Addictive behaviors
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Addictive behaviors · Jul 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudySex differences in response to reduced nicotine content cigarettes.
When switching from usual brand cigarettes, very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarettes lead to a reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked, toxicant exposure, withdrawal symptoms and dependence. One area that has been relatively unexplored is what factors might moderate the effects of VLNC cigarettes. This exploratory analysis focuses on sex differences in responses to VLNC cigarettes and nicotine replacement therapy. ⋯ Sex of the smoker may be an important determinant for effects of VLNC cigarettes and nicotine patch. Future large randomized trials to confirm these results are needed.
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Addictive behaviors · May 2014
Correlates of nonmedical use of stimulants and methamphetamine use in a national sample.
Despite chemical similarities, ADHD stimulants and methamphetamine have distinct use patterns in the community. This study compared the characteristics of nonmedical ADHD stimulants users and methamphetamine users in a household sample. ⋯ The characteristics of STM users differ from METH and STM/METH users, and their associations with substance use and psychiatric comorbidities differ by age. Findings have implications for understanding the risks for stimulant use in different age subgroups.
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Addictive behaviors · May 2014
Medical and nonmedical use of prescription benzodiazepine anxiolytics among U.S. high school seniors.
To examine the lifetime prevalence of medical and nonmedical use of prescription benzodiazepine anxiolytics among U.S. high school seniors and to assess substance use behaviors based on lifetime histories of medical and nonmedical use of prescription benzodiazepine anxiolytics. ⋯ One in every ten U.S. high school seniors has ever had some exposure to prescription benzodiazepine anxiolytics either medically or nonmedically. Benzodiazepine anxiolytics prescribed to adolescents should be closely monitored, safely stored, and properly disposed to reduce nonmedical use due to leftover medication and peer diversion.
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Addictive behaviors · May 2014
Cannabis use and neurocognitive functioning in a non-clinical sample of users.
With the recent debates over marijuana legalization and increases in use, it is critical to examine its role in cognition. While many studies generally support the adverse acute effects of cannabis on neurocognition, the non-acute effects remain less clear. The current study used a cross-sectional design to examine relationships between recent and past cannabis use on neurocognitive functioning in a non-clinical adult sample. ⋯ Our results support the widespread adverse effects of cannabis use on neurocognitive functioning. Although some of these adverse effects appear to attenuate with abstinence, past users' neurocognitive functioning was consistently lower than non-users.
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Addictive behaviors · May 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialIntegrated smoking cessation and binge drinking intervention for young adults: a pilot efficacy trial.
Alcohol consumption is strongly associated with cigarette smoking in young adults. The primary aim of this investigation was to complete a pilot evaluation of the efficacy of an integrated intervention that targets both cigarette smoking and binge drinking on the cigarette smoking and binge behavior of young adults at 6-month follow-up. ⋯ At 6 months, participants who completed the study and who received integrated intervention consumed fewer drinks per month (p<0.05) and number of binge drinking episodes per month (p<0.05) than those who received standard treatment. Preliminary data supports that integrated intervention enhances smoking cessation and reduces binge drinking compared to standard treatment.