Showing papers by "Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse published in 2017"
TL;DR: Evidence is provided to help inform Canadian policy to reduce the human and economic costs of drug-impaired driving and the harm and cost of cannabis-related collisions as Canada looks to legalize and regulate the sale of cannabis.
47 citations
TL;DR: Findings indicate that oral fluid screening could prove to be a valuable tool in the detection of driver drug use in Canada.
Abstract: This project was to examine point-of-contact (POC) oral fluid drug screening devices to determine the suitability of such devices for potential use in the enforcement of drug-impaired driving in Canada. Oral fluid samples were collected from a group of individuals who admitted to having recently ingested drugs as well as a number of individuals who had not been using drugs. These samples were tested on one of three oral fluid screening devices to determine the presence of cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, opioids, and benzodiazepines. Each participant also provided a second oral fluid sample that was sent to a reference laboratory for independent analysis. Comparison of the results from the oral fluid screening device and those from the laboratory analysis provided estimates of sensitivity and specificity for each of the six drugs/drug categories. Sensitivity exceeded 0.80 for cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioids. False positive rates for these drugs/drug categories were ...
20 citations
TL;DR: It was shown that the relationship between rejection sensitivity and depressive symptoms was mediated by multiple group memberships and this findings further support the psychosocial deficits characteristic of individuals possessing the OXTR polymorphism, which in turn is linked to poor mood.
Abstract: Rejection sensitivity is a cognitive-affective processing disposition that has been linked to interpersonal difficulties. In this regard, the neuropeptide hormone, oxytocin, is thought to underlie social cognitions and behaviors that promote social affiliation. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR), in which guanine (G) is substituted for adenine (A), has been associated with less support-seeking behaviors. In the current study, among 376 undergraduate students, it was shown that the relationship between rejection sensitivity and depressive symptoms was mediated by multiple group memberships. Furthermore, the relation between rejection sensitivity and group memberships was only evident among individuals possessing the A allele on the OXTR gene. These findings further support the psychosocial deficits characteristic of individuals possessing the OXTR polymorphism, which in turn is linked to poor mood.
9 citations
TL;DR: Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are synthetic, psychoactive drugs that are generally not under international regulatory control and therefore pose unknown health risks.
Abstract: Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are synthetic, psychoactive drugs that are generally not under international regulatory control. NPS are frequently sold as alternatives to classic "street drugs" such as ecstasy or LSD. However, little is known about their pharmacology and toxicity and they therefore pose unknown health risks. Further, risk for harms are elevated because users often do not know what they are taking, and therefore cannot predict dose, potency, or other potential properties.
7 citations