We often think of alcohol misuse in terms of dependence and the conditions associated with heavy drinking like liver disease and pancreatitis. But, as last year’s Chief Medical Officers’ new guidance indicated, lower levels of alcohol misuse can contribute to a wide range of conditions not so readily associated with alcohol. Is it therefore worth considering how alcohol could be affecting the health of a wider range of patients and not just heavy drinkers?
Open access. Cannabis use following the onset of first-episode psychosis has been linked to both increased risk of relapse and non-adherence with antipsychotic medication. Whether poor outcome associated with cannabis use is mediated through an adverse effect of cannabis on medication adherence is unclear.
Comment. In The Lancet Psychiatry, Schoeler and colleagues present a study1 describing the mediating effect of medication adherence on the association between continued cannabis use and relapse risk in patients with first-episode psychosis. They have previously reported a relapse rate of 36% in this patient group over a 2-year period.2 Acknowledging the potential risk of psychosis relapse related to the high proportion of patients continuing cannabis use after the onset of psychosis, the current study1 investigates the same patient group consisting of 245 patients, obtaining retrospective data on active cannabis use and medication adherence shortly after illness onset, as well as risk of relapse at 2-year follow-up. The authors find that relapse of psychosis associated with continued cannabis use is partly mediated through non-adherence to prescribed antipsychotic medication. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Evidence on the role of cannabis as a gateway drug is inconsistent. We characterise patterns of cannabis use among UK teenagers aged 13–18 years, and assess their influence on problematic substance use at age 21 years.
Open Access Article
The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association of cannabis use with the development of elevated anxiety symptoms in the general population.
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The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, mecamylamine, is a potential novel pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder. The aims were to compare alcohol consumption between mecamylamine and placebo and test if smoking status modified treatment effects. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
In Scotland, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination for all prisoners was introduced in 1999; here, we examine the impact of this programme among people who inject drugs (PWID) in the community. This study aimed to compare rates of HBV vaccine uptake before and after implementation of the prison programme and to estimate the determinants of vaccine uptake, the levels of ever/current HBV infection and the associations between vaccine uptake and ever/current HBV infection. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
According to statistics published in May by NHS Digital, there were an estimated 1.1 million hospital admissions in England where alcohol was the primary or secondary issue in 2015-16 – the highest ever recorded and up from 670,000 a decade earlier. In the UK, it is estimated that 24% of adults drink in a harmful way, while 9% of men and 4% of women show signs of alcohol dependence.
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Substance use disorders are major contributors to excess mortality among individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), yet associations between pharmacological ADHD treatment and substance-related problems remain unclear. This study investigated concurrent and long-term associations between ADHD medication treatment and substance-related events. Login at top right hand side of page using your SSSFT NHS Athens for full text.
Current evidence suggests the pessimism about treatment outcomes for this group of patients may be unfounded. However, there is an urgent need for more consistent and better quality reporting of outcomes in future studies in this area. To read the full article, log in using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens details
Conclusions: Hazardous alcohol consumption appears to be a key factor of the dropout rate in a Web-based alcohol intervention study. Thus, it is important to develop strategies to keep participants who are at high risk in Web-based interventions.
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors31.4 (Jun 2017): 385-392.
The purpose of this study was to conduct a randomized test of clinic- and home-based incentives plus parent training for adolescent problem alcohol use. Adolescents (N = 75) with alcohol misuse, with or without other substance misuse, were enrolled. All youth received individual Motivational Enhancement Therapy/Cognitive Behavior Therapy and weekly urine drug testing. The experimental condition (EXP) included Abstinence Incentives (clinic-based incentives for abstinence from all substances) plus weekly behavioral parent training that included a parent-delivered, abstinence-based, substance monitoring contract. The comparison condition (CONTROL) included Attendance Incentives (ATTI). To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors31.4 (Jun 2017): 403-414.
Motivation is an integral factor in substance use treatment and long-term recovery. However, it is unclear what role intrinsic and extrinsic motivation play across different treatment modalities. A meta-analysis (N = 84) was performed to estimate the pooled effect size of Motivational Interviewing (MI; primarily targeting intrinsic motivation) and contingency management (CM; primarily targeting extrinsic motivation) at different follow-up periods. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors30.5(Aug 2016): 607-612.
Emphasis on the negative consequences of drug use is a critical component of cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) skills to regulate craving. Despite the relative success of CBT for treating substance use disorders, effective human laboratory models of CBT are lacking. Recent reports have indicated that the regulation of craving (ROC) task provides a valid model of craving regulation for nicotine, alcohol, and methamphetamine use. The present study examined ROC in an online sample of regular cocaine users (n = 44) recruited from Amazon.com’s Mechanical Turk. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Objectives To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating effects of exercise for people with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) across multiple health outcomes. We also investigated the prevalence and predictors of dropout from exercise studies in AUDs.
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In April 2015, the UK government enacted a temporary class drug order (TCDO) on ethylphenidate in response to reported harms associated with its use, in particular an outbreak of infections among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Lothian, Scotland. This study assesses the effect that the TCDO had on reducing the most common infections identified during the outbreak; Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
To examine adolescent cannabis use -- both at the national and individual level -- by deconstructing it into its necessary conditions of realistic use opportunities and willingness to use the drug given such opportunities. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Most U.S. states have passed medical marijuana laws (MMLs), with great variation in program regulation impacting enrollment rates. We aimed to compare changes in rates of marijuana use, heavy use, and Cannabis Use Disorder across age groups while accounting for whether states enacted medicalized (highly regulated) or non-medical MML programs. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Although they often co-occur, the longitudinal relationship between depression and substance use disorders during adolescence remains unclear. This study estimated the effects of cumulative depression during early adolescence (ages 13-15) on the likelihood of cannabis use disorder (CUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) at age 18. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Assess trends in the number, and mortality rates, of methamphetamine-related death in Australia, 2009-2015; 2. Assess the characteristics, and the cause, manner and circumstances of death; and 3. Assess the blood methamphetamine concentrations and the presence of other drugs in methamphetamine-related death. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Probability discounting refers to the effect of outcome uncertainty on decision making. Using probability discounting, we examined the degree to which self-identified chronic pain patients (CPP) were likely to try a novel analgesic medication given increasing addiction risk. We postulated that propensity for opioid misuse, trait impulsivity, and previous opioid experience would be positively associated with likelihood of risky medication use. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Examination of longitudinal relationships between childhood traumatic experiences and drug use across the life-course at the national level, with control of confounding by other forms of trauma, is needed. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of nine typologies of childhood traumas and the cumulative number experienced, correlation between traumas, and associations between individual and cumulative number of traumas with drug use during adolescence, emerging adulthood, and adulthood. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Chronic alcohol use is associated with lower gray matter volume, and we recently reported that alcohol use showed negative associations with widespread gray matter (GM) volume even among young adults. The current study aimed to test the strength of association between (1) alcohol use and GM volume; (2) alcohol use and white matter (WM) integrity; (3) cannabis use and GM volume; and (4) cannabis use and WM integrity among adults and adolescents. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Prescription opioid overdose is a leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality in the US. We aimed to identify characteristics associated with clinical severity in emergency department patients with prescription opioid overdose. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology85.7 (Jul 2017): 676-688.
Background: Partnerships between mental health care stakeholders provide a context for generalizable clinical research with implications for quality improvement. In the context of a partnership between an adolescent residential substance abuse disorder (SUD) treatment center and clinical researchers, stakeholders identified knowledge gaps (internal and the field broadly) with regard to patient interpersonal factors that influence working alliance and acute SUD residential treatment outcome trajectories. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
The authors sought to determine whether pregnancy is an intrinsic motivator for cessation of drug abuse. Login at top right hand side of page using your SSSFT NHS Athens for full text.
Anhedonia—a transdiagnostic psychopathological trait indicative of inability to experience pleasure—could lead to and result from adolescent marijuana use, yet this notion has not been tested. This study aimed to estimate the association of: (1) anhedonia at age 14 with rate of change in marijuana use over an 18-month follow-up, and (2) marijuana use at age 14 with rate of change in anhedonia over follow-up. Secondary aims were to test whether gender, baseline marijuana use history, and peer marijuana use moderated these associations. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
We’ve just heard that SSOTP will not be renewing their agreement with SSSFT LKS for library services for this financial year. Because of this we will be reviewing our Be Aware bulletins. Sadly we won’t be accepting any new sign-ups from SSOTP staff and will be withdrawing some of the physical healthcare bulletins that we…
Evidence on the role of cannabis as a gateway drug is inconsistent. We characterise patterns of cannabis use among UK teenagers aged 13–18 years, and assess their influence on problematic substance use at age 21 years.
Open Access Article
Teenagers who use cannabis are more likely to smoke, drink in a harmful way, and take other illicit drugs in early adulthood than non-users, a study has found. Although the study was observational, researchers from the University of Bristol concluded that more should be done to reduce young people’s cannabis exposure.
Cannabis has often been cited as a “gateway” to other drug use, said the researchers, but the evidence for this has been inconsistent.
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This article describes 4 case examples of technology-based interventions for risky drinking: (a) a freely available and interactive Web site that provides individualized feedback and information on risky drinking patterns; (b) a brief intervention for adolescents that provides individualized feedback to teens regarding their alcohol use; (c) a computer-delivered screening and brief intervention for alcohol use among pregnant women; and (d) a simulation program for training social workers in screening and brief intervention. SSSSFT - Please contact the library to receive a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
The UK media's reporting of the study was generally accurate, with the noticeable exception of the headline printed by The Sun, which claimed that "less than a pint a day means you're 'THREE TIMES more likely to develop early signs of Alzheimer's'". This is not an accurate reflection of the study findings as none of the participants had developed Alzheimer's disease.
Geoff Page publishes his debut elf blog on a new systematic review of alcohol and drug use disorders in recently incarcerated men and women. #WomenAndDrugs
Views and Reviews. “Savings” in specialist services are increasing pressure elsewhere in the NHS, says Colin Drummond. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
Research News. Alcohol consumption, even at moderate levels, is associated with increased risk of adverse brain outcomes and a steeper decline in cognitive skills, a study published in The BMJ has found.
The authors said that these results support recent reductions in recommended alcohol limits in the UK to no more than 14 units of alcohol a week for men and women, adding that they raise questions about the current US limits.
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Stimulant use disorders are significant contributors to the global burden of disease, with a growing impact on women. Psychosocial interventions are the gold standard for treating this condition, but several barriers may prevent women from accessing appropriate treatment. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the most recent findings about psychosocial interventions for stimulant use disorders, focussing on results relevant to women. SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
There are considerable gender differences in youth engaging in excessive internet use (EIU). This review provides updates based on the recent literature focusing on the EIU in young women to describe its implications including what it constitutes of, its correlates, sequelae and preventive and/or treatment strategies. SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
The study reviews recent publications on methamphetamine use and dependence women in term of their epidemic, physical health impact, psychosocial impacts, and also in the identified vulnerable issues. SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
The present review compares and contrasts the diagnostic entities and taxonomy of substance use and addictive disorders in the beta draft of the Eleventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 11), which was released in November 2016, and the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which was published in mid-2013. Recently published papers relevant to these two classification systems are examined. New initiatives in diagnosis and assessment including the addictions neuroclinical assessment are noted. SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Families have an important role supporting a family member with problematic substance use (PSU), although this can often be challenging and confronting. Previous research has identified high rates of family aggression and violence within the context of PSU, although few studies have examined this issue from the perspective of affected family members (AFMs) supporting a member with PSU. The aims of the current Australian study were to understand AFMs’ experience of aggression and violence while supporting a member with PSU, and to explicate the strategies they used to prevent and cope with this behaviour.
Alcohol consumption creates a significant public health burden, and young people who drink alcohol place themselves at risk of harm. Expert guidance and reviews have highlighted the pressing need for reliable and valid, age-appropriate alcohol screening and assessment measures for young people. The proposed systematic review will evaluate existing alcohol screening and assessment measures for young people aged 24 and under. Open Access Article
Gambling addiction is a primary chronic disease of brain reward, incentive, memory and interrelated circuitry. The perception of addiction has often been associated with substance abuse. This article aims to highlight some of the psychological, mental health and wellbeing impact gambling has on lifestyle and family. Almost 70% of the population in the UK participates in some form of gambling, and an estimated 250 000–310 000 people live with gambling issues. There are several factors that encourage an individual to gamble, including: stimulating the mind; escape; winning; reward; coping; excitement; prompting social interaction; exploration; financial gains; and boredom. The complexity of gambling behaviour can compromise wellbeing and lead to public health crises. Early intervention in treating gamblers can support the mental health and wellbeing of the addict and family.
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