Search

The article presents 2018 addiction-related news briefs on topics including Japan's national ban on smoking in public places. The deaths associated with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign are examined, along with the Canadian government's passage of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act which deals with plain and standardized packing for cigarettes and regulations governing the sale and promotion of electronic cigarettes.

The article offers news briefs on addiction policy and research as of November 2015, along with listings of upcoming conferences on the topic. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has issued an opinion on proposed Scottish minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol. A U.S. Sentencing Commission report shows a falling number of crack cocaine prosecutions after the 2010 U.S. Fair Sentencing Act (FSA). The European Commission has released documents on tobacco industry lobbying.

The article offers addiction-related news briefs as of 2014. The move by electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) makers Nicolites and British American Tobacco's Nicoventures to obtain licenses for their products. The Smarter Sentencing Act unveiled by several U.S. Senators which proposes on substantial reductions in prison terms for non-violent drug offenders. The announcement of the Bhutan's Upper House to end the ban of tobacco products' sales and import in the country to control the black market.

Objectives: This study aims to (1) elucidate whether the Hawthorne effect exists, (2) explore under what conditions, and (3) estimate the size of any such effect. Study Design and Setting: This systematic review summarizes and evaluates the strength of available evidence on the Hawthorne effect. An inclusive definition of any form of research artifact on behavior using this label, and without cointerventions, was adopted. Results: Nineteen purposively designed studies were included, providing quantitative data on the size of the effect in eight randomized controlled trials, five quasiexperimental studies, and six observational evaluations of reporting on one's behavior by answering questions or being directly observed and being aware of being studied. Although all but one study was undertaken within health sciences, study methods, contexts, and findings were highly heterogeneous. Most studies reported some evidence of an effect, although significant biases are judged likely because of the complexity of the evaluation object. Conclusion: Consequences of research participation for behaviors being investigated do exist, although little can be securely known about the conditions under which they operate, their mechanisms of effects, or their magnitudes. New concepts are needed to guide empirical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annually, adverse drug reactions result in more than 2,000,000 hospitalizations and rank among the top 10 causes of death in the United States. Consequently, there is a need to continuously monitor and to improve the safety assessment of marketed drugs. Nonetheless, pharmacovigilance practice frequently lacks causality assessment. Here, we report the case of flupirtine, a centrally acting non-opioid analgesic. We re-evaluated the plausibility and causality of 226 unselected, spontaneously reported hepatobiliary adverse drug reactions according to the adapted Bradford-Hill criteria, CIOMS score and WHO-UMC scales. Thorough re-evaluation showed that only about 20% of the reported cases were probable or likely for flupirtine treatment, suggesting an incidence of flupirtine-related liver injury of 1: 100,000 when estimated prescription data are considered, or 0.8 in 10,000 on the basis of all 226 reported adverse drug reactions. Neither daily or cumulative dose nor duration of treatment correlated with markers of liver injury. In the majority of cases (151/226), an average of 3 comedications with drugs known for their liver liability was observed that may well be causative for adverse drug reactions, but were reported under a suspected flupirtine ADR. Our study highlights the need to improve the quality and standards of ADR reporting. This should be done with utmost care taking into account contributing factors such as concomitant medications including over-the-counter drugs, the medical history and current health conditions, in order to avoid unjustified flagging and drug warnings that may erroneously cause uncertainty among healthcare professionals and patients, and may eventually lead to unjustified safety signals of useful drugs with a reasonable risk to benefit ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the association of cannabis use with mental health such as psychosis, mood disorders and other mental problems. Reported as the most widely misused illicit drug, cannabis contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is a psychoactive component and its consumption with tobacco and alcohol among the young and middle aged while used as treatment among older individuals. Also noted is the evidence on the use of cannabis and acute psychosis characterized by delusions, hallucinations and hypomanic symptoms.

The article offers news briefs related to government policies on substance and tobacco use throughout the world and a list of substance addiction conferences in 2016. News brief topics, including a government ban of alcohol in Bihar, India, legalisation on cannabis in Canada and the Dutch government's policy on the tobacco industry's lobbying groups in the Netherlands, are discussed.

The "British System" for treating opiate problems developed in the early part of the 20th century. Marked by an absence of a centrally coordinated policy, the system allowed doctors freedom and flexibility in prescribing to patients with opiate-related problems. These core features of the system have been retained despite buffetings from heroin epidemics among the young in the 1960s and 1980s and the challenge of HIV/AIDS among injecting drug users. Crime reduction became the focus of British drug policy in the 1990s, but nevertheless, treatment is still recognized as a key component of integrated UK drug policy in the early 21st century. Independence and diversity have thrived over this time. So what does the British System comprise today? And where is it going for tomorrow? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents 2014 news on addiction. In October Moscow, Russia was the host location for the sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. An article in "The Guardian" reported that Chief Executive of the UK Civil Service, John Manzoni, has closed financial links with SABMiller, one of Britain’s major drink companies. An article in "The Huffington Post" reported that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State William Brownfield called for flexible interpretations of international drug control treaties at a United Nations meeting in October.

Discusses the use of cannabis in Great Britain. Details on its psychological harms; Impact of a national policy on cannabis use.

Abstract: Reducing CO2-emissions from electricity-generating power-plants is a high priority. Several advanced low-carbon power-plants have gained wide acceptance. Uncertainties concerning future costs and performances of new pertinent technologies and unit fuel-prices as well as the types and the comprehensiveness of CO2-emissions regulations exacerbate the difficulty of selecting promising candidates to be considered for future investments. A computer-based Monte-Carlo simulation technique has been devised to help choose the best technology for financial investments: it allows for the stated uncertainties and assesses the trade-offs between expected returns and the key risks imposed on decision makers. The economic-modelling methodology is described. The computer-based model assesses the investment in a new low-carbon integrated reforming combined-cycle (IRCC) power-plant. The worthwhileness of this financial investment is evaluated in terms of net present-value (NPV), internal rate-of-return (IRR) and pay-back period (PBP). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The concept of demand characteristics, which involves research participants being aware of what the researcher is investigating, is well known and widely used within psychology, particularly in laboratory-based studies. Studies of this phenomenon may make a useful contribution to broader consideration of the effects of taking part in research on participant behaviour. This systematic review seeks to summarise data from studies of the effects of demand characteristics on participant behaviours in non-laboratory settings. Methodology/Principal Findings: Electronic databases were searched to identify eligible studies. These had to be purposely designed to evaluate possible effects of demand characteristics on at least one behavioural outcome under the autonomous control of the participants and use longitudinal study designs. Only 7 studies were included, 6 providing observational data and 1 experimental study, with 5 studies involving examination of possible effects on health behaviours. Although studies provided some evidence of effects of demand characteristics on participant behaviour, heterogeneous operationalisation of the construct, the limited number of studies and poor quality of study designs made synthesis and interpretation of study findings challenging. Conclusions/Significance: Although widely accepted as important in psychology, there have been few dedicated studies of the effects of demand characteristics on research participant behaviours outside laboratory settings. This body of literature does not currently contribute to the wider study of research participation effects. A systematic review of data from laboratory-based studies is needed, as are high-quality primary studies in non-laboratory settings. We suggest that unqualified use of the term demand characteristics should be abandoned [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the negative health outcomes linked with cannabis use and outlines optimal strategies to assessing and managing cannabis use in primary care. Data reviewed by the authors were from electronic databases, specialist Web sites and databases of England's National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse and the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse, among others. It explains that the metabolites of cannabis exert their effect on the body's endogenous cannabinoid system through type 1 cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system. Other topics discussed include the effects of intoxication and differentiating between chronic cannabis intoxication and psychiatric disorders.

The concept of sensible drinking is not new and can be traced back to at least the 4th century BC. In the mid-to-late 1980s, United Kingdom policy converged on a safe limit of 21 units of alcohol per week for men and 14 units per week for women. These were adopted into 'The Health of the Nation' that established targets for the reduction of those drinking more than these limits. In 1995, the Department of Health published a report entitled 'Sensible drinking' that promoted a daily limit of 3-4 units for men and 2-3 units for women. Weekly and daily recommendations running in parallel have resulted in a confusing public health message. A decade later the 'Health of the Nation' targets have not been achieved: While the proportion of males drinking more than the weekly limits has remained the same around 28%, the percentage of women doing so has actually increased from 11% to 17%. Clearly the sensible drinking message is not working but currently there is nothing better to replace it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective dissemination from researchers to clinicians can improve outcomes for people using substance misuse services by providing the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver best practice. The internet has the potential to facilitate quick, accurate and affordable learning on a large scale. However, the quality of online resources for substance misuse worker training is rarely evaluated. Aim: To review the available literature on the learning outcomes, qualitative descriptions and costs of online learning. Methods: The literature on online learning, staff training and substance misuse were reviewed following PRISMA guidelines. Findings: Sixteen articles were identified with large variation in study quality and design. Descriptions of online interventions were insufficient for replication or comparison. Good quality online training should meet the needs of substance misuse workers whilst acknowledging that these needs will differ according to worker and context. Conclusions: Published research into online learning for the substance misuse workforce should be sufficient in detail to enable replication and direct comparison. More qualitative research about the needs and preferences of the workforce using online learning would fill a notable gap in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims Addictive behaviours are among the greatest scourges on humankind. It is important to estimate the extent of the problem globally and in different geographical regions. Such estimates are available, but there is a need to collate and evaluate these to arrive at the best available synthetic figures. Addiction has commissioned this paper as the first of a series attempting to do this. Methods Online sources of global, regional and national information on prevalence and major harms relating to alcohol use, tobacco use, unsanctioned psychoactive drug use and gambling were identified through expert review and assessed. The primary data sources located were the websites of the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Alberta Gambling Research Institute. Summary statistics were compared with recent publications on the global epidemiology of addictive behaviours. Results An estimated 4.9% of the world's adult population (240 million people) suffer from alcohol use disorder (7.8% of men and 1.5% of women), with alcohol causing an estimated 257 disability-adjusted life years lost per 100 000 population. An estimated 22.5% of adults in the world (1 billion people) smoke tobacco products (32.0% of men and 7.0% of women). It is estimated that 11% of deaths in males and 6% of deaths in females each year are due to tobacco. Of 'unsanctioned psychoactive drugs', cannabis is the most prevalent at 3.5% globally, with each of the others at < 1%; 0.3% of the world's adult population (15 million people) inject drugs. Use of unsanctioned psychoactive drugs accounts for an estimated 83 disability-adjusted life years lost per 100 000 population. Global estimates of problem gambling are not possible, but in countries where it has been assessed the prevalence is estimated at 1.5%. Conclusions Tobacco and alcohol use are by far the most prevalent addictive behaviours and cause the large majority of the harm. However, the quality of data on prevalence and addiction-related harms is mostly low, and comparisons between countries and regions must be viewed with caution. There is an urgent need to review the quality of data on which global estimates are made and coordinate efforts to arrive at a more consistent approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY An engineering-economic analysis of the behaviours of each of two pre-combustion gas-turbine combined cycles with CO2 capture (an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) and an Integrated Reforming Combined Cycle (IRCC)) is described. Their economic performances have been evaluated in terms of the break-even electricity selling price. The results show that the proposed pre-combustion power plant efficiency values (37% and 43.7% for the IGCC and the IRCC respectively) are significantly lower compared to a conventional plant value (55.3%). The CO2 emissions of the latter are less than half those of the conventional plant. Introducing an hypothetical carbon tax equal to 50£/tCO2, the break-even selling price (BESP) for the proposed IGCC and IRCC plants is 4.40 p/kWh and 4.10 p/kWh respectively, while for the conventional plant amounts to 4.73 p/kWh. A sensitivity analysis has been carried out by varying the most influential investment parameters. The analysis has revealed that, considering the uncertainties associated with these key parameters, a substantial risk that the BESP could exceed the first value obtained is so prominent in some cases to alter their ranking order with respect to the most competitive technology. The final part of the analysis is a Monte-Carlo simulation to determine the impact of simultaneous variations of all the variables, subject to uncertainty, on the break-even selling unit price for the generated electricity. From the simulation, it derives that the BESP value ranges from 3.13 p/kWh to over 6.00 p/kWh for the IGCC case with a 50% probability of exceeding the first value obtained (4.40 p/kWh). In the IRCC case, the range of possible value for the BESP is from 2.85 p/kWh to 6.10 p/kWh, and there is a 60% probability that the actual BESP would exceed the first value obtained (4.10 p/kWh). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The study investigates patient preferences and beliefs and treatment program factors related to the decision to prescribe either buprenorphine or methadone to opiate-dependent patients. The sample (N = 192) was recruited from 10 addiction treatment services in London. Data were collected by means of a single structured interview conducted with patients commencing a treatment episode at the participating agencies. Data on patient demographics, beliefs, attitudes, and preferences were collected using a structured interview. Data regarding treatment goals and prescribed medication were collected from interviews with clinical staff. Oral methadone had a higher preference rating than buprenorphine. Clinical prescribing practices were influenced by patient preferences (both positive and negative), by prior treatment experiences, and by current treatment goals. Patient preferences and beliefs about opioid agonist medications served as an important influence upon clinical prescribing practices. The odds of being prescribed buprenorphine were three times greater among those patients who reported a preference for buprenorphine. The odds of receiving a prescription for methadone were about twice as great among those for whom methadone was the more preferred medication. Preferences were related to previous treatment experiences with these opioid agonists, and for patients in both groups, personal experience was the most important source of information about the treatment options. Buprenorphine was more likely to be prescribed for short-term detoxification and methadone for maintenance treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The study uses a school-based sample to test the social and familial risk and protective factors relating to cannabis use. Based on a self-completion survey of 2078 14–16-year-olds (mean age of 15 years) attending seven standard state-run secondary schools in south London, an assessment was made of rates and risk factors for cannabis use. Twenty-four per cent of the total sample had ever used cannabis, with 15% having done so in the month prior to assessment. In addition to greater likelihood of illicit drug use, lifetime cannabis users were less likely to spend time regularly with both their mothers and fathers, but more likely to spend free time with friends who smoked, drank alcohol and used illicit drugs, and with friends involved in criminal activities. Among those who had ever used cannabis, frequency of cannabis use was predicted (using linear regression) by two onset factors (earlier initiation of drinking and cannabis use were both linked to more frequent use) and two social factors (more time spent with drug-using friends and less time spent with the mother). Overall, the study showed that early onset, itself predicted by social networks, is linked to more frequent use of cannabis and that this appears to be sustained by less time spent with parents and more with drug-using peers. [Best D, Gross S, Manning V, Gossop M, Witton J, Strang J. Cannabis use in adolescents: the impact of risk and protective factors and social functioning . Drug Alcohol Rev 2005;24:483–488] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Changes in criminal convictions were investigated among 1075 clients admitted to 54 drug misuse treatment services across England as part of the National Treatment Outcome Research Study (NTORS). Convictions data during the year prior to treatment, and at 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years after treatment intake were collected from the Home Office Offenders’ Index, a national database of all convictions in adult and youth courts. Clinical data were collected by face-to-face interviews at intake to treatment, and at follow-up 1 year, 2 years, and 4–5 years after admission to treatment. During the year prior to treatment, 34% of the sample had been convicted of at least one offence. Conviction rates at all follow-up points were significantly lower than at intake. During the year prior to the 5-year follow-up, 18% of the sample had been convicted of at least one offence. Statistically significant reductions in the mean number of convicted offences were also found between treatment intake and 5-year follow-up. Reductions in convictions were found for acquisitive, drug selling, and violent crimes. Reductions in crime were associated with reductions in regular heroin use, age, and with stable housing. The results replicate previously reported findings of crime reductions among the NTORS cohort as indicated by self-reported measures of offending behaviour. The observed reductions in crime among drug misusers after treatment represent substantial changes in behaviour and have considerable personal, social and clinical significance. Reduced criminality also provides substantial economic benefits to society. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article uses a semi-structured interview method to assess the acquisition, preparation and use of heroin in a cohort of 114 drug users in contact with treatment services in south-east London, and examines the impact of the increase in crack availability on heroin use and preparation in this population. Seventy-six participants reported using heroin on a daily basis, involving an average of 2.8 hits and using a mean of 0.75 g on each using day. Although almost all of the sample bought their own heroin, very few were confident of assessing its quality, and the mean estimated purity level of heroin bought was 22.7%. Similarly, most of the sample believed that the heroin purchased was adulterated and, although most believed that the heroin quality was evident during the preparation stage, relatively few would ask about quality at the point of purchase, and it is apparent that the beliefs held by much of the sample about drug purity issues did not impact upon their behaviour. Seventy individuals reported the joint use of heroin and cocaine with 41 of these reporting that they used heroin to come down from the high of crack, although 17 of them reported simultaneous administration (either combined in the syringe or on the foil). The variations in patterns of behaviour identified and the lack of awareness of risk reported would suggest that there are significant implications for the development of both the harm reduction strategies for multiple drug users and for the treatment services for whom complex multiple drug use is increasingly the norm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in cocaine use in young people has been reflected in an increase in the number of deaths in which cocaine is identified post mortem. This increase is evident in relation to police custody deaths. In the current analysis, 43 drug-related deaths in custody are considered with cocaine identified in 24 of the post mortem examinations. The article examines the characteristics of these deaths, with particular attention paid to tire method and related reasons for drug consumption. Crucially, these deaths contrast with national drug mortality data as they generally involve cocaine consumed by swallowing at the point of arrest. A total of 18 of 24 cocaine deaths involved oral ingestion with at least 15 of these possible attempts at drug concealment occurring at the point of arrest. There is likely to he a considerable risk of loss of life among street-level drug dealers who swallow to avoid drug detection; the article examines the risks associated with this behaviour and possible preventative strategies. INSETS: Case Study 1;Case Study 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed prevalence of volatile substance abuse (VSA), and its link to other forms of psychoactive substance use and to other problem behaviours among 14-15 year olds recruited from sixteen secondary schools in south-west London. Lifetime use of volatile substances was reported by 126 young people (6% of the sample) whose mean age of first use was 12.6 years. Using logistic regression analysis, lifetime use of volatile substances was found to be associated with more frequent cigarette smoking and more frequent drinking in the previous month, with higher levels of anxiety, greater involvement in delinquent acts, and lower levels of educational aspirations. Among volatile substance abusers, more frequent use was associated with higher levels of psychological distress and greater delinquent activity. Volatile substance abuse may be a marker for other forms of substance use and for other behaviour problems. This issue remains inadequately explored by researchers and clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]