcohol outcomes in college students.
Reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) is a useful framework for understanding alcohol use, including problematic drinking among college students. Although the link between the behavioral approach system (BAS) and drinking is well established, the role of the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) is less well studied, and findings have been mixed. Consistent with RST, the relationship between BIS and problematic drinking may be moderated by BAS, but tests of the BIS × BAS interaction have been scarce. We hypothesized that high BIS would be a risk factor for subsequent problematic drinking in combination with an elevated BAS, whereas BIS would protect against subsequent problematic drinking in the context of low levels of BAS. ⋯ Our findings enhance interpretation of RST, demonstrating a complex link between BIS and problematic drinking risk, one that is moderated by BAS. The prospective nature of these associations suggests that, together, BIS and BAS may promote increases in problematic drinking over time, highlighting the need for targeted interventions during the first year of college.
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J Stud Alcohol Drugs · May 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialProblem drinking and low-dose naltrexone-assisted opioid detoxification.
The influence of alcohol use on opioid dependence is a major problem that warrants a search for more effective treatment strategies. The addition of very-low-dose naltrexone (VLNTX) to methadone taper was recently associated with reduced withdrawal intensity during detoxification. In a secondary analysis of these data, we sought to determine whether problem drinking affects detoxification outcomes and whether symptoms are influenced by VLNTX use. ⋯ Heavy drinking is associated with worse opioid detoxification outcomes. The addition of VLNTX is safe and is associated with reduced withdrawal symptoms and better completion rate in these patients. Further studies should explore the use of VLNTX in detoxification and long-term treatment of combined alcohol-opioid dependence and alcohol dependence alone.
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This study assessed to what extent drinking patterns of young adults persist into midlife and whether frequent heavy episodic drinking as a young adult is associated with educational attainment, labor market, and health outcomes at midlife. ⋯ Frequent heavy episodic drinking at ages 17-25 years was associated with higher rates of alcohol dependence and abuse at a 10-year follow-up and alcohol consumption 25 years following baseline but not with other study outcomes at midlife. Lack of differences in outcomes at midlife may be because of decreased heavy episodic drinking among the heaviest baseline drinkers.
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J Stud Alcohol Drugs · Jan 2011
Verbal memory, learning, and executive functioning among adolescent inhalant and cannabis users.
Inhalant use is a common form of drug misuse among young adolescents. However, very little is known about how chronic inhalant misuse affects cognition. Several studies have examined cognitive deficits among inhalant users, but no study has thoroughly addressed the confounding issues frequently associated with inhalant users (e.g., polysubstance use). The aim of the current study was to examine possible deficits in memory, learning, and executive components of memory (interference susceptibility) among young, regular inhalant users relative to a statistically equivalent drug-using control group (primarily cannabis users) and a community control group. ⋯ Difficulty in successful proactive interference resolution demonstrated by the inhalant group may relate to inhalant-specific deficits in executive functioning. These findings raise important questions regarding the hypothesized toxicity of inhalants and of substance-specific cognitive deficits among regular adolescent substance users. Future studies should consider using more specific, experimental probes of cognitive functioning to identify potentially subtle changes among substance-using adolescents.
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J Stud Alcohol Drugs · Nov 2010
Comparative StudyEstablishments licensed to serve alcohol and their contribution to police-recorded crime in Australia: further opportunities for harm reduction.
Although strategies exist to minimize alcohol-related harms associated with establishments licensed to serve alcohol, such establishments are associated with a disproportionate level of harm. To date, understanding the association between such establishments and alcohol-related harms, and hence the opportunities for reducing harm, has been limited by inadequate information regarding incidents of alcohol-related crime. To address this deficiency, this study was undertaken to describe the association between such establishments and incidents of crime using enhanced police-recorded, alcohol-related crime intelligence. ⋯ The disproportionate burden of alcohol-related crime associated with establishments licensed to serve alcohol may be reduced if harm-reduction strategies address the specific risks posed by bars and nightclubs, and individual high-risk establishments.