Article
Substance Abuse
Sven-Eric Jordt
Summary: The increasing use of synthetic nicotine in marketed products and its uncertain regulatory status have raised concerns. Efforts to develop more efficient methods for the synthesis of nicotine have been seen in recent years. Differentiation of synthetic and tobacco-derived nicotine may require the development of methods to measure carbon isotope content. Vendors argue that FDA has no authority to regulate synthetic nicotine as a tobacco product, but legal analysis suggests that FDA may have the authority to regulate synthetic nicotine as a drug.
Article
Substance Abuse
Chao-Ying Chen, I-Hua Chen, Wen-Li Hou, Marc N. Potenza, Kerry S. O'Brien, Chung-Ying Lin, Janet D. Latner
Summary: This study examined the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on problematic smartphone use, problematic gaming, and psychological distress in schoolchildren. The findings showed that during the outbreak, the relationship between problematic smartphone use and psychological distress became significant, while the relationship between problematic gaming and psychological distress became nonsignificant.
JOURNAL OF ADDICTION MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Hee Sun Kim, Gaeun Son, Eun-Bin Roh, Woo-Young Ahn, Jueun Kim, Suk-Ho Shin, Jeanyung Chey, Kee-Hong Choi
Summary: This meta-analytic study quantifies the global prevalence of gaming disorder (GD) and explores various moderating variables. The study finds high heterogeneity in GD prevalence rates, influenced by participant characteristics and research methodologies. Prevalence estimates are likely to vary depending on study quality. Further epidemiological studies using rigorous methodological standards are needed to accurately estimate GD prevalence.
ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Clinical
Serife Inci Salvarli, Mark D. Griffiths
Summary: Research on Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has grown significantly in the past decade. One of the risk factors for IGD is poor impulse control. This study conducted the first systematic review on the relationship between IGD and impulsivity, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The review included 33 empirical studies, totaling 18,128 participants, and found a consistent positive association between impulsivity and IGD, despite methodological weaknesses. Possible explanations for this association suggest that altered neurobiological structures in individuals with impulsivity may contribute to the development of IGD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Joseph Friedman, Fernando Montero, Phillippe Bourgois, Rafik Wahbi, Daniel Dye, David Goodman-Meza, Chelsea Shover
Summary: This study found that xylazine is increasingly present in overdose deaths in the US, primarily linked to illicitly-manufactured fentanyls. The highest prevalence was observed in Philadelphia, and individuals who inject drugs described xylazine as an adulterant that lengthens the duration of fentanyl injections but also increases the risk of soft tissue infection and naloxone-resistant overdose.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Qaisar Khalid Mahmood, Sara Rizvi Jafree, Waheed Ahmad Qureshi
Summary: This study aims to translate and validate the FCV-19S questionnaire into Urdu and examine the socio-demographic associations with fear of COVID-19 in the KPK province. The results indicate that the Urdu version of FCV-19S is a valid and reliable tool. Furthermore, women, married people, and unemployed individuals show greater fear of COVID-19.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
(2022)
Review
Substance Abuse
Benedikt Fischer, Tessa Robinson, Chris Bullen, Valerie Curran, Didier Jutras-Aswad, Maria Elena Medina-Mora, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, Jurgen Rehm, Robin Room, Wim van den Brink, Wayne Hall
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the health risks associated with cannabis use and develops low-risk cannabis use guidelines. Based on the latest scientific evidence, it is recommended that individuals delay the onset of cannabis use, avoid high-potency and high-frequency products, and refrain from smoking. Special attention should be given to young people and other sub-groups when using cannabis. The results of the evaluation indicate that reducing risk factors can help minimize health harms from cannabis use.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Hongying Dai, Jianqiang Hao
Summary: Analysis of Google search data reveals that the popularity of disposable vaping product Puff Bar has increased amidst the ban on flavored e-cigarettes, indicating a potential shift by users to bypass the flavor ban and switch to disposable e-cigarettes.
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Davide Marengo, Matteo Angelo Fabris, Claudio Longobardi, Michele Settanni
Summary: This study investigated the use of smartphones and social media applications, as well as the impact of these applications on social media addiction among adolescents in remote education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that TikTok was the most addictive application, and time spent on smartphones and use of TikTok were the strongest predictors of social media addiction.
ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS
(2022)
Review
Substance Abuse
Nazlee Maghsoudi, Justine Tanguay, Kristy Scarfone, Indhu Rammohan, Carolyn Ziegler, Dan Werb, Ayden Scheim
Summary: Drug checking services influence the behavior of people who use drugs, especially when the results are unexpected or concerning substances; Monitoring of drug markets through drug checking services is well-established in Europe and increasingly so in North America.
Article
Substance Abuse
Neil B. Varshneya, Ashish P. Thakrar, J. Gregory Hobelmann, Kelly E. Dunn, Andrew S. Huhn
Summary: This study evaluated the incidence of buprenorphine-precipitated withdrawal in individuals who use fentanyl. The results showed that taking buprenorphine within 24 hours or 24 to 48 hours after fentanyl use significantly increased the odds of severe withdrawal symptoms. In contrast, patients taking methadone did not report significantly higher rates of withdrawal after fentanyl use.
JOURNAL OF ADDICTION MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Substance Abuse
Carolin Kilian, Amy O'Donnell, Nina Potapova, Hugo Lopez-Pelayo, Bernd Schulte, Laia Miquel, Blanca Paniello Castillo, Christiane Sybille Schmidt, Antoni Gual, Juergen Rehm, Jakob Manthey
Summary: This study synthesized numerous observational studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol use changes in Europe. The findings suggest that more individuals in Europe reduced their alcohol use during the pandemic compared to those who increased it. Moreover, high-risk alcohol users showed patterns of increased or intensified drinking.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Babak Tofighi, Jennifer McNeely, Dalia Walzer, Kush Fansiwala, Adam Demner, Chloe S. Chaudhury, Ipsita Subudhi, Daniel Schatz, Timothy Reed, Noa Krawczyk
Summary: This study assessed the feasibility and clinical impact of telemedicine-based opioid treatment with buprenorphine-naloxone. The results show that using telemedicine and unobserved home induction can expand the reach of opioid use disorder treatment and provide care for a vulnerable urban population during the pandemic.
JOURNAL OF ADDICTION MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Sarah E. Jackson, Emma Beard, Colin Angus, Matt Field, Jamie Brown
Summary: The first COVID-19 lockdown in England was associated with increased smoking prevalence among younger adults and increased high-risk drinking prevalence among all adults. Smoking cessation activity also increased: more younger smokers made quit attempts during lockdown and more smokers quit successfully. Socio-economic disparities in drinking behavior were evident: high-risk drinking increased more among women and those from less advantaged social grades (C2DE), but the rate of reduction attempts increased only among the more advantaged social grades (ABC1).
Article
Substance Abuse
Nicole H. Weiss, Reina Kiefer, Svetlana Goncharenko, Alexa M. Raudales, Shannon R. Forkus, Melissa R. Schick, Ateka A. Contractor
Summary: There has been exponential growth in research on emotion regulation and substance use in the past decade. The current meta-analysis evaluated variability in the magnitude of the relation between aspects of emotion regulation and substance use. Results indicated that emotion regulation and substance use were significantly related, with emotion regulation abilities being more strongly related to substance use compared to emotion regulation strategies.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Avi Besser, Gordon L. Flett, Taryn Nepon, Virgil Zeigler-Hill
Summary: This research examined the relationship between personality and individual difference factors and the ability to adapt to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that individuals with higher levels of self-esteem, feelings of mattering, and lower levels of dependency and self-criticism were more adaptable to the pandemic. The findings highlight the importance of adaptability and related individual difference factors in coping with the crisis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Mohd Amiruddin Mohd Kassim, Nicholas Tze Ping Pang, Noor Hassline Mohamed, Assis Kamu, Chong Mun Ho, Friska Ayu, Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim, Azizan Omar, Mohammad Saffree Jeffree
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted mental health in Malaysia, with younger individuals, females, and students showing higher levels of fear and stress. Interventions and telepsychiatry mobilisation are important in addressing psychological distress, especially among those at higher risk.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Hacer Belen
Summary: The study found that fear of COVID-19 is negatively associated with mindfulness and positively correlated with anxiety and depression. Mindfulness was shown to mediate the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and depression and anxiety.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
(2022)
Review
Substance Abuse
Jennifer Boyd, Olivia Sexton, Colin Angus, Petra Meier, Robin C. Purshouse, John Holmes
Summary: This study examined the explanatory factors of the alcohol harm paradox in high-income countries, identifying 41 unique explanations grouped into 16 themes. While there are various potential explanations for the AHP, most research focuses on risk behaviors, while other explanations lack empirical testing.
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Elena Stanculescu
Summary: The study validated the Romanian version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, demonstrating good internal consistency and validity. Results indicated significant correlations between fear of COVID-19 and depression, stress, resilience, and happiness, while confirming the discriminant validity of the scale.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
(2022)
