Genetic Influences on Alcohol Sensitivity: a Critical Review
We describe the advances that these studies have made in terms of further demonstrating the heritability of alcohol sensitivity along with limitations in terms of identifying genome-wide significant loci and what we see as the primary challenges facing such studies. We conclude with suggestions for future research and what could be achieved with larger samples.SummaryProgress in the molecular genetic study of AUD and related phenotypes is being made. Nonetheless, significant efforts are needed to conduct GWAS of more specific AUD risk factors, such as alcohol sensitivity, to more fully understand how individual genetic loc...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - December 28, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research

Intervention of Internet Addiction and Smartphone Addiction: an Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
AbstractPurposeof ReviewThe prevalence of internet addiction and smartphone addiction has become a widespread global concern. Many studies have evaluated the impact of different interventions on these conditions; however, there is still a lack of integration of higher-level evidence. This review aims to assess the current evidence base of systematic reviews on the impact of different interventions on internet and smartphone addiction.Recent FindingsA total of 33 systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included in this review. The interventions were categorized into six main categories: psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, spo...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - December 27, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research

Use of Digital Health and Digital Therapeutics to Treat SUD in Criminal Justice Settings: a Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this review is to investigate the use of digital health technologies and/or digital therapeutics (DTx) products in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) in the general population and among criminal justice –involved individuals.Recent FindingsDespite an expanding evidence base, only three SUD DTxs have received federal regulatory approval. Across studies, DTx products have proven successful in engaging patients in SUD treatment and reducing healthcare costs and resource utilizations. Findings for emerging SUD DTx products show similar results. Still, there is a paucity of...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - December 27, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research

Substance-Induced Psychosis: a Narrative Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewNovel integrative reviews that give detail information regarding various psychoactive substances (PS) with ability of inducing psychosis in adults are lacking. This review aims to scope the latest knowledge about substance-induced psychosis (SIP) through the comprehensive review of the most common misused PS inducing psychosis.Recent FindingsEpidemiological data on the prevalence of SIP are insufficiently harmonized, so clear conclusions for most PS can not be drawn. Etiological mechanisms include three pathophysiological mechanisms: the modulation of GABA transmission, NMDA antagonism, and effects...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - December 22, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research

Within and Beyond the Binary: Sex and Gender Differences in Pain and Alcohol Use Disorder
AbstractPurpose of ReviewAlcohol use disorder (AUD) and chronic pain are frequently comorbid conditions. This review aims to communicate recent research describing the bidirectional effects of pain experience and alcohol use, while focusing on sex and gender differences at this intersection with an emphasis on translational research.Recent FindingsMost pain syndromes affect people assigned female at birth (AFAB). Although people assigned male at birth (AMAB) typically drink more than AFABs, AFABs progress to AUD more quickly and experience more alcohol-related comorbidities. In the preclinical setting, different alcohol mo...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - December 22, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research

Alcohol Use Disorder and the Gut Microbiome
AbstractPurpose of ReviewAlcohol use Disorder (AUD) is a widely prevalent health concern, and it profoundly impacts an individual ’s mental, physical, and psychosocial well-being. AUD and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) therapies are limited and rapidly evolving. Over the past few years, there has been a growing interest in the disruption of the gut microbiome caused by chronic alcohol use and how new therapies target ing the microbiome could be potentially used to alter the course of this disease.Recent FindingsThere are significant changes in the gut microbiome caused by alcohol consumption. These changes lead t...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - December 14, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research

A Systematic Review of Sex/Gender Differences in the Multi-dimensional Neurobiological Mechanisms in Addiction and Their Relevance to Impulsivity
AbstractPurpose of ReviewAddiction may be characterized along three functional domains: Approach Behavior, Executive Function, and Negative Emotionality. Constructs underlying impulsivity thought to be relevant in addiction map on to these three functional domains. The purpose of the present review was to evaluate the extant research regarding sex/gender differences in the multi-dimensional domains of addiction using human neuroimaging and discuss their relevance to impulsivity.Recent FindingsFew papers over the past two decades have used human neuroimaging to test sex/gender differences in addiction. There is therefore a ...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - November 27, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research

An Updated Narrative Review on the Role of Alcohol Among Indigenous Communities
We examined published literature involving alcohol use rates, including abstinence; risk and protective factors; treatment; and recovery, as well as future directions for alcohol prevention and intervention efforts with Indigenous communities.SummaryEvidence-based alcohol use prevention, intervention, and recovery strategies with Indigenous communities are outlined. Recommendations are provided for researchers, health providers, and public policy advocates to address and better understand alcohol use, treatment, prevention, and recovery among Indigenous Peoples. Specific recommendations include using community-based partic...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - November 2, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research

Sex and Gender Differences in Simultaneous Alcohol and Cannabis Use: a Narrative Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe aim is to review recent literature on sex and gender differences in patterns of use, motives, pharmacological effects, and consequences of simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use (SAC).Recent FindingsMen engage in SAC more frequently than women. Women may have more substance-specific motives for use, while men tend to consistently endorse social/enhancement motives for both alcohol and cannabis. Regarding pharmacological effects, women experience the same subjective effects as men do at lower levels of use, with some evidence that women modulate cannabis use during simultaneous use episodes to av...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - October 27, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research

Social Influences on Alcohol Outcome Expectancy Development From Childhood to Young Adulthood: a Narrative Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewAlcohol outcome expectancies emerge in early childhood, develop throughout adolescence, and predict alcohol outcomes well into adulthood. Social factors shape how expectancies are learned in myriad ways, yet such social learning influences seldom are examined in the context of developmental factors. This review summarized literature on the social origins of alcohol expectancies through vicarious (observational) and experiential (direct) alcohol-related learning from childhood to young adulthood within a social learning framework.Recent FindingsYoung children primarily endorse negative expectancies,...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - October 20, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research

Smartphone Apps Targeting Youth Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation: An Assessment of Credibility and Quality
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe goals of this study were to identify smartphone apps targeting youth tobacco use prevention and/or cessation discussed in the academic literature and/or available in the Apple App Store and to review and rate the credibility of the apps. We took a multiphase approach in a non-systematic review that involved conducting parallel literature and App Store searches, screening the returned literature and apps for inclusion, characterizing the studies and apps, and evaluating app quality using a standardized rating scale.Recent FindingsThe negative consequences of youth tobacco use initiation are prof...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - October 19, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research

Stimuli-Specific Inhibitory Control in Disorders Due to Addictive Behaviours: a Review of Current Evidence and Discussion of Methodological Challenges
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis systematic review focuses on stimuli-specific inhibitory control as measured with variations of Go/No-Go, Stroop, and Stop-Signal tasks including addiction-related cues. We aimed to identify whether individuals with tendencies towards behavioural addictions show stimulus-specific reductions in inhibitory control as assumed by recent theoretical models.Recent FindingsThe systematic literature search yielded 31 studies eligible for inclusion. Most studies focused on gaming disorder and problematic social networks use. Variants of the Go/No-Go task were most frequently used measures of inhibitory...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - October 16, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research

Adult Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Use in the USA: a Scoping Review Through a Health Equity Lens
The objective of this scoping review is to use a health equity lens to understand the extent and type of evidence that exists about the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) based on socioecological understandings of health influences (i.e., the US National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities ’ (NIMHD) Research Framework). The research question guiding the review was as follows: What is the range and scope of research that exists to help characterize health disparities related to ENDS use?Recent FindingsNinety-eight articles published between 2019 and 2022 often examined racial/ethnic differe...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - October 14, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research

Facets of Impulsivity in Gaming Disorder: a Narrative Review
AbstractPurpose of reviewThis narrative review provides a detailed look at impulsivity in the context of gaming disorder. Summarizing empirical findings, we aim to identify whether gaming disorder is associated with specific facets of impulsivity, namely motor, attentional, and decisional impulsivity, assessed by self-report and behavioral measures. Wherever possible, we distinguished between general and stimuli-specific (gaming-related) impulsivity.Recent findingsGaming disorder is associated with attentional impulsivity. Heightened motor impulsivity in individuals with gaming disorder is particularly evident in the prese...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - October 3, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research

Neural and Psychosocial Mechanisms Underlying Alcohol Use and Pain Interactions: Overview of Current Evidence and Future Directions
AbstractPurpose of ReviewA growing body of research indicates bidirectional associations between alcohol use and pain. In this review, we highlight common neural and psychosocial mechanisms underlying pain and alcohol use and identify current gaps in the literature regarding alcohol/pain interactions. We also suggest future directions for the field moving forward, including more nuanced conceptualization of alcohol ’s negative reinforcing effects in the context of pain, broader use of clinically relevant experimental pain induction modalities, and characterization of age, biological sex, gender, race, and ethnicity as mo...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - October 2, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research