Drug and alcohol dependence
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Dec 2018
Utilization of opioid agonist therapy among incarcerated persons with opioid use disorder in Vancouver, Canada.
Inability to access opioid agonist therapy (OAT) in correctional settings has previously been reported in Vancouver, Canada, and is associated with harms among people with opioid use disorder (OUD), including overdose death. We investigated the prevalence and correlates of OAT utilization within correctional settings among incarcerated persons with OUD in Vancouver. ⋯ Utilization of OAT in correctional settings was low in our sample. Utilization of OAT was significantly and negatively associated with overdose and ongoing prescription opioid misuse if OAT was continued upon release from correctional settings. Findings underscore the urgent need for improved utilization of OAT in correctional settings, and linkage to community care to prevent harms such as overdose.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Dec 2018
Keeping smoking affordable in higher tax environments via smoking thinner roll-your-own cigarettes: Findings from the International Tobacco Control Four Country Survey 2006-15.
Roll-Your-Own tobacco (RYO) use is increasingly popular in many countries: it is generally cheaper than factory-made cigarettes (FM), and smokers can further reduce costs by adjusting the amount of tobacco in each cigarette. However, the level of risk of RYO compared with FM cigarettes is similar and does not meaningfully change with cigarette weight. We assessed the weight of tobacco in RYO cigarettes across jurisdictions with differing tobacco taxes/prices and over time. ⋯ Taxation of RYO should increase considerably in the UK and Australia so that RYO and FM cigarettes are taxed equivalently to reduce RYO attractiveness and inequalities. Other measures to reduce the price differentials, including taxing RYO solely on weight, are also discussed.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Dec 2018
A longitudinal investigation of the association between cannabis use and alcohol use among people living with HIV.
Both cannabis use and alcohol use are elevated among people living with HIV, but few studies have investigated the relationship between cannabis use and alcohol use in this population. This study examined the longitudinal association between cannabis use and alcohol use among people living with HIV and explored the moderating role of medicinal vs. recreational cannabis use. ⋯ Cannabis use and alcohol use were positively associated over time among people living with HIV, although this association was specific to those using cannabis for recreational reasons. As alcohol use in this population poses significant health risks, more research on the link between cannabis use and alcohol use is needed, particularly in light of recent changes to cannabis regulations.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Nov 2018
Opioid and cocaine use among primary care patients on buprenorphine-Self-report and urine drug tests.
Urine drug tests (UDTs) are recommended to monitor patients treated for opioid use disorder in primary care. The aims are to (1) estimate the frequency of self-report and UDT results of opioid and cocaine use and (2) evaluate the association between treatment time with non-disclosure of opioid or cocaine use and having a positive UDT. ⋯ Among primary care patients treated with buprenorphine, a small but substantial percentage of UDTs were cocaine or opioid positive. As treatment time increased, non-disclosure was less common but persisted even after six months. Among primary care patients treated with buprenorphine, UDTs contribute information to optimize clinical care.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Nov 2018
Effects of neuromodulation on cognitive performance in individuals exhibiting addictive behaviors: A systematic review.
There is growing interest in non-invasive brain stimulation techniques as treatments for addictive disorders. While multiple reviews have examined the effects of neuromodulation on craving and consumption, there has been no review of how neuromodulation affects cognitive functioning in addiction. This systematic review examined studies of the cognitive effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in individuals exhibiting addictive behavior. ⋯ While positive effects in several studies suggest that tDCS and TMS improve cognitive functioning in addiction, there is substantial heterogeneity across studies. We discuss person-related and methodological factors that could explain inconsistencies, and propose individualized stimulation protocols may sharpen the cognitive effects of neuromodulation in addiction.