Alcohol Use and Gender-Based Violence
AbstractPurpose of reviewThe evidence for association of alcohol and gender-based violence (GBV) is quite strong; however, the exact pathways of this association need further study. Areas that need more research include the role of alcohol in any type of intimate partner violence and the risks for violence when alcohol is combined with other psychoactive substances. This will help in developing targeted interventions for different groups. This paper aims at reviewing existing literature on alcohol-related GBV and intimate partner violence (IPV) and provide a reference for future research.Recent FindingsAlcohol plays an imp...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - January 28, 2021 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Emotional Intelligence: Relevance and Implications for Addiction
AbstractPurpose of ReviewEmotional intelligence (EI) is widely regarded as an important predictor of a diverse set of health and life success outcomes. There is growing evidence to demonstrate the role that EI plays in the development of both substance use and behavioral addictions. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the still limited, but growing research literature on the relevance of EI and related constructs to addictions.Recent FindingsThere is substantial empirical evidence to suggest that EI is an important risk factor for the development of addictions. This points to a need for greater research at...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - January 21, 2021 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Gender Differences in Addiction
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review is aimed at reviewing gender differences in addictive disorders. A brief overview of the topic is given and then the review is broken down into substances. As a full overview of each substance would not be possible, this review is aimed at looking at the most commonly seen substances as well as behavioral addictions that have robust literature.Recent FindingsGender differences in substance use disorders and behavioral addictions appear to be multifactorial, with intrinsic hormonal factors of the reward system and external factors such as the expectations and gender roles or norms of a g...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - January 18, 2021 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
The Impact of Chronic Pain on Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Outcomes
AbstractPurpose of ReviewChronic pain among individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) receiving opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is common. We review extant literature on the impact of chronic pain on OAT outcomes (i.e., illicit opioid use and OAT retention).Recent FindingsWe found 13 manuscripts using 9 datasets. The relationship between chronic pain and OAT outcomes is mixed. Most studies reported no relationship between chronic pain and illicit opioid use, but definitions of chronic pain were inconsistent. There was some evidence that chronic pain is associated with higher likelihood of drug use, and associatio...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - January 13, 2021 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Improving Translational Research Outcomes for Opioid Use Disorder Treatments
AbstractPurpose of ReviewPharmacotherapies are the most effective means of reducing the harms associated with opioid use disorder (OUD). Translational research seeking to develop novel medications to treat OUD has been challenging due to the complex etiology of addiction. Preclinical outcome measures are often behavioral, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to fully mirror the various emotional and cognitive processes that motivate opioid use in humans. The goal of the current narrative review was to summarize the translational progression of three potential medications for OUD, which had varying levels of success.Rece...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - January 12, 2021 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Prevalence and Correlates of Disinhibited Eating in Youth from Marginalized Racial/Ethnic Groups
AbstractPurpose of ReviewEvidence suggests that youth from marginalized racial/ethnic groups (i.e., Latino, Black, Asian American, Native American youth) engage in disinhibited eating at greater rates than their non-Latino White peers. This review aims to discuss the prevalence of disinhibited eating among youth of color, identify culturally-specific correlates that may represent promising targets for prevention or treatment, and provide recommendations for future research.Recent FindingsWe restricted our literature review to studies published between 2010 and 2020 using samples of children and adolescents of color living ...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - January 8, 2021 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Anxiety and Opioid Use Disorder: Potential Targets for Treatment and Prevention
AbstractPurpose of ReviewAnxiety is among the most common symptoms and disorders in people with opioid use disorder. Although anxiety disorders have been understudied in opioid use disorder, research supports an important role of anxious responding to distress (e.g., distress intolerance) in problem opioid use. In this review, we provide an overview of the literature on the role of anxious responding to distress in opioid misuse.Recent FindingsAnxious responding to distress is elevated in people with problem opioid use, is associated with severity of misuse, and appears to amplify risk via an increase in motivation for see...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - January 6, 2021 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity of the Offspring in Humans: a Systematic Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe aimed to conduct a systematic review of studies exploring the relationship between prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning in the offspring in humans.Recent FindingsAnimal studies have demonstrated that PAE has long-term consequences in HPA axis activity in the offspring. Fewer studies have been conducted in humans.SummaryOur systematic review identified 9 studies including infants/toddlers (n = 6) and children/adolescents (n = 3). Cortisol responses to stress were only studied in infants/toddlers (3 studies: painful stressors; 3 studies:...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - January 5, 2021 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Ambulatory Assessment Methods to Examine Momentary State-Based Predictors of Opioid Use Behaviors
AbstractPurpose of ReviewAddiction scientists have begun using ambulatory assessment methods —including ecological momentary assessment (EMA), experience sampling, and daily diaries—to collect real-time or near-real-time reports of participants’ internal states in their natural environments. The goal of this short review is to synthesize EMA findings from our research group, which has studied several hundred outpatients during treatment for opioid-use disorder (OUD). (We cite pertinent findings from other groups, but have not tried to be comprehensive.) One of our main goals in using EMA is to examine momentary chang...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - January 2, 2021 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Advertising Unhealthy Food to Children: on the Importance of Regulations, Parenting Styles, and Media Literacy
AbstractPurpose of ReviewChildhood obesity is a global health concern. And a number of studies have indicated that food promotions affect children ’s food attitudes, preferences, and food choices for foods high in fat and sugar, which potentially impacts children’s body weight development. This review showcases how children are affected by food promotions, why companies even target children with their promotional efforts, and what makes ch ildren so susceptible to promotion of unhealthy food. In addition, this review discusses how regulations, parental styles, and individual media literacy skills can help to contain th...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - November 21, 2020 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Hooked on Junk: Emerging Evidence on How Food Marketing Affects Adolescents ’ Diets and Long-Term Health
AbstractPurpose of ReviewExamine current research on how adolescents are influenced by junk food marketing; inform proposed policies to expand food marketing restrictions to protect children up to age 17.Recent FindingsPrevious food marketing effects research focused primarily on TV advertising to younger children. However, recent research with adolescents demonstrates the following: (a) unique effects of food marketing on adolescents; (b) extensive exposure to social media and other digital marketing “disguised” as entertainment and messages from peers; (c) adolescents’ still-developing and hypersensitive reward res...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - November 13, 2020 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
A Breath of Knowledge: Overview of Current Adolescent E-cigarette Prevention and Cessation Programs
ConclusionsAlthough the programs reviewed largely incorporated theory and included key components known to be effective, there are some gaps in the programs ’ overall ability to prevent and stop adolescents from using e-cigarettes, such as lack of dedicated e-cigarette materials. More evidence-based tools, resources, and evaluations are needed to best inform adolescent e-cigarette cessation. Addressing the gaps that existing prevention and cessation p rograms present requires intervening at multiple systematic levels, conducting more rigorous program evaluations, and bolstering the availability of cessation programs. (So...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - November 12, 2020 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Risks Versus Consequences of Adolescent and Young Adult Substance Use: a Focus on Executive Control
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review examines the role of executive control processes in the liability for substance misuse and whether substance use, once initiated, leads to subsequent decrements as proposed by neurotoxicity models of substance use disorder (SUD).Recent FindingsAs indicated by a number of recent meta-analyses, executive control processes, which include working memory, cognitive flexibility, and numerous aspects of attentional, behavioral, and emotional control, are impaired in the context of active SUD. Longitudinal studies of behaviorally disinhibited children, individuals with familial risks for SUD, a...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - November 12, 2020 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Review of Popularity and Quality Standards of Opioid-Related Smartphone Apps
AbstractPurpose of ReviewOpioid misuse, addiction, and related harm are a global crisis that affects public health and social and economic welfare. Many of the strategies being used to combat the opioid crisis could benefit from improved access and dissemination, such as that afforded by smartphone apps. The goal of this study was to characterize the purpose, audience, quality, and popularity of opioid-related smartphone apps. Using web scraping, available information from 619 opioid-related apps (e.g., popularity metrics) was downloaded from Google Play, and 59 apps met criteria for review. The apps were additionally code...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - November 10, 2020 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Evidence for the Endocannabinoid System as a Therapeutic Target in the Treatment of Cannabis Use Disorder
AbstractPurpose of ReviewCannabis use disorder (CUD) is highly prevalent. Psychotherapeutic treatment alone is not adequately effective, with few individuals achieving abstinence. Pharmacotherapeutic supplementation may improve efficacy, and the endocannabinoid system presents a target specifically dysregulated by heavy cannabis use. This review compiles current literature evaluating endocannabinoid modulation as a treatment strategy for CUD, with implications for future research.Recent FindingsCannabinoid receptor agonists have been found to reduce cannabis withdrawal symptoms without a notable effect on relapse, and anta...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - November 9, 2020 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
