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The article argues that the 2002 Comparative Risk Assessment (CRA) study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) did not treat alcohol like most of other risk factors of diseases. The author thinks that alcohol usage has both beneficial and adverse outcomes and thus is too general to be an activity to usually serve as risk factor, contrary to the claims of J. Rehm and U. Frick. It is argued here that it is justified to distinguish between risky and nonhazardous drinking and that combining detrimental and protective outcomes of drinking into a single statistical indicator can be misleading.

A public health approach to gambling has been accompanied by a wide understanding of gambling harms. This has led to the creation of conceptual frameworks to understand and itemize different gambling-related harms, dimensions of harms, and subjects of harms. The current paper presents a comparative review and synthesis of existing harm frameworks. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic literature review on existing harm frameworks in five scientific databases across the years 2000–2021. We included studies that aimed at creating a conceptual framework or synthesis of different level gambling harms at a population level. The final sample consists of seven papers that present four different models. Gambling-related harms span health, psychological, relationship, financial, cultural, work, and crime-related issues. Harms accrue to individuals (heavy gamblers, non-problem gamblers and nongamblers), but also to families, communities, and societies. Harms form a spectrum in terms of severity and temporality. Risk factors or determinants of gambling are often similar to the harmful consequences of gambling. The results are discussed in terms of gaps in current understanding of gambling harms, including increased communication between models, increased focus on severity levels and issues of causality, and a better incorporation of harms that stem from gambling provision rather than harmful gambling consumption. We conclude that framing harms as consequences of individual behavior remains predominant, and a shift of focus to the social and commercial determinants of gambling harms is needed. This also includes the development of societal level harm screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Theoretical models of addiction predict that an attentional bias toward substance-related cues plays a role in development and maintenance of addictive behaviors, although empirical data testing these predictions are somewhat equivocal. This may in part be a consequence of substantial variability in methods used to operationalize attentional bias. Our aim was to examine the variability in key design and analysis decisions of the addiction Stroop. Method: Using a pre-registered design, we identified 95 studies utilizing an addiction Stroop (46 alcohol, 25 smoking, 24 drug-related). We extracted key information about the design of the Stroop tasks, including; administration (paper-and-pencil vs. computerized), response (key-press vs. voice), design (block vs. mixed). For analysis decisions we extracted information on upper- and lower-bound reaction time cutoffs, removal of data based on standard error cutoffs, removal of participants based on overall performance, type of outcome used, and removal of errors. Results: Based on variability from previous research there are at least 1,451,520 different possible designs of the computerized Alcohol Stroop, 77,760 designs of the computerized Smoking Stroop and 112,640 for the Drug Stroop. Many key design decisions were unreported. Similarly, variability in analyses decisions would allow for 9,000 different methods for analyzing the Alcohol Stroop, 5,376 for the Smoking Stroop and 768 for the Drug Stroop. P-curves suggest data provided evidential value and exploratory meta-regressions suggest that the addiction Stroop effect was not associated with design and analysis decisions. Conclusions: The addiction Stroop effect is seemingly robust, however the adoption of consistent reporting guidelines is necessary to aid reliability and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionsAbstinence has long been considered the defining feature of recovery from substance use disorder, with a focus on individual level factors associated with abstinence rather than identifying individual and socioecological factors that support recovery. This paper proposes greater consideration of dynamic behavioral ecological influences on recovery and offers an expanded contextualized approach to understanding and promoting recovery and predicting dynamic recovery pathways.Conceptual and empirical bases are summarized that support moving beyond research, treatment, and policy agendas that focus narrowly on the individual as the fundamental change agent in recovery and that emphasize changes in substance use as the primary outcome metric. A model is presented that expands the scope of recovery-relevant variables to include dynamically-varying ecological contexts that variously support or hinder recovery along with an expanded scope of functional and contextual outcome variables.Examining behavior patterns through time in changing environmental contexts that include community and neighborhood-level variables and social determinants of health is critical for understanding recovery and developing multi-level interventions to promote change. Molar behavioral and ecological perspectives are needed to understand how recovery is influenced by broader contextual features in addition to individual determinants. This paper provides concrete recommendations for the pursuit of this broadened research agenda.Individual pathology-based approaches to understanding and promoting substance use disorder recovery are too narrowly focused. This review calls for greater consideration of the dynamic behavioral ecological and temporally extended contexts that contribute to harmful substance use and systemic changes necessary to promote and sustain recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackgroundMethodsResultsConclusion\nHIGHLIGHTSA qualitative exploration into the views of alcohol service staff on transdermal alcohol sensors (TAS) within three alcohol services in South London, UK. This study aims to assess the acceptability and feasibility of TAS implementation in alcohol services to provide treatment in clinical settings and identify potential challenges and solutions from the perspective of service providers.Ten participants, in a patient-facing role with alcohol-related treatment, completed a semi-structured interview.Three core theoretical themes guided the analysis: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and attitudes toward use. Participants thought TAS could be useful as part of alcohol treatment in their service. They thought their service users may face some challenges using the TAS, (such as wearing the device; misplacing it, and/or remembering to remove and replace it for bathing). In general, participant attitudes toward TAS tended to be positive but there were some concerns about the cost and staff training. Participants believed their service users would be skeptical about wearing it, but that it could complement their treatment and motivate them toward their treatment goals.Results support the acceptability and feasibility of TAS within alcohol services. Participants suggested potential methods of implementing TAS within their treatment plans which could benefit both staff and users. Participants were agreeable and willing to learn more about TAS including the practicalities of implementing TAS. TAS were seen as a potentially useful treatment facilitator, if implemented correctly with sufficiently motivated service users and if specific challenges were addressed.The first paper to interview clinical staff from alcohol-treatment services about transdermal alcohol sensors (TAS).Staff were positive about the implementation of TAS as a potential adjunct to alcohol treatment.Staff were skeptical about applicability and engagement with technology amongst some service users.Several practical ways to use TAS were suggested.The first paper to interview clinical staff from alcohol-treatment services about transdermal alcohol sensors (TAS).Staff were positive about the implementation of TAS as a potential adjunct to alcohol treatment.Staff were skeptical about applicability and engagement with technology amongst some service users.Several practical ways to use TAS were suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAlthough an extensive body of research examines the implications of climate change for various aspects of human health, little conceptual or empirical work has focused on how climate change may affect addiction recovery. This paper addresses this gap by identifying probable pathways through which climate change may impact recovery, drawing on environmental, public health, and recovery research. Applying the theory of recovery capital, I outline the potential effects of climate change on social, physical, human, and cultural recovery domains. For example, in the domain of social capital, extreme weather and climate-related displacement are likely to make it more challenging for people in recovery to attend social events and support groups, though the use of digital support services may partially mitigate negative impacts. I synthesize this research in a model of probable pathways through which climate change will affect recovery capital and recovery outcomes, highlighting the ways in which marginalization related to factors such as race, income, and age is likely to shape the magnitude of effects. Building from this model, I discuss research implications, including the need for qualitative studies that examine how people engage as resilient actors pursuing recovery in the face of this ongoing global crisis, as well as quantitative studies that test hypotheses about the specific links between climate change and recovery capital. This paper concludes with implications for practice at individual, organizational, and societal levels, describing actions that service providers and people in recovery can take to build recovery capital while pursuing climate justice activism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper highlights how alcohol use disorder (AUD) conceptualizations and resulting diagnostic criteria have evolved over time in correspondence with interconnected sociopolitical influences in the United States. We highlight four illustrative examples of how DSM-defined alcoholism, abuse/dependence, and AUD have been influenced by sociopolitical factors. In doing so, we emphasize the importance of recognizing and understanding such sociopolitical factors in the application of AUD diagnoses. Last, we offer a roadmap to direct the process of future efforts toward the improved diagnosis of AUD, with an emphasis on pursuing falsifiability, acknowledging researchers' assumptions about human behavior, and collaborating across subfields. Such efforts that center the numerous mechanisms and functions of behavior, rather than signs or symptoms, have the potential to minimize sociopolitical influences in the development of diagnostic criteria and maximize the treatment utility of diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The model of recovery is based on an individualized and personalized journey of change and growth that is recognized both to be socially supported and mediated and to be contextually bound in terms of community resources and assets (as well as barriers and challenges in the local community). Specificity and precision has been added to recovery models by the emerging concept of 'recovery capital' creating not only the potential for a recovery metric but also the opportunity to assess changes in three key components of recovery capital (personal, social and community) and how they influence and shape each other. The paper builds on this by suggesting that not only can recovery capital have a residual impact on the community but that our understanding of this approach can be significantly enhanced with reference to John Braithwaite's model of macro-criminology and in particular the concept of ink spots to explain spread. The paper integrates the contagion ideas of recovery with the cascade effects Braithwaite describes to explain crime reductions and concludes with a discussion of the potential of concepts like collective efficacy and social contagion to be used to supplement public health approaches to the implementation of recovery-oriented interventions at a systems level. While there has been a huge growth in the 'evidence base' around recovery in recent years, there remain two primary gaps that this paper attempts to address. The first is around the paucity of conceptual frameworks and models for recovery and the second is around recovery as a social and community phenomenon. In this paper, we build on previous work by the authors and supplement it with inter-disciplinary work around a 'big picture' model of recovery communities and recovery spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stigma relating to substance use disorders is one of the many barriers to enrolling in substance use treatment. Stigma is also related to poorer substance use treatment outcomes, yet few studies of substance use and substance use treatment outcomes include measures of stigma. Stigma is a multi-level experience occurring as a result of discrimination within a systematic power structure promoting inequities among marginalized populations. Several domains of stigma are manifested among individuals seeking treatment for a substance use disorder, with internalized stigma being the most commonly measured. The current paper is a narrative review of measures that have been developed to measure internalized stigma related to substance use in treatment settings. Measures of stigma (n = 8) in substance use treatment settings were identified using PubMed and PsycINFO databases. The review identified various strengths of existing measures, including a broad range of measures with mostly excellent internal consistency. The review also identified limitations including the general lack of consideration for multiple domains and intersecting forms of stigma, samples with limited racial and ethnic diversity, and the lack of assessments of polysubstance use. The development of measures of the stigma that assess multiple domains of stigma and that are tested in a wide range of substance use treatment settings with racially and ethnically diverse participants is needed. This is of particular importance because stigma remains a crucial barrier to the successful initiation and completion of substance use treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safer gambling messages are a common public health intervention for gambling, and yet there is little evidence to support the variety of messages that are in widespread use. This paper thematically analyzed the perspectives of 21 participants – including academics, regulators and treatment providers – regarding the design characteristics of safer-gambling messages with the goal to improve on those already being used. The focus groups were semi-structured and discussed exemplar messages based on five areas of previous gambling research: teaching safer gambling practices, correcting gambling misperceptions, boosting conscious decision making, norm-based messages, and emotional messages. Five themes were supported by the three focus groups, including that messages: may be insufficient to change behavior; should respect the diversity amongst gamblers; should not contribute to gambling stigma; should provide norm-based information thoughtfully; and should trigger only positive and not negative emotions. These findings can be useful in developing messages that are based on themes endorsed by experts as being relevant to the design of effective safer-gambling messages. Generating a pool of messages that are evidence based is likely to improve on current messages, thus serving as a useful public health tool for promoting safer-gambling involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to provide an overview of the contemporary quantitative methods to assess alcohol consumption. We identified and rated six data collection methods according to four typical aims (i.e. to assess: per capita consumption, drinking patterns, event-specific consumption, and consumption over time) and five desirable features (low cognitive bias, contextual information, low participant and researcher burden, low costs). The results are presented in an overview table, which reveals that questionnaire-based methods are easy and cost-efficient but often distorted by cognitive biases. These biases can be avoided by analyzing sales/production statistics and wastewater samples, but these methods are unable to provide information on individual drinking patterns. Breathalyzers or transdermal monitors enable relatively precise measurement of individual consumption without any cognitive bias. However, the required devices are expensive and difficult to apply correctly, which makes data collection time, labor, and cost-intensive, particularly as sample sizes increase. Ecological momentary assessment (e.g. series of questionnaires within short timeframes completed in the participants' natural environments) reduces, but does not eliminate, cognitive biases and maximizes ecological validity. Unfortunately, this method also increases the response burden, potentially resulting in assessment reactivity and drop-out. Highlighting the combination of strengths and weaknesses of each method, this overview may serve as useful guidance for study planning and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substance use disorders (SUD) represent a pervasive and ongoing public health crisis responsible for many deaths and hospitalizations each year. Despite decades of research, we have yet to develop an effective cross-substance treatment model. Many who seek and enter treatment for SUD end up relapsing despite their intentions. Inconsistency in treatment success necessitates the identification of novel, universal therapeutic targets in the underlying core mechanisms of SUD. Determining the cognitive mechanisms which promote addictive behaviors is an essential first step to fully understand relapse and maintenance in SUD. The goal of the current review is to explore underlying cognitive processes which prolong SUD despite treatment. Through this, we propose a mechanistic model for how intrusive cognitions may jeopardize symptom improvement and SUD treatment success via risky decision making. Intrusive cognitions - images, words, memories, or impulses - demand little cognitive effort, and lend themselves to quick action and decisions. In the current paper, we present evidence which shows how intrusive cognitions, poorly inhibited, could impair the decision making process in SUD and lead to subsequent addictive behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on the article "Explaining Change and Stasis in Alcohol Consumption," which highlights the findings of a research that alcohol consumption in Nordic countries is unresponsive to dreductions in price. He finds that the paper defines social influences or social controls and argues that the regulation of drinking by law enforcement is also a social or informal control.

Across most developmental periods, males tend to drink at a higher frequency and at a higher intensity than females. In identifying the mechanism responsible for these differences, biological factors have been a prevalent focus; however, gender expression is also highlighted. The purpose of this paper is to decipher how differences in binge drinking are attributed to sex differences and gendered traits. Using data from Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (ADD Health) (n = 8,882), we conducted a multiple group moderation analysis to examine how differences in biological sex and gender roles in emerging adulthood predicted binge drinking. We found that binge drinking in emerging adulthood was most strongly predicted by high levels of masculinity and low levels of femininity in emerging adulthood. As masculinity decreased, alcohol use decreased. Femininity significantly moderated masculinity's association with binge drinking, primarily when masculinity was high, and this did not vary across sex after controlling for gender roles. Our findings expand sex and gender research surrounding alcohol use. For both males and females, the higher the masculinity the more frequent alcohol use, an effect of which was buffered by higher levels of femininity. Clinicians should take into consideration gender role ascription of their clients when determining the risk profile during assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responsible gambling codes of practice and guidelines exist in most regulated gambling environments around the world, however, the extent to which they acknowledge and engage with concepts of cultural and linguistic diversity is significantly lacking, and in many cases, completely absent. If ‘responsible gambling’ is defined as the provision of safe, socially responsible and supportive gambling environments where the potential for harm is minimised, then acknowledgement and engagement with cultural diversity is critical to ‘responsible gambling’ practice. This paper will relate to the Australian context and analyse the extent to which state and territory responsible gambling codes of practice and legislation engage with concepts of cultural diversity. Cultural competency frameworks and strategies have developed internationally in response to the research evidence suggesting the need for culturally responsive services and practices to improve outcomes for culturally diverse groups in society. Cultural competency frameworks suggest that in order for a ‘system’ to be culturally competent it begins at the systemic level, that is, recognising that culturally competent behaviour and practice needs to have policy objectives, procedural requirements, monitoring mechanisms and resource capacity to be achieved. This paper will present a framework for culturally competent responsible gambling practice in Australia that can be implemented at the systemic level. Without a culturally competent ‘system’ the ability of people from culturally diverse backgrounds to make informed choices with respect to their gambling and to minimise harm from gambling in culturally diverse communities is greatly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Recovery is experienced in both positive and negative ways and this paper attempts to integrate the 'pains of desistance' approach into a recovery capital framework. Pains experienced as a result of negative recovery capital are often thought to stimulate motivations for positive behavioral change, usually through a 'rock bottom' type moment. Whilst recovery capital and barriers to recovery have been explored in the literature, conceptualizing these as push and pull factors, and exploring their dynamic interaction, especially at distinct phases of recovery has not. Toward filling these gaps, we use the life-narratives of 30 people in recovery to explore how the pains of recovery (push factors) alongside different forms of recovery capital (pull factors) impact upon and are managed differentially at distinct phases of the recovery journey. Findings indicate the pains of recovery rarely led to positive changes. Rather, a range of pull factors created and promoted positive changes. However, the life narratives reveal that recovery capital cannot be accrued or sustained without managing (eliminating or reducing) the pains of recovery. Overall, this work highlights the need for policy and practice to help reduce the pains of recovery, especially during early recovery to accelerate transition to more stable phases of recovery. As recovery is neither a linear pathway nor a journey without residual challenges for many people, there is much to be learned about effective ongoing management strategies in preventing a return to problematic use that utilize a push and pull framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For decades predictors of alcohol use disorder (AUD) relapse have been studied, and around 40 different clinical and demographic relapse determinants have been identified. This paper aims to investigate the relationship of two of these AUD relapse factors, namely craving and meaning in life (MiL). We hypothesized that greater meaning in life would be associated with lower cravings and lower relapse rates. An AUD subsample of 81 patients within a clinical population that participated in ongoing exploratory research on religious/spiritual factors related to substance use disorders was followed up to 1 year. Craving (as measured with the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale) and meaning in life (as measured with the Meaning in Life Questionnaire- presence subscale) measures were assessed at baseline and relapse was assessed at 6- and 12-month follow up. Main effects and the interaction between craving and meaning in life in predicting alcohol relapse (with relapse defined as 'any alcohol use' and ≥ 3 consecutive days of drinking) were calculated/subject of analyses. We also investigated the relationship between relapse and alcohol dependence severity as measured with the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire. Baseline craving and dependence severity were related to relapse, but there were no associations between meaning in life and levels of craving or alcohol relapse. Our findings suggest a need for additional research on characterizing the Meaning in Life concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: While most countries require health warnings on cigarette packs, the Scottish and Canadian Governments are considering requiring health warnings on cigarette sticks. Methods: Twenty focus groups were conducted in Glasgow and Edinburgh (Scotland) with smokers (n = 120) segmented by age (16–17, 18–24, 25–35, 36–50, >50), gender and social grade, to explore perceptions of cigarettes displaying the warning 'Smoking kills' on the cigarette paper and any demographic differences in how smokers responded to these. Results: A warning on each cigarette was thought to prolong the health message, as it would be visible when a cigarette was taken from a pack, lit, left in an ashtray, and with each draw, and make avoidant behavior more difficult. That it would be visible to others was perceived as off-putting for some. It was felt that a warning on each cigarette would create a negative image and be embarrassing. Within several female groups they were viewed as depressing, worrying and frightening, with it suggested that people would not feel good smoking cigarettes displaying a warning. Within every group there was mention of warnings on cigarettes potentially having an impact on themselves, others or both. Some, mostly younger groups, mentioned stubbing cigarettes out early, reducing consumption or quitting. The consensus was that they would be off-putting for young people, nonsmokers and those starting to smoke. Conclusions: Including a warning on each cigarette stick is a viable policy option and one which would, for the first time, extend health messaging to the consumption experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents selected findings from a larger qualitative study in which 18 people recovering from an alcohol use disorder (AUD) were interviewed about maintaining long-term sobriety. The research adopted Personal Construct Psychology (PCP) as its theoretical framework. PCP focuses on personal meanings, particularly within role relationships with significant others. The findings extend our understanding of 'social support' from significant others in recovery from AUDs, and may be applicable to other Substance Use Disorders. In line with previous research, participants reported valuing practical support and general encouragement from family, friends and work colleagues. However, participants also reported changes in their sense of self, and especially valued instances where their significant others accepted and endorsed their new 'sober selves'. Participants reported that their recovery was made more difficult when significant others failed to validate their new selves, or continued to endorse their old drinking identities, and the findings are discussed in terms of the PCP concept of 'validation'. It is recommended that self-help groups provide opportunities for those recovering from AUDs to 'practise' and gain validation for their new, sober selves, and that they provide information and advice to significant others about the potential importance of validation in recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAs part of the evolution of the strengths-based approach in the criminological field in recent decades, various countries in the world operate peer-based programs in prisons and in the community. These programs utilize the personal knowledge and live experience of convicts and addicted people, that is, wounded healers, to promote recovery and rehabilitation processes. Studies point to the many advantages inherent in such peer work, especially for the aid providers. However, little is known about the perceived effects of professional peer work for people with a history of addiction and incarceration, as the current study suggests, the first of its kind in Israel. The respondents were 23 trained men and women with a history of traumas, addiction, and incarceration, all are formally employed in peer worker positions in various therapeutic settings, in prison and/or in the community. The findings indicate that peer work enhances the participants’ social capital, and promotes their positive change and recovery process, albeit with some difficulties and challenges. The paper discusses these findings from the emerging Convict Therapy perspective and related approaches of positive criminology and desistance from crime. Specifically, our findings expand the literature on wounded healers in the criminological field and reinforce the culture of ‘giving back’ embodied in the role of peer supporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standardized assessment and progress monitoring are an important part of evidence-based practice. Despite efforts to embed standardized assessments into routine practice, they remain underutilized by practitioners. This underutilization has been attributed to a variety of factors, one of which is the concern that standardized assessments are a burden for individuals to complete. This study sought to gather the first descriptive data on substance users' attitudes toward the use of standardized assessments as part of an initial assessment and for progress monitoring. Seventy-one Australian substanceusing individuals (54.9% male) recruited via online forums, practitioner networks, and advertisements placed in relevant treatment services completed an online survey. The majority of substance-using individuals believed standardized initial assessment and progress monitoring measures to be beneficial to fill out, not burdensome, and valuable in monitoring treatment progress. Individuals would also prefer to choose the administration format of assessment (e.g. computer, mobile device, pencil-and-paper). Findings challenge the assumption that including standardized assessments in routine practice will be considered too burdensome by individuals who use substances, and offer insights that can inform patient-centred implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Confirming early fears of accelerated drug overdose deaths in 2020, over 93,000 Americans died last year of a drug overdose—the greatest overdose-involved loss of life in a single year. National survey results reveal that 40% of people with a substance use disorder who do not receive treatment report that they are 'not ready to stop using' and 42% do not receive treatment due to stigma, underscoring the need for greater adoption of harm reduction strategies. In the face of surging drug overdose deaths, American policymakers and treatment professionals continue to stand by the same approaches while expecting different results. Evidence-based, life-saving interventions include medications for opioid use disorder, low-threshold bridge clinics in emergency crisis settings, co-prescription and community distribution of naloxone anti-overdose kits, drug checking services (fentanyl test strips), syringe services programs, and overdose prevention sites. Despite strong research support and national lip-service to 'evidence-based' and 'patient-centered' approaches, harm reduction remains highly underutilized and widely unaccepted by the treatment community. Fortunately, the American government has taken several steps in recent months in terms of increased funding and the elimination of many strict, often arbitrary federal regulations, signaling the beginning of a potential shift in federal drug policy. This paper reviews available evidence with an eye toward the current state of affairs and offers actionable steps for researchers, treatment administrators, clinicians, and policymakers to make the case for greater adoption of harm reduction to address the drug overdose crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transdermal alcohol monitors can help overcome issues with self-reporting in alcohol research and offer improvements over other biometric monitors as they provide passive and continuous measurement. The ION Wearable has recently entered the market by Milo Sensors; however, user acceptability has yet to be tested. This paper explores user experiences of an ION Wearable Research Alpha Prototype (ION RAP) monitor to determine if it is a feasible device for participant use in research studies. We undertook a qualitative study to explore user experiences of wearing an ION RAP monitor. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 23 participants after they wore an ION RAP for a 24-hour period. Participants were asked about first impressions of the device, physical comfortability, perceptions of the device, social experiences and drinking experiences. We used a deductive framework analysis. Overall, participants compared the ION RAP to a fitness watch, describing it as small, sleek, and familiar. Participants mostly reported positive physical and social experiences when wearing the ION RAP. Most participants did not feel that wearing the ION RAP impacted their drinking practices. Participants suggested that it would have greater utility if it were waterproof, and if issues with short battery life were resolved. The ION RAP appears to be an acceptable alternative to traditional transdermal alcohol monitors. Future studies should examine acceptability in more diverse populations, including older adults. While user experience data is important, it is also vital that future studies examine its performance in measuring alcohol consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, the role of social identity (or identities which are developed through involvement in social groups with others), has received increasing attention in relation to recovery from substance abuse disorders. However, it is also widely noted that the transformation of one's social identitie(s) is vital for the cessation of other, non-addictive behaviours, such as offending. Interestingly, the discussion of the role of social identity tansformation in relation to both desistance and recovery simultaneously has seldom been undertaken.Methods: Drawing on primary research consisting of 20 double narrative interviews with young adult offenders on an Intensive Community Order, the paper builds upon the two most prominent social identity models surrounding addictive behaviour, the Social Identity Model of Recovery and the Social Identity Model of Cessation Maintenance in order to develop a social identity model which aids our understanding of desistance and recovery processes.Results: The paper presents a Social Identity Model of Transition (SIMOT), allowing for the synergies between desistance and recovery as processes of transition to come to light.Conclusion: SIMOT allows for an understanding of the role of social identity transformation in the transient nature of desistance and recovery processes. The model allows for an examination of the impact of macro and micro contextual factors on desistance and recovery processes in a way which has seldom been possible with the currently available models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recovery from illicit drug and alcohol use takes place over time and is characterised by a dynamic interaction between internal and external components. An integral part of all recovery journeys is effective community reintegration. After all, recovery is not mainly an issue of personal motivation rather it is about acceptance by family, by friends and by a range of organisations and professionals across the community. Therefore to support pathways to recovery, structural and contextual endeavours are needed to supplement individually-oriented interventions and programmes. One way to do this, is by introducing Inclusive Cities. An Inclusive City promotes participation, inclusion, full and equal citizenship to all her citizens, including those in recovery, based on the idea of community capital. The aim of building recovery capital at a community level through connections and 'linking social capital' to challenge stigmatisation and exclusion, is seen as central to this idea. Inclusive Cities is an initiative to support the creation of Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care at a city level, that starts with but extends beyond substance using populations. This paper describes (and gives examples of) how it is possible to use recovery as a starting point for generating social inclusion, challenging the marginalisation of other excluded populations as well by building community connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recovery and desistance in mentally ill offenders can be more complicated than in respectively general psychiatric or offender populations due to factors and processes on individual, contextual and structural levels. In this paper we focus on a specific element of the interplay between the individual and the contextual level; the working alliance. Beneficial working alliances during (quasi-)compulsory treatment and offender supervision can facilitate recovery and desistance in mentally ill offenders. These alliances are however characterized by a tension between care and control and further complicated by mentally ill offenders' experiences of trauma and stigma. To our opinion, a procedurally just approach can counterbalance these two difficulties by setting a sound rehabilitative climate in which recovery and desistance can be facilitated in mentally ill offenders. We support our argument by a critical review of findings from theoretical papers and empirical research studies from psychological-psychiatric and legal-criminological scientific domains on the subjects of recovery, desistance, (quasi-)compulsory treatment processes, and procedural justice. A procedurally just approach can be valuable for policy, treatment as well as future research regarding recovery and desistance in mentally ill offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the disproportionate alcohol-related consequences experienced by North American Indigenous youth, there is a critical need to identify related risk and protective factors. Self-compassion, which has been found to mitigate the effects of trauma exposure, may serve as one such protective factor given the high degree of historical trauma and contemporary discrimination identified as contributing to the alcohol-related disparities experienced by Indigenous communities. However, no research has examined how self-compassion (i.e. the ability to be kind and accepting and to extend compassion toward oneself) plays a unique role in Indigenous peoples' experiences with alcohol. First Nation adolescents between the ages of 11 and 18 living on a reserve in Eastern Canada (N = 106, Mage = 14.6, 50.0% female) completed a pencil-and-paper survey regarding their alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, and self-compassion. Self-compassion was significantly inversely associated with alcohol-related problems (b = -.51, p =.01, 95%CI [-.90, −.12], and significantly interacted with frequency of alcohol use in predicting alcohol-related problems (b = -.42, p =.04, 95%CI [-.82, −.03]). Simple slopes analyses revealed that the association between frequency of alcohol use and frequency of experiencing alcohol-related problems was significant and positive at low (b = 4.68, p <.001, 95%CI [2.62, 6.73]), but was not significant at high (b = -.29, p =.89, 95%CI [−4.35, 3.77]) levels of self-compassion. Binary logistic regression revealed that higher scores of self-compassion were associated with a lower odds of being in the high-risk group for AUD (OR = 0.90, 95%CI [0.83, 0.98], p =.02). Our results suggest self-compassion may be protective against experiencing alcohol problems in Indigenous youth and thus may be a target for behavioral interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evidence for the efficacy of harm reduction approaches to harmful alcohol use has accumulated over the past 30 years. Self-determination theory (SDT) offers a useful framework for understanding why people engage in alcohol harm reduction behaviors, as well as for delineating active ingredients of harm reduction interventions and individual characteristics that influence response to intervention. In the current paper, we sought to advance a research agenda for applying SDT to alcohol harm reduction behaviors. We provide specific examples of the utility of SDT in advancing research on alcohol harm reduction behaviors and provide recommendations for future studies to address issues related to measurement, generalizability, temporal directionality, and causal relationships in examining the constructs of SDT and alcohol harm reduction behaviors. We also suggest that future research apply SDT to advance the understanding of how, why, and for whom harm reduction interventions are most effective. Finally, we provide recommendations for how SDT could potentially be applied to develop novel alcohol interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Most tobacco smokers have attempted to quit smoking, but they find it challenging to succeed in these attempts. Still, some people do manage to stop. The present study was set to explore the nature of a successful quit attempt and what differentiates it from failed attempts. Methods: We used a constructivist grounded theory methodology. The constructed theory was developed from the accounts of participants' first-hand experiences of becoming a nonsmoker. Results: The theory developed in this paper uncouples the process of giving up smoking from the one of becoming a nonsmoker and it focuses on the latter. The theory also introduces the concept of 'nonsmoking' as a contextually framed and relational practice. The theory proposes that it is the practice and naturalization of nonsmoking, and not giving up smoking per se, that leads smokers to become nonsmokers. The naturalization of 'nonsmoking' is facilitated by interacting with what is here called a nonsmoking milieu, a context where nonsmoking is a normal social practice. This interaction enables processes different from giving up smoking, which in turn advance the naturalization of nonsmoking. Conclusion: The theory explains the process of becoming a nonsmoker as a relational and contextually sensitive one. It moves beyond an individual-focused understanding of the process, and underscores the benefits of reexamining assumptions embedded in how smoking cessation is commonly approached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the development in drinking patterns in a Danish cohort of young people from the age of 15 to 25/26. The cohort (born in 1989) is one of the first to be involved in the recent decline in youth drinking across Western countries. Data (2463 individuals) included longitudinal survey data (three waves) on alcohol consumption and administrative data on family background and educational engagement. Data were analyzed by using a finite mixture linear model. Six different alcohol trajectory groups were identified: 'moderate stable', 'late starters', 'low stable', 'chronic high', 'fling, high level' and 'fling, middle level'. The paper shows that drinking trajectories in an intoxication-focused youth culture, such as that found in Denmark, are different from those in countries with lower alcohol consumption levels. Trajectories identified as dominant in other countries (abstainers or almost abstainers) are marginal in Denmark, while 'fling' drinking trajectories – alcohol consumption reaching exceptionally high levels around the age of 18/19 and then decreasing – are common. Although 'fling' trajectories peak at a high-risk level (according to the Danish National Health Board), they are socially regulated trajectories, tied to friendship networks and school environments. At the age of 25/26, most of the respondents have abandoned the pattern of heavy, youthful drinking – the exception being the 'chronic high' group who have not matured out of this in their mid-twenties. The article contributes to international research on the general decline in youth drinking, treating the 1989 cohort as 'first movers' in this development, but also showing how drinking trajectories follow country-specific patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:French online gambling markets were opened to licenced providers in May 2010. Under the new legislation and overseen by a state authority, licenced operators must comply to consumer protection measures. This paper presents and empirical analysis on the conformity of French operators to the requirements and the potential effect of these measures based on existing research. Method:Currently, 18 gambling websites operate in the French market. The data were collected by creating a player account on these sites, and taking note of the responsible gambling tools they proposed. The data were analysed thematically. Results:Results show that all licenced websites conform to the legal obligations that include verifying players’ identity, displaying a warning banner on the risks of gambling, informing about a possibility to self-exclude, providing a limit-setting tool and providing information on players’ account history. Most sites also provide additional tools, such as information on problem gambling or responsible gambling software such as Playscan. However, the proposed tools also have some shortcomings related to difficulties in using or in finding them, ineffectiveness because they are not mandatory, and their emphasis on player responsibility. Conclusions:The French law promotes consumer protection in online environments, but it leaves room for improvement. Governmentally imposed restrictions are systematically implemented, but levels of problem gambling have not declined. The paper suggests improving the implemented responsible gambling tools by increasing provider responsibility, making all tools mandatory and binding, active promotion of available responsible gambling features, and removing scientifically inaccurate information on problem gambling. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Responsible Gambling Codes of Conduct (CoC) are used around the world to describe electronic gambling machine (EGM) operator commitments to reducing harm from gambling. In addition to the provision of passive product information and warnings, CoC describe how venues should assist EGM users displaying signs of problematic gambling. The focus in this paper is on venue adherence to the active strategies described in these documents relating to supporting ‘responsible gambling’ and discouraging harmful, intensive and extended gambling. The paper triangulates data from aspirational statements by EGM operators published in CoC documents; structured, unannounced observations by the research team in 11 EGM venues; and interviews and focus groups conducted with 40 gamblers and 20 professionals in Melbourne, Australia. Results showed only isolated evidence of supportive interactions between staff and gamblers to address gambling harm. The weight of evidence demonstrated that venues often fail to respond to signs of gambling problems and instead encourage continued gambling in contradiction of their CoC responsibilities. Signs of gambling problems are a normalised feature of EGM use in these venues. To genuinely address this public health and public policy challenge, improved consumer protection for gamblers may be achieved through legislation requiring venues to respond to signs of gambling problems. This may include a range of measures such as banning food and beverage service at machines and limiting withdrawals of cash by gamblers, as well as using behavioural tracking algorithms to identify problematic gambling patterns and binding universal pre-commitment systems to complement supportive interventions by venue staff. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor discusses various articles published within the issue on such topics as procedural justice and recovery and desistance in both addiction and crime.

Drug-death bereavement is an understudied topic. We explore what bereaved parents experience after losing their child to drug use. The aim of the paper is to provide knowledge about what drug-death bereaved parents go through and study the kinds of help and support they receive. Reflexive thematic analysis is used to analyze 14 semi-structured in-depth interviews with Norwegian parents. We generated four main themes: (I) 'constant preparedness' describes the burdensome overload that the parents experienced before death; (II) 'stigmatization' represents public and self-induced stigma; (III) 'emotional overload' refers to the parents' complex and ambivalent emotions, such as anger, guilt and shock after the loss; and (IV) 'complex relations' describes the parents' relations with public services and their personal social networks. We discuss how overload, before and after the loss experience, causes a special grief. How this overload, silence from helpers, self-stigma and complicated interactions with social networks contribute to the grief of these parents is also discussed. Potential implications for policy and practice are subsequently outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International statistics show that relapse rates associated with opiate and crack cocaine (OCC) misuse remain high. This has led to an increased scientific interest in the topic of relapse. However, there are limited studies reflecting on the state of this field. This review provides an overview of the topic and directions for future research. Method: Guided by the overall question of how relapse into OCC misuse is understood, a scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's framework. A total of 126 studies between 1972 and 2019 were included. The literature was thematically grouped into relapse definitions, theories, associated factors and treatment approaches. Results: This review found that the majority of relapse understandings were derived from the USA and UK, and that these studies predominantly used quantitative research designs. Relapse definitions were controversial with the majority using biomedical concepts of disease. Theories on relapse were based on psychological theories and developed through clinical and neuroscientific research. Findings show that the majority of the literature focused on relapse risk factors with very few papers focusing on protective factors. Findings on treatment approaches indicate a steer toward harm-minimization strategies over relapse management strategies. Conclusions: This review demonstrates that drug relapse research needs to grow more diverse, inter-disciplinary and user-centred in perspective so as to respond to relevant challenges ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverse funding sources, including the government, nonprofit, and industry sectors support academic research, generally, and gambling research, specifically. This funding allows academic researchers to assess gambling-related problems in populations, evaluate tools designed to encourage responsible gambling behaviors, and develop evidence-based recommendations for gambling-related topics. Some stakeholders have raised concern about industry-funded research. These critics argue that industry funding might influence the research process. Such concerns have led to the development of research guidelines that aim to preserve academic independence. Concurrently and independently, researchers have begun to embrace 'Open Science' practices (e.g. pre-registration of research questions and hypotheses, open access to materials and data) to foster transparency and create a valid, reliable, and replicable scientific literature. We suggest that Open Science principles and practices can be integrated with existing guidelines for industry-funded research to ensure that the research process is ethical, transparent, and unbiased. In the current paper, we engage with the aforementioned issues and present a formal framework to guide industry-funded research. We outline Guidelines for Research Independence and Transparency (GRIT), which integrates Open Science practices with existing guidelines for industry-funded research. Specifically, we describe how particular Open Science practices can enhance industry-funded research, including research pre-registration, separation of confirmatory and exploratory analyses, open materials, open data availability, and open access to study manuscripts. We offer our guidelines in the context of industry-funded gambling studies, yet researchers can extend these ideas to the behavioral sciences, more generally, and to funding sources of any type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews and critiques research on online illegal drug markets, arguing that existing conceptualizations and methodological approaches have resulted in a very limited discussion of women and questions of gender. The first part lays out the stereotypes and unarticulated assumptions that enable questions about women and gender to be side-lined, as follows: (i) that online anonymity rules out knowing about gender in online drug markets; (ii) that online drug markets are male-dominated spaces; and iii) that women are limited to minor or peripheral roles in those markets. Our aim is to make apparent and challenge the marginalization of enquiry about women and gender in existing scholarship about online illegal drug markets. In the second part, we draw on scholarship on women and gender in the drug trade more generally to consider what studying online illegal drug markets might add to our understanding of both women's participation in these markets and the way in which gender is more widely performed. We consider whether online markets may facilitate women's participation (due to anonymity, for example), or whether online drug markets replicate gendered stratifications characteristic of offline markets. We also explore the potential significance of women's participation in online illegal drug markets for harm reduction services. In conclusion, we suggest that future research should challenge the assumption that we can understand online markets without thinking about gender and outline the steps toward building a gendered perspective in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This empirically informed ‘opinion paper’ reflects upon the use of observant participant as a qualitative research method during an applied, multilocal, ethnographic study of street-based injecting drug use (conducted throughout the south of England during 2006–2011). Throughout these studies, participant observation took place with frontline service personnel and observant participation occurred with people who inject drugs. As participant observation typically involves the acquisition of a new role in an unfamiliar setting for a given person, observant participation prioritises existing roles in order to conduct research within familiar/unfamiliar settings. In this study, the method of observant participation is compared and contrasted with participant observation as both methods were conducted in the aforementioned ethnographic study of street-based injecting drug use. This experience-based comparison is followed by a discussion that offers a theoretically informed explanation for the various success and outcomes attached to the study (and, specifically, to those obtained from the applied use of observant participation with people who inject drugs). The paper concludes that observant participation may be best used as a ‘synergising’ component within a wider qualitative research toolkit especially when dedicated to inquiries of sensitive issues or ‘hard-to-reach’ populations (such as those affected by drug dependence). In addition, the synergistic effect of observant participation may contribute towards a combined understanding of social problems that is perhaps greater than the sum of findings obtained from separate, disconnected methods of social research. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Despite the importance of reducing prenatal exposure to alcohol, a recent Cochrane review found limited evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) regarding effectiveness of interventions to reduce drinking during pregnancy. The aim of this systematic review was to consider additional evidence by including RCTs and non-RCTs to determine whether pregnant women reduced alcohol consumption during pregnancy following interventions delivered during antenatal care. Five electronic databases were searched using keywords: e.g. pregnancy, maternal, alcohol, consumption, drinking, cognitive-behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing (MI), brief intervention, health education, social support and self-efficacy. Papers were excluded through a consecutive method using the title, abstract and full text paper. Two authors assessed the full text papers, including quality assessment. Eight trials were included in the review, including six RCTs and two non-RCTs. Interventions included brief interventions, MI, a self-help manual, supportive counselling, high feedback ultrasound and basic educational interventions. In general, methodological quality in all but two studies was poor, limiting the conclusions that could be drawn from this review. However, there was some evidence from a small number of studies that single-session face-to-face brief interventions resulted in positive effects on the maintenance of alcohol abstinence during pregnancy. Women choosing abstinence as their drinking goals and heavier drinking women who participated with a partner were more likely to be abstinent at follow-up. However, more intensive interventions may be required to encourage women who continue to drink during pregnancy to reduce their consumption. Implications for practice and future research directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In most European countries and in the US, there has been a negative trend with increasing incident rates of drug related deaths (DRD) during the last decade. In 2017, the mortality rate due to overdoses reached epidemic proportions in the United States; i.e. the age-adjusted rate of drug overdoses reached 21.7 per 100,000, being 9.6% higher than the 2016 rate. Increasing, still lower, rates are seen in European countries. Behind these figures are many bereaved persons left behind in quiet grief. Results: Research has shown that other kinds of unnatural deaths (e.g. resulting from accident, suicide, homicide) in particular, can lead to intense suffering and reduce quality of life for those left behind. Still, drug death bereaved persons seem to be an understudied, stigmatized and invisible social group. In this paper, we review previous research and deal with strain and stigmatization before drug related deaths and The Special Grief after such deaths. Discussion: We will discuss the possibility of different grief reactions as anticipated-, disenfranchized- and Prolonged Grief Disorder among family members and close friends. Furthermore, we focus on how the phenomenology of grief is connected to contextual and personal relations and interpersonal processes. Finally, we discuss the usefulness of a relational dialectics' perspective and a family perspective for understanding and relating to The Special Grief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the strategies that ex-heavy users of MDMA employed to quit, control, or cut down MDMA use. It uses data from an online qualitative study of the life stories of ex-heavy MDMA users, taking a harm reduction perspective, rather than focusing on the pharmaceutical and problematic aspects of MDMA use. The research applied a mixed-methods approach using an online survey containing open-ended questions directed at self-identified ex-heavy users of MDMA. Participants were 104 ex-heavy users. The relevant data centered around three main themes: ex-users' stories of quitting/cutting down MDMA, advice for taking MDMA safely, and advice for quitting or cutting down MDMA. Although stopping or cutting down MDMA use was generally described as a natural process over time, ex-users also employed several strategies to quit or cut down MDMA use, including conscious lifestyle changes and distancing themselves from the associated scenes and people. Participants' advice on taking MDMA safely involved considering the drug, the mind-set, the social and physical environment and ensuring hydration. These data suggest that from ex-heavy users' perspectives, management of MDMA use is conceptualized as a deliberate and thoughtful process of which most users are in control, rather than a matter of being dependent upon or overpowered by a drug, so harm reduction and other interventions should be structured accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the cultural attitude of reluctance in the United States, as reflected in recent opinion polls and federal budgets, toward agency spending in relation to addiction prevention, treatment, and research. The author posits that the prevalent spiritual lens, through which addiction is widely perceived, contributes to hesitancy in committing more to these areas of public funding. Its etiological interpretation of addiction, as a spiritual/moral disease that is innate to afflicted individuals, essentially releases culture and society from accountability for its prevalence. Further, publicity surrounding the New Recovery Advocacy Movement might lead to a complacent belief that a radical movement, addressing addiction on a broad, collaborative, and socioeconomic scale is already occurring. In order to widen the scope of spirituality as it generally pertains to addiction and accommodate the potentialities embedded in positive social change, the construct of spirituality needs to expand beyond the narrow and culturally entrenched notion of inner personal growth through individual effort. Therefore, this paper advances participatory spiritual theory as a means to integrate the reciprocity of socioeconomic and political factors as well as social engagement within a spiritual framework for recovery from addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Social Identity approach offers a unifying framework for understanding recovery from addiction as a process of identity change, associated with change in social network composition. This paper introduces Social Identity Mapping in Addiction Recovery (SIM-AR) — a visual method for capturing social group memberships, extended to integrate the substance use 'status' of group members as an indicator of group substance use norms. The aim here is to test theory-derived predictions focused on the relationship between changes in social identity and network composition reflected in groups' substance use norms in early recovery. Method: 155 therapeutic community (TC) residents in Victoria, Australia, completed the SIM-AR plus measures of substance-using and recovery identities and substance use shortly after admission, and 65% (N = 101) again 6 months later. Results: As predicted, substance use severity at follow up was associated with changes in both social identity and network composition. Furthermore, reduced strength of substance-using identity was associated with a decrease in the proportion of groups with heavy substance use norms, while increased strength of 'recovery' identity was associated with an increased proportion of non-using groups. Conclusion: SIM-AR proved useful in testing predictions about social identity and network changes in a residential treatment context. It captured key social identity constructs in recovery using a visual technique with value to both research and applied contexts. Findings highlight the clinical importance of assessing a person's group-based relationships in treatment and early recovery, especially the influence of social group norms in relation to substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study,34 alcohol treatment institutions and institutions for the homeless in the Copenhagen area were visited.At these institutions a total of 54 clients were interviewed.The main criterion for selecting interviewees was that they had to be long-term abusers,and/or persons with alcohol-related health and social problems.Most contacts with clients were made via staff members,i.e.,the recruitment of "heavy alcoholics " was based on their definitions. 2 In this paper,the interviewees are referred to as "alcoholics "or "abusers ".In the interviews,these terms were used interchangeably,and there is no systematic difference (in terms of problem conception,life situation or otherwise)between persons identifying themselves as "alcoholics "or "alcohol abusers ".Of the 54 interviewees,however,there was a small group (5 persons)who accepted none of these concepts when describing their relationship to alcohol.Nor did they identify themselves as persons "having an alcohol problem "--although they were contacted at treatment homes for alcoholics or institutions for homeless alcoholics (see Järvinen, 2000).All quotations presented in this paper are from interviews with persons describing themselves as "alcoholics","abusers "or "persons having an alcohol problem ". 3 45 "key informants "were interviewed The purpose of the staff interviews was to gather information about the institution's treatment/care ideology,its goals and practices,the staff 's definitions of use and abuse,and thetarget groups of theinstitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundCurrently, alcohol consumption levels are significantly higher among younger age groups. However, previous research has noted the diversity of motivations and patterns. These patterns of drinking have yet to be synthesised into a typology. The aim of the current study was to synthesise information from studies that produced types of alcohol consumption among young people.MethodQuantitative and qualitative literature investigating the different types of drinkers among young people [aged 12–24 years], published in peer reviewed journals, were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. MEDLINE, PsychInfo and CINAHL were systematically searched for relevant articles published between January 1st 2000 and December 31st 2014. Included papers were critically appraised. A narrative synthesis approach was employed based on guidance from the UK Economic and Social Research Council.ResultsIn total, 13 studies were eligible for inclusion: 11 quantitative, one qualitative and one mixed methods. Six classes of drinkers were formed within this typology. Abstainers reported no alcohol consumption. Light drinkers reported drinking small amounts of alcohol infrequently. In comparison, social and hedonistic drinkers drank most in social situations and to have fun. Heavy and harmful consumers reported increased volume and frequency of consumption including harmful consequences.ConclusionCurrently, policy makers are attempting to combat the high levels of harmful alcohol consumption among young people. The current typology provides guidance for targeted interventions in addition to a practical analytic tool in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Transdermal alcohol monitors, such as Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitors (SCRAMs), enable continuous measurement of alcohol consumption in participants' natural environments free from recall bias and response burden. This paper explores young research participants' experience of wearing SCRAMs to provide insights into the potential of the devices to be used for research on a larger scale. Method: In south-east Australia, participants were recruited among festival attendees (n = 12) and college students (n = 18). Participants wore the SCRAMs over 3–4 days, and upon returning the devices participated in a semi-structured qualitative interview about their experiences of the devices. Results: Most participants reported becoming unaware of the device after initial adjustment and did not believe their drinking patterns had been altered by wearing the SCRAM. Perceived similarities with correctional monitoring equipment led to a number of social interactions with onlookers, but participants generally felt at ease with this. Common issues reported by participants related to the physical discomfort and restrictions caused by the devices, citing problems with sleeping, exercising, and irritation with the clamping mechanism as impediments. Conclusions: Although SCRAMs have not been designed with research purposes in mind, this study highlights their utility in measuring alcohol consumption in real-life and real-time. Most participants suggested that their drinking patterns were unaffected and that any physical discomfort was manageable; however, comfort is a critical consideration in terms of improving the user experience. Adequately controlled validation studies are needed to determine if and how wearing SCRAMs affects retention, behaviour and drinking patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is clear experimental evidence for a causal link between alcohol misuse and violent behaviour. Treatments for alcohol misuse with offenders are therefore justified on the grounds that they may reduce violent behaviour and thus re-offending. The current paper tested whether a 10-session CBT intervention with offenders still in prison would produce improvements across three time points (pre, post and follow up) in self-reported alcohol expectancies, aggressiveness, impulsivity, and self-efficacy in managing alcohol use and violent behaviour. The programme focussed on educating participants on the relationship between alcohol use and violence, modifying unhelpful cognitions, and providing skills based training to manage potential triggers. Data from 49 offenders in prison were collected pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at three month follow up. Long term improvements (from pre- to post-intervention and follow up) were observed with respect to alcohol expectancies (in terms of sociability and liquid courage), impulsive responding to negative affect triggers, trait anger, and confidence in managing alcohol use and offending behaviour. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the efficacy of the CBT programme in reducing harmful alcohol use and associated violence. Limitations and recommendations for future evaluation of the intervention are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ceremonial use of psychoactive/hallucinogenic plant based drugs, such as ayahuasca, psilocybin and others, is a growing trend in the United States (US) and globally. To date, there has been little research documenting how many people are using psychoactive substances in this context, who the users are, what benefits/risks exist in the use of these drugs and the relationship between ceremonial drug use and recreational drug use. In this paper we describe a cohort of plant medicine facilitators in the US and explore how they differentiate plant medicine use from recreational drug use. Methods: Using modified ethnography, individual interviews were conducted in 2016 with 15 participants who are currently facilitating plant medicine ceremonies in the US. Descriptive content analysis was performed to discover themes and to inform a larger mixed-method study. Results: Ceremonial drug use was seen by participants as a natural healing and treatment modality used in the context of community and ritual. Three main themes were identified relating to participants' differentiation between ceremonial plant medicine use and recreational drug use: (1) participants see a clear delineation between plant medicine use and recreational drug use; (2) plant medicine is seen as a potential treatment for addiction, but concerns exist regarding potential interference with recovery; and (3) plant medicine use may influence recreational use. Conclusions: More research is needed on who is using plant medicine, motivators for use, perceived and real risks and benefits of plant medicine use and harm reduction techniques regarding safe ingestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Criminal behavior and substance abuse are closely connected and many offenders have substance use disorders and related problems. Reducing drug-related crime in this population requires attention to the determinants and processes of both recovery from substance use disorders and desistance from crime, and the provision of individual and social services that can promote and facilitate recovery and desistance. Traditional criminal justice system models do not generally focus on both substance use and criminal behavior, nor do they address the individual and social factors that can affect desistance and recovery. Drug treatment courts represent a therapeutic model of justice that have become popular in many countries over the past two decades. This paper argues that the drug court is an important criminal justice innovation that has the potential to promote both desistance from criminal behavior and recovery from drug use. The drug court model incorporates and implements many of the processes and interventions that are theoretically associated with desistance and recovery. Despite some limitations and the need for additional research, drug courts have the potential to address many of the factors associated with reductions in both drug use and criminal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]