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The article is a call for papers on the topic of psychedelic-assisted treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). It highlights the growing interest in psychedelics as a potential treatment for SUDs and the increase in their use. Concerns about the risks and harms associated with psychedelics are also mentioned. The article emphasizes the need for further research and invites submissions on various types of studies, including systematic reviews, case series, qualitative studies, and observational cohort studies. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2025. [Extracted from the article]

The remaining 11 patients still utilizing PES in 2020 had on average seven chronic medical conditions (95% CI: 3.8-10.2), with six patients having at least one alcohol-attributable condition, and were taking on average 11 chronic medications (95% CI: 8.5-13.5). Among all 12 patients still alive and within the state of Connecticut in 2020, all but one patient who required nursing home care continued to utilize PES services, and the majority of patients with substance use disorder continued to report substance use in 2020. Prevalence of Substance Use Disorder in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients With Eating Disorders... B Precious Obehi Eseaton SP 1 sp , Samuel Nwaobi SP 2 sp , Henry Onyeaka SP 3 sp , Abby Enosolease SP 4 sp , Adeolu Funso Oladunjoye SP 5 sp , Ehizogie Edigin SP 6 sp , Adeolu Oladunjoye* SP 5 sp b SP 1 sp University of South Wales, SP 2 sp Piedmont Columbus Regional, SP 3 sp Harvard Medical School, SP 4 sp University of Benin, SP 5 sp Baylor College of Medicine, SP 6 sp Loma Linda University Health B Summary b : We aim to study the prevalence of substance use disorder in hospitalized pediatric patients with eating disorders in the United States. Alcohol use was most frequently reported (16 patients), followed by stimulant use (nine patients), opioid use (seven patients), and then other substances such as sedative-hypnotics and cannabis (four patients). Only a minority of the patients had only METH as a presenting disorder with the most patients also manifesting opioid use disorders. [Extracted from the article]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) first emerged in China in November 2019. Most governments have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by imposing a lockdown. Some evidence suggests that a period of isolation might have led to a spike in alcohol misuse, and in the case of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD), social isolation can favour lapse and relapse. The aim of our position paper is to provide specialists in the alcohol addiction field, in psychopharmacology, gastroenterology and in internal medicine, with appropriate tools to better manage patients with AUD and COVID-19,considering some important topics: (a) the susceptibility of AUD patients to infection; (b) the pharmacological interaction between medications used to treat AUD and to treat COVID-19; (c) the reorganization of the Centre for Alcohol Addiction Treatment for the management of AUD patients in the COVID-19 era (group activities, telemedicine, outpatients treatment, alcohol-related liver disease and liver transplantation, collecting samples); (d) AUD and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Telemedicine/telehealth will undoubtedly be useful/practical tools even though it remains at an elementary level; the contribution of the family and of caregivers in the management of AUD patients will play a significant role; the multidisciplinary intervention involving experts in the treatment of AUD with specialists in the treatment of COVID-19 disease will need implementation. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly leading addiction specialists towards a new governance scenario of AUD, which necessarily needs an in-depth reconsideration, focusing attention on a safe approach in combination with the efficacy of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders worldwide with high economic costs. Current treatment options show modest efficacy and relapse rates are high. Furthermore, there are increases in the treatment gap and few new medications have been approved in the past 20 years. Recently, psychedelic‐assisted therapy with psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide has garnered significant attention in the treatment of AUD. Yet, they require significant amounts of therapist input due to prolonged subjective effects (~4–12 h) leading to high costs and impeding implementation. Accordingly, there is an increasing interest in the rapid and short‐acting psychedelic 5‐methoxy‐N,N‐dimethyltryptamine (5‐MeO‐DMT). This paper offers a first look at potential therapeutic mechanisms for AUD by reviewing the current literature on 5‐MeO‐DMT. Primarily, 5‐MeO‐DMT is able to induce mystical experiences and ego‐dissolution together with increases in psychological flexibility and mindfulness. This could decrease AUD symptoms through the alleviation of psychiatric mood‐related comorbidities consistent with the negative reinforcement and self‐medication paradigms. In addition, preliminary evidence indicates that 5‐MeO‐DMT modulates neural oscillations that might subserve ego‐dissolution (increases in gamma), psychological flexibility and mindfulness (increases in theta), and the reorganization of executive control networks (increases in coherence across frequencies) that could improve emotion regulation and inhibition. Finally, animal studies show that 5‐MeO‐DMT is characterized by neuroplasticity, anti‐inflammation, 5‐HT2A receptor agonism, and downregulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 with clinical implications for AUD and psychiatric mood‐related comorbidities. The paper concludes with several recommendations for future research to establish the purported therapeutic mechanisms of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personalized medicine promises the ability to improve patient outcomes by tailoring treatment recommendations to the likelihood that any given patient will respond well to a given treatment. It is important that predictions of treatment response be validated and replicated in independent data to support their use in clinical practice. In this paper, we propose and test an approach for validating predictions of individual treatment effects with continuous outcomes across samples that uses matching in a test (validation) sample to match individuals in the treatment and control arms based on their predicted treatment response and their predicted response under control. To examine the proposed validation approach, we conducted simulations where test data is generated from either an identical, similar, or unrelated process to the training data. We also examined the impact of nuisance variables. To demonstrate the use of this validation procedure in the context of predicting individual treatment effects in the treatment of alcohol use disorder, we apply our validation procedure using data from a clinical trial of combined behavioral and pharmacotherapy treatments. We find that the validation algorithm accurately confirms validation and lack of validation, and also provides insights into cases where test data were generated under similar, but not identical conditions. We also show that the presence of nuisance variables detrimentally impacts algorithm performance, which can be partially reduced though the use of variable selection methods. An advantage of the approach is that it can be widely applied to different predictive methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this paper was to examine the client and psychosocial characteristics associated with polydrug use in patients with alcohol misuse as their primary drug of concern (PDC) seeking treatment from substance use treatment centres. Methods: Self‐report surveys were undertaken with clients attending 1 of 34 community‐based substance use treatment centres across Australia with alcohol as their PDC. Survey items included client's socio‐demographic characteristics, level of alcohol dependence, use of other drugs including tobacco, health and wellbeing factors including health‐related quality of life. The factors associated with polydrug use (alcohol use concurrent with at least one other drug) were examined. Results: In a sample of 1130 clients seeking treatment primarily for alcohol problems, 71% reported also using another drug. The most frequently used drug was tobacco (50%) followed by cannabis (21%) and benzodiazepines (15%). Excluding tobacco use, 35% of participants reported polydrug use. Factors associated with any polydrug use were younger age, lower education levels, lower levels of mental health related quality of life and housing risk (i.e., risk of eviction or experienced homelessness in past 4 weeks). When tobacco was excluded, factors associated with polydrug use were age, lower physical and mental health‐related quality of life, and housing risk. Discussion and Conclusions: Most adults seeking treatment for alcohol misuse as their PDC reported using another drug in addition to alcohol. Treatment services should be designed accordingly to maximise the likelihood of treatment engagement and success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Myelinolysis is a neurological condition that can display diverse psychiatric symptoms, with electrolyte imbalance, alcoholism and malnutrition being the frequent causes. Rapid correction of hyponatremia may trigger pontine and extra‐pontine myelinolysis. Cases: This paper examines two cases: one of hyponatremia after antihypertensive use and the other of myelinolysis due to rapid correction of hyponatremia. Since myelinolysis appeared as a manic episode, the patients sought treatment at the psychiatry outpatient clinic. Further tests were conducted to rule out organic causes and the diagnosis was confirmed prior to referring the patients to the neurology clinic. Conclusion: Psychiatrists should be meticulous in excluding organic causes in first‐episode mania and consider these possibilities in the differential diagnosis for the pertinent patient group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Substance use, that is of cigarettes, alcohol and chemical inhalants, is a major contributor to health‐compromising behaviors and the related consequences among adolescents around the world. The purpose of this paper is to examine trends in this phenomenon in South Korea among sexually active adolescents who reported sexual minority behaviors as compared to their heterosexual (HS) peers. Design and Methods: This study used data from the annual web‐based survey called Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 5‐year intervals: 2006, 2011, and 2016. From 2017, the questions regarding the gender of sex partners were excluded from the survey, thus no data is available for sexual minorities after 2016. Selected data (Unweighted n = 10,029) was used to assess whether substance use increased, decreased, or remained unchanged among adolescents who reported same‐sex (SS) behaviors and bisexual (BS) behaviors compared to their peers reporting HS behaviors. Demographic variables included age and assigned gender. Substances referred to are cigarettes, alcohol, and chemical inhalants. Logistic regression models were sex‐stratified according to assigned gender. Trend analyses were carried out to examine disparities in substance use among sexually active adolescents across the three survey years. Results: Across the three survey years, cigarette use, alcohol use, and problematic drinking declined among all sexually active youths, but there were some differences among the subgroups. In 2016, SS girls were more likely to use cigarettes than HS girls. The prevalence of alcohol use and problematic drinking among BS girls was relatively higher than among girls who exhibited either HS or SS behaviors. Inhalant use was very high among both boys and girls with SS and BS behaviors. Practice Implications: The findings of the study reveal disparities in substance use between sexual minority and heterosexual adolescents in South Korea. This creates an alarm for collecting data separately for sexually diverse youth in future Korean national surveys with a goal of reducing substance use among all adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comments on methodological issues linked to the alcohol Stroop paradigm in the paper of Sharma, Albery and Cook. Assessment on the attentional bias of drinkers for alcohol-related stimuli; Objections to the card format used in the presentation of the Stroop stimuli; Employment of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test.

The article presents the authors' views on the previously published article "Phosphatidylethanol Is Superior to CDT and GGT as an Alcohol Marker and Is a Reliable Estimate of Alcohol Consumption Level," by Walther L. and colleagues.

Background: Problems associated with alcohol use are multidimensional with psychiatric, psychological, physical, and social aspects, which makes it challenging to choose appropriate assessment scales. However, there has been no systematic evaluation of existing alcohol scales. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted for articles that assessed the psychometric properties of scales for alcohol use disorder on March 19, 2023, using Medline, EMBASE, and PsycINFO. Only scales whose original development papers were cited more than 20 times were included. The methodological quality and psychometric properties of the scales were evaluated using COnsensus‐based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments. The overall rating of the scales were assessed with a score ranging from 0 to 18. Results: In total, 314 studies and 40 scales were identified. These scales differ widely in measurement methods, target populations, and psychometric properties. The overall mean score was 6.3, and only the following three scales received >9 points suggesting a moderate level of evidence: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS), and Short Alcohol Dependence Data Questionnaire (SADD). Measurement error and responsiveness were not evaluated or reported in the included scales. Conclusions: Although the AUDIT, ADS, and SADD were rated the highest among the 40 scales, they showed, at most, a moderate level of evidence. These findings underscore the need to accumulate further evidence to assure the quality of the scales. It may be advisable to select and combine scales to meet the purpose of the assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The Scottish Government introduced minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol on 1 May 2018. This means retailers in Scotland cannot sell alcohol to consumers for less than £0.50 per unit (1 UK unit = 8 g ethanol). The Government intended the policy to increase the price of cheap alcohol, cut alcohol consumption overall and particularly among those drinking at hazardous or harmful levels, and ultimately reduce alcohol‐related harm. This paper aims to summarise and assess the evidence to date evaluating the impact of MUP on alcohol consumption and related behaviours in Scotland. Argument: Evidence from analyses of population‐level sales data suggest, all else being equal, MUP reduced the volume of alcohol sold in Scotland by ~ 3.0% to 3.5%, with the largest reductions affecting cider and spirits sales. Analyses of two time series datasets on household‐level alcohol purchasing and individual‐level alcohol consumption suggest reductions in purchasing and consumption among those drinking at hazardous and harmful levels, but offer conflicting results for those drinking at the most harmful levels. These subgroup analyses are methodologically robust, but the underlying datasets have important limitations as they rely on non‐random sampling strategies. Further studies identified no clear evidence of reduced alcohol consumption among those with alcohol dependence or those presenting to emergency departments and sexual health clinics, some evidence of increased financial strain among people with dependence and no evidence of wider negative outcomes arising from changes in alcohol consumption behaviours. Conclusions: Minimum unit pricing for alcohol in Scotland has led to reduced consumption, including among heavier drinkers. However, there is uncertainty regarding its impact on those at greatest risk and some limited evidence of negative outcomes, specifically financial strain, among people with alcohol dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This commentary discusses the importance of the recent article by Suffoletto and colleagues (in press), from the perspective of the developing role that technology such as text-messaging is serving as a means of increasing the reach of brief interventions for harmful alcohol use. Results: This study is important as it offers evidence from a well-designed study that text-messaging can be used to survey young adults about their alcohol use shows promising results for the potential efficacy of this technology to reduce alcohol use, including risky heavy episodic use. There are ethical and clinical considerations around text-messaging that need to be examined. Conclusions: Future adequately powered randomized studies are needed to show the comparative effect of new technologies, such as text-messaging, in comparison with more traditional methods of providing interventions in reducing harmful alcohol use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol and other drug (AOD) nurse practitioners have an advanced scope of practice that allows them to diagnose, prescribe pharmacological treatments for alcohol and other substance use disorders, and monitor physical and mental health. The Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) is used to understand barriers and facilitators to implementation by applying three conditions of behaviour change (capability, opportunity, and motivation—the COM‐B framework). The aim of this paper is to describe the current AOD nurse practitioner workforce, and to explore barriers and facilitators to AOD nurse practitioner uptake in Australia. A mixed method approach was used in this study: a survey to determine the current state of the AOD nurse practitioner workforce (n = 41) and qualitative interviews with 14 participants to determine barriers to endorsement and ongoing work as a nurse practitioner. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis and mapped to the COM‐B framework. The AOD nurse practitioner is a highly specialized provider of holistic care to people who use alcohol and other drugs, with AOD nurse practitioners performing advanced roles such as prescribing and medication management. However, there are several barriers to the further uptake of AOD nurse practitioners in Australia, including varied organizational support, a lack of support for the higher study required to become a nurse practitioner and a lack of available positions. Arguably, nurse practitioners are key to addressing prescriber shortages inherent in AOD treatment settings. In addition, they are equipped to provide true holistic care. We recommend that barriers are addressed to expand the AOD nurse practitioner workforce in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) causes the highest harms around the world. Many people use alcohol to reduce stress and anxiety, considered as risk factors for AUD. Chronic alcohol use leads to changes in the reward system and the high level of stress may exacerbate neuroendocrine responses. Electroencephalographic (EEG) neurofeedback shows reduction of stress, anxiety and alcohol abuse and it could be an important tool for reducing harm and risk associated with AUD. The aim of this paper is to review the studies that investigated the effects of EEG neurofeedback in subjects with AUD and it proposes to discuss this intervention as a tool for reducing harm and risk in AUD. Approach: Medline, PsycINFO and LILACS databases were searched and appropriated terms were used. Inclusion criterion was adopted. The year of publication was not limited because of the scarce number of studies. Eighty‐two papers returned and eight were included. A critical review was conducted. Key Findings: Most of the papers analysed used the alpha/theta protocol to reduce the 'hyperexcitation' of the nervous system. This protocol provides relaxation, decreases anxiety or stress, prevents alcohol relapse, maintains abstinence and increases the feeling of well‐being. Implications: EEG neurofeedback has important effects on AUD and anxiety or stress. Studies reinforce the use of EEG neurofeedback as an alternative tool for reducing harm and risk in AUD. Conclusion: EEG neurofeedback is an intervention to treat AUD, specifically, to reduce harm and risk. However, more randomised studies are necessary to consolidate the effectiveness of the technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol use is a major cause of disability and death globally. These negative consequences disproportionately affect people who develop alcohol addiction, a chronic relapsing condition characterized by increased motivation to use alcohol, choice of alcohol over healthy, natural rewards, and continued use despite negative consequences. Available pharmacotherapies for alcohol addiction are few, have effect sizes in need of improvement, and remain infrequently prescribed. Research aimed at developing novel therapeutics has in large part focused on attenuating pleasurable or "rewarding" properties of alcohol, but this targets processes that primarily play a role as initiation factors. As clinical alcohol addiction develops, long‐term changes in brain function result in a shift of affective homeostasis, and rewarding alcohol effects become progressively reduced. Instead, increased stress sensitivity and negative affective states emerge in the absence of alcohol and create powerful incentives for relapse and continued use through negative reinforcement, or "relief." Based on research in animal models, several neuropeptide systems have been proposed to play an important role in this shift, suggesting that these systems could be targeted by novel medications. Two mechanisms in this category, antagonism at corticotropin‐releasing factor type 1, and neurokinin 1/substance P receptors, have been subject to initial evaluation in humans. A third, kappa‐opioid receptor antagonism, has been evaluated in nicotine addiction and could soon be tested for alcohol. This paper discusses findings with these mechanisms to date, and their prospects as future targets for novel medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electroencephalography (EEG)‐based electrophysiological techniques have made progress in diagnosing and treating alcohol dependence in recent years. Aims: The article reviews the latest literature in this field. Materials and methods: Alcohol dependence, which is common and prone to relapsing, poses a serious threat to individuals, families, and society. At present, the objective detection methods for alcohol dependence in clinic are not enough. As electrophysiological techniques developed in psychiatry, some researches on EEG‐based monitoring methods are of great significance in the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol dependence. Discussion: As electrophysiological techniques developed in psychiatry, some researches on EEG‐based monitoring methods such as resting electroencephalography (REEG), event‐related potentials (ERP), event‐related oscillations (ERO), and polysomnography (PSG), was reported. Conclusion: In this paper, the status of electrophysiological researches on EEG in alcoholics are reviewed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol and other drugs (AOD) use is a significant public health issue and is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. Despite this, people who use drugs are often reluctant to seek care due to the lack of trauma‐informed treatment and harm reduction treatment options, as well as experiences of stigma and discrimination in health services. Arguably, AOD education that is co‐produced with people who use alcohol and drugs can enhance future health professionals' ability to practice in ways that support the needs of this population. This paper reports on a qualitative co‐evaluation of a co‐produced undergraduate nursing AOD subject. The AOD subject was co‐planned, co‐designed, co‐delivered, and co‐evaluated with experts by experience, who have a lived experience of substance dependence and work as advocates and peer workers. Following the delivery of the subject in 2021 and 2022, focus groups were undertaken with 12 nursing students. Focus group data indicate that the co‐produced subject supported participants to understand and appreciate how stigma impacts on nursing care and how to recognize and undertake 'good' nursing care that was oriented to the needs of service users. Student participants noted that being co‐taught by people who use drugs was particularly powerful for shifting their nursing perspectives on AOD use and nursing care and took learning beyond what could be understood from a book. Findings indicate that co‐produced AOD education can shift nursing students' perceptions of AOD use by providing access to tacit knowledge and embodied equitable and collaborative relationships with people who use drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores potential reasons why a high proportion of children of alcoholics develop significant substance misuse problems. The author suggests it is potentially indicative of transgenerational trauma, which results in developmental deficits that may be managed by substance misuse. The paper describes how Jung's concept of the transcendent function provides a powerful therapeutic tool to link divided and split off parts of the self in a containing matrix. This is contrasted with Kleinian approaches to addictive states of mind. The alcoholic defence or 'solution' is examined through a Jungian lens. The transformative potential lies in holding the tension between wanting to 'give up' the family cycle of alcoholism versus 'giving in' to the alcoholic solution. Moving away from an identification with the alcoholic solution involves mourning and loss which is often vehemently resisted. The value in Jung's idea of the transcendent function is in the creative potential leading to growth arising from the dynamic tension of these opposites. The paper describes how they come together in fantasy, symbols and transference using a clinical case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The ability to regulate emotions effectively has been associated with resilience to psychopathology. Individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) have been shown to have higher levels of negative emotionality, with some evidence suggesting impairment in emotion regulation compared with individuals without SUDs. However, no previous attempt has been made to systematically review the literature to assess the magnitude of this difference. We aimed to assess the association between SUD diagnosis and emotion regulation as measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) through a systematic review and meta‐analysis of existing findings. Methods: The systematic review was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO and Embase. We examined cross‐sectional studies that compared a SUD group with a control group and measured emotion regulation using the DERS or the ERQ. The primary analysis focused on papers using the DERS, as this was the predominant instrument in the literature. Results: Twenty‐two studies met our primary analysis criteria, representing 1936 individuals with a SUD and 1567 controls. Individuals with SUDs relative to controls had significantly greater DERS scores, with a mean difference of 21.44 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 16.49–26.40, P < 0.001] and Hedges' g = 1.05 (95% CI = 0.86–1.24, P < 0.001). The difference was robust, remaining significant after removing outliers and studies with high risk of bias. Individuals with SUDs demonstrated poorer emotion regulation on each subscale of the DERS, with the largest deficits in the Strategies and Impulse subscales. The ERQ analysis revealed greater use of expressive suppression in those with SUDs relative to controls (Hedges' g = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.25–1.28, P = 0.004). Conclusions: People with substance use disorders appear to have greater difficulties in emotion regulation than people without substance use disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 34th Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) was a successful event, attended by approximately 650 clinicians from diverse disciplines. The conference focused on evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery approaches for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. The conference included workshops, paper presentations, posters, film workshops, and case conferences on various topics related to addiction psychiatry. The American Journal on Addictions (AJA) has dedicated an issue to sharing select segments of the conference proceedings, including written summaries of presentations and a diverse range of accepted posters. The AJA and AAAP encourage attendance at the 2024 annual meeting, which will offer a wide variety of scientific offerings. CME credits are available for participation in the annual meeting and for serving as a peer reviewer for the AJA. The AJA has seen international recognition, with submissions and readership from countries outside of the United States. The journal's content has focused on opioid use disorder, comorbid SUD, digital therapeutics, and the impact of stigma on SUD. The AJA expresses gratitude to its peer reviewers for their contributions to maintaining the journal's quality. The editors wish readers a successful 2024 and look forward to continued engagement with the AJA and participation in the November 2024 AAAP conference. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Patients with severe alcohol use disorder (SAUD) demonstrate multifaceted impairments in social cognition abilities, including emotional decoding or Theory of Mind. Such impairments are associated with real‐life interpersonal difficulties, which in turn could contribute to the persistence of SAUD. However, little is known regarding how patients with SAUD make decisions in a social context and this literature has not been comprehensively reviewed. Objectives: The main aim of this paper was to conduct the first review specifically focusing on social decision‐making abilities in SAUD. Following PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews, we describe existing knowledge regarding the difficulties experienced by patients with SAUD during social interactions. Our second objective was to propose perspectives for future research, based on the shortcomings identified in the available literature. Design: We searched three online databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus) and identified 14 papers using behavioral tasks to assess social decision making in patients with SAUD. Results: Included studies assessed social decision making through three paradigms: (1) economic games (four papers), (2) moral dilemmas (four papers), and (3) interpersonal problem‐solving (six papers). Results indicated that patients with SAUD behave differently from controls in all three paradigms. Conclusions: Previous studies suggested large‐scale social decision‐making impairments or biases in SAUD. However, in light of the limited number of studies available and of the restricted set of processes measured, we call for the extension of this field through more ecologically relevant and model‐based paradigms in order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only limited attention has been drawn to children's narrative practice of negotiating cultural ideas about who they are and what they can do. This paper focuses on children living in families where adults have psychosocial problems and analyses how they negotiate different family‐related and/or societal master narratives about their identity and agency. Twenty‐two children, 6–17 years old, have been interviewed about themselves and their lives. The findings suggest three master narratives as central in children's telling: the story of the child as problem bearer, the story of the child as inheritor of psychosocial problems and the story of the child as an unknowledgeable object. The analysis shows that children negotiate these master narratives by positioning and repositioning themselves and others in, and through, their telling. The core contribution of the study is the notion that children's problem descriptions contain important information about both material and discursive aspects of the problematic situation. Through listening to children's stories, social work practitioners and researchers can deepen their understanding of how the individual child relates to, and negotiates, wider cultural ideas about identity and agency. This knowledge is relevant in the pursuit of matching support with the child's needs and perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the issue is presented in which the author discusses articles in this issue on state-of-the-art alcohol consumption biochemical markers, the development of new biochemical markers and knowledge enhancement regarding known biochemical markers.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although there is a heritable component, the etiology of AUD is complex and can involve environmental exposures like trauma and can be associated with many different patterns of alcohol consumption. Epigenetic modifications, which can mediate the influence of genetic variants and environmental variables on gene expression, have emerged as an important area of AUD research. Over the past decade, the number of studies investigating AUD and DNA methylation, a form of epigenetic modification, has grown rapidly. Yet we are still far from understanding how DNA methylation contributes to or reflects aspects of AUD. In this paper, we reviewed studies of DNA methylation and AUD and discussed how the field has evolved. We found that global DNA and candidate DNA methylation studies did not produce replicable results. To assess whether findings of epigenome‐wide association studies (EWAS) were replicated, we aggregated significant findings across studies and identified 184 genes and 15 gene ontological pathways that were differentially methylated in at least two studies and four genes and three gene ontological pathways that were differentially methylated in three studies. These genes and pathways repeatedly found enrichment of immune processes, which is in line with recent developments suggesting that the immune system may be altered in AUD. Finally, we assess the current limitations of studies of DNA methylation and AUD and make recommendations on how to design future studies to resolve outstanding questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: New Zealand has recently legalized medicinal cannabis and has explored the possibility of legalizing large‐scale recreational cannabis supply. In the process, concerns have emerged regarding whether corporations involved in the large‐scale production and sale of legalized cannabis will invest in tactics of influence with policymakers and the public. This paper aimed to examine the various ways a legalized cannabis industry could seek to influence governments and the public in the New Zealand reform context. Method: Based on the study of industry tactics with alcohol, tobacco and gambling, we applied a three‐chain model of industry influence that breaks tactics into the 'public good', 'knowledge' and 'political' chains. Results: Exploratory analysis of the nascent cannabis industry's activity in New Zealand provided signs of industry influence strategies related to all three chains. The medicinal cannabis industry has associated the establishment of a legal cannabis sector with regional economic development and employment, supported lobbying for recreational law reform, funded NGOs involved in lobbying for law reform, established research partnerships with universities, invited ex‐politicians on advisory boards, and participated in government public sector partnerships. Conclusion: There is emerging evidence that the legal cannabis industry is using strategies to influence the regulatory environment in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problematic alcohol and other drug use has a significant societal, personal, and financial burden. Nurses are key in responding to problematic alcohol and other drug use; however, research indicates many nurses hold negative attitudes towards people with substance and alcohol use disorders. Further, little content exists in most undergraduate degrees to address stigma held by new nurses. The objective of this scoping review, structured using Arksey and O'Malley's (International Journal of Social Research Methodology: Theory and Practice, 8 (1), 19–32, 2005) framework, is to examine studies that either explore or attempt to improve the knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate nurses caring for people who use alcohol and other drugs. Our initial search located 610 articles, and after screening, 14 articles were appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and included in this review. Most of the papers appraised were small, localized studies using evaluation methods considered low quality, but showed promising results in addressing stigma and confidence in providing care to people who use alcohol and other drugs. This review indicates that a consistent direction for improving knowledge and attitudes among undergraduate nursing students working with people who use alcohol and other drugs is urgently needed. Further studies of interventions, tested with more rigorous evaluation methodologies, are required to extend existing work in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this paper is to describe the substance use of participants who are at‐risk for serious mental illness (SMI). Method: The Canadian Psychiatric Risk and Outcome study (PROCAN) is a two‐site study of 243 youth and young adults aged 13 to 25 years, categorized into four groups: healthy controls (n = 42), stage 0 (asymptomatic individuals with risk of SMI typically family high risk; n = 41), stage 1a (distress disorder or mild symptoms of anxiety or depression; n = 53) and stage 1b (attenuated syndromes, including bipolar disorder or psychosis; n = 107). Substance use measures were administered at baseline, 6‐ and 12‐months. Results: At baseline, the most commonly reported substance used in the past month was alcohol (43.6%), followed by cannabis (14.4%) and tobacco (12.4%). There were no significant group differences in use. 42.4% of all participants reported ever using cannabis in their lifetime, whereas 21.4% reported currently using cannabis. There were no group differences in ever having used cannabis. Regarding lifetime substance abuse disorders, cannabis use disorder (5.7%) and alcohol use disorder (4.5%) were the most common and more often reported in stage 1b participants relative to other groups. Furthermore, alcohol, cannabis and tobacco use remained relatively consistent at 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐ups when compared to baseline use. Conclusion: Alcohol was the most commonly used substance followed by cannabis and tobacco. Although substance use did not differ between those at different stages of risk, overall prevention strategies are still warranted for youth at‐risk for SMI, especially those who are more symptomatic and potentially at greater risk of developing an SMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Organizational change interventions involve systems and cultural change within health‐care services to make smoking cessation care delivery part of usual treatment. Six strategies for organizational change have been proposed. This study examined the evidence for organizational change interventions in the alcohol and other drug (AOD) setting on: (a) smoking cessation care; and (b) smoking cessation and cessation‐related outcomes. Methods: A systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE and Scopus were searched using keywords and MeSH terms from database inception to 1 June 2018. Interventions were assessed against the six organizational change strategies. Results: Of the 5155 papers identified, 14 publications from seven unique studies were included. Most studies employed four or fewer organizational change strategies. The majority (n = 11) were rated weak to moderate in methodological quality. Nine published papers, four unique studies, examined staff reported provision of smoking cessation care; eight reported an increase, one found no change. Three papers, two unique studies, examined client receipt of care; all found significant increases. Three papers, two unique studies, assessed staff smoking prevalence from pre‐ to post‐intervention. Only one study reported a significant reduction in staff smoking prevalence (35.2 versus 21.8%, P = 0.005). Nine papers, six unique studies, assessed client smoking cessation and smoking‐related outcomes. Seven papers reported on client smoking prevalence; two found a significant decrease and five found no change to smoking. Four papers reported on number of cigarettes per day, three found a significant decrease and one found no change. Two papers reported on smoking cessation finding a 10% and a 25% seven‐day point prevalence abstinence post‐discharge from the AOD service. Conclusions: Organizational change interventions within health‐care services to make smoking cessation care delivery part of usual treatment offer promise for increasing smoking cessation care and reducing smoking prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background and aims: Resilience and recovery are of increasing importance in the field of alcohol dependence (AD). This paper describes how imaging studies in man can be used to assess the neurobiological correlates of resilience and, if longitudinal, of disease trajectories, progression rates and markers for recovery to inform treatment and prevention options. Methods: Original papers on recovery and resilience in alcohol addiction and its neurobiological correlates were identified from PubMed and have been analyzed and condensed within a systematic literature review. Results: Findings deriving from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) studies have identified links between increased resilience and less task‐elicited neural activation within the basal ganglia, and benefits of heightened neural pre‐frontal cortex (PFC) engagement regarding resilience in a broader sense; namely, resilience against relapse in early abstinence of AD. Furthermore, findings consistently propose at least partial recovery of brain glucose metabolism and executive and general cognitive functioning, as well as structural plasticity effects throughout the brain of alcohol‐dependent patients during the course of short‐, medium‐ and long‐term abstinence, even when patients only lowered their alcohol consumption to a moderate level. Additionally, specific factors were found that appear to influence these observed brain recovery processes in AD, e.g. genotype‐dependent neuronal (re)growth, gender‐specific neural recovery effects, critical interfering effects of psychiatric comorbidities, additional smoking or marijuana influences or adolescent alcohol abuse. Conclusions: Neuroimaging research has uncovered neurobiological markers that appear to be linked to resilience and improved recovery capacities that are furthermore influenced by various factors such as gender or genetics. Consequently, future system‐oriented approaches may help to establish a broad neuroscience‐based research framework for alcohol dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this paper is to describe the context of alcohol use and problems in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the environmental context for alcohol‐related policy, drinking trends, harm and policy and to systematically review policies implemented to reduce alcohol‐related burden. Methods: LAC‐based studies relating to the existence and effects of public health‐oriented alcohol policies are described. The review is informed by a literature search of alcohol policies in LAC in English and in Spanish in several platforms, and in publications of international organisations, including grey and scientific literature. Results: Only 30 documents measuring policy impact were identified for the policy analysis. Most of the policies are focused on brief interventions, and most have little evidence on their effectiveness. Alcohol taxation and drink‐driving policies appear to have the highest impact if enforcement is adequately performed. Discussion and Conclusions: The studies reviewed indicate a pattern of modelling policy interventions but implementing only a few, and a paucity of sustained or systematic evaluations. Although patterns of use indicate alcohol use should be a major public health priority, only a few countries in LAC have a national policy or plan dedicated to alcohol, representing a low political commitment to considering alcohol as a public health priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To conduct a systematic review of modern‐era (post‐millennium) clinical studies assessing the therapeutic effects of serotonergic psychedelics drugs for mental health conditions. Although the main focus was on efficacy and safety, study characteristics, duration of antidepressants effects across studies, and the role of the subjective drug experiences were also reviewed and presented. Method: A systematic literature search (1 Jan 2000 to 1 May 2020) was conducted in PubMed and PsychINFO for studies of patients undergoing treatment with a serotonergic psychedelic. Results: Data from 16 papers, representing 10 independent psychedelic‐assisted therapy trials (psilocybin = 7, ayahuasca = 2, LSD = 1), were extracted, presented in figures and tables, and narratively synthesized and discussed. Across these studies, a total of 188 patients suffering either cancer‐ or illness‐related anxiety and depression disorders (C/I‐RADD), major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) or substance use disorder (SUD) were included. The reviewed studies established feasibility and evidence of safety, alongside promising early data of efficacy in the treatment of depression, anxiety, OCD, and tobacco and alcohol use disorders. For a majority of patients, the therapeutic effects appeared to be long‐lasting (weeks‐months) after only 1 to 3 treatment session(s). All studies were conducted in line with guidelines for the safe conduct of psychedelic therapy, and no severe adverse events were reported. Conclusion: The resurrection of clinical psychedelic research provides early evidence for treatment efficacy and safety for a range of psychiatric conditions, and constitutes an exciting new treatment avenue in a health area with major unmet needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Knowledge of how drinking motives are differentially associated with alcohol use (e.g., frequency, quantity) and drinking problems is critical in understanding risky drinking and the development of alcohol use disorder. The purpose of this paper was to use meta‐analytic techniques to answer 2 overarching questions: (a) Which types of drinking motives (i.e., enhancement, coping, social, conformity) are most strongly associated with alcohol use and drinking problems? and (b) What are the most likely mechanisms (alcohol use or drinking problems) through which motives may be indirectly associated with outcomes? Method: A comprehensive literature search identified 229 studies that met inclusion criteria (254 samples; N = 130,705) with a subset containing longitudinal data (k = 5; N = 6283). Data were analyzed using 2‐stage meta‐analytic structural equation modeling. Results: Results showed that both enhancement and coping motives were the strongest predictors of drinking problems, but only enhancement motives were the strongest predictor of alcohol use. Enhancement and social motives were indirectly associated with alcohol use through drinking problems and with drinking problems through alcohol use, whereas coping motives were only indirectly associated with alcohol use through drinking problems, although the results differed for cross‐sectional and longitudinal data. Conclusion: Overall, findings from this meta‐analysis provide evidence that drinking motives differentially predict alcohol use outcomes through unique direct and indirect pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present text comments on Stockwell and colleagues' paper documenting the high burden of alcohol use in COVID-19 related mortality in the USA and Canada in North America and the absence of a control policy in several countries of the world. This comment adds information about the third country in North America, Mexico. It describes alcohol use during the COVID lockdown and its consequences, highlighting the control efforts through public health policies and ponders the weaknesses of the current response to the health crisis and opportunities in the aftermath. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Aboriginal people experience a higher burden of disease as a consequence of drug and alcohol (D&A) abuse. Although media campaigns can be a popular tool for disseminating health promotion messages, evidence of the extent to which they reduce the impact of substance abuse is limited, especially for rural Aboriginal communities. This paper is the first to examine the impact a locally designed D&A radio advertising campaign for Aboriginal people in a remote community in Western NSW. Design A post-intervention evaluation. Setting The radio campaign was implemented in Bourke, (population 2465, 30% Aboriginal). Participants Fifty-three community surveys were completed. Main outcome measure(s) The self-reported level of awareness of the campaign and the number of self-referrals to local D&A workers in the intervention period. Results Most respondents (79%) reported they listen to radio on a daily basis, with 75% reporting that they had heard one or more of the advertisements. The advertisement that was remembered best contained the voice of a respected, local person. There was one self-referral to local health services during the intervention timeframe. Conclusion The community-led radio advertising campaign increased community awareness of substance abuse harms, but had limited impact on formal help-seeking. This paper highlights the value of radio as a commonly used, trusted and culturally relevant health promotion medium for rural communities, especially when engaging local respected Aboriginal presenters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims: Globally, there is growing concern regarding workers' alcohol use and its implications for health, wellbeing and workplace safety. Male-dominated industries are more susceptible to risky alcohol consumption and its associated harms. This paper investigated the patterns, prevalence and predictors of risky drinking among construction workers.Design and Methods: Male construction workers (n = 511) completed a survey measuring alcohol-related measures including Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Concise (AUDIT-C), which was compared with population data. Hierarchical multiple regression examined alcohol-related knowledge, perception of risk to workplace safety, psychological distress, job stress, general health, quality of life and workplace alcohol culture variables as predictors of risky drinking.Results: Prevalence of risky drinking was higher than the national average, particularly for younger (<25 years) and mid-aged (45-54 years) workers. One in six construction workers reported workmates being visibly affected by alcohol in the workplace. Key predictors of risky drinking were perception of alcohol-related risks to workplace safety, general health, alcohol knowledge and descriptive norms regarding workmates' alcohol use.Discussion and Conclusions: These findings provide useful insights into the patterns and predictors of risky drinking in construction and can inform future preventive programs and interventions in high-risk workplaces. In addition to tailoring programs to both young and mid-aged workers, this work highlights the importance of implementing strategies to increase awareness of risks to workplace safety; and the adoption of norms that inhibit the social acceptability of risky drinking behaviour in the wider workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines Adolphe Quêtelet's conception of deviance. It investigates how he identified social marginalities and what actions he recommended governments to undertake. To get a close understanding of his views, this paper examines three cases of "monstrosities," namely mental alienation, drunkenness, and criminality. My main thesis is that Quêtelet provided scientific authority to a conception of deviance as sickness, immorality, and cost thus encouraging legislators to use statistics for containing social marginalities. The case of alienation shows that Quêtelet viewed insanity as a pathology of civilization to be understood through phrenology. The case of drunkenness demonstrates how Quêtelet conflated the notion of statistical mean with moral decency. The case of criminality illustrates Quêtelet's major concern with the cost of criminals for the state. While advocating for the perfectibility of mankind, Quêtelet urged governments to take actions against what he considered the monstrosities of society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic ketoacidosis, a life‐threatening complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus, is a common cause of presentation to EDs. Two new drug classes have been found to cause ketoacidosis with distinctive presentations. The sodium‐glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus may present with ketoacidosis with normal glucose levels. Ketoacidosis with these medications may be prolonged and recur after initial resolution. Checkpoint inhibitors may present with fulminant diabetic ketoacidosis in individuals with previously normal glucose tolerance. Ketoacidosis may also occur as a result of starvation and alcohol excess, as well as a number of rare causes. Other causes of metabolic acidosis with both high and normal anion gap need to be considered in the differential diagnosis of ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis may also present with biochemical changes suggestive of myocardial ischaemia and pancreatitis in the absence of these pathologies. The present paper reviews ketone body metabolism, ketone testing and the causes and differential diagnosis of ketoacidosis with particular relevance to emergency medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient and public involvement and co‐production are widely used, but nevertheless contested concepts in applied health research. There is much confusion about what they are, how they might be undertaken and how they relate to each other. There are distinct challenges and particular gaps in public involvement in alcohol research, especially when the study focus is on health matters other than alcohol dependence. Objective: To explore how patient and public involvement and co‐production have been interpreted and applied within a multi‐disciplinary research programme in the development of a complex intervention on alcohol and medicine use in community pharmacies. Design: The paper presents the authors' critical reflection on a grounded example of how public involvement concepts have been translated into practice in the intervention development phase of a publicly funded research programme, noting its impact on the programme to date. Discussion: Co‐production adds another layer of complexity in the development of a complex intervention. The research planning requirements for publicly funded research circumscribe the possibilities for co‐production, including impacting on the possibility of stability and continuity over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) principle of "leaving no one behind" focuses global attention on the poorest and most vulnerable people. As different sectors grapple to engage meaningfully with this principle, we posit that greater consideration of social problems in fishing‐dependent communities, such as alcoholism and domestic violence, presents an opportunity for fishery governors to contribute to the SDGs mandate. We further argue that governing marine resources in ignorance of these problems can risk harming some of the most vulnerable people in fisheries. Using subjective well‐being data from women living in two small‐scale fishing communities in India and Sri Lanka, we demonstrate the prevalence and impact of alcoholism and domestic violence in fishing households. We further highlight how policies which restrict access to marine resources can undermine important coping strategies, in particular, the ability of women to act as independent income earners, exacerbating harm to already vulnerable women. A scoping review of the literature reveals that alcoholism and domestic violence are reported in certain fisheries around the world, and we theorize how this may relate to the nature of fishing life and growing stresses regarding the future of fishing. Tackling the burdens of alcoholism and domestic violence in fisheries, where it is an issue, is an opportunity to improve well‐being for men, women and their families. The paper concludes with tangible actions which marine resource governors could adopt to contribute to the "leave no one behind" ethos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the measurement of ethyl glucuronide in hair (hETG), it is possible to assess chronic alcohol abuse over time. In this paper, we present a study on hETG in Italian prison inmates. Analyses were performed by LC‐MS according to a previously published method. Results were evaluated using the cut‐offs established by the Society of Hair Testing. Positives samples (ETG > 30 pg/mg) accounted for 6% of all subjects, with concentrations ranging from 42 pg/mg up to 270 pg/mg, abstinent subjects (ETG < 7 pg/mg) accounted for 88%, and moderate alcohol consumption (7 < ETG < 30 pg/mg) for 6% of the subjects. No females displayed ETG values above 30 pg/mg. Among positive samples, only two subjects did not declare heavy alcohol consumption and were found strongly positive at 210 and 270 pg/mg. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first study on ETG hair concentration on prison inmates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Previous twin research suggests relationship status can moderate underlying genetic liability towards alcohol misuse. This paper examined: (1) whether genome‐wide polygenic scores (GPS) for alcohol consumption are associated with alcohol misuse; (2) whether these GPS are moderated by romantic relationships (gene–environment interaction; G × E) and (3) whether G × E results are consistent across sex. Design: Linear mixed‐effects models were used to test associations between genome‐wide polygenic scores, relationship status and alcohol use/misuse. Setting: Finnish twins born between 1983 and 1987 identified through Finland's central population registry. Participants: An intensively studied subset of Finnish Twin Study (FinnTwin12) during the young adult phase (aged 20–26 years). The analytical sample includes those with complete interview and genetic data (n = 1201). Measurements Key measurements included involvement in a romantic partnership, drinking frequency, intoxication frequency and DSM‐IV alcohol dependence (AD) symptoms. Genome‐wide polygenic scores (GPS) were created from available summary statistics from a large genome‐wide association study (GWAS) of drinks per week. Results: GPS predicted drinking frequency [b = 0.109; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.050, 0.168], intoxication frequency (b = 0.111; 95% CI = 0.054, 0.168) and AD symptoms (b = 0.123; 95% CI = 0.064, 0.182). Having a romantic relationship negatively influenced the association between GPS and drinking frequency (b = −0.105; 95% CI = −0.211, −0.001), intoxication frequency (b = −0.118; 95% CI = −0.220, −0.016) and AD symptoms (b = −0.119; 95% CI = −0.229, −0.009). There was a three‐way interaction between sex, relationship status and GPS for intoxication frequency (b = 0.223; 95% CI = 0.013, 0.433), such that the reduced association between GPS and intoxication frequency for those in a relationship was only apparent in males. We found no evidence of three‐way interactions for drinking frequency or AD symptoms. Conclusions: Being in a romantic relationship reduced the association between genetic predisposition and drinking, high‐risk drinking and alcohol problems. However, for high‐risk drinking the protective effect was limited to males, mapping onto earlier findings suggesting that males benefit more from romantic partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article comments on a paper by G. Bischof and colleagues on the secondary health impacts of people living and not living with a person's substance use disorder. Topics mentioned include the two elements that can show societal estimates of the people who are seriously affected with person's substance use disorder, the structural factors related to harm to others, and the effect of alcohol consumption.

Effects of COVID-19 lockdown on alcohol consumption in patients with pre-existing alcohol use disorder. This highlights that, although the impact of Covid-19 on care of patients with liver diseases has been dramatic,5 the impact on morbidity and mortality of liver diseases is heterogeneous. Abbreviations ALD alcoholic liver disease AUD alcohol use disorder ICD International Classification of Disease Code MELD Model for End-stage Liver Disease UK United Kingdom We read with interest the paper by Gonzalez et al.,1 reporting an increase in alcohol-related hepatitis hospital admissions during the Covid pandemia. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Alcohol consumption and problems are increasing among older adults, who are at elevated risk for alcohol‐related accidents and medical problems. This paper describes a pilot follow‐up of older adults with a history of alcohol dependence that was designed to determine the feasibility of conducting a more extensive investigation. Methods: The sample consisted of previously assessed subjects in the Collaborative Studies on the Genetics of Alcoholism who: (i) were age 50+; (ii) had lifetime DSM‐IV AD; and (iii) had DNA available. Individuals were located through family contacts, Internet searches, and death registries. A brief telephone interview assessed demographics, health, and alcohol involvement. Results: Of the total sample (N = 2,174), 36% were contacted, 24% were deceased, and 40% were not yet located. Most (89%) contacted subjects were interviewed, and 99% of them agreed to future evaluation. Thirty percent of interviewed subjects reported abstinence for 10+ years, 56% reported drinking within the past year, and 14% last drank between >1 and 10 years ago. There were no age‐related past‐year differences in weekly consumption (overall sample mean: 16 drinks), number of drinking weeks (30.8), maximum number of drinks in 24 hours (8.1), or prevalence of weekly risky drinking (19%). Among those who drank within the past 5 years, the 3 most common alcohol‐related problems were spending excessive time drinking or recovering (49%), drinking more/longer than intended (35%), and driving while intoxicated (35%); and about a third (32%) received some form of treatment. Conclusions: Over a 1‐year period, we located 60% of individuals last seen an average of 23 years ago. The majority of contacted individuals were interviewed and willing to be evaluated again. Although the proportion of individuals currently drinking diminished with age, subjects exhibited troublesome levels of alcohol consumption and problems. Our findings suggest the importance and feasibility of a more comprehensive follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers an overview of research paper that discussed the women-focused topics including the epidemiology of alcohol use among women, health and behavioral consequences of drinking, prenatal alcohol use and interventions, and enhanced alcohol treatment services. It also mentions the objectives of research to examine the harmful physiological and behavioral effects of alcohol in women.

Background: Peer selection and socialization influences for alcohol and other substance use have been a prominent area of research especially, though not exclusively, across adolescence. This study used 4‐wave prospective data from 1,004 young adults to evaluate selection and socialization influences for young adults' alcohol use and friends' alcohol use from late adolescence to later young adulthood, and incorporated the time‐varying predictors of marital and parental status. In addition, sex differences in peer selection and socialization processes were tested. Methods: Participants were recruited from high schools, and assessments were based on self‐reports initially collected in adolescence (at age 17.0 years) via paper‐and‐pencil surveys and in young adulthood at ages 23.8, 28.9, and 33.5 years via computer‐based individual interviews (computer‐assisted personal interview and audio computer‐assisted self‐interviewing). Initial sampling included a 76% participation rate, and the retention rate was 83%. Cross‐lagged panel regression models were used to evaluate hypotheses about peer selection and socialization. Results: Findings indicated that friend selection processes were stronger than socialization processes across adolescence to young adulthood. Adopting marital and (especially) parental roles was negatively associated with young adults' alcohol use and percentage of friends using alcohol, and the magnitude of these relationships was stronger and more consistent for females. Conclusions: These findings indicated that across the adolescence‐to‐young adulthood transition, peer selection processes were more influential than peer socialization. Marital and parental roles were associated with both lower young adult alcohol use and a lower percentage of friends using alcohol, with stronger role‐related effects for females relative to males. Do you select friends who drink similarly (selection effect) or does your shared drinking with friends increase your alcohol use (socialization effect)? Longitudinal data from 1004 young adults were used to evaluate these effects for young adults' and friends' alcohol use from adolescence to young adulthood. Friend selection effects were stronger than socialization effects. Adopting marital and parental roles was associated with a decrease in young adults' and friends' alcohol use; findings were stronger for females than males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Estimated alcohol consumption from national self‐report surveys is often only 30–40% of official estimates based on sales or taxation data. Global burden of disease (GBD) estimates for alcohol adjust survey estimates up to 80% of total per capita consumption. This assumes that cohort studies needed to estimate relative risks for disease suffer less from under‐reporting than typical national surveys. However, there is limited evidence on which to base that assumption. This paper aims to assess the extent of underestimation of alcohol consumption in cohort studies concerning alcohol and mortality compared with official total consumption estimates. Design Comparisons of estimated per capita consumption from a comprehensive sample of cohort studies against official estimates by country and year. Participants: A total of 1 876 046 participants in 40 cohort studies from 18 countries on alcohol use and all‐cause mortality identified by systematic review. Measurements Alcohol consumption data from the cohort studies were converted into usual grams of ethanol per day and then to total age 15+ per capita consumption. Matched estimates were sourced from the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Observatory. Findings The cohort studies had mean coverages of age 15+ per capita alcohol consumption of 61.71% (ranging from 29.19% for Russia to 96.53% for Japan), after weighting estimates by sample size for within‐country estimates and by number of studies per country for the overall estimate. Regional estimates were higher for the United States (66.22%) and lower for western European countries (55.35%). Conclusions: Underestimation of alcohol consumption in cohort studies is less than in typical population surveys. Because some under‐coverage is caused by under‐sampling heavier drinkers, the current practice of uplifting survey estimates to 80% of total population consumption in global burden of disease studies appears to be appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: In this review, the author focused on anticraving therapy for alcohol use disorder (AUD) defined by DMS‐5. A comprehensive review was carried out on the available published papers on anticraving drugs for treating AUD patients. Methods: The author described all drugs with anticraving benefits for treating AUD patients approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States (US FDA) and European Medicines Agency of the European Union. Then, the commonly prescribed anticraving drugs and those under development were also described. Results: The US FDA‐approved anticraving drugs included acamprosate and naltrexone, and those approved by European Medicines Agency were gamma‐hydroxybutyrate and nalmefene. The author also highlighted topiramate, gabapentin, ondansetron, LY196044, ifenprodil, varenicline, ABT‐436, mifepristone, citicoline, and baclofen. The putative mechanisms of action of and the use in clinical practice of those anticraving drugs were also described. Conclusion: Although slowly developing, the field of anticraving drugs is getting into shape as a promising entity of a pharmaceutical class of drugs. Then, the author addressed on the underused issues of those recommended, and suggested anticraving drugs by the practice guideline of the American Psychiatric Association. The author urges that clinicians should be more “adventurous” in prescribing those promising drugs because benefits of those anticraving drugs are far‐outweighing the possible side effects of anticraving drugs, or the harms of untreated AUD itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responding to the commentaries on a recent paper on the elusiveness of representativeness in general population alcohol surveys, we can summarise that there is agreement that the status quo of current alcohol surveys is scientifically no longer defensible. Current surveys cannot per se be assumed to yield representative results for the general populations of countries based on a probabilistic sampling alone. Alternatives are discussed and-as for any survey-creative ideas on validating key results on indicators or hypotheses need to be developed and used. This will inevitably lead away from omnibus surveys to more focused studies requiring more complex methodological tools. While there may not be obvious solutions for every problem related to alcohol use prevention and policy or treatment use disorders, and it may take years to find solutions for some of the issues, continued use of the methodology of the status quo will surely fail to answer the questions posed by modern societies concerning these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]