Alcohol and alcoholism : international journal of the Medical Council on Alcoholism
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Changes in glutamatergic transmission affect many aspects of neuroplasticity associated with ethanol and drug addiction. For instance, ethanol- and drug-seeking behavior is promoted by increased glutamate transmission in key regions of the motive circuit. We hypothesized that because glutamate transporter 1 (GLT1) is responsible for the removal of most extracellular glutamate, up-regulation or activation of GLT1 would attenuate ethanol consumption. ⋯ These results indicate that CEF effectively reduces ethanol intake, possibly through activation of GLT1, and may be a potential therapeutic drug for alcohol addiction treatment.
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Stigma is likely to aggravate the severe medical and social consequences of alcohol dependence. We aim to explore the characteristics of the alcohol dependence stigma by comparing it with the stigma of other conditions. ⋯ Alcoholism is a particularly severely stigmatized mental disorder. Cultural differences are likely, but under-researched. We discuss possible reasons for the differences between the stigma of alcoholism and of other mental diseases and the consequences for targeted anti-stigma initiatives.
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To examine the relationship between direct alcohol and non-alcohol sponsorship and drinking in Australian sportspeople. ⋯ Governments should consider alternatives to alcohol industry sponsorship of sport. Hypothecated taxes on tobacco have been used successfully for replacing tobacco sponsorship of sport in some countries, and may show equal utility for the alcohol industry's funding of sport.
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The qualitative component of this mixed methods study aimed at obtaining more in-depth information about the barriers of implementation of screening and brief interventions (SBI) in general practice identified in the quantitative component by giving general practitioners (GPs) the opportunity to discuss and report on the particular difficulties they experience in relation to identification and treatment of alcohol problems in their daily work. ⋯ The analysis showed that problems of implementing SBI in general practice are a complex issue. The quantitative part of the project revealed a strong association between knowledge/self-efficacy and the use of SBI. However, in the qualitative study, we were able to look in more detail at some of the findings from the first part. Even if the lack of knowledge of SBI was still significant, the five factors identified in this study appeared important for the GPs' decisions to use SBI in individual cases.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
The impact of screening, brief intervention and referral for treatment in emergency department patients' alcohol use: a 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up.
This study aims to determine the impact of Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral for Treatment (SBIRT) in reducing alcohol consumption in emergency department (ED) patients at 3, 6, and 12 months following exposure to the intervention. ⋯ SBIRT delivered by ED providers appears to have short-term effectiveness in reducing at-risk drinking, but multi-contact interventions or booster programs may be necessary to maintain long-term reductions in risky drinking.