Substance use & misuse
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Substance use & misuse · Jan 2020
Meta AnalysisWhat Do You Know About Maryjane? A Systematic Review of the Current Data on the THC:CBD Ratio.
Background: Ratios of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) impact metabolism and therapeutic effects of cannabis. Currently, no states with legalized medical or recreational cannabis consider ratios THC:CBD in regulations. Objective: Determine what THC:CBD ratios are selected for use in clinical cannabis trials and what is the rationale. ⋯ One study compared ratios of high and low THC:CBD, but did not specify the ratios. Conclusion: The medical and scientific communities have not drawn substantive conclusions nor thoroughly explored THC:CBD ratios for "best practice" treatment of different disease processes and their sequelae. While there is evidence that cannabis provides medical benefits, research is lacking on standardization of medical cannabis use in modern medical practices.
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Substance use & misuse · Jan 2015
Review Historical ArticleWar on Drugs Policing and Police Brutality.
War on Drugs policing has failed to reduce domestic street-level drug activity: the cost of drugs remains low and drugs remain widely available. ⋯ Policing and racism have been mutually constitutive in the United States. Erosions to the 4th Amendment to the Constitution and to the Posse Comitatus Act set the foundations for two War on Drugs policing strategies: stop and frisk and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams. These strategies have created specific conditions conducive to police brutality targeting Black communities. Conclusions/Importance: War on Drugs policing strategies appear to increase police brutality targeting Black communities, even as they make little progress in reducing street-level drug activity. Several jurisdictions are retreating from the War on Drugs; this retreat should include restoring rights originally protected by the 4th Amendment and Posse Comitatus. While these legal changes occur, police chiefs should discontinue the use of SWAT teams to deal with low-level nonviolent drug offenses and should direct officers to cease engaging in stop and frisk.
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Substance use & misuse · Apr 2014
ReviewMindfulness-based treatment to prevent addictive behavior relapse: theoretical models and hypothesized mechanisms of change.
Mindfulness-based treatments are growing in popularity among addiction treatment providers, and several studies suggest the efficacy of incorporating mindfulness practices into the treatment of addiction, including the treatment of substance use disorders and behavioral addictions (i.e., gambling). The current paper provides a review of theoretical models of mindfulness in the treatment of addiction and several hypothesized mechanisms of change. We provide an overview of mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP), including session content, treatment targets, and client feedback from participants who have received MBRP in the context of empirical studies. Future research directions regarding operationalization and measurement, identifying factors that moderate treatment effects, and protocol adaptations for specific populations are discussed.
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Substance use & misuse · Apr 2014
ReviewAre mindfulness-based interventions effective for substance use disorders? A systematic review of the evidence.
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are increasingly suggested as therapeutic approaches for effecting substance use and misuse (SUM). The aim of this article is to review current evidence on the therapeutic efficacy of MBIs for SUM. A literature search was undertaken using four electronic databases and references of retrieved articles. ⋯ Some preliminary evidence also suggests that MBIs are associated with a reduction in craving as well as increased mindfulness. The limited generalizability of the reviewed findings is noted (i.e., small sample size, lack of methodological details, and the lack of consistently replicated findings). More rigorous and larger randomized controlled studies are warranted.
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Substance use & misuse · Jan 2005
ReviewRecent trends in the use of "club drugs": an Australian review.
The use of "club drugs" such as MDMA, ketamine, and GHB appears to have increased in Western countries over the last 20 years, and Australia is no exception to that trend. While levels of use appear to be relatively low in the general population, among users of these drugs a number of adverse health and psychological problems, including dependence, have been reported. MDMA or ecstasy is the third most commonly used illicit drug in Australia, and relatively more information is available on its use in Australia than of drugs such as GHB or ketamine. ⋯ This suggests an urgent need for international research on the patterns of use, health, and psychosocial consequences of GHB use. In order to address public health issues associated with a range of club drug use, there is a need for research to identify the trends in population prevalence of these drugs. This could be most easily achieved by the inclusion of MDMA, ketamine, and GHB in household surveys that are currently collected routinely in a number of countries.