Drug And Alcohol Dependence[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Substance use disorders and related hospitalizations and mortality among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men: A matched cohort study.
Aguilera-Mijares S, Wang L, Trigg J … +14 more , Hogg RS, Lachowsky N, Gormezano A, Sereda P, Card K, Oviedo-Joekes E, Emerson SD, Lal A, Budu M, Hart TA, Cox J, Grace D, Tan DHS, Moore DM
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41980572 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM), especially those living with HIV, may face greater substance-related harms. We compared substance use disorder (SUD) diagnoses, SUD-related hospitaliz...
BACKGROUND: Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM), especially those living with HIV, may face greater substance-related harms. We compared substance use disorder (SUD) diagnoses, SUD-related hospitalizations, and all-cause mortality between GBM and men from the general population in Metro Vancouver. We also explored factors associated with these outcomes among GBM. METHODS: We linked 798 consenting participants from two GBM cohorts (Momentum and Engage) to administrative health data and matched them (1:5) on age, sex, and geography to 3990 HIV-negative British Columbia residents. We calculated incidence rate ratios [IRR] for the three outcomes. We used multivariable regression to examine factors associated with SUD diagnoses and SUD-related hospitalizations among GBM. RESULTS: Compared to men from the general population, GBM had higher rates of SUD diagnoses (IRR=2.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.00-3.73) and SUD-related hospitalizations (IRR=1.97; 95% CI=1.21-3.20), but similar all-cause mortality (IRR=1.03; 95% CI=0.55-1.91). Substance-related deaths were rare (n = 7; all in the matches). Among GBM, SUD diagnoses were associated positively with living with HIV (adjusted IRR [aIRR]=2.95; 95% CI=1.68, 5.17) and recent transactional sex (aIRR=3.71; 95% CI=1.88, 7.33), and negatively with stable housing (aIRR=0.41; 95% CI=0.19, 0.91). SUD-related hospitalizations were associated positively with living with HIV (aIRR=3.10; 95% CI=1.46, 6.56) and recent tobacco use (aIRR=2.42; 95% CI=1.40, 4.17), and negatively with current employment (IRR=0.49; 95% CI=0.26, 0.91) and stable housing (aIRR=0.35; 95% CI=0.20, 0.64). CONCLUSIONS: GBM experienced higher rates of SUD diagnoses and SUD-related hospitalizations. Public health and mental health interventions and policies should respond to GBM's challenges.
Self-reported reasons for medical and nonmedical cannabis use in Australia: A cross-sectional analysis of the International Cannabis Policy Study 2023.
Dawson D, Stjepanović D, Leung J … +5 more , Lim C, Hall W, Lorenzetti V, Chan G, Hammond D
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41980571 · Publisher ↗
INTRODUCTION: Australia's medicinal cannabis framework has been increasingly used and commercialised. This study aimed to estimate the proportions of different motives (medical-only, recreational-only and dual-use [concu...
INTRODUCTION: Australia's medicinal cannabis framework has been increasingly used and commercialised. This study aimed to estimate the proportions of different motives (medical-only, recreational-only and dual-use [concurrent medical and recreational use]) of cannabis use among Australian adults, and the conditions for which cannabis was used. METHOD: Cross-sectional data (N = 3042) from the 2023 International Cannabis Policy Study (ICPS) measured Australians' cannabis use and whether it was for medical, recreational, or dual use motives. Health conditions treated with cannabis were also reported. We estimated proportions of cannabis use motive type and conducted multinomial and logistic regressions using post-stratification sample weighted data to investigate predictors of motive type and condition used. RESULTS: Among all respondents, 86.3% reported no cannabis use, 1.9% reported medical-only cannabis use, 6.7% reported recreational-only use and 5.0% reported dual-use. The most frequently cited indications were anxiety (64%), pain (53%) and depression (52%). Dual-use compared to medical-only was associated with use for sleep, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Use for pain was more likely among older adults (56 + years, RRR=3.52, 95% CI: 1.28-9.66) compared to people aged 16-25. Use for anxiety was more likely among females compared to males (RRR=2.27, 95% CI: 1.31-3.94) and less likely in older adults compared to other age groups (RRR=0.21, 95% CI: 0.08-0.60). DISCUSSION: The findings suggest cannabis is commonly used to treat conditions for which high-quality evidence of efficacy is lacking. The frequent use of cannabis for pain and anxiety contradicts guidance from peak medical bodies, underscoring the need for better regulatory and educational responses in Australia.
Prescription drug monitoring programs increase racial/ethnic inequities in unmet demand for substance use disorder treatment among people who inject drugs. A repeated cross-sectional analysis of people who inject drugs in 13 states in 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2022.
Ibragimov U, Beane S, Haardörfer R … +6 more , Haley DF, Yarbrough CR, Linton S, Beletsky L, Cummings JR, Cooper HLF
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41950580 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Evidence indicates that prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) reduce demand for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment among the general population, perhaps by minimizing the risk of SUD onset through...
BACKGROUND: Evidence indicates that prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) reduce demand for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment among the general population, perhaps by minimizing the risk of SUD onset through limiting access to prescribed opioids. Little is known about PDMP effects on SUD treatment among people who inject drugs (PWID), a population at high overdose risk. METHODS: Using four waves (2012, 2015, 2018, and 2022) of National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS), we conducted two-way fixed-effect modelling of associations of state-level "mandated review" PDMP policies and individual-level (1) SUD treatment utilization, and (2) unmet demand for SUD treatment among 24,518 PWID in 13 states. We tested effect modification by race/ethnicity. RESULTS: PDMPs were associated with an 8 percentage-point increase in the probability of unmet demand for SUD treatment in the sample as a whole (95% CI: 3.0, 12.0). PDMP implementation was also associated with an increased Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other people of color (BILPOC) who inject drugs vs. White PWID gap in the probability of unmet demand, from a 3.0 percentage-point gap in non-PDMP states (95% CI: 1.0, 5.0) to a 9 percentage-point gap in PDMP states (95% CI: 7.0, 11.0). CONCLUSIONS: PDMPs may increase unmet need for SUD treatment among PWID and amplify racial/ethnic inequities in unmet need. To strengthen PDMP effectiveness, supply reduction policies must be accompanied by enhanced access to SUD treatment and other services for PWID, particularly among BILPOC PWID.
Exploring long-acting injectable buprenorphine in rural and coastal contexts: A retrospective cohort study of individuals' outcomes from treatment outcome profile data in an opioid substitution service in Cornwall, South West of England.
Godden T, Menneer T, Bennett S … +2 more , Hager K, Sharpe RA
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41946037 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is a key component of harm reduction for individuals with opioid use disorder. Long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) offers a potential alternative to tradition...
BACKGROUND: Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is a key component of harm reduction for individuals with opioid use disorder. Long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) offers a potential alternative to traditional treatments such as methadone, with possible benefits in adherence and outcomes. This study evaluated the effectiveness of LAIB compared to usual care (methadone) in a rural real-world setting using routinely collected data. METHODS: This novel retrospective cohort study used secondary data from the National Drug Monitoring System, specifically Treatment Outcome Profiles (TOP). The study was conducted within a community-based MOUD service across multiple sites in Cornwall, a rural and coastal region in Southwest England with reduced relative access. All individuals receiving MOUD between April 2022 and September 2024 were included. The intervention group (n = 73) received LAIB; the control group (n = 465) received methadone. Outcomes assessed included self-reported opioid and non-opioid drug use, injecting behavior, quality of life (QoL), and days in paid employment. RESULTS: LAIB was associated with significantly lower overall drug use (p = 0.014), lower opioid use (p < 0.001), alongside higher QoL scores (p = 0.001). No significant differences were observed in crack or cocaine use, injecting frequency, or paid employment days. CONCLUSIONS: This real-world evaluation supports LAIB's potential effectiveness for lower overall drug and opioid use and higher QoL in a rural MOUD service setting. Persistent non-opioid use and limited employment differences highlight the need for integrated psychosocial and structural support. These findings underscore the value of routinely collected data in evaluating service innovations and inform LAIB expansion in underserved areas.
Functional connectivity response to distress-inducing auditory feedback associated with short-term smoking abstinence.
Addicott M, Spry K, James J … +4 more , Ip E, Oliveto AH, Daughters SB, Beckham JC
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41926811 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: The insula helps regulate affective distress and plays a critical role in maintaining tobacco use disorder. Task-based functional connectivity underlying cognitive performance during affective distress has pr...
BACKGROUND: The insula helps regulate affective distress and plays a critical role in maintaining tobacco use disorder. Task-based functional connectivity underlying cognitive performance during affective distress has previously distinguished between current smoking and long-term ex-smoking behavior. In the current study, we investigated whether individual differences in distress-related functional connectivity corresponded to short-term quit attempt outcomes. METHODS: Participants performed a distress tolerance task while undergoing magnetic resonance imaging and planned a quit attempt a few days later. Participants completed five follow-up visits across 10 weeks to verify smoking status. Participants were then grouped based on quit outcomes (e.g., ≥ 7 consecutive days Abstained n = 13, ≥ 7 days Reduced cigarettes/day n = 18, or Smoked n = 27). RESULTS: In the right anterior insula and left posterior insula, there was a stepwise pattern of distress-related connectivity across groups (Abstained < Reduced < Smoked). The Smoked group had the strongest positive distress-related connectivity and this was associated with their negative mood and task accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Stronger distress-related connectivity with the insula may represent increased cognitive-affective effort needed to tolerate distress during cognitive performance. The relationship across Abstained, Reduced, and Smoked groups suggests this measure of distress tolerance plays a role in the ability to quit smoking. This insula connectivity could be a modifiable target for neuromodulation to help reduce the cognitive-affective effort needed to refrain from smoking during stress-induced craving.
Analysis of vaping substances for label accuracy, nicotine, and alcohol content in parallel with changes in the associated regulatory framework in New Zealand (2020-2023).
Somerville R, Fleming R, Stacey J … +1 more , Doncliff J
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41921451 · Publisher ↗
INTRODUCTION: Vaping use has increased among young people and individuals who have never smoked, prompting concern about product contents and long-term health impacts. In New Zealand, the Smokefree Environments and Regul...
INTRODUCTION: Vaping use has increased among young people and individuals who have never smoked, prompting concern about product contents and long-term health impacts. In New Zealand, the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 (SERPA) introduced staged regulatory changes between 2020 and 2023 regarding the retail, manufacturing, importing, and distribution of vape substances. This research aimed to determine whether these regulatory changes improved label accuracy, nicotine and ethanol content compliance in vaping substances available online in New Zealand. METHODS: More than 300 vaping products were purchased from online New Zealand retailers across three timepoints: December 2020 (Set 1, n=109), December 2021 (Set 2, n=106), and October 2022 (Set 3, n=95). Products underwent systematic label review and chemical analysis. Ethanol content was measured using HSGCFID, while nicotine was analysed via HPLC (Set 1) and GCFID (Sets 2-3). RESULTS: Label compliance improved over time, with expiry date and batch number accuracy reaching 86% and 85%, respectively in Set 3. However, no products across all sets listed ethanol as an ingredient despite ethanol detected in all samples, ranging from trace levels to 23.2% v/v. Nicotine accuracy also improved, with products within ±10% of the label increasing from 42% (Set 1) to 59% (Set 3), although discrepancies remained. Early sets with vape products labelled as "zero nicotine" had detectable nicotine levels, an issue absent in Set 3. CONCLUSIONS: Regulatory implementation led to partial improvements in product labelling and nicotine compliance, but noncompliance still persisted, particularly with ethanol disclosure. INTRODUCTION: Vaping use has increased among young people and individuals who have never smoked, prompting concern about product contents and long-term health impacts. In New Zealand, the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 (SERPA) introduced staged regulatory changes between 2020 and 2023 regarding the retail, manufacturing, importing, and distribution of vape substances. This research aimed to determine whether these regulatory changes improved label accuracy, nicotine and ethanol content compliance in vaping substances available online in New Zealand. METHODS: More than 300 vaping products were purchased from online New Zealand retailers across three timepoints: December 2020 (Set 1, n=109), December 2021 (Set 2, n=106), and October 2022 (Set 3, n=95). Products underwent systematic label review and chemical analysis. Ethanol content was measured using HSGCFID, while nicotine was analysed via HPLC (Set 1) and GCFID (Sets 2-3). RESULTS: Label compliance improved over time, with expiry date and batch number accuracy reaching 86% and 85%, respectively in Set 3. However, no products across all sets listed ethanol as an ingredient despite ethanol detected in all samples, ranging from trace levels to 23.2% v/v. Nicotine accuracy also improved, with products within ±10% of the label increasing from 42% (Set 1) to 59% (Set 3), although discrepancies remained. Early sets with vape products labelled as "zero nicotine" had detectable nicotine levels, an issue absent in Set 3. CONCLUSIONS: Regulatory implementation led to partial improvements in product labelling and nicotine compliance, but noncompliance still persisted, particularly with ethanol disclosure.
Effects of the veterinary anesthetic xylazine on the discriminative stimulus and rate-decreasing effects of fentanyl in rats.
Nguyen ML, Cakir K, Shepherd BJ … +1 more , Walker EA
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41916094 · Full text
PURPOSE: Adulterants such as the α2-adrenoreceptor agonist xylazine in the illicit drug supply can complicate overdose and treatment plans for patients. Xylazine and other α2-adrenoreceptor agonists are reported to exten...
PURPOSE: Adulterants such as the α2-adrenoreceptor agonist xylazine in the illicit drug supply can complicate overdose and treatment plans for patients. Xylazine and other α2-adrenoreceptor agonists are reported to extend the duration of the µ opioid receptor agonist fentanyl which is short acting relative to other opioids (Friedman et al., 2022; Meert and De Kock, 1994). METHODS: To test the effects of xylazine on the subjective effects of fentanyl, 12 Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to discriminate between saline or 0.01mg/kg fentanyl in a two-lever drug discrimination procedure. RESULTS: Doses of fentanyl (0.001-0.032mg/kg) produced increasing fentanyl lever responding and reduced response rates. A dose of 1.0mg/kg xylazine produced approximately 40% fentanyl lever responding and markedly reduced response rates. Co-administration of xylazine produced small, rightward shifts in the dose-response curves for the stimulus effects of fentanyl. The effects of fentanyl were blocked by the opioid antagonist naloxone, but not by the α2-adrenoreceptor antagonist idazoxan. The partial substitution of xylazine for fentanyl and the rate-decreasing effects of xylazine were blocked by idazoxan but not naloxone. The discriminative stimulus effects of 0.01mg/kg fentanyl decreased to 20% after 30min yet the partial substitution of 1.0mg/kg xylazine for fentanyl remained at 40% for 30min. Co-administration of xylazine augmented fentanyl-lever responding after 30min which was blocked by naloxone. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that although xylazine partially substitutes for the discriminative stimulus effects of fentanyl through α2-adrenoreceptors, xylazine can prolong the time course of fentanyl in a naloxone reversible manner.
Effects of nicotine use on event-based prospective memory and the role of delayed response strategy.
Li R, Liu Y, Chen Y … +2 more , Gan J, Guo Y
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41911640 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Nicotine use has long been associated with reduced cognitive performance, particularly in the domain of prospective memory. This study explores how nicotine use affects event-based prospective memory and the...
BACKGROUND: Nicotine use has long been associated with reduced cognitive performance, particularly in the domain of prospective memory. This study explores how nicotine use affects event-based prospective memory and the impact of a "delayed response" strategy on performance. METHODS: The participants in this study were university students who nicotine use. Two experiments were conducted in the laboratory using a dual-task paradigm to simulate daily prospective memory. The Multinomial Processing Tree (MPT) model was employed to decompose event-based prospective memory into two components: the prospective component (cue monitoring) and the retrospective component (intention retrieval), to examine the psychological mechanisms underlying the effects of nicotine use and the delayed response strategy on event-based prospective memory. RESULTS: In Experiment 1, individuals who nicotine use exhibited lower cue monitoring ability and lower prospective memory performance during withdrawal. However, acute nicotine intake temporarily restored cue monitoring ability and prospective memory performance. In Experiment 2, the use of a delayed response strategy eliminated differences in cue monitoring ability and prospective memory performance between individuals who nicotine use and the control group. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that nicotine use among university students is associated with lower prospective memory performance, primarily manifested as a lower performance of cue monitoring. While acute nicotine intake may temporarily enhance prospective memory performance, it may also exacerbate nicotine use. However, delayed response strategies provide an effective method for individuals who nicotine use to improve event-based prospective memory performance without increasing nicotine use.
"When" matters: Differences in fatal opioid-related overdose events in Massachusetts by time of day, 2019-2023.
Soares WE, Lewis O, Shrestha S … +2 more , Stopka TJ, Friedmann PD
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41905283 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Geospatial analyses of opioid involved overdose deaths can inform community harm reduction efforts. Differences in overdose deaths by time of day are important, as overdose events may be more likely to go unr...
BACKGROUND: Geospatial analyses of opioid involved overdose deaths can inform community harm reduction efforts. Differences in overdose deaths by time of day are important, as overdose events may be more likely to go unrecognized at night when fewer community resources are available. METHODS: Using Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics data (2019-2023), we utilized regression analyses to evaluate demographics, residence, and toxicology differences associated with the recorded time of opioid involved overdose deaths, stratified by day (6AM-5:59PM) and night (6PM-5:59AM). Kernel density estimates and hotspot clusters assessed location differences and proximity to opioid treatment resources. RESULTS: Of 9539 opioid-involved overdose deaths, 6255 (65.6%) occurred during daytime hours and 3284 (34.4%) at night. Non-Hispanic Black individuals (OR 1.14; 95%CI 1.01-1.28) and married individuals (OR 1.19; 95%CI 1.04-1.35) were more likely to have a recorded time of overdose death at night. Alcohol was more likely to be present among people who experienced an opioid involved overdose death at night (OR 1.23; 95%CI 1.11-1.37). Decedents were more likely to have the hospital as their location of death at night (OR 2.24, 95%CI 2.01-2.48). Proximity to treatment and harm reduction resources did not differ by time of day (OR 1.02, 95%CI 0.88-1.13). CONCLUSIONS: While time of day was not associated with differences in proximity to opioid treatment resources, several demographic and toxicology characteristics were associated with opioid-involved overdose deaths at night. Harm reduction strategies must evolve beyond "where" services are located to address when and how harm reduction is delivered.
Searching for agency in animal models of addiction: Choice between choices.
Rego FP, Kearns DN
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41905282 · Full text
PURPOSE: This study was motivated by Ahmed's (2024) observation that subjects in animal models of addiction lack agency. Animals have been given increasing control over drug-taking in addiction models, but not the opport...
PURPOSE: This study was motivated by Ahmed's (2024) observation that subjects in animal models of addiction lack agency. Animals have been given increasing control over drug-taking in addiction models, but not the opportunity to change their circumstances in ways that favor drug self-administration vs. abstinence. The present study aimed to develop a model wherein rats could intervene to change the choice contingencies available to them. METHODS: Rats were trained to choose between self-administered heroin or sucrose pellets in two choice conditions. In one condition, heroin was cheap and sucrose was expensive. In the other condition, the relative prices of these reinforcers were reversed. Then, rats were allowed to choose between these choice conditions. MAIN FINDINGS: Rats frequently switched between the conditions when the cost of switching was low, and obtained many of the cheap reinforcers available in each condition. As the cost of switching increased, rats switched less often and increased consumption of the cheap reinforcer available in their current condition. When rats could only make one choice between conditions per session, large individual differences were observed, with some rats preferring the cheap heroin condition and others preferring the cheap sucrose condition. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that when rats are given the ability to choose between choices they will take advantage of this additional level of control. The initial environmental contingencies were, however, an important determinant of heroin-taking behavior. This finding is a step towards refining animal models of addiction towards a stronger analogy to human behavior.
Perceived neighborhood disadvantage and current nicotine pouch use among U.S. youth.
Mattingly DT, Diaby M, Zhang J … +2 more , Lee J, Ickes M
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41903399 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Nicotine pouches (NPs) are emerging nicotine products that appeal to youth due to their discreet use, tobacco-free formulation, and flavor availability. However, given their recent introduction to the marke...
INTRODUCTION: Nicotine pouches (NPs) are emerging nicotine products that appeal to youth due to their discreet use, tobacco-free formulation, and flavor availability. However, given their recent introduction to the market, little is known about how neighborhood environments may influence US youth NP use. METHODS: We imputed cross-sectional data from the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey (n = 22,069, ages 9 + years) and developed a neighborhood risk score (range: 1-4) by averaging 10 items related to neighborhood disorder, safety, and disadvantage. To estimate associations between the risk score and current (past 30-day) NP use, we fit logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic, school, environmental, and behavioral characteristics. RESULTS: The prevalence of current NP use was 1.6% (95% CI=1.0-2.1). The mean neighborhood risk score was 1.6 (95% CI=1.6-1.7) and was higher among youth who currently used NPs (mean=2.1, 95% CI=1.8-2.3) vs. those who did not (mean=1.6, 95% CI=1.6-1.7). Adjusted results showed that for each unit increase in neighborhood disadvantage, the odds of current NP use increased by 77% (95% CI=1.08-2.91). Further, specific neighborhood items included in the risk score, such as violence and vandalism, were associated with NP use. DISCUSSION: This study found that youth living in high-risk neighborhoods had higher odds to use NPs, highlighting the influence of environmental factors on novel tobacco/nicotine use. The findings support the need for community-level prevention strategies to address youth use of emerging tobacco/nicotine products.
Tackling barriers to over-the-counter syringe access in community pharmacies.
Mitragotri S, Zhu DT
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 May · PMID 41896051 · Publisher ↗
A recent study in Harm Reduction Journal, "Pharmacy-related syringe access barriers: an audit of Oregon community pharmacies", reveals significant gaps in over-the-counter (OTC) syringe availability across community phar...
A recent study in Harm Reduction Journal, "Pharmacy-related syringe access barriers: an audit of Oregon community pharmacies", reveals significant gaps in over-the-counter (OTC) syringe availability across community pharmacies in Oregon. These findings have urgent public health implications: without consistent pharmacy access, people who inject drugs (PWID) face increased risk of HIV, hepatitis C, and other injection-related harms. We examine possible factors that may be contributing to these gaps, including pharmacist stigma, administrative challenges, gaps in awareness surrounding state laws and community resources, and restrictive organizational policies. Addressing these gaps requires a multipronged approach: targeted pharmacist education on OTC syringe regulations, stigma-reduction training, streamlined workflow and administrative processes, and organization-level commitment to harm reduction. Oregon's experience illustrates a broader national issue: without aligning policy with provider engagement, many critical harm reduction tools will remain inaccessible to marginalized populations.
Cannabis legalization and early adolescent expectancies: Findings from the adolescent brain cognitive development study.
Ricklefs C, Santos GM, Brindis CD … +2 more , Baker FC, Nagata JM
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41895140 · Full text
PURPOSE: Cannabis legalization in the U.S. has introduced an ongoing public health challenge. Among adults, cannabis legalization is associated with increased cannabis use and shifting attitudes toward cannabis use. Thes...
PURPOSE: Cannabis legalization in the U.S. has introduced an ongoing public health challenge. Among adults, cannabis legalization is associated with increased cannabis use and shifting attitudes toward cannabis use. These expectancies, or personal beliefs about the outcomes of a behavior, are both positive (e.g., increased relaxation) and negative (e.g., cognitive impairment). With rapid shifts in state-level cannabis legislation, the associations of these policies with adolescent cannabis expectancies are unknown. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study from the Year 2 follow-up (2018-2020, average age: 12 years) via Poisson analysis to investigate the association between state-level cannabis legalization and positive and negative cannabis expectancies via the Marijuana Effect Expectancy Questionnaire-Brief, controlling for sociodemographic covariates. RESULTS: A total of 8356 participants lived in states with no (NCL, 34%), medical (MCL, 39%), or recreational (RCL, 27%) cannabis legalization in place. Compared to NCL states, participants from both MCL (ARR=1.09, 95%CI: 1.07-1.11, p < 0.001) and RCL (ARR=1.08, 95%CI: 1.06-1.11, p < 0.001) states were more likely to report positive cannabis expectancies. Those from MCL states were less likely to report negative cannabis expectancies (ARR=0.98, 95%CI: 0.97-0.99, p = 0.017). DISCUSSION: These findings indicate that early adolescents from states with medical and recreational cannabis legalization may have higher positive cannabis expectancies compared to those from states with no cannabis legalization. Our results may have important implications for public health officials, policymakers, and clinicians working to help adolescents understand the effects of cannabis use.
Effects of nonpharmacological manipulations and repeated xanomeline treatment on methamphetamine-vs-food choice in Sprague Dawley and Long Evans rats.
Baldwin AN, Banks ML
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41887015 · Full text
BACKGROUND: The absence of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pharmacotherapies for methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) highlights the need for preclinical research to understand both the basic biological mechani...
BACKGROUND: The absence of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pharmacotherapies for methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) highlights the need for preclinical research to understand both the basic biological mechanisms of methamphetamine reinforcement and evaluate novel MUD pharmacotherapies. Recent studies demonstrated that repeated treatment with the muscarinic receptor agonist xanomeline attenuated cocaine self-administration. Whether these xanomeline treatment effects extend to methamphetamine self-administration remains unknown. METHODS: The first aim established sensitivity of methamphetamine-vs-food choice in male and female Sprague Dawley (SD) and Long Evans (LE) rats to reinforcer magnitude and response requirement manipulations. A within-session methamphetamine choice dose-effect function (0.032-0.32mg/kg/infusion) was determined daily, and food reinforcer magnitude was manipulated weekly by changing the concentration (0, 10, 32, and 100%) of vanilla-flavored Ensure. Additionally, methamphetamine response requirement (i.e., fixed ratio (FR) 1, 5, 25, 125) was manipulated each week while holding the food FR constant. The second aim determined the effectiveness of repeated 5-day xanomeline (3.2-10mg/kg, SC) to attenuate methamphetamine choice. RESULTS: Both increasing Ensure concentrations and methamphetamine FR values resulted in rightward shifts in the methamphetamine choice dose-effect function in both SD and LE rats. Repeated 5-day xanomeline treatment significantly decreased methamphetamine choice across all doses tested in LE, but not SD, rats. Time course of xanomeline treatment effectiveness revealed effects were greatest during the first 30min of choice session. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that methamphetamine-vs-food choice was sensitive to parametric manipulations in rats and that xanomeline may warrant further consideration as a MUD pharmacotherapy.
The Loughborough Alcohol Drinking Questionnaire (LoAD-Q) for assessment of emotional, external, and restrained drinking behaviour.
Wilcockson TD, Gehrke KM
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41887014 · Publisher ↗
Researching alcohol-related addictive behaviours typically utilises questionnaires which measure an individual's level of alcohol use. However, these questionnaires typically either rely on a participant reporting the am...
Researching alcohol-related addictive behaviours typically utilises questionnaires which measure an individual's level of alcohol use. However, these questionnaires typically either rely on a participant reporting the amount of alcohol they drink in units or a measure of disorderly drinking behaviour. Such measures do not necessarily capture the essence of drinking behaviours in the general population. This study aimed to validate a new alcohol drinking questionnaire and evaluate its internal consistency, factor structure, and test-retest reliability. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 3-component structure, with the dimensions of emotional, external, and restrained drinking emerging as the primary constructs. Cronbach's alpha values indicated good to excellent internal consistency ranging from α= .76 to α= .97 across its subscales. Test-retest reliability was high, with Pearson's coefficients showing significant correlations between all test-retest items (p < .001). These findings suggest that the new questionnaire may be a reliable and valid instrument for measuring drinking behaviours. The questionnaire may offer a novel framework for categorising drinking behaviours and has the potential to inform interventions aimed at reducing harmful alcohol use.
Multimodal profiling of gray matter differences in alcohol use disorder: An integrated SDM-PSI meta-analysis with neuroimaging fusion study.
Long S, Wang J, Li Y … +4 more , Zhang L, Cui W, Zhang Y, Li B
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41881887 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) represents a major global health and economic challenge. While neuroimaging consistently reports widespread gray matter (GM) differences in AUD, the underlying molecular mechanisms,...
BACKGROUND: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) represents a major global health and economic challenge. While neuroimaging consistently reports widespread gray matter (GM) differences in AUD, the underlying molecular mechanisms, neurotransmitter associations, and genetic architecture remain insufficiently characterized. METHODS: A coordinate-based meta-analysis was performed using Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images (SDM-PSI) on 29 voxel-based morphometry studies (1112 individuals with AUD; 1136 controls). The resulting GM difference map was integrated with multimodal data to examine spatial associations with neurotransmitter systems (JuSpace), gene expression profiles (Allen Human Brain Atlas, noting its sample limitation of six donors), and behavioral and disease domains (BrainMap). Meta-regressions assessed associations with clinical variables. RESULTS: Compared to controls, individuals with AUD showed lower GM volume in the left anterior cingulate/paracingulate gyri, left postcentral gyrus, and right Rolandic operculum. Behavioral decoding linked these regions to executive function, attention, reward-related emotion, and somatosensory processing. The spatial pattern showed overlap with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and Alzheimer's disease. Meta-regression associated GM volume with AUD duration, age of onset, anxiety, and depression severity. GM differences were spatially associated with serotonergic, dopaminergic, noradrenergic, and opioidergic receptor and transporter distributions. Transcriptomic analysis revealed enrichment in genes related to synaptic signaling, glutamatergic function, and myelination. CONCLUSION: This multimodal meta-analysis identifies a consistent pattern of GM differences in AUD associated with behavioral domains, shared neuroanatomy across psychiatric conditions, and convergent neurotransmitter and genetic profiles, supporting a multi-system pathophysiological framework while highlighting the need for future causal investigations.
Associations of parental smoking throughout childhood with adolescent smoking and vaping: Mediation via adolescent substance use attitudes.
Mason WA, Wilmayani NK, Patwardhan I … +2 more , Espy KA, Nelson TD
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41881886 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Adolescent cigarette smoking continues to be a significant public health concern, and vaping or the use of e-cigarettes can have adverse health consequences for adolescents. Parental smoking is a key predicto...
BACKGROUND: Adolescent cigarette smoking continues to be a significant public health concern, and vaping or the use of e-cigarettes can have adverse health consequences for adolescents. Parental smoking is a key predictor of adolescent smoking, yet limited research has examined both maternal and paternal smoking throughout childhood in relation to both adolescent smoking and vaping while testing for mediation of these intergenerational effects. This study investigated cumulative exposure to maternal and paternal smoking from the prenatal period through the elementary school years in relation to adolescent cigarette and e-cigarette use, and tested adolescent cigarette and e-cigarette use attitudes as mediators. METHOD: Participants were 230 children and their mothers/maternal caregivers from a Midwestern U.S. city enrolled in a longitudinal study extending from preschool through adolescence. Mothers/maternal caregivers reported on their smoking at the prenatal period (retrospectively) and on their own and their spouse's (father/paternal caregiver) smoking at the preschool and elementary school periods. Data were summed into separate cumulative indices. Adolescent cigarette and e-cigarette use over the last year and attitudes toward cigarette and e-cigarette use were assessed via phone interviews at ages 14-18 years. Path analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Paternal cumulative smoking had statistically significant indirect effects on both adolescent smoking and vaping through adolescent cigarette and e-cigarette use attitudes, respectively. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the long-term risks of persistent exposure to paternal smoking for adolescent-age offspring and suggest the value of family-focused prevention strategies to mitigate these risks.
Interoceptive phenomenology of hangover: A proof of concept for bodily mapping in naturalistic study designs.
Steiger N, Desmedt O, Billaux P … +2 more , Maurage P, Leganes-Fonteneau M
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41881885 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Alcohol hangover is the most frequently reported adverse consequence of excessive drinking and can predict future alcohol use. While standard hangover measures capture physiological symptoms, they overlook ho...
BACKGROUND: Alcohol hangover is the most frequently reported adverse consequence of excessive drinking and can predict future alcohol use. While standard hangover measures capture physiological symptoms, they overlook how these sensations are perceived. We introduce a proof-of-concept for bodily mapping in naturalistic studies by characterizing hangover phenomenology in individuals who drink heavily. METHODS: Participants (N = 34) completed a baseline assessment. Then, using the emBODY tool, participants marked regions of activation and deactivation during several hangover sessions to generate topographical maps. These maps quantified the extent and intensity of hangover bodily sensations. Participants reported prior-night subjective intoxication and current hangover severity. Pre-registered linear mixed models and correlational analyses assessed within-subject associations with session-level variables and between-subject associations with individual drinking profiles. RESULTS: Topographical maps revealed hangover-related activation in the head, chest and abdomen and deactivation in the lower limbs. Intensity, but not extent, of bodily sensations was significantly associated with hangover severity, independent of subjective intoxication. Participants with high trait-level drinking scores reported more intense bodily sensations, more frequent hangovers, and stronger associations between sensation intensity and hangover severity, which also increased with age. CONCLUSIONS: Bodily mapping captures meaningful interoceptive patterns linked to subjective hangover severity and individual drinking behavior, offering new insights into the somatic processes underlying vulnerability to alcohol misuse. Our results offer proof-of-concept establishing the usefulness and feasibility of body mapping in naturalistic designs. They also underscore its potential as a scalable, intuitive tool for investigating embodied processes in addiction research, where interoceptive dimensions remain underexplored.
The reach, effectiveness, implementation, and maintenance of a New York City harm reduction program enrolling priority populations who use meth, 2017-2022.
Reynolds C, Montero N, Ramsdell E … +4 more , Silva F, Knox J, Irvine M, Rodriguez-Hart C
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41865710 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine use is associated with risk of HIV transmission and poor HIV outcomes. In 2016, the NYC Health Department created a harm reduction program for methamphetamine users. Utilizing an implementatio...
BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine use is associated with risk of HIV transmission and poor HIV outcomes. In 2016, the NYC Health Department created a harm reduction program for methamphetamine users. Utilizing an implementation science framework (RE-AIM), we descriptively evaluated the program's reach, effectiveness, implementation, and maintenance of participant outcomes. METHODS: Participants included in this descriptive evaluation reported methamphetamine use in the past year, completed an assessment at enrollment, and received at least one service from January 2017-June 2022. Programmatic and surveillance data were used to measure outcomes related to populations engaged (reach), service use (implementation), methamphetamine use (effectiveness/maintenance), engagement in HIV care (effectiveness/maintenance), viral suppression (effectiveness), seroconversions (effectiveness), and PrEP use (effectiveness/maintenance). RESULTS: The program enrolled more people with HIV (53.6%) than people without HIV (PWoH) (46.4%), totaling 545 participants. More White men who have sex with men (MSM) enrolled (34.2%), than Latino (30.5%) and Black MSM (23.6%). The most common services delivered were substance use counseling, health education, and benefits navigation. Before the program concluded, 6.7% (17/253) of PWoH seroconverted. The proportions seroconverting were higher among Black MSM (15.0%) and Latino MSM (7.4%), and lower among White MSM (3.0%). Among those reassessed (165/545), 44.0% continued to use methamphetamine as of their first reassessment. CONCLUSION: At reassessment, less than half reported recent methamphetamine use. Seroconversions occurred mostly among MSM of color, suggesting that greater engagement and support are needed for priority populations. Findings align with prior research showing frequent HIV seroconversion and a high need for non-medical services among MSM using methamphetamine.
Randomized controlled trial of a remote-guided caffeine reduction intervention.
Knerr AW, Strickland JC, Labos BH … +1 more , Lee DC
Drug Alcohol Depend · 2026 Jun · PMID 41864111 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive substance. Although one third of individuals who chronically consume caffeine express a desire to reduce caffeine consumption, empirically supported interventio...
INTRODUCTION: Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive substance. Although one third of individuals who chronically consume caffeine express a desire to reduce caffeine consumption, empirically supported interventions for caffeine reduction are limited. This fully-remote randomized controlled trial assessed a manualized caffeine fading intervention for reducing caffeine use and adverse caffeine-related symptoms. METHODS: In this two-arm, parallel, open-label waitlist control study, healthy adults with interest in reducing their caffeine consumption and reported adverse caffeine-related symptoms were urn randomized to receive a caffeine fading treatment manual immediately or after a six-week delay. The manual guided participants in systematically reducing caffeine consumption over the six-week intervention. Caffeine-related symptoms were also measured throughout the intervention and up to 14 weeks post-treatment. RESULTS: Data were analyzed for all randomized participants, with 56 in the delayed treatment group and 53 in the immediate treatment group. Caffeine consumption decreased from a mean of 565mg per day (SD=295) at screening to 233mg (SD=226) post treatment (p < .0001, d=1.26). Caffeine consumption in the delayed treatment group did not significantly decrease prior to the intervention. Reductions were also seen in adverse caffeine-related symptoms, with decreases in PROMIS t-scores for sleep, anxiety, reflux, and diarrhea (d=0.67-1.04). CONCLUSION: Participants successfully reduced caffeine use using the manual, showing its feasibility as a standalone intervention. This is the first clinical trial of caffeine reduction treatment done without clinical supervision. Future efforts should increase accessibility by adapting the manual to digital modalities.
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