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
Medical Cannabis Use and Its Impact on Health Among Older Adults: Recent Research Findings and Future Directions
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWith the rapidly changing landscape of state level legalization of cannabis, older adults have become one of the fastest growing populations seeking medical cannabis (MC). However, research evidence on the risks and benefits of MC use in this population remains limited. This review aims to synthesize recent literature on the impacts of MC use in older adults and identify critical knowledge gaps to be addressed in future research.Recent FindingsRecent literature showed that older adults often face financial and/or educational barriers and stigma associated with MC access. Emerging data showed that M...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - September 26, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Sex and Gender Differences in Co-Occurring Alcohol Use Disorder and PTSD
AbstractPurpose of ReviewResearch demonstrates a strong association between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, less is known about sex- and gender-based differences among individuals with AUD + PTSD. This narrative review examines recent literature in this area and aims to be a reference for future research endeavors.Recent FindingsExtant literature shows that intertwining biological systems increase females ’ risk of developing PTSD and experiencing more adverse effects from AUD compared to males. Sex-based physiological differences further interact with gendered sociocult...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - September 22, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
The Interrelation Between Emotional Impulsivity, Craving, and Symptoms Severity in Behavioral Addictions and Related Conditions: a Theory-Driven Systematic Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewHere, we systematically review all available evidence on the triadic relationship between positive and negative urgency, craving, and severity of symptoms of candidate behavioral addictions.Recent FindingsCurrent theoretical models attribute a central importance to craving in the chronification and prognosis of behavioral addictions and other problematic non-substance-related behavioral patterns. Craving, in turn, has been convincingly shown to be an affect-laden state, and its control can be conceptualized as partially resulting from emotion regulation mechanisms. However, some gaps remain: first,...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - September 16, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Food Addiction and Impulsivity in Clinical Populations by Gender: a Systematic Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewFood addiction (FA) has been found to be associated with impulsivity, mainly urgency (negative and positive) and lack of perseverance. The present systematic review aimed to identify differences in impulsivity by gender and current implications of treatment regarding FA and impulsivity in clinical populations. The search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) databases, using the following search terms: “food addiction” and “impuls*.” Studies were included if they were written in English, had an observational design (e.g., cross-sectional, longitudinal, case-control), and...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - September 16, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Loneliness, Pornography Use, Problematic Pornography Use, and Compulsive Sexual Behavior
AbstractPurpose of reviewLoneliness is a subjective experience characterized by distressing feelings resulting from a discrepancy between desired/expected and actual levels of social interactions. This narrative review explores the literature on relationships between loneliness, pornography use (PU), problematic pornography use (PPU), and compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD), including bidirectional natures of these relationships.Recent findingsRelationships between PU/PPU and loneliness have been explored from different perspectives. Studies have found a positive association between PU/PPU and loneliness, with lonel...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - September 14, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Alcohol Treatment Access and Engagement Among Women in the USA: a Targeted Review of the Literature 2012 –2022
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this review is to examine recent literature (2012 –2022) on alcohol treatment access and engagement in women in the USA and propose future directions for research and clinical practice.Recent FindingsA targeted literature review resulted in 27 studies encompassing screening and brief intervention (SBIRT), treatment utilization, treatment engagement, and barriers to treatment. Recent literature demonstrates overall low rates of screening and brief interventions and treatment utilization in the population with women less likely to be screened and utilize alcohol treatment. The magnit...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - September 12, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
The Use of Illicit Drugs in Therapy: an Introduction
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe use of certain illicit substances as a form of therapy, and particularly as an adjunct to psychotherapy, has gained increasing media and academic attention over the last decade, culminating in what has been coined “the psychedelic renaissance.” This section inCurrent Addiction Reports has been developed in order to highlight the new and emerging research around these and related substances, and how they may be effective in treating not just “problematic” substance use itself but also some of the underlying causes such as trauma-related disorders, depression, and anxiety. It will also co...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - September 8, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
International Prevalence of Self-exclusion From Gambling: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe international rise in gambling opportunities has increased focus on gambling harm reduction tools including self-exclusion. The primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the international prevalence of self-exclusion from gambling in the general adult population and by level of problem gambling risk (low-risk, moderate-risk, and problem gambling). The secondary aim was to estimate the prevalence of awareness of self-exclusion programmes overall and by problem gambling risk.Recent FindingsGrey literature (through gambling repositories, gambling research institutes, ...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - September 7, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
On Social Media Design, (Online-)Time Well-spent and Addictive Behaviors in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism
AbstractPurpose of the ReviewSocial media attracts billions of users worldwide, and research has investigated how screen time or time spent online is linked to well-being. Additionally, addictive-like behaviors towards the social media platforms are a focus of many studies. However, related research often neglects the simple fact that social media companies have willingly created immersive online environments with the aim to “persuade” users to spend as much time possible on their social media apps to watch ads and enlarge their digital footprints.Recent FindingsWe think that it is of utmost importance to better unders...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - September 1, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Cognitive Remediation for Impulsivity in Addictive Disorders: Review of Current Evidence and Future Directions
AbstractPurpose of ReviewImpulsivity is a core feature underpinning addictive disorders linked to difficulties achieving and sustaining treatment goals. Cognitive remediation is a promising adjunct intervention approach to improve impulse control in addictive disorders, although evidence is still preliminary. This review summarizes available evidence and discusses opportunities to enhance the development and delivery of future interventions.Recent FindingsWe identified six studies that delivered cognitive remediation and assessed state impulsivity in substance use disorders. There was substantial heterogeneity in the inter...
Source: Current Addiction Reports - August 18, 2023 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
