Drug and alcohol dependence
-
Drug Alcohol Depend · Jun 2019
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyVeterans with PTSD and comorbid substance use disorders: Does single versus poly-substance use disorder affect treatment outcomes?
Substance use disorders (SUD) frequently co-occur with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Little is known, however, about how individuals with a single SUD diagnosis (relating to only one substance) compare to individuals with poly-SUD diagnoses (relating to more than one substance) on substance use and PTSD treatment outcomes. To address this gap in the literature, we utilized data from a larger study investigating a 12-week integrated, exposure-based treatment (i.e., Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders using Prolonged Exposure, or COPE) to examine treatment outcomes by single vs. poly-SUD status. ⋯ The findings from this exploratory study suggest that Veterans with PTSD and co-occurring poly-SUD, as compared to a single-SUD, may experience greater improvement in substance use but less improvement in PTSD symptoms during integrated treatment. Future research should identify ways to enhance treatment outcomes for individuals with poly-SUD, and to better understand mechanisms of change for this population.
-
Drug Alcohol Depend · Jun 2019
Effects of mandatory prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) use laws on prescriber registration and use and on risky prescribing.
Comprehensive mandatory use laws for prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) have been implemented in a number of states to help address the opioid overdose epidemic. These laws may reduce opioid-related overdose deaths by increasing prescribers' use of PDMPs and reducing high-risk prescribing behaviors. ⋯ These findings indicate that PDMP mandates have the potential to reduce risky opioid prescribing practices. Variation in the laws may explain why the effectiveness varied between states.
-
Drug Alcohol Depend · Apr 2019
Identifying opioid prescribing patterns for high-volume prescribers via cluster analysis.
Despite recent decreases in opioid prescribing rates, evidence suggests there is substantial variation in the way opioids are prescribed by providers. This study aims to identify patterns in high-volume opioid prescribing. ⋯ These results provide a clearer picture of current patterns among high-volume prescribers, who accounted for almost two-thirds of all opioid prescriptions. In light of the ongoing opioid overdose epidemic, this knowledge is critical for prevention activities.
-
Drug Alcohol Depend · Apr 2019
Randomized Controlled TrialVery-low-nicotine-content cigarettes and dependence among non-daily smokers.
The US Food and Drug Administration is considering reductions in the nicotine content of cigarettes to reduce smoking and tobacco dependence. A randomized study showed that even non-daily, intermittent smokers (ITS) reduced their cigarette consumption when switched to very-low-nicotine-content cigarettes (VLNCCs). This paper assesses whether switching ITS to VLNCCs results in decreased dependence and whether subsequent cigarette consumption is mediated by decreased dependence. ⋯ Among ITS, switching to VLNCCs results in reduced tobacco dependence. However, the reductions in dependence appear to be secondary to effects on cigarette consumption, and do not appear to be an independent predictor or cause of reduced cigarette consumption.
-
Drug Alcohol Depend · Apr 2019
Association between polygenic risk for tobacco or alcohol consumption and liability to licit and illicit substance use in young Australian adults.
Co-morbid substance use is very common. Despite a historical focus using genetic epidemiology to investigate comorbid substance use and misuse, few studies have examined substance-substance associations using polygenic risk score (PRS) methods. ⋯ To our knowledge, this is the first study to report significant genetic overlap between the polygenic risks for smoking initiation and alcohol consumption and the risk of initiating major classes of illicit substances. PRSs constructed from large discovery GWASs allows the detection of novel genetic associations.