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Numerous studies have reported that eveningness is associated with increased alcohol consumption. However, biological markers of circadian timing, such as dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) and circadian photoreceptor responsivity (post-illumination pupil response, PIPR), have rarely been assessed in the context of habitual alcohol consumption. This study aimed to examine sleep, circadian timing, and photoreceptor responsivity in adult alcohol drinkers.Participants (21 to 45 years) included 28 light and 50 heavy drinkers. The 8-day study consisted of a week of ad lib sleep monitored with wrist actigraphy, followed by a 9-h laboratory session with a photoreceptor responsivity and circadian phase assessment.The heavy drinkers obtained on average 28 more minutes of sleep (p = 0.002) and reported more eveningness than the light drinkers (p = 0.029). There was a trend for a shorter DLMO-midsleep interval (p = 0.059) in the heavy drinkers, reflecting a tendency for them to sleep at an earlier circadian phase. The PIPR in the heavy drinkers was significantly smaller than in the light drinkers (p = 0.032), suggesting reduced circadian photoreceptor responsivity in the heavy drinkers. A larger PIPR was significantly associated with a later DLMO in the light drinkers (r = 0.44, p = 0.019), but this relationship was absent in the heavy drinkers (r = -0.01, p = 0.94).These results are consistent with earlier reports of more eveningness and a shorter DLMO-midsleep interval being associated with heavier alcohol drinking. The novel finding of reduced circadian photoreceptor responsivity in heavy drinkers is consistent with prior rodent studies. Future studies should explore the impact of habitual alcohol consumption on other measures of circadian photoreceptor responsivity.

Models of addiction are based on neurobiological, behavioral, and pharmacological studies in animals, but translational support from human studies is limited. Studies are lacking in examining acute responses to alcohol in drinkers with alcohol use disorder (AUD), particularly in terms of relevant intoxicating doses and measurement of stimulating and rewarding effects throughout the breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) time curve. Participants were N = 60 AUD drinkers enrolled in the Chicago Social Drinking Project and examined in three random-order and blinded sessions for subjective and physiological responses to a beverage containing 0.0 g/kg, 0.8 g/kg, and 1.2 g/kg alcohol. BrAC in the alcohol sessions at 60 min was 0.09 g/dL and 0.13 g/dL, respectively. Both doses of alcohol produced significant biphasic effects on subjective measures of stimulation, euphoria, reward (liking and wanting), sedation, and neuroendocrine and cardiovascular factors. Increased pleasurable effects of alcohol were pronounced during the rising limb-to-peak BrAC and sedating effects emerged during the declining limb. Alcohol dose-dependently increased feel drug ratings and rewarding effects at peak BrAC or early declining limb, and physiological responses at the rising limb. Thus, rather than the notion of an overall tolerance, results show an alcohol response phenotype characterized by sensitivity to alcohol's stimulating, rewarding and physiological effects. The results of this study may aid in the conceptualization of alcohol addiction as a disorder characterized by the persistence of enhanced hedonic alcohol responses rather than chronic tolerance and reward deficiency.

Subjective responses to alcohol play a key role in the development and maintenance of risky drinking and alcohol use disorder (AUD). The social and environmental context where drinking occurs may moderate alcohol's subjective effects, but ecologically valid studies of these associations are limited. The present study used high-resolution ecological momentary assessment (HR-EMA) targeting real-world binge drinking episodes to examine associations among drinking context, alcohol consumption, and subjective responses to alcohol.Young adult heavy drinkers (Most (85%) participants reported binge drinking during real-world drinking events. Estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) and alcohol stimulation and reward (liking, wanting) were greater when participants drank with others (vs. alone) and in a bar/restaurant (vs. other location). Sedation was higher when drinking alone versus with others.The present study extends prior laboratory-based research and shows that subjective responses during naturalistic binge drinking episodes may be influenced by drinking context. Drinking with others and in bars and restaurants may increase alcohol consumption, enhance alcohol's rewarding effects, and lead to more alcohol-related harm in at-risk drinkers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Background For decades, laboratory alcohol challenges have been the "gold standard" for measuring individual differences in alcohol's subjective effects. However, these approaches are expensive and labor-intensive, making them impractical for large-scale use. This study examined the reliability and validity of a new high-resolution EMA (HR-EMA) ambulatory approach to assessing alcohol use and subjective responses in drinkers' natural environments. Methods Participants were 83 young adult heavy social drinkers (58% male; mean ± SD age = 25.4 ± 2.6 years) who completed up to two smartphone-based, 3-h HR-EMA assessments of alcohol use and related subjective responses in their typical drinking environments. Reported alcohol consumption during the HR-EMA periods was used to calculate estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC). Subjective effects were measured using the Brief Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (B-BAES) and Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ). All participants also completed identical measures during a separate, 4 to 5-h laboratory session in which they received a 0.8 g/kg alcohol challenge. Results Most natural environment drinking episodes (87%) met or exceeded the threshold for binge drinking (final mean eBAC = 0.12 g/dl). Associations between reported alcohol use and subjective responses on the B-BAES and DEQ were strongest earlier in the drinking events, with fair reliability of reported subjective effects across two HR-EMA episodes (intraclass correlation [ICC] range = 0.46-0.49). There was fair-to-good correspondence between HR-EMA- and laboratory-derived subjective responses (ICC range = 0.49-0.74), even after accounting for differences in alcohol consumption and drinking context. Reported stimulating and rewarding alcohol effects were higher in the ambulatory than laboratory setting, and vice versa for sedating effects. Conclusions This study supports the reliability and validity of smartphone-based HR-EMA to measure alcohol use and subjective responses in heavy drinkers' natural environments. These findings lend support to the use of ambulatory HR-EMA as a measure of alcohol subjective responses in risky drinkers when a laboratory protocol is not practical, feasible, or safe.

Objective: While the U.S. adult smoking rate has declined, Black smokers disproportionately face more barriers to accessing brief effective tobacco cessation treatments compared with other racial groups. This study developed and tested the effects of a novel, evidence-based, brief smoking intervention culturally targeted for disadvantaged Black smokers (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04460417). Method: In this randomized controlled trial, primarily low-income Black non-treatment-seeking smokers (N = 204, 51% female) were randomized to enhanced care (EC) or treatment as usual (TAU). The EC group received a 30-min session with personal feedback on smoking, education on health outcomes and tobacco advertising targeting Black smokers, and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) starter kits. TAU included provision of self-help materials. Primary outcome was motivation to change smoking behavior, and secondary outcomes included NRT knowledge and use, quit attempts, and number of cigarettes smoked per day. Data were collected at baseline, 1- and 6-month follow-ups. Results: Compared with TAU, EC increased motivation to change (p = .02), accuracy in NRT knowledge, (p < .001), NRT use (p = .01), and likelihood of making a serious quit attempt as well as reduced cigarettes smoked per day (p < .01) through 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: A brief motivational intervention for Black non-treatment-seeking smokers increased motivation to change smoking and resulted in improvements in NRT knowledge, use, and quit-relevant behaviors. Findings support cultural-targeting and provision of NRT to enhance motivation in Black smokers to reduce cultural and institutional barriers to tobacco cessation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

OBJECTIVE: Pharmacological treatments that can concomitantly address cigarette smoking and heavy drinking stand to improve healthcare delivery for these highly prevalent co-occurring conditions. This superiority trial tested the combination of varenicline plus naltrexone versus varenicline alone for smoking cessation and drinking reduction among heavy drinking smokers. METHODS: This was a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, clinical trial. Participants (n=165) were daily smokers who drank heavily and received either (a) varenicline tartrate 1 mg twice daily plus naltrexone 50 mg once daily, or (b) varenicline tartrate 1 mg twice daily plus matched placebo pills for 12-weeks. Primary outcomes were (a) 7-day point prevalence of nicotine abstinence bioverified by breath carbon monoxide (CO) reading of ≤ 5 ppm at the 26-week follow-up, and (b) drinks per drinking day during the 12-week treatment phase. RESULTS: Smoking abstinence at week 26 was significantly higher in the varenicline plus placebo condition than the varenicline plus naltrexone condition (n=37 [45.1%] versus n=22 [26.5%]; χ(2)[1] = 6.22, p=.015). For drinks per drinking day, there was a trend towards a main effect of medication [β=0.86, SE=0.44, t(1,250)=1.94, p=.054], favoring the combination of varenicline plus naltrexone over varenicline alone across the 12-week treatment phase. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that smoking cessation and drinking reduction can be concomitantly targeted with pharmacotherapy and that while varenicline alone may be sufficient as a smoking cessation aid in heavy drinking smokers, the combination of varenicline plus naltrexone may confer benefits with regards to drinking outcomes, particularly during the 12-week period of active medication treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02698215.

INTRODUCTION: There remains a paucity of research quantifying alcohol’s effects in drinkers with alcohol use disorder (AUD), particularly responses to very high alcohol doses (≥0.8 g/kg). As drinkers with AUD frequently engage in very heavy drinking (8-10 drinks/occasion), doses of ≤0.8 g/kg may lack ecological validity. The present study examined the feasibility, tolerability, and safety of administering a very high alcohol dose (1.2 g/kg) to non-treatment seeking AUD participants. METHODS: Sixty-one young-adult AUD drinkers enrolled in the Chicago Social Drinking Project and completed three laboratory sessions at which they consumed a beverage with 1.2 g/kg, 0.8 g/kg, and 0.0 g/kg alcohol. Physiological responses (vital signs, nausea and vomiting, breath alcohol concentrations (BrAC)) were monitored throughout the sessions. After each session, participants completed a next-day survey of substance use, engagement in risky behaviors, and related consequences. RESULTS: Overall, the sample demonstrated good compliance with study procedures; 93% of participants adhered to pre-session alcohol abstinence requirements (indicated by BrAC

Aim The purpose of this brief narrative review is to address the complexities and benefits of extending animal alcohol addiction research to the human domain, emphasizing Allostasis and Incentive Sensitization, two models that inform many pre-clinical and clinical studies. Methods The work reviewed includes a range of approaches, including: a) animal and human studies that target the biology of craving and compulsive consumption; b) human investigations that utilize alcohol self-administration and alcohol challenge paradigms, in some cases across 10 years; c) questionnaires that document changes in the positive and negative reinforcing effects of alcohol with increasing severity of addiction; and d) genomic structural equation modeling based on data from animal and human studies. Results Several general themes emerge from specific study findings. First, positive reinforcement is characteristic of early stage addiction and sometimes diminishes with increasing severity, consistent with both Allostasis and Incentive Sensitization. Second, evidence is less consistent for the predominance of negative reinforcement in later stages of addiction, a key tenant of Allostasis. Finally, there are important individual differences in motivation to drink at a given point in time as well as person-specific change patterns across time. Conclusions Key constructs of addiction, like stage and reinforcement, are by necessity operationalized differently in animal and human studies. Similarly, testing the validity of addiction models requires different strategies by the two research domains. Although such differences are challenging, they are not insurmountable, and there is much to be gained in understanding and treating addiction by combining pre-clinical and clinical approaches.

Human alcohol laboratory studies use two routes of alcohol administration: ingestion and infusion. The goal of this paper was to compare and contrast these alcohol administration methods. The work summarized in this report was the basis of a 2019 Research Society on Alcoholism Roundtable, "To Ingest or Infuse: A Comparison of Oral and Intravenous Alcohol Administration Methods for Human Alcohol Laboratory Designs." We review the methodological approaches of each and highlight strengths and weaknesses pertaining to different research questions. We summarize methodological considerations to aid researchers in choosing the most appropriate method for their inquiry, considering exposure variability, alcohol expectancy effects, safety, bandwidth, technical skills, documentation of alcohol exposure, experimental variety, ecological validity, and cost. Ingestion of alcohol remains a common and often a preferable, methodological practice in alcohol research. Nonetheless, the main problem with ingestion is that even the most careful calculation of dose and control of dosing procedures yields substantial and uncontrollable variability in the participants' brain exposures to alcohol. Infusion methodologies provide precise exposure control but are technically complex and may be limited in ecological validity. We suggest that alcohol ingestion research may not be the same thing as alcohol exposure research; investigators should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages that the choice between ingestion and infusion of alcohol invokes.

Introduction Heated tobacco products (HTPs) share similar characteristics as combustible cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and thus may serve as cues for smoking and vaping. While HTP familiarity is low in the United States, HTPs may be perceived as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes. Aims and Methods The present study examined if visual exposure to HTP use influenced cigarette and e-cigarette craving in a large national sample of adults with varied smoking patterns. Current, former, and never cigarette smokers (N = 515; Mage = 40) were recruited from online crowd-sourcing panels throughout the United States from January to April 2020. Participants completed surveys before and after watching a video depicting the use of an HTP, cigarette, or bottled water. Main outcomes were changes in cigarette craving after exposure to the video cue. Secondary outcomes included changes in e-cigarette craving. Results Relative to the water cue, the HTP and cigarette cues increased cigarette craving in current smokers. The HTP cue also increased e-cigarette craving (desire for a mod or vape pen and JUUL) across all subgroups. Conclusions Current smokers demonstrated cue reactivity to the use of an HTP as they reported increases in both cigarette and e-cigarette craving after exposure. All smoking groups reported e-cigarette reactivity to the HTP cue. As HTPs gain traction globally, it is crucial to consider how their use may influence active users and passive viewers to inform future health policies. Implications Noncombustible nicotine delivery systems are known cues for cigarette smoking and e-cigarette vaping, and this study examined whether relatively novel heated tobacco products (HTPs) may also act as a smoking or vaping cue in adults across varied smoking backgrounds. Results showed that passive exposure to HTP use increased desire for both a cigarette and an e-cigarette in current smokers and also increased desire for an e-cigarette in former and nonsmokers. Thus given its similarity to smoking and vaping, HTP use may affect passive observers and could play a role in perpetuating the dual use of cigarettes and vape products.

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use continues to rise among youth with new devices and technology outpacing regulation. The “cloud chasing” phenomenon, whereby vapers compete or otherwise showcase the production of large or artistic exhaled aerosols from e-cigarettes, played a role in the early appeal of e-cigarette use in youth. This paper describes the sudden rise in the phenomenon of cloud chasing on social media and at vaping conventions due to the proliferation of second and third-generation powerful e-cigarette devices in their peak in 2015 and then their subsequent decline in the past few years. We describe four distinct factors that affected both the rise and fall in cloud chasing, including: 1) the rapid evolution of powerful e-cigarette devices, 2) the increase in social media promotions, 3) an inability of regulatory bodies to keep up with evolving ENDS technology, and 4) two recent widespread health concerns and conditions. Conclusions highlight the importance of swift regulation and effective health communication to mitigate unintended consequences of product evolution. It remains unknown whether such vape tricks and related competitions will reemerge and appeal to youth as store fronts reopen and devices continue to evolve.

While nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a frontline tobacco treatment that doubles smoking quit rates, only about 18% of Black adults who smoke cigarettes report lifetime use of NRT. A promising approach for increasing NRT use is in-session (in-vivo) NRT sampling within cessation interventions. The present pilot study examined the effectiveness of an in-vivo NRT sampling intervention within a single-session, culturally-targeted motivational intervention trial in Black adults who smoke cigarettes.Non-treatment-seeking disadvantaged Black adults (N = 60) were offered the choice to sample nicotine lozenge, patch, or both in-session with the counselor present. Regardless of their choice, they were offered a one-week starter kit of both products. Data were analyzed at baseline and 1-month follow-up. Primary outcomes were 1) differences in motivation to quit smoking among NRT samplers versus non-samplers, 2) in-vivo NRT sampling preferences, and 3) in-vivo sampling's association with NRT use and improved smoking outcomes at follow up.Almost all participants accepted a take-home NRT starter kit, and approximately half of those offered in-vivo sampling agreed to sample. Participants preferred sampling lozenges in session (75.8% lozenge only vs. 12.1% nicotine patch only or 12.1% both; p .001). Motivation to quit smoking was not related to likelihood of in-vivo NRT sampling (p .05). At 1-month follow-up, in-vivo samplers were more likely to use NRT (94% vs. 35%, respectively; p .001) and report a quit attempt (81.8% vs. 53.9%, p .05) compared to non-samplers.In-vivo NRT sampling is a promising strategy to improve NRT uptake among Black adults who smoke cigarettes, regardless of motivation to quit smoking.

Despite tobacco use as the largest preventable cause of premature death in the US, many healthcare providers continue to lack the knowledge and confidence in employing the Ask, Advise, Refer (AAR) model in tobacco cessation treatment delivery. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel AAR-styled training program, Counsel to Quit®, across a range of healthcare providers and disciplines (i.e., medical, mental health, other). The Counsel to Quit® training program primarily targeted publically-funded settings that serve communities with high smoking rates.Pre- and post-training surveys were administered to medical, mental health, and other professionals (N = 297) to evaluate the effectiveness of the 60-90 minute Counsel to Quit® counselor training program for improving confidence in the ability to discuss approved tobacco cessation interventions and address the current state of knowledge about the role of electronic cigarettes in tobacco cessation. The trainings were held across 14 different non-profit institutional settings in Chicago, IL.The Counsel to Quit® program improved AAR beliefs, the confidence and ability to discuss smoking cessation, and knowledge on the role of electronic cigarettes in tobacco cessation among medical, mental health, and other providers (ps .001). Interactions showed that Counsel to Quit® improved medical provider confidence in referring patients for smoking cessation the most (p .001), and also improved mental health providers belief in the importance of tobacco cessation for preventative care the most (ps .05).Counsel to Quit® is a feasible and effective training for improving AAR beliefs across multiple healthcare provider domains and at different types of publicly-funded healthcare institutions. Further, this training increased provider preparedness to discuss the lack of evidence for e-cigarette use as a form of tobacco cessation.

Objectives: In this study, we examined whether visual exposure to the heated tobacco product (HTP) IQOS, which was authorized for sale by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2019, acts as a cue to increase cigarette craving and smoking behavior among smokers. Methods: Young adult smokers (N = 105) were randomly assigned to view a video depicting use of either IQOS or bottled water. Main outcomes were changes in cigarette and e-cigarette desire and latency to smoke between the groups. We also examined participants' attitudes about the actors using IQOS and drinking water in the videos. Results: Exposure to the use of IQOS acutely increased observers' ratings of smoking urge and desire for a cigarette and an e-cigarette. The IQOS cue, compared with the water cue, also produced a marginally significant shorter latency to smoke. Participants perceived actors as less likeable and friendly when using IQOS than when drinking water. Conclusions: Results showed that exposure to IQOS produced smoking urge and behavior in young adult smokers, implicating IQOS use as a smoking and vaping cue. As HTPs gain popularity, product impact on passive observers should be included in their risk-benefit profile.

Background Cigarette smokers report increases in smoking urge in response to exposure to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and dual users, i.e. smokers who also vape ENDS, may exhibit greater cue reactivity than exclusive smokers. The current investigation examined reactivity to a variety of ENDS cues across a large sample of cigarette smokers and dual ENDS users. Methods Young adult smokers (N = 345; > 5 cigarettes per day) were recruited between 2013–2019 for participation in a series of within-subjects laboratory-based studies. Participants completed surveys before and after exposure to a confederate-delivered control cue (water) and an active cue, including cigarette or ENDS cues ranging from first generation “cigalikes” to a fourth generation “pod-mod”. Main outcomes were post-cue changes in desire for combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and smoking behavior as determined by the smoking latency portion of the Smoking Lapse Paradigm after cue exposure. Results Relative to smokers who do not use ENDS, dual users demonstrated higher baseline desire for ENDS and greater ENDS cue reactivity (across product types) in terms of post-cue increases in smoking urge and shorter latency to smoking choice. In contrast, reactivity to the cigarette cue was similar across groups. Conclusions Dual users show heightened ENDS cue reactivity on smoking urge and behavior relative to never users of ENDS, regardless of the type of ENDS cue. Given their reactivity to both cigarette and ENDS cues, it may be difficult for dual users to transition to exclusive vaping or quit tobacco product use altogether.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Acute subjective alcohol effects appear to play an important role in predicting alcohol hangover. However, no studies have used a laboratory-based alcohol challenge to examine the concurrent or longitudinal effects of subjective alcohol responses on hangover frequency. As such, we investigated the direct and indirect effects of alcohol stimulation, sedation, liking and wanting, as measured in a controlled setting, on hangover frequency over five years. METHOD: Participants were 294 young adult light-to-heavy social drinkers (aged 21–35 years, 42% female) enrolled in the Chicago Social Drinking Project. The study utilized a placebo-controlled, double blind, laboratory alcohol challenge and a battery of measures including the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale, Drug Effects Questionnaire, Hangover Symptom Scale, and alcohol use Quantity-Frequency Interview, with the latter two readministered after five years. RESULTS: Through the use of a path analysis, the present study found significant direct effects from alcohol liking to hangover frequency at initial testing. In addition, there were multiple significant indirect effects from greater alcohol liking and wanting to greater alcohol use quantity-frequency and, in turn, greater hangover frequency at initial testing and 5-year follow-up. Last, there were significant indirect effects from greater alcohol sedation to less alcohol use quantity-frequency and, in turn, less hangover frequency at initial testing and 5-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the role of the hedonic reward and motivational salience of alcohol as potential mechanisms of alcohol-related consequences (i.e., hangover) among light-to-heavy social drinking young adults.

Background The Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I) was launched in 2017 as a part of the NCI Cancer Moonshot program to assist NCI-designated cancer centers in developing tobacco treatment programs for oncology patients. Participating centers have implemented varied evidence-based programs that fit their institutional resources and needs, offering a wide range of services including in-person and telephone-based counseling, point of care, interactive voice response systems, referral to the quitline, text- and web-based services, and medications. Methods We used a mixed methods comparative case study design to evaluate system-level implementation costs across 15 C3I-funded cancer centers that reported for at least one 6-month period between July 2018 and June 2020. We analyzed operating costs by resource category (e.g., personnel, medications) concurrently with transcripts from semi-structured key-informant interviews conducted during site visits. Personnel salary costs were estimated using Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data adjusted for area and occupation, and non-wage benefits. Qualitative findings provided additional information on intangible resources and contextual factors related to implementation costs. Results Median total monthly operating costs across funded centers were $11,045 (range: $5129–$20,751). The largest median operating cost category was personnel ($10,307; range: $4122–$19,794), with the highest personnel costs attributable to the provision of in-person program services. Monthly (non-zero) cost ranges for other categories were medications ($17–$573), materials ($6–$435), training ($96–$516), technology ($171–$2759), and equipment ($10–$620). Median cost-per-participant was $466 (range: $70–$2093) and cost-per-quit was $2688 (range: $330–$9628), with sites offering different combinations of program components, ranging from individually-delivered in-person counseling only to one program that offered all components. Site interviews provided context for understanding variations in program components and their cost implications. Conclusions Among most centers that have progressed in tobacco treatment program implementation, cost-per-quit was modest relative to other prevention interventions. Although select centers have achieved similar average costs by offering program components of various levels of intensity, they have varied widely in program reach and effectiveness. Evaluating implementation costs of such programs alongside reach and effectiveness is necessary to provide decision makers in oncology settings with the important additional information needed to optimize resource allocation when establishing tobacco treatment programs.

BACKGROUND. Endogenous opioids regulate pain, drug reward, and stress responses. We have previously shown reduced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) responses to psychological stress and to opioid blockade among dependent smokers. In this study, we examined the extent to which biologically confirmed nicotine withdrawal alters endogenous opioid regulation of HPA axis functioning during rest and in response to acute stress. DESIGN AND METHODS. Smokers were randomly assigned to one of two conditions; 24 hr withdrawal from all nicotine-containing products (n = 62) or smoking ad libitum (n = 44). A non-smoking comparison group (n = 43) was also included. Participants (85 males and 64 females) completed two acute stress sessions during which a placebo or 50 mg of naltrexone (opioid antagonist) were administered using a double-blind design. Blood and saliva samples (assayed for cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone, i.e., ACTH) and mood measures were obtained during a resting absorption period, after acute stress (public speaking, mental arithmetic, and cold pressor tasks), and during an extended recovery period. RESULTS. Opioid blockade (naltrexone) was associated with increased ACTH and cortisol responses to stress, and tobacco withdrawal was associated with blunted hormonal responses. A pattern of sex differences also emerged, with women exhibiting reduced ACTH responses to stress and higher ACTH and plasma cortisol response to opioid blockade. CONCLUSIONS. Compared to ad libitum smoking, nicotine withdrawal is associated with blunted opioid modulation of the HPA axis. Sex may modulate these effects. Blunted endogenous opioid regulation may underlie an incentive process that reinforces smoking behavior and may warrant therapeutic attention.

RATIONALE: Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS or e-cigarettes) share salient features of combustible smoking, such as inhalation and exhalation behaviors, and evidence indicates that first and second-generation ENDS generalize as smoking cues. The present study examined whether newer, tank-based third-generation ENDS (“mods”) also evoke smoking urges, and whether enhancing the visibility of exhaled aerosol clouds - by increasing the e-liquid vegetable glycerin (VG) content - strengthens the cue salience of ENDS. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to assess the role of exhaled aerosol clouds on ENDS cue potency using a standardized laboratory paradigm designed to mimic real-world exposures METHODS: Using a mixed design, young adult smokers (n=50; mean age 26.5 yrs; ≥5 cigarettes/day) observed a study confederate drinking bottled water (control cue) and vaping an ENDS mod containing e-liquid with either high (73%) or low (0%) VG. Participants completed the Brief Questionnaire on Smoking Urges (BQSU) and visual analog scales (VAS) assessing cigarette and e-cigarette desire pre- and post-cue exposure. RESULTS: Increasing the e-liquid content of VG enhanced the size and visibility of the exhaled aerosol clouds and evoked a greater increase in smoking desire and a more sustained increase in e-cigarette desire relative to the low VG cue. Both cues elicited increases in smoking urges. These results remained after controlling for sex, prior ENDS experience, recent smoking behavior, and menthol preference. CONCLUSIONS: Observation of tank-based ENDS use generalizes as a smoking cue and its cue salience is strengthened by increasing the e-liquid content of VG to enhance the visibility of the exhaled aerosol cloud.

Aims The present study examined how variation in mu- (OPRM1), kappa- (OPRK), and delta- (OPRD) opioid receptor genes may influence the efficacy of naltrexone in the context of a smoking cessation trial. Methods The study’s primary objective was to examine the association of the Asn40Asp OPRM1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with naltrexone’s effects on smoking quit rate, weight gain, and heavy drinking behavior during a double-blind, randomized clinical trial in 280 adult DSM-IV nicotine-dependent participants. The secondary goal of the study was to examine the relationship of 20 additional SNPs of OPRM1, OPRK, and OPRD with the aforementioned outcomes. Results Results indicated a null association between any opioid-receptor gene SNP and naltrexone’s effects on smoking quit rate, weight gain, and heavy drinking behavior in this sample of nicotine dependent participants. Conclusions In sum, these results do not suggest that genetic variation in opioid-receptors is related to treatment responses to naltrexone in a smoking cessation trial.

In March 2019, a scientific meeting was held at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Luskin Center to discuss approaches to expedite the translation of neurobiological insights to advances in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD). A guiding theme that emerged was that while translational research in AUD is clearly a challenge, it is also a field ripe with opportunities. Herein, we seek to summarize and disseminate the recommendations for the future of translational AUD research using four sections. First, we briefly review the current landscape of AUD treatment including the available evidence-based treatments and their uptake in clinical settings. Second, we discuss AUD treatment development efforts from a translational science viewpoint. We review current hurdles to treatment development as well as opportunities for mechanism-informed treatment. Third, we consider models of translational science and public health impact. Together, these critical insights serve as the bases for a series of recommendations and future directions. Towards the goal of improving clinical care and population health for AUD, scientists are tasked with bolstering the clinical applicability of their research findings so as to expedite the translation of knowledge into patient care.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a genetically influenced disease with peak onset in young adulthood. Identification of factors that predict whether AUD symptoms will diminish or persist after young adulthood is a critical public health need. King and colleagues previously reported that acute response to alcohol predicted future AUD symptom trajectory. Genes associated with brain dopamine signaling, which underlies alcohol's rewarding effects, might influence this finding. This study analyzed whether variation at a variable number tandem repeat polymorphism in DAT1/SLC6A3, the gene encoding the dopamine transporter, moderated the predictive relationships between acute response to alcohol and future AUD symptoms among participants enrolled in the Chicago Social Drinking Project (first two cohorts). Heavy-drinking young adults (N = 197) completed an alcohol challenge, in which acute response (liking, wanting, stimulation, and sedation) was measured. Alcohol use disorder symptoms were assessed over the following 6 years. DAT1 genotype significantly moderated the interactions between follow-up time and alcohol liking (P = 0.006) and wanting (P = 0.006) in predicting future AUD symptoms. These predictive effects were strongest among participants who carried the DAT1 9-repeat allele, previously associated with enhanced striatal dopamine tone relative to the 10-repeat allele. Exploratory analyses indicated that DAT1 effects on the relationship between alcohol liking and AUD symptoms appeared stronger for females (n = 79) than males (n = 118) (P = 0.0496). These data suggest that heavy-drinking DAT1 9-repeat allele carriers who display high alcohol-induced reward in young adulthood may be predisposed to persistent AUD symptoms and support combining genotypic and phenotypic information to predict future AUD risk.

Purpose To examine the benefits of a culturally targeted compared with a nontargeted smoking cessation intervention on smoking cessation outcomes among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) smokers. Methods A prospective randomized design was used to evaluate the added benefits of an LGBT culturally targeted Courage to Quit (CTQ-CT) smoking cessation treatment (N = 172) compared with the standard intervention (CTQ; N = 173). The smoking cessation program consisted of six treatment sessions combined with 8 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy. The primary smoking cessation outcome was 7-day point prevalence quit rates. Secondary outcomes examined included changes in nicotine dependence, nicotine withdrawal, cigarettes per day, smoking urges, self-efficacy, and readiness to quit. Results Overall quit rates were 31.9% at 1 month, 21.1% at 3 months, 25.8% at 6 months, and 22.3% at 12 months. Quit rates did not differ between treatment groups [1 month OR = 0.81 (0.32, 2.09), 3 months OR = 0.65 (0.23, 1.78), 6 months OR = 0.45 (0.17, 1.21), 12 months OR = 0.70 (0.26, 1.91)]. Compared with baseline levels, all secondary smoking cessation outcomes measured were improved at 1 month and were maintained at 12-month follow-up. Compared with the CTQ, the CTQ-CT intervention was more highly rated on program effectiveness (d = 0.2, p = .011), intervention techniques (d = 0.2, p = .014), the treatment manual (d = 0.3, p < .001), and being targeted to the needs of LGBT smokers (d = 0.5, p < .0001). Conclusions LGBT smokers receiving the CTQ intervention achieved smoking cessation outcomes in the range reported for other demographic groups. Cultural targeting improved the acceptability of the intervention but did not confer any additional benefit for smoking cessation outcomes. Implications Study results have implications for understanding the benefits of culturally targeted compared with nontargeted smoking cessation interventions for improving smoking cessation outcomes among LGBT smokers. Shorter and longer term 7-day point prevalence quit rates associated with the targeted and nontargeted interventions were modest but comparable with other group-based interventions delivered in a community setting. Although cultural targeting improved the overall acceptability of the intervention, no added benefits were observed for the culturally targeted intervention on either the primary or secondary outcomes.

Background Laboratory alcohol challenges are the “gold standard” for obtaining accurate measurements of subjective alcohol stimulation, sedation, and reward. However, these approaches are time- and resource-intensive. The present study examined the extent to which self-reported anticipated alcohol stimulation, sedation, and reward corresponded with those same responses measured with the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES), Brief-BAES (B-BAES), and Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ) during a controlled laboratory alcohol challenge. Methods Participants were 106 light-to-heavy social drinkers (58.5% male; mean ± SD age = 35.8 ± 3.2 years) who completed the Anticipated BAES and DEQ, as well as laboratory-derived versions of these scales 30- and 60-minutes after consuming placebo and 0.8 g/kg alcohol on separate days as part of laboratory sessions in the Chicago Social Drinking Project. Results Anticipated BAES/B-BAES and anticipated DEQ alcohol effects were strong predictors of their corresponding laboratory-derived responses during both the rising limb and at peak breath alcohol concentrations. Effects were significant even when accounting for age, sex, past month heavy drinking frequency, and laboratory session order (placebo or alcohol first). Conclusions The present study provides strong preliminary support for measuring anticipated alcohol effects with the Anticipated BAES/B-BAES and Anticipated DEQ as a proxy of subjective responses experienced during a controlled laboratory alcohol challenge. The findings lend support for these measures as viable alternatives to other anticipatory scales when laboratory-derived alcohol response measurement is not feasible. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The theory of behavioral tolerance to alcohol posits that greater experience with drinking to intoxication leads to less impaired cognitive and psychomotor performance. However, the degree to which behavioral tolerance develops or changes over time in adults due to repeated heavy alcohol drinking has not been clearly demonstrated. We examined data from the first 6 years of the Chicago Social Drinking Project to test whether chronic heavy drinkers (HDs; n = 86) and light drinkers (LDs; n = 69) exhibit behavioral tolerance or changes in perceived impairment at two testing phases in early adulthood. Tasks were the Grooved Pegboard and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) given at initial testing and then repeated in a re-examination phase 5 years later. Alcohol (0.8 g/kg) and placebo were administered at separate sessions in each phase for a total of 620 individual laboratory sessions. HDs exhibited less impairment over time on the Pegboard task but not on the DSST, while LDs did not exhibit behavioral tolerance on either task. HDs reported persistently lower perceived impairment compared to LDs. These findings demonstrate that behavioral tolerance in HDs is evident over time on rote fine motor skills (Pegboard) but not more complex skills integrating motor speed, encoding, and short-term memory (DSST). The results have implications for our understanding of alcohol-induced impairments across neurobehavioral processes in heavy drinkers and their ongoing risks for alcohol-related consequences over time.

BackgroundExposure to the use of first, second and third generations of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) elicits the desire to vape and smoke among observers, as well as facilitates smoking behaviour. Given the rapid rise in the popularity of the pod mod JUUL, we examined whether observing the use of this device would elicit similar responses in smokers. Exploratory analyses were also conducted to determine whether JUUL can act as a smoking cue for former smokers.MethodsThe sample consisted of 82 young adult participants (62 current smokers and 20 former smokers approximately 1 year smoke free). The study examined their response to observing use of bottled water (control cue) and JUUL (active cue) in a controlled laboratory paradigm. Both cues were delivered by a trained study confederate under the guise of a social interaction task, and participants completed mood and desire and urge surveys precue and postcue exposures.ResultsIn current smokers, exposure to the JUUL cue increased smoking urge and desire for a cigarette, mod/vape pen and JUUL, and two-thirds chose to smoke in the behavioural analogue task. In former smokers, the JUUL cue evoked modest and transient increases in desire for a cigarette and JUUL.ConclusionsThe use of JUUL affects the user and elicits responses in observers; this study is the first to demonstrate that exposure to JUUL use may act as a smoking cue and exposure to JUUL use may affect tobacco control efforts.

Background Binge drinking, defined as consuming five or more standard alcoholic drinks for men (four for women) within a 2-hour period, is common among young adults and is associated with significant alcohol-related morbidity and mortality. To date, most research on this problem in young adults has relied upon retrospective questionnaires or costly laboratory-based procedures. Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) may address these limitations by allowing researchers to measure alcohol use and related consequences in real time and in drinkers’ natural environments. To date, however, relatively less research has systematically examined the utility of this approach in a sample of young adults targeting real-world heavy drinking episodes specifically. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a smartphone-based EMA method targeting binge drinking and related outcomes in heavy drinking young adults during real-world drinking occasions. Methods Young adult binge drinkers in the smartphone group (N=83; mean 25.4 (SD 2.6) years; 58% (48/83) male; bingeing on 23.2% (6.5/28) days in the past month) completed baseline measures of alcohol use and drinking-related consequences, followed by up to two smartphone-based EMA sessions of typical drinking behavior and related outcomes in their natural environments. They also completed next-day and two-week follow-up surveys further assessing alcohol use and related consequences during the EMA sessions and two weeks after study participation, respectively. A separate demographic- and drinking-matched safety comparison group (N=25) completed the baseline and two-week follow-up surveys but did not complete EMA of real-world drinking behavior. Results Most participants (71%, 59/83) in the smartphone group engaged in binge drinking during at least one 3-hour EMA session, consuming 7.3 (SD 3.0) standard alcoholic drinks. They completed 87.2% (507/581) system-initiated EMA prompts during the real-world drinking episode, supporting the feasibility of this approach. The procedure was acceptable, as evidenced by high participant ratings for overall satisfaction with the EMA software and study procedures and low ratings for intrusiveness of the mobile surveys. Regarding safety, participants endorsed few drinking-related consequences during or after the real-world drinking episode, with no adverse or serious adverse events reported. There were no differences between the groups in terms of changes in drinking behavior or consequences from baseline to two-week follow-up. Conclusions This study provided preliminary support for the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a smartphone-based EMA of real-time alcohol use and related outcomes in young adult heavy drinkers. The results suggest that young adults can use smartphones to safely monitor drinking even during very heavy drinking episodes. Smartphone-based EMA has strong potential to inform future research on the epidemiology of and intervention for alcohol use disorder by providing researchers with an efficient and inexpensive way to capture large amounts of data on real-world drinking behavior and consequences.

Objective Cancer diagnosis in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) coincides with the developmental initiation of substance use and emergence of affective disturbance. We examined substance use behaviors and risk-stratified associations with mental and physical health, as well as objective indicators of tobacco and cannabis use and concordance with self-report and medical records. Methods AYAs were 15 to 39 years at cancer diagnosis and ≥18 years and ≥6 months postdiagnosis at study enrollment. Risk-stratified groups included nonsmoker/nondrinker, nonsmoker/drinker, smoker/drinker. Assessments included demographics, past year tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use, depression, anxiety, sleep, and physical activity. Urine analysis provided biochemical verification of tobacco and cannabis use. Results Participants included 100 AYAs (60% male) with primarily hematological cancers (88%). Past year alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use prevalence rates were 80%, 15%, and 33%, respectively. A minority (non-users) refrained from both alcohol and tobacco (20%), while most were exclusively alcohol users (65%) or alcohol and tobacco co-users (15%). Relative to other sub-groups, co-users reported more depressive and anxious symptoms, while non-users reported more physical activity. More frequent tobacco and cannabis use were associated with more depressive and anxious symptoms, while more frequent alcohol use was associated with lower physical activity. There were no group differences or associations with sleep quality. There was considerable discordance between tobacco use self-report, biochemical verification, and medical record documentation. Conclusions Substance use among AYAs is common and detrimental to mental and physical health, especially among more frequent users and co-users, highlighting the need for early assessment and intervention.

Impulsivity and subjective response (SR) to alcohol (i.e., individual differences in sensitivity to pharmacologic alcohol effects) are both empirically supported risk factors for alcohol use disorder; however, these constructs have been infrequently studied as related risk factors. The present investigation examined a self-report measure of impulsivity (i.e., the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Version 11) in relation to acute alcohol effects (i.e., stimulant and sedative SR). Participants came from 2 cohorts of the Chicago Social Drinking Project. Heavy and light drinkers from Cohort 1 (n = 156) and heavy social drinkers from Cohort 2 (n = 104) were examined using identical laboratory protocols following oral alcohol administration using a within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled laboratory study design. Self-reported impulsivity and, for comparison purposes, sensation seeking were measured at baseline, and SR was measured once prior to and 4 times following alcohol administration. More impulsive light, but not heavy, drinkers reported heightened stimulant SR following alcohol administration. High impulsive, light drinkers reported stimulant SR at a magnitude similar to that for heavy drinkers, whereas low impulsive, light drinkers reported limited stimulant SR. The interaction between impulsivity and sensation seeking did not statistically predict stimulant SR, and overall, impulsivity was a stronger predictor than was sensation seeking. However, impulsivity was not statistically predictive of dampened sedative SR among light or heavy drinkers. These findings partially replicate and extend the recent literature linking self-reported impulsivity to heightened stimulant SR from alcohol. Future directions include longitudinal studies and research relating multiple facets of impulsivity to SR. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Introduction Passive exposure to the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS or e-cigarettes) has been shown to generalize as a smoking cue. As young adult women in particular are increasingly targeted by ENDS distributors, the present study examined whether passive exposure to the use of a female-marketed ENDS product selectively enhanced smoking urge, cigarette and e-cigarette desire, and smoking behavior among women (vs men) smokers. Methods Using a mixed design, young adult smokers (n = 64; mean age 28.2 yrs.; ≥5 cigarettes/day) observed a study confederate drink bottled water (control cue) and then vape a female-marketed tank-based ENDS (active cue). Main measures were the Brief Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (BQSU) and visual analog scales (VAS) for cigarette and e-cigarette desire pre- and post-cue exposure, followed by a smoking latency task. Results Compared to the control cue, the female-marketed ENDS cue increased smoking urge and desire for cigarettes and e-cigarettes to a similar extent in women and men. It also affected subsequent smoking behavior similarly between the sexes, with 68% of men and 58% of women opting to smoke (vs. obtaining monetary reinforcers). Conclusions Both women and men were sensitive to the use of the female-marketed ENDS as a smoking cue. Consistent with prior work by our group, findings demonstrate the cue salience of ENDS, which may be attributable to the aspects of vaping that resemble traditional smoking (e.g. hand-to-mouth and inhalation and exhalation behaviors).

Despite moderate success with pharmacological and behavioral treatments, smoking relapse rates remain high, and many smokers report that smoking cues lead to relapse. Therefore, treatments that target cue reactivity are needed. One candidate for reducing craving is the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT). Here, we investigated the effects of intranasal OT on two types of craving for cigarettes: craving following overnight abstinence and craving elicited by smoking-related cues. In this within-subject, placebo-controlled pilot study, smokers (N = 17) abstained from smoking for 12 hours before attending two sessions randomized to intranasal OT or placebo (i.e., saline nasal spray). On each session, participants received two doses of OT (20 IU) or placebo at one-hour intervals, and rated craving before and after each dose. Spontaneous cigarette craving was assessed after the first spray, and cue-elicited craving was assessed following the second spray. OT did not reduce levels of spontaneous craving after the first spray, but significantly dampened cue-induced smoking craving. These results provide preliminary evidence that OT can reduce cue-induced smoking craving in smokers. These findings provide an important link between preclinical and clinical studies aimed at examining the effectiveness of OT as a novel treatment for drug craving.

BACKGROUND Binge drinking, defined as consuming five or more standard alcoholic drinks for men (four for women) within a 2-hour period, is common among young adults and is associated with significant alcohol-related morbidity and mortality. To date, most research on this problem in young adults has relied upon retrospective questionnaires or costly laboratory-based procedures. Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) may address these limitations by allowing researchers to measure alcohol use and related consequences in real time and in drinkers’ natural environments. To date, however, relatively less research has systematically examined the utility of this approach in a sample of young adults targeting real-world heavy drinking episodes specifically. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a smartphone-based EMA method targeting binge drinking and related outcomes in heavy drinking young adults during real-world drinking occasions. METHODS Young adult binge drinkers in the smartphone group (N=83; mean 25.4 (SD 2.6) years; 58% (48/83) male; bingeing on 23.2% (6.5/28) days in the past month) completed baseline measures of alcohol use and drinking-related consequences, followed by up to two smartphone-based EMA sessions of typical drinking behavior and related outcomes in their natural environments. They also completed next-day and two-week follow-up surveys further assessing alcohol use and related consequences during the EMA sessions and two weeks after study participation, respectively. A separate demographic- and drinking-matched safety comparison group (N=25) completed the baseline and two-week follow-up surveys but did not complete EMA of real-world drinking behavior. RESULTS Most participants (71%, 59/83) in the smartphone group engaged in binge drinking during at least one 3-hour EMA session, consuming 7.3 (SD 3.0) standard alcoholic drinks. They completed 87.2% (507/581) system-initiated EMA prompts during the real-world drinking episode, supporting the feasibility of this approach. The procedure was acceptable, as evidenced by high participant ratings for overall satisfaction with the EMA software and study procedures and low ratings for intrusiveness of the mobile surveys. Regarding safety, participants endorsed few drinking-related consequences during or after the real-world drinking episode, with no adverse or serious adverse events reported. There were no differences between the groups in terms of changes in drinking behavior or consequences from baseline to two-week follow-up. CONCLUSIONS This study provided preliminary support for the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a smartphone-based EMA of real-time alcohol use and related outcomes in young adult heavy drinkers. The results suggest that young adults can use smartphones to safely monitor drinking even during very heavy drinking episodes. Smartphone-based EMA has strong potential to inform future research on the epidemiology of and intervention for alcohol use disorder by providing researchers with an efficient and inexpensive way to capture large amounts of data on real-world drinking behavior and consequences.

There is a strong association between cigarette smoking and alcohol use at the epidemiological, behavioral, and molecular levels, and this co-use creates substantial impediments to smoking cessation among smokers who are also heavy drinkers. Compared with individuals who only smoke, those who both drink and smoke heavily experience more severe health consequences and have greater difficulty in quitting smoking. During smoking abstinence, greater alcohol use is associated with decreased odds of smoking cessation, and smokers are substantially more likely to experience a smoking lapse during drinking episodes. As heavy drinking smokers are less responsive to the currently available pharmacological treatments, this subgroup of high-risk substance users possesses a unique clinical profile and treatment needs. Thus, treatment development for heavy drinking smokers represents a significant and understudied research area within the field of smoking cessation. This review will briefly describe findings from epidemiological, behavioral, and molecular studies illustrating alcohol and tobacco co-use and identify how the behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms underlying the interaction of alcohol and nicotine may inform the development of targeted treatments for this unique population of smokers.

Use and awareness of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS; also known as electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes) has increased rapidly in recent years, particularly among young adults. As use of ENDS resembles traditional smoking in both hand to mouth movements and inhalation and exhalation behaviors, we determined whether exposure to e-cigarette use via video exposure would act as a cue to elicit urge and desire for a combustible cigarette. Young adult smokers (mean age 26.3 ± 4.1 years) were randomized to view a brief video montage of advertisements depicting either e-cigarette vaping (n = 38) or bottled water drinking (n = 40). Pre- and post-cue exposure assessments were conducted in a controlled laboratory setting without other smoking or vaping cues present or behaviors allowed. Primary outcomes included change from pre-exposure baseline in smoking urge (Brief Questionnaire of Smoking Urges) and desire for a combustible and e-cigarette (visual analogue scales). Results showed that relative to exposure to the bottled water video, exposure to the ENDS video significantly increased smoking urge (p < 0.001) as well as desire for a regular cigarette (p < 0.05) and an e-cigarette (p < 0.001). These findings provide preliminary evidence that passive exposure to video imagery of ENDS use may generalize as a condition cue and evoke urges for a combustible cigarette in young adult smokers. It remains to be determined whether such increases in urge and desire correspond to increases in actual smoking behavior.

OBJECTIVE Given the observed differences in alcohol consumption characteristics between the Han and Uyghur nationalities in clinical reports and in daily life, the subjective and objective responses to alcohol in heavy drinkers (HDs) and light drinkers (LDs) in the Han and Uyghur nationalities in China were compared. METHODS A within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled human laboratory paradigm was performed. Each subject completed three experimental sessions in random order. Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule scales were administered, and heart rate (HR), blood pressure, and salivary cortisol levels were measured at predrink baseline and 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after the initial alcohol beverage consumption. RESULTS Compared with LDs, HDs exhibited higher stimulation, positive affect, and lower sedation in both ethnicities. Han drinkers (both HDs and LDs) exhibited higher sedation and lower positive affect and stimulation than Uyghur drinkers after consumption of alcohol. Moreover, HDs exhibited more HR increase during the ascending limb of breath alcohol content (p < .05) and less cortisol level during the declining limb of breath alcohol content (p < .05). Both HDs and LDs exhibited decreased systolic and diastolic pressures for both high- and low-dose beverages (ps < .01). CONCLUSION Compared with LDs, HDs exhibited more HR increase and lower salivary cortisol level after alcohol consumption. Han drinkers (both HDs and LDs) exhibited higher sedation and lower positive affect and stimulation after consumption of alcohol as compared with Uyghur drinkers. This modality of subjective and physiological responses to alcohol in the Han and Uyghur ethnicities is similar.

Background Preclinical and clinical evidence suggest that the neuropeptide oxytocin may be of value in treating alcohol use disorder, by either reducing the rewarding effects of alcohol or reducing negative affect induced by alcohol withdrawal. However, the effect of a single dose of oxytocin on subjective and psychomotor responses to alcohol in social drinkers is not known. Methods This study examined the effect of intranasal oxytocin on subjective, behavioral, and physiological responses to a moderate dose of alcohol (0.8 g/kg) in young adult social drinkers. Participants (N = 35) completed 2 study sessions at which they consumed beverages containing alcohol (ALC; N = 20) or placebo (NoALC; N = 15) in combination with intranasal oxytocin (40 IU with a 20 IU booster) or placebo. They received oxytocin at one session and placebo at the other session (order counterbalanced) 20 minutes before consuming beverages. Subjective mood and drug effects ratings, heart rate and blood pressure, and 4 behavioral tasks (flanker task, digit span, go/no-go, and pursuit rotor) were the primary outcome measures. Results ALC produced its expected subjective and behavioral effects; including feeling intoxicated and impaired performance on the digit span and go/no-go tasks. Oxytocin alone had no significant subjective or physiological effects, and it did not affect responses to alcohol on any measure. Conclusions We can conclude that, under these conditions, a single dose of intranasal oxytocin does not alter the effects of acute alcohol in healthy young adult social drinkers. Further research is needed to determine whether oxytocin alters responses to alcohol under different conditions, and to determine its potential as an aid in treatment for substance use disorders.

Women often exhibit larger hormonal and subjective responses to opioid receptor antagonists than men, but the biological mechanisms mediating this effect remain unclear. Among women, fluctuations in estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) across the menstrual cycle (MC) affect the endogenous opioid system. Therefore, the goal of the current study was to compare acute naltrexone response between women in the early follicular phase of the MC (low E2 and P4), women in the luteal phase of the MC (high E2 and P4), and men. Seventy healthy controls (n = 46 women) participated in two morning sessions in which they received 50 mg naltrexone or placebo in a randomized, counterbalanced order. Women were randomized to complete both sessions in either the early follicular (n = 23) or luteal phase of the MC. Serum cortisol, prolactin, and luteinizing hormone (LH), salivary cortisol, and subjective response were assessed upon arrival to the laboratory and at regular intervals after pill administration. In luteal and early follicular women but not men, naltrexone (vs. placebo) increased serum cortisol and prolactin levels from baseline; however, the naltrexone-induced increases in these hormones were significantly greater in luteal women than early follicular women. Additionally, only luteal women demonstrated an increase from baseline in salivary cortisol levels and the severity of adverse drug effects in response to naltrexone. In sum, the results indicate that luteal phase women are more sensitive to acute hormonal and subjective effects of naltrexone than early follicular women and men. These findings may have important implications for the use of naltrexone in women.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol hangovers have been found to be a common and costly consequence of alcohol misuse. However, there is only limited psychometric support for instruments to accurately measure hangovers beyond the college-age years. This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Hangover Symptom Scale (HSS) and the Hangover Symptom Scale – Short Form (HSS-5) including the internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity, construct validity, and the measurement invariance of these scales between light and heavy drinkers, individuals with a positive and negative family history of alcohol use disorder (AUD), and men and women in a post college-aged sample. The association of the HSS and HSS-5 with alcohol use problems was also tested. METHODS: Participants were 294 nonalcoholic light and heavy social drinkers (age range 21 to 35 years; 57.8% male) enrolled in the Chicago Social Drinking Project. They completed the HSS as part of a take-home packet completed outside of the laboratory. The psychometric properties of the HSS and HSS-5 were tested. RESULTS: Stronger psychometric support was found for the HSS-5 relative to the full HSS. While both measures demonstrated strong internal consistency reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and an association to alcohol use problems, only the HSS-5 showed construct validity as determined by confirmatory factor analysis. Further, only the HSS-5 showed measurement invariance between men and women, light and heavy drinkers and individuals with a positive and negative family history of AUD. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study to examine the psychometric properties of the HSS and HSS-5 in a post college-aged sample and the first to investigate the measurement invariance of these measures as a function of sex, drinking history, and family history of AUD. This study supports the use of the HSS-5 as a reliable and valid brief measure of frequency of hangover symptoms.

AIMS: Compare subjective responses to alcohol among Han Chinese and Caucasian American males. DESIGN: Double-blinded, placebo-controlled human laboratory design. Participants completed three randomized experimental sessions with high and low alcohol, and placebo beverage. SETTING: Chinese participants were examined at Xinjiang Medical University, China. Caucasian participants were examined at the University of Chicago, USA. PARTICIPANTS: 70 Han Chinese (35 heavy/35 light drinkers) and 75 Caucasian Americans (43 heavy/32 light drinkers). MEASUREMENTS: Breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) and the Stimulation and Sedation subscales of the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale were assessed at pre-drink baseline and four timepoints after beverage consumption. The Like and Want subscales of the Drug Effects Questionnaire were also assessed at the post-drink assessments. FINDINGS: Comparisons with light drinkers showed that high and low dose alcohol produced decreases in stimulation, liking, and wanting in Chinese vs. Caucasians (psCONCLUSIONS: Stimulating effects of alcohol are predominant in Chinese male binge drinkers, as has been found-in Caucasians, but with less hedonic and motivational reward, potentially explaining some of the lower risk for alcohol disorders in Asian subgroups. Language: en

Background: Heavy drinking smokers (HDS) have more difficulty quitting smoking than lighter drinkers or abstainers. The opioid antagonist naltrexone may improve smoking quit rates and reduce alcohol use in drinker–smokers, but its relative efficacy in smokers with a range of drinking patterns is unknown. The current study tested the hypothesis that HDS would show differential benefit of naltrexone versus placebo relative to moderate-to-light or nondrinking smokers in terms of improving smoking outcomes and reducing alcohol consumption. Methods: Adult smokers (N = 315) enrolled in a 12-week, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of 50 mg naltrexone for smoking cessation were categorized into subgroups based upon past 6-month drinking patterns: HDS (n = 69; i.e., averaged ≥2 heavy drinking episodes per month), moderate-tolight drinking smokers (n = 204, i.e., consumed 1 drink up to a maximum of

Introduction: Smokers’ treatment expectancies may influence their choice of a particular medication as well as their medication experience.Aims: This study examined the role of smokers’ treatment expectancies to their smoking cessation outcomes in a completed, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of naltrexone for smoking cessation, controlling for perceptions of treatment assignment.Methods: Treatment-seeking cigarette smokers (N = 315) were randomized to receive either naltrexone (50 mg) or placebo in combination with nicotine patch and behavioural counselling. Expectancies for naltrexone as a smoking cessation aid were assessed at baseline and four weeks after the quit date.Results: More positive baseline medication expectancies predicted higher quit rates at one month in the naltrexone group (OR = 1.45, p = 0.04) but were associated with lower quit rates in the placebo group (OR = 0.66, p = 0.03). Maintaining and/or increasing positive medication expectancies in the first month of treatment was associated with better pill adherence during this interval in the naltrexone group (ps < 0.05). Positive baseline medication expectancies were also associated with the perception of having received naltrexone over placebo among all participants.Conclusions: Positive medication expectancies in smokers may contribute to better treatment response. Assessing treatment expectancies and attempting to maintain or improve them may be important for the delivery, evaluation, and targeting of smoking cessation treatments.

In 3 previously published works (Brumback et al., 2007, Drug Alcohol Depend 91:10-17; King et al., 2011a, Arch Gen Psychiatry 68:389-399; Roche and King, 2010, Psychopharmacology (Berl) 212:33-44), our group characterized acute alcohol responses in a large group of young, heavy binge drinkers (n = 104) across a variety of subjective, eye-tracking, and psychometric performance measures.The primary goal of the current study was to directly replicate prior findings of alcohol response in heavy social drinkers (HD) in a second independent cohort (n = 104) using identical methodology. A secondary goal was to examine the effects of family history (FH) of alcohol use disorders (AUD) on acute alcohol response in both samples. Participants attended 2 randomized laboratory sessions in which they consumed 0.8 g/kg alcohol or a taste-masked placebo. At pre- and post-drink time points, participants completed subjective scales, psychomotor performance and eye-movement tasks, and provided salivary samples for cortisol determination.Results showed that the second cohort of heavy drinkers exhibited a nearly identical pattern of alcohol responses to the original cohort, including sensitivity to alcohol's stimulating and hedonically rewarding effects during the rising breath alcohol content (BrAC) limb, increases in sedation during the declining BrAC limb, a lack of cortisol response, and psychomotor and eye-tracking impairment that was most evident at peak BrAC. The magnitude and temporal pattern of these acute effects of alcohol in the second cohort were similar to the first cohort across all measures, with the exception of 3 eye-movement measures: pro- and antisaccade accuracy and antisaccade velocity. FH of AUD did not affect alcohol response in the first cohort, and this was replicated in the second cohort.In sum, in 2 independent samples, we have demonstrated that HD display a consistent and reliable sensitivity to alcohol's subjective effects and impairment of eye-tracking and psychomotor performance, which is not affected by FH status. This acute alcohol response phenotype in heavy, frequent binge drinkers appears to be robust and reproducible.