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The author offers his opinion on the article "Risky business: a few provocations on the regulation of electronic gaming machines," by Charles Livingstone and colleague. The study underlines role of classical conditioning in the associative learning with gambling, and highlights decreased receptivity to negative associations in pathological gamblers. He supports the results that learning related with addictive relationships function in a different way than normal consuming behavior.

The author discusses the issues covered by the panel called by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) regarding variables of clinical trials for drug dependence treatment. He mentions that separation of treatment outcome and outcome evaluation could help create relevant targets. He argues that the selection of drug use as primary outcome measure is a biased decision. He adds that there is a need for further study on standards on clinical trials.

In this article, the author discusses aspects of the common standard for conflict of interest disclosure presented in Goozner et al. He is critical of the limited discussion on the conflict of interest disclosures outside western research facilities. It also says that providing a code of conduct to authors is not enough when their institutions are unaware of the effect of research grants from sources with interests other than the production and distribution of objective scientific knowledge.

The article comments on the evaluation of the moral jeopardy related with receiving funding from dangerous consumption industries. The study specifically focused on the purpose, extent, relevant, identified link (PERIL) model for individual and community situations, especially in academic medical centers. The author stated that the analysis of moral jeopardy might help in combating the dangers in the slippery slope arguments.

The authors comments on the article of K. M. Carroll and B. J. Rounsaville concerning the future of behavioral therapies research in the addictions. They assert that the study exemplifies the urgent need to enhance the research focus from laboratory randomized clinical trials to issues of behavior change agents and processes beyond formal treatment, to transfer processes into practice and to the sustainability of training and application of empirically supported therapies under practical conditions. They point out that the study focused rather narrowly on the delivery of behavioral therapies, while patient outcomes are affected by a wide range of systems, including social systems, public policy and treatment services.

Discusses findings of a study conducted by J.B. Bricker et al to establish a relationship between parental smoking and smoking behavior of their children. Strong points of the study; Analysis of the methodology adopted by Bricker et al for the study; Factors on which the risk for smoking in children of former smoking parents depend.

Comments on a published editorial about the strategies of the alcohol industry in the United States to protect the image of its product. Views on the funding of the industry; Reason for the interest of the industry in scientific research.

The article comments on the moral dimension in the funding of research from alcohol, tobacco and harm-producing industries. The author argues that the association between industry and research will not be based on the moral conflict between public good and commercial plans of the dangerous consumption companies. He stressed the importance of promoting research integrity rather than focusing on moral values as may be characterized in drinking, smoking or gambling.

Reports on the inclusion of gambling amongst the addictive behaviors despite the absence of psychoactive agent. Reasons why research into gambling has tended to remain at the periphery of addictions research; Types of gambling; Importance of analysis of key structural characteristics and related subjective behavioral responses of regular players.