One obvious piece of intelligence for practice is the clear link between social deprivation and risky alcohol consumption. As with other aspects of health, it is those that have the least that pay the greatest price including mortality. Knowing that alcohol consumption is elevated in this group could help target resources locally as practitioners and teams will have the knowledge of where these individuals are and aim to make access to treatment as easy as possible. However, given the continuing real-term decrease in treatment budgets, that could prove to be an ambition rather than the reality.
The primary aim was to compare concentrations of psychoactive substances in blood in non-fatal and fatal opioid overdoses. The secondary aim was to assess the concentration levels of naloxone in blood in non-fatal overdoses and the association between naloxone findings and concomitantly detected drugs. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Desire thinking is an emerging construct in the addictive behaviours literature. No research, to date, has investigated its contribution to problematic alcohol use and nicotine dependence in patient samples when accounting for established predictors of addictive behaviours. The present study sought to clarify, in patient samples, the relative contribution of desire thinking in the associations between negative affect, impulsivity and thought suppression on the one hand and craving, problematic alcohol use and nicotine dependence on the other. To read the full article, where necessary, choose “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Although trauma exposure is a recognized risk factor for alcohol use, research on military populations has emphasized combat exposure, with minimal consideration of exposure to other potentially traumatic events (PTEs). We aimed to (a) identify, characterize, and quantify subgroups of service members based on PTE patterns; (b) examine associations between trauma exposure subgroups and alcohol use; and (c) examine these associations longitudinally. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Treatment efficacy for co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders is well established, yet direct evidence for comparative effectiveness across treatments is lacking. The present study compared the effectiveness of several behavioral and pharmacological therapies for adults with co-occurring PTSD and alcohol or other drug use disorders. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
To examine subjective and psychophysiological responses to appetitive cues during an alcohol cue reactivity task, and its relation to alcoholic liver disease and assess whether executive functioning is associated with appropriate regulation of cue-elicited responses in individuals with severe alcohol use disorder (AUD).. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are linked with numerous severe detrimental outcomes. Evidence suggests that there is a typology of individuals with an AUD based on the symptoms they report. Scant research has identified how these groups may vary in prevalence by age, which could highlight aspects of problematic drinking behavior that are particularly salient at different ages. Our study aimed to (a) identify latent classes of drinkers with AUD that differ based on symptoms of AUD and (b) examine prevalences of latent classes by age.. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Jeff Fernandez explains how primary care services are vital to providing cost-effective and successful alcohol detoxification treatment in the community, and they should not be reduced as a result of cuts to healthcare funding. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
The noradrenergic system has been implicated in AUD and PTSD, with adrenergic agents reducing drinking in individuals with AUD and improving sleep disturbances in individuals with PTSD. In a recent clinical trial (Petrakis et al., 2016), prazosin, an α1‐adrenergic antagonist, was not superior to placebo in reducing PTSD symptoms, sleep problems, or alcohol consumption in a comorbid population; however, patients in both treatment conditions improved in all symptom domains over the course of treatment. It remains unknown whether alcohol abstinence is related to changes in PTSD symptoms and medication effects in individuals with this comorbidity.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Joe Barnby on a recent review of cross-sectional observational data, which explores the association of cannabis with cognitive functioning in young people.
For decades, researchers have called for the systematic inclusion of non‐consumption outcomes, such as alcohol‐related consequences and, temptation/craving, in addition to consumption outcomes (e.g., percent days abstinent) to evaluate alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment efficacy. However, FDA guidelines for alcohol medications development suggest non‐consumption outcomes may be insensitive to changes that occur within AUD treatment trial assessment windows, though this has never been directly tested. We aimed to measure the predictive value of diagnostically‐related, non‐consumption measures of AUD treatment effects.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Adolescent health problems are more prevalent in families with low socioeconomic position, but few studies have assessed the role of parental health in this association. This study examines the extent to which parental health problems, particularly those related to high-risk health behaviour, might explain the association between parental education and adolescent health problems due to violence, self-harm and substance use. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
From 1 April 2019 pregabalin and gabapentin will be reclassified as class C controlled substances in the UK. The change, announced in October 2018, is expected to prompt a decline in the use of the drugs as prescribing, dispensing, and collecting them becomes more onerous for doctors, pharmacists, and patients. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology (Mar 25, 2019). DOI:10.1037/pha0000274
Individuals with cannabis use disorders (CUD) show inhibitory control deficits and differential attention toward marijuana (MJ) stimuli. The robustness and utility of these measures in the CUD literature are somewhat equivocal. The present study was designed to increase measurement sensitivity by capitalizing on (a) individually calibrated stimulus selection based on cue reactivity patterns and (2) eye-tracking based measurement. CUD (n = 42) and non-CUD controls (n = 11) served as subjects.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
About: the control of pregabalin and gabapentin under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and scheduling under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001
From: Crime, Policing and Fire Group (CPFG) - Crime Directorate
Unit: Drug Strategy Unit
Date for Implementation 1 April 2019
To compare long‐term criminal justice outcomes among opioid dependent individuals randomized to receive buprenorphine or methadone.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
The Care Quality Commission has rated the care being provided by MOSAIC to be Outstanding after an inspection in January 2019.
MOSAIC is a substance misuse service operated by Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and provides support and treatment for people with drug and alcohol issues, as well as support for young people whose parents misuse substances.
Open access. This was a prospective, longitudinal study of patients followed for 19 years after entering specialized treatment for substance use disorders. At baseline 291 patients (mean age 38.3 years, standard deviation 11.4 years, 72% male) with high psychiatric co-morbidity were recruited; 130 (45%) had lifetime alcohol use disorder alone, while 161 (55%) had poly-substance use disorders. Time and causes of death were gathered from the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. Lifetime psychiatric symptom disorders and substance use disorders at baseline were measured with The Composite International Diagnostic Interview and personality disorders at baseline were measured with The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory II.
Mental health clinicians are expected to offer support and advice to patients to promote smoking cessation. Alongside this is the relatively new and increasingly popular phenomenon of electronic cigarette use. The absence of any long-term evidence regarding safety is recognised and clinicians' awareness of e-cigarettes may be limited to personal experience or media publications, leading to uncertainty in their confidence discussing e-cigarettes with patients, both in general and as an aid to quitting smoking. This article provides a historical and contemporary overview of e-cigarettes and vaping. The reader will gain an understanding of e-cigarette usage, risks and benefits, the current position on use of e-cigarettes in mental health settings, and tips on how to take an e-cigarette/vaping history and how to offer advice about use. This is achieved in the context of recent publications and national recommendations. Although the focus is primarily on the mental health patient, the article is of benefit to all health and social care professionals to help them develop an understanding of e-cigarettes as a tobacco-smoking cessation or harm-reduction aid.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the impact of daily supportive text messages over a 6-month treatment period on mood and alcohol consumption in individuals with a dual diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and depression following completion of an inpatient treatment programme.. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/2HjNDf3
Editorial. The relationship between substance use disorders and schizophrenia has long intrigued mental health researchers and clinicians. The prevalence of substance use disorders in persons with schizophrenia is significantly higher than in the general population, and several substances can cause psychosis during intoxication or withdrawal. How does one differentiate schizophrenia from substance-induced psychotic disorder? When individuals develop psychosis in the context of substance use, what does that tell us in terms of etiopathophysiology and likely prognosis and outcome? In DSM-5, the distinction between substance-induced psychosis and schizophrenia is based on the persistence of psychosis beyond 1 month after last exposure to the implicated substance (1); the 1-month criterion is somewhat arbitrary but was based on a comprehensive review of relevant data.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
The UK government has announced a summit focused on tackling problem drug use that will bring together a variety of experts from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The announcement was made by Minister for Crime, Policing and the Fire Service Kit Malthouse today at a meeting of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee. The summit will be held in Glasgow, and the intention is for it to take place before Christmas. It will provide an update on Dame Carol Black’s review of drugs, which is due to report later this year.
Although lower brain volume has been routinely observed in individuals with substance dependence compared with nondependent control subjects, the brain regions exhibiting lower volume have not been consistent across studies. In addition, it is not clear whether a common set of regions are involved in substance dependence regardless of the substance used or whether some brain volume effects are substance specific. Resolution of these issues may contribute to the identification of clinically relevant imaging biomarkers. Using pooled data from 14 countries, the authors sought to identify general and substance-specific associations between dependence and regional brain volumes.. Login at top right hand side of page using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens for full text.
Pioneering research over the past two decades has shown that memories are far more malleable than we once thought, thereby highlighting the potential for new clinical avenues for treatment of psychopathology. We first briefly review the historical foundation of memory reconsolidation—a concept that refers to hypothetical processes that occur when a memory is retrieved and restored. Then, we provide an overview of the basic research on memory reconsolidation that has been done with humans and other animals, focusing on models of fear, anxiety-related disorders, and addiction, from the perspective that they all involve disorders of memory. This basic research has fuelled early stage developments of novel treatment techniques.. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Balby based New Beginnings has celebrated the completion of its first allotment to support the physical and mental wellbeing of people in recovery from drug and/ or alcohol addiction.
New Beginnings which provides a specialist rehab and detox service for people experiencing substance misuse is using the allotment to promote a sense of purpose and foster strong bonds for its clients and service users.
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology (Nov 1, 2018). DOI:10.1037/pha0000232
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are highly prevalent and commonly co-occur. The dual diagnosis of PTSD/AUD is associated with serious negative sequalae, and there are currently no effective pharmacological treatments for this comorbidity. Both PTSD and AUD are characterized by dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which helps modulate stress reactivity. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide that attenuates HPA axis dysregulation, may be beneficial for individuals with co-occurring PTSD/AUD. Thus, the current study examined the effects of intranasal oxytocin (40 IU) as compared with placebo on stress reactivity (e.g., cortisol) as well as subjective alcohol craving in response to a laboratory stress task (Trier Social Stress Task). . To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Open access. Alcohol and drug use can have negative consequences on the health, economy, productivity, and social aspects of communities. We aimed to use data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2016 to calculate global and regional estimates of the prevalence of alcohol, amphetamine, cannabis, cocaine, and opioid dependence, and to estimate global disease burden attributable to alcohol and drug use between 1990 and 2016, and for 195 countries and territories within 21 regions, and within seven super-regions.
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) patients without Korsakoff's syndrome (KS) report a variable self‐rated sleep quality. Their ability to accurately judge their sleep quality may be related to their alcohol‐related cognitive deficits and brain damage. KS patients, who present severe brain dysfunction, may be cognitively unable to judge their sleep quality. The aim of the present study is to examine in AUD and KS patients, whether the absence of sleep complaint is associated with altered brain structure and impaired cognitive abilities within specific cerebral networks.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Some authors have pointed out the usefulness of the levels of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) as a treatment outcome. However, in order to use this variable as an outcome measure its impact needs to be addressed within a clinical context. The aim of this study is to analyze the sensitivity of SUD levels as a measure for detecting reliable changes, and to make a comparison between the changes in SUD levels detected when using the number of criteria fulfilled and when using the reliable change index (RCI).. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a wide‐spread, heritable brain disease, but few studies have linked genetic variants or epigenetic factors to brain structures related to AUD in humans, due to many factors including the high‐dimensional nature of imaging and genomic data.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
This study is the first to examine longitudinal post‐treatment outcomes of a placebo‐controlled trial of varenicline for alcohol use disorder with comorbid cigarette smoking.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Although adolescents are developmentally distinct from adults, they often receive addiction treatment based on adult models. This is problematic because adolescents face significantly different conditions in addiction treatment, including distinct basic biological and neurodevelopmental stages, unique sociodevelopmental concerns, distinctive addiction trajectories, and in turn, disparate treatment goals and outcomes. In sum, it can be difficult for even savvy clinicians to know how to approach addiction treatment with this important age group.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
As part of its new inquiry into immersive and addictive technologies, the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has heard differing views about the nature and extent of gaming disorder, and has discussed the robust evidence-base that is needed for reliable policy making on the issue. This week, the Committee will build on that evidence by hearing from academics who study potential harms associated with gaming, and a leading clinician who works on behavioural addictions.
Editorial Societal attitudes toward cannabis use are changing rapidly. In the past decade, there has been a wide-ranging movement toward removal of criminal sanctions on cannabis use, and in some localities cannabis use is permitted in a regulated manner, similar to alcohol. This movement has raised some concerns about whether we understand the full implications of cannabis use, particularly in younger individuals. Although cannabis is clearly associated with fewer fatal consequences than alcohol use, it has long been understood that cannabis use can be associated with persistent and substantial cognitive changes (1) and possibly alterations in motivational processes. Login at top right hand side of page using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens for full text.
Editorial. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by periods of compulsive alcohol use in which one experiences a loss of control over drinking and a negative emotional state when not drinking. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, approximately 6% of adults in the United States meet the criteria for AUD, which demonstrates a heritability of approximately 50%. Login at top right hand side of page using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens for full text.
In October, the Home Secretary announced that there would be a major independent review of drug misuse, building on the work under way since the government’s drug strategy was published in 2017.
Professor Dame Carol Black has been asked by the government to lead the review which will look at a wide range of issues, including the system of support and enforcement around drug misuse, in order to inform the consideration of what more can be done to tackle drug harms.
The underlying molecular mechanisms associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD) risk have only been partially revealed using traditional approaches such as univariate GWAS and linkage‐based analyses. We therefore aimed to identify gene clusters related to EEG neurobiological phenotypes distinctive to individuals with AUD using a multivariate approach.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Alcohol‐induced blackouts, a form of anterograde amnesia that restricts the encoding of short‐term memories into long‐term ones, are among the most severe alcohol‐related consequences. College students are at high risk of experiencing alcohol‐induced blackouts, and there is a need to determine whether alcohol interventions can effectively reduce blackouts in this population. The current study uses data from 3 randomized clinical trials to examine the effect of various intervention approaches on alcohol‐induced blackouts.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
To assess long‐term safety of subcutaneous buprenorphine (CAM2038) weekly and monthly depots.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Written evidence notes clear links between mental health illness and problem drug use, and reveals how stressful and traumatic experiences in childhood can increase the likelihood of a person developing problematic drug use later in life. [investigation looked at drivers of drug use in Scotland rather than England]
How a service for young people in North Yorkshire works with other agencies to focus on all their emotional wellbeing, substance misuse and mental health needs.
Neuropsychology (Apr 25, 2019). DOI:10.1037/neu0000552
Background: The potential influence of methamphetamine use on neuropsychological functioning is unclear. The aim of this this meta-analysis was to investigate the relationship between abstinence and neuropsychological functioning in people with methamphetamine use disorder. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.