Substance Abuse

Discusses health disparities involving mental health disorders and substance abuse among Hispanic males

A literature review focusing on reinforcement effects of addictive substances, relapse, "reconsolidation of drug cue memories," compulsive drug intake. Also a consideration of brain imaging studies. The authors go on to speculate whether such models can be applied to clinical settings and outcome measurement.

Modifications of a survey instrument designed to investigate relapse in cocaine users applied to alcohol users.

May seem like department of obvious, that people drink a lot at sporting events, but evidently this is the first study trying to measure a population with breathalyzers at a game and discuss the implications, suggesting further research is possible and necessary.

froom the Drug Abuse Warning Network, data from 2008

A recent book in Springer's Neuromethods series. Sections include "Behavioral Paradigms," "Modeling Stages of Drug Addiction in Animals"

From the abstract: "The present review begins by identifying the clinical features of SUDs and highlights the narrow regulatory end-point required for approval of a novel SUD therapeutic. A conceptual overview of dependence is provided, followed by identification of potential intervention targets in the addiction cycle. The main components of the addiction cycle provide the framework for a discussion of preclinical models and their clinical analogs, all of which are focused on isolated behavioral end-points thought to be relevant to the persistence of compulsive drug use. Thus, the greatest obstacle to successful development is the gap between the multiplicity of preclinical and early clinical end-points and the regulatory end-point of sustained abstinence. This review proposes two pathways to bridging this gap: further development and validation of the preclinical extended access self-administration model; inclusion of secondary end-points comprising all of the measures highlighted in the present discussion in Phase 3 trials. Further, completion of the postdictive validation of analogous preclinical and clinical assays is of high priority. Ultimately, demonstration of the relevance and validity of a variety of end-points to the ultimate goal of abstinence will allow researchers to identify truly relevant therapeutic mechanisms and intervention targets, and establish a framework for SUD therapeutic development that allows optimal decision-making and resource allocation."

herbal remedies and acupunture in treatment of alcoholism in China

"Pathways to Desistance study followed more than 1,300 serious juvenile offenders for 7 years after their conviction. In this bulletin, the authors present some key findings on the link between adolescent substance use and serious offending"

BU assessment site

study funded by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) involving 1100 Phoenix-area Latino youths

Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) data from 2009

Argues that higher rates of alcohol dependence occur among certain groups and the necessity of research and treatment to address disparities

"Description of a Modern Addictions and Mental Health Service"

a brief review of research and resources on women and alcohol

"This study examined 18-month outcomes for 55 individuals receiving outpatient treatment combined with residence in a SLH. " (Sober Living House)