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Showing papers in "American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in 2008"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Prisoners with substance abuse constitute a subgroup with increased judiciary and psychiatric issues, possibly due to early life history and psychological characteristics, such as high impulsivity and aggressiveness, poor resilience, and higher suicidal risk.
Abstract: Introduction: The aim of our study is then to analyze psychological and judicial features of a subgroup of inmates with substance abuse. Methods: Prisoners with substance abuse (n=312) were compared to prisoners without substance abuse (n=591). Recruited inmates completed a semistructured interview for collection of sociodemographic and judicial data and a battery of psychometric tests for assesse- ment of aggression, impulsivity, depression, personality traits, hostility, resilience, and childhood trauma. Results: Substance abusers had on average multiple incarcerations (78.8%), more juvenile convictions (60.2%), more violent behaviors during detention (29.8%), and a history of one or more suicide attempts (20.8%). They also had higher scores on subscales for childhood trauma, higher scores for psychoticism and neu- roticism, higher impulsivity levels, worse resilience, increased hostility, and prevalent suicidal ideation.Conclusion: Prisoners with substance abuse constitute a subgroup with increased judiciary and psychiatric issues, possibly due to early life history and psy- chological characteristics, such as high impulsivity and aggressiveness, poor resilience, and higher suicidal risk.

146 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The possibility that difficulty in experiencing pleasure in psychiatric disorders can lead to the use of psychoactive substances in an attempt to decrease anhedonia, is extended to subjects without psychiatric disorders who may try substances to counterbalance a tonic state of anhedonian.
Abstract: In this study we aimed to investigate the relationship between anhedonia, craving and temperament and character dimensions in a sample of 50 patients with alcohol and opiate dependence recruited after a period of detoxification. The following scales were applied: Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS), Bech-Rafaelsen Melan- cholia Scale (BRMS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) for craving, and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The temperament dimension of Novelty Seeking was positively correlated to craving and anhedonia (p < .01), with a higher score of Novelty Seeking in the subsample of an- hedonic subjects with respect to both non-anhedonic and control subjects. In our study, the possibility that difficulty in experiencing pleasure in psychiatric disorders can lead to the use of psychoactive substances in an attempt to decrease anhedonia, is extended to subjects without psychiatric disorders who may try substances to counterbalance a tonic state of anhedonia.

109 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review focuses on the relationship between impulsivity—a behavior that is common to the clinical picture of both substance use disorders (SUD) and childhood disruptive behavior disorders—and neurobiological risk for SUD, and concludes that underlying deficits in inhibitory control may be central to many of the behaviors associated with high risk with SUD.
Abstract: Identification of neurobiological factors that confer risk for the development of addiction may substantially advance development of new prevention and treatment strategies to combat substance use disorders. This review focuses on the relationship between impulsivity—a behavior that is common to the clinical picture of both substance use disorders (SUD) and childhood disruptive behavior disorders—and neurobiological risk for SUD. It further examines various behaviors within the over-arching domain of impulsivity, ultimately focusing on the more narrowly defined and measurable construct of inhibitory control, and concluding that underlying deficits in inhibitory control may be central to many of the behaviors associated with high risk for SUD. Targeted cross-sectional study of the neural basis of inhibitory dyscontrol in subjects at high risk for SUD, who have not yet begun to abuse drugs, has the potential to generate important hypotheses regarding the neurobiological underpinnings of SUD risk. Hypotheses...

90 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The disrupted white matter integrity in right frontal white matter may occur in continuous heroin abuse.
Abstract: Objectives: Fractional anisotropy (FA) via diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can quantify the white matter integrity. Exposure to addictive drugs, such as alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and nicotine has been shown to alter FA. White matter abnormalities have been shown, but it remains unclear whether the white matter FA is altered in heroin dependence. Methods: Utilizing DTI, we investigated the FA difference between heroin-dependent and control subjects by a voxel-based strategy. The FA values of the identified regions were calculated from the FA image of each subject and were correlated with clinical features including months of heroin use, age, education, and dose of methadone. Results: Reduced FA among 16 heroin dependent subjects was located in the bilateral frontal sub-gyral regionsm, right precentral and left cingulate gyrus. FA in the right frontal sub-gyral was negatively correlated with duration of heroin use. Conclusion: The disrupted white matter integrity in right frontal white ma...

87 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Attention was significantly poorer during the first and second week of abstinence compared to days on which cocaine was used suggesting that certain cocaine-induced impairments may be acutely normalized by cocaine use, but resurface during abstinence.
Abstract: Seventeen non-treatment seeking cocaine-dependent individuals participated in three-week longitudinal inpatient studies of cognitive changes during drug use and abstinence. Protocols included three days drug-free baseline, three days cocaine self-administration, and two weeks complete abstinence. A repeatable cognitive battery showed attention and delayed verbal recognition memory but not working memory to be impaired in cocaine users compared to age- and sex-matched normative values. Attention was significantly poorer during the first and second week of abstinence compared to days on which cocaine was used suggesting that certain cocaine-induced impairments may be acutely normalized by cocaine use, but resurface during abstinence.

86 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that alcohol-exposed adolescents have substantial impairments in their abilities to solve problems in their everyday life, even in the absence of mental retardation.
Abstract: This study evaluated the social problem solving skills of adolescents with histories of prenatal alcohol exposure. Adolescents (28 alcohol-exposed, 15 controls) completed a standardized questionnaire of social problem solving, and caregivers completed a parent-report measure of executive functioning. Both questionnaires were mailed to families, and caregivers were asked to recruit a non-exposed control. Results suggest that alcohol-exposed adolescents have substantial impairments in their abilities to solve problems in their everyday life, even in the absence of mental retardation. Such impairments are likely to have a significant impact on social and academic functioning and reflect their need for critical services otherwise unavailable to them.

84 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Pharmacogenetics has great potential for improving treatment outcome as it is identified gene variants that affect pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic factors that guide pharmacotherapeutic agent choice for optimum treatment of alcohol and opiate abuse and subsequent relapse.
Abstract: Aims: Psychiatric pharmacogenetics involves the use of genetic tests that can predict the effectiveness of treatments for individual patients with mental illness such as drug dependence. This review aims to cover these developments in the pharmacotherapy of alcohol and opiates, two addictive drugs for which we have the majority of our FDA approved pharmacotherapies. Methods: We conducted a literature review using Medline searching terms related to these two drugs and their pharmacotherapies crossed with related genetic studies. Results: Alcohol's physiological and subjective effects are associated with enhanced β-endorphin release. Naltrexone increases baseline β-endorphin release blocking further release by alcohol. Naltrexone's action as an alcohol pharmacotherapy is facilitated by a putative functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the opioid mu receptor gene (Al18G) which alters receptor function. Patients with this SNP have significantly lower relapse rates to alcoholism when treated with n...

72 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Drug abuse treatment programs, irrespective of modality, are associated with improved adherence to antiretroviral therapies among drug users and concerted efforts to enroll individuals with drug use histories in treatment programs are warranted.
Abstract: Methadone maintenance is associated with improved adherence to antiretroviral therapies among HIV-positive illicit drug users; however, little information exists on whether adherence is associated ...

70 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The findings indicate that a sub-population of IDU might benefit from overdose prevention interventions and refute the suggestion that the SIF may increase the likelihood of overdose.
Abstract: Non-fatal overdose among injection drug users (IDU) is a source of significant morbidity. Since it has been suggested that supervised injecting facilities (SIF) may increase risk for overdose, we s...

69 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The finding showed that while opium might decrease blood glucose temporarily, it had no clear and long-lasting effects on blood glucose, as it hadno significant effect on HbA1c.
Abstract: Background: Type 2 diabetes is a common disorder that is recognized as a major health problem in Iran. Diabetes is a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and economic burden to the society. Some people believe that smoking opium can reduce serum glucose and lipids in diabetes mellitus. This study was designed to compare blood glucose and lipids in opium addicts with non-addicts among patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: In this case, control study subjects were chosen from type 2 diabetic patients. Twenty-three males with type 2 diabetes and addicted to opium were selected as the case group, and 46 patients with no addiction to opioid drugs were chosen as control group. Blood Sugar (BS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), lipids and microalbumin in urine were measured in two groups. Results: Our results showed that the mean FBS and 2-hour post prandial were significantly different between two groups. (P =. 04). No significant difference was observed in HbA1C, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL bet...

63 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings suggest that the hypothesized gateway sequence may not apply equally well to African-Americans, and that prevention efforts based on this theory may need to be amended for these youth.
Abstract: Background/Objectives: The purpose of this investigation was to test whether the gateway hypothesis of drug initiation sequencing applies equally well to high-risk African-American and Caucasian youth. Methods: The study sample (N = 618, mean age = 15.5, SD = 1.2) represented the population of residents in the Missouri Division of Youth Services (DYS) who had initiated marijuana and nicotine use. Results: As hypothesized, African-American youth were significantly more likely to initiate marijuana use before cigarette use. Over one-third of African Americans reported initiating marijuana before cigarettes (37.9%), compared to less than one-quarter of youth in the other ethnic groups (Caucasian = 17.3%, Latino/Latina = 21.7%, Biracial/Other = 20.8%). Further, multinomial simulation and logistic regression models revealed that African-American youth were significantly more likely than other ethnic groups to initiate marijuana before cigarettes (Adjusted OR = 3.53, CI = 1.92–6.46). Conclusions/Scientific Sign...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Preliminary results suggests that IPV + males have more severe neuropsychological impairments compared to the smoking control group than did the IPV − group.
Abstract: Ojective: There are high rates of co-occurring alcohol dependence and intimate partner violence (IPV) among men seeking substance abuse treatment. The authors examined neurocognitive performance among treatment-seeking alcohol dependent men with (IPV +) and without reported physical violence (IPV −). Method: Twenty-five subjects participated in this pilot study. All participants underwent a neurocognitive battery including, Continuous Performance Test (CPT), California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), Digit Span, Iowa Gambling Test (IGT), Wisconsin Card Sort (WCST), Trail Making Test, Parts A & B, a visuospatial memory (VSWM) task and the Stroop Color Word Test (SCWT). Result: Alcohol dependent participants with IPV (IPV + ; n = 9) had more severe deficits in attention, concentration, cognitive flexibility compared to controls (n = 7). Both the alcohol dependent (IPV − ; n = 9) and IPV + groups had significantly more impairments on tasks of impulsivity than the smoking controls. The IPV − group had significan...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this setting, street-involved youth implicated in the drug trade are characterized by drug-related and sociodemographic vulnerabilities and appear to be motivated by drug dependence and report elevated levels of police violence.
Abstract: Background: Street-involved youth have been shown to be involved in the street-level illicit drug trade in a number of jurisdictions, though little is known about risk factors and sequelae of this behavior. The present study was therefore conducted to investigate factors associated with the street-level drug trade involvement among street-based youth. Methods: We used logistic regression to examine factors associated with drug dealing among participants in the At-Risk Youth Study in Vancouver, Canada. We also examined motivations for drug trade involvement and types of drugs sold by participants. Results: Overall, 529 street-involved youth were followed during the study period, of whom 307 (58.0%) reported having been involved in the drug trade in the last six months. In a logistic regression analysis, crack cocaine use (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.28–2.67), homelessness (AOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.04–2.40), and having been assaulted by police (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.14–3.00) were independently ...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Short-term administration of naltrexone significantly reduced the relapse rate, but was not associated with modification in the abstinence rate, and acamprosate use demonstrated a modest improvement, with a RB of 1.76 at three month follow-up.
Abstract: Random controlled trials on the efficacy of naltrexone and acamprosate in the treatment of alcohol dependence were reviewed, using a Relative Benefit (RB) analysis approach. A total of 42 studies were included, showing acamprosate use demonstrated a modest improvement, with a RB of 1.76 at three month follow-up. Short-term administration of naltrexone significantly reduced the relapse rate, but was not associated with modification in the abstinence rate. There was insufficient data available to ascertain the efficacy of naltrexone and acamprosate over prolonged periods of time, or the effectiveness of the medications relative to each other.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The findings suggest that chronic opioid dependence may cause reduced function of the HPA axis, while opioid withdrawal may decrease the response of the pituitary to CRH and increase the adrenal response to ACTH.
Abstract: Objectives: The function of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal (HPA) axis during opioid dependence has been inconsistent. We compared HPA axis measures between subjects during methadone stabilization and drug-free detoxification with healthy controls. Methods: Sixty heroin dependent patients received either non-opiate treatment (NOT) with benzodiazepines and clonidine (n = 30) or methadone stabilization treatment (MT, n = 30), and their serum levels of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol (COR) were measured and compared to those of healthy, nondependent controls. Results: Compared with healthy controls, CRH was significantly lower (p <. 001) while COR was higher (p <. 001) during acute withdrawal in the NOT group. CRH and COR was lower (p <. 001), while ACTH was normal in the MT group compared to healthy controls. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that chronic opioid dependence may cause reduced function of the HPA axis, while opioid withdrawal may decre...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In a free-choice administration of methadone or buprenorphine, there seems to be no difference in cognitive functioning.
Abstract: Objectives: In the present study, we investigated whether buprenorphine as a partial µ-opioid receptor agonist is associated with less cognitive impairment than methadone. Methods: Neuropsychological functioning of opioid-dependent patients, previously assigned to methadone (MMP, n = 30) or buprenorphine (BMP, n = 26) maintenance treatment according to their own preference, was compared and dose effects were investigated. Results: MMP and BMP performed equally well on all mea- sures of neuropsychological functioning including the trail making test, the continuous performance test, and a vigilance task. However, patients receiving a higher dose of methadone were impaired in a vigilance task. Conclusions: In a free-choice adminis- tration of methadone or buprenorphine, there seems to be no difference in cognitive functioning. Possible explanations are discussed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Though useful in the treatment of opioid dependence and chronic pain, methadone possesses high abuse potential and documented mortality risks, and should be preceded by an abuse liability evaluation.
Abstract: Methadone is a potent synthetic opioid used for treatment of opioid dependence and chronic pain. Florida Department of Law Enforcement data were analyzed to examine trends in deaths related to or caused by methadone and/or heroin between 2001-2006. Results demonstrated that mortalities associated with methadone use increased steadily as mortalities associated with heroin decreased steadily. Though useful in the treatment of opioid dependence and chronic pain, methadone possesses high abuse potential and documented mortality risks. Treatment with methadone, for both pain and opioid dependence, should be preceded by an abuse liability evaluation. Attempts to minimize diversion should be implemented.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that drug-related ED visits are continuing to increase, although the increase has not been as substantial between 2000 and 2005 as that which was observed between 1995 and 2000 and Healthy People 2010 objectives calling for a reduction in substance-related visits may not be reached.
Abstract: Objective: To evaluate trends in alcohol- and drug-related emergency department (ED) and primary care visits over the previous decade. Method: A trend analysis was conducted on substance-related health services visit data, based on self-reported drinking or drug use within six hours prior to an injury or illness event, from the 1995, 2000, and 2005 National Alcohol Surveys. Results: Although an upward trend was observed in alcohol-related ED visits from 1995 to 2005, this increase was not significant. A significant trend was found for drug-related ED visits from. 6% in 1995 to 3.7% in 2005 (p <. 01). In multiple logistic regression, year of survey (2000 vs. 1995) was positively predictive of drug-related ED visits, controlling for gender, age, ethnicity, and health insurance coverage; however, year of survey (2005 vs. 2000) was not significant. Conclusion: These data suggest that drug-related ED visits are continuing to increase, although the increase has not been as substantial between 2000 and 2005 as t...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Excessive alcohol consumption is a predominant health concern on college campuses in the United States and a stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to examine the predictive values of demographic factors in relation to alcohol subscales with the outcome of number of drinking days in the past 30 days among first-year college students.
Abstract: Excessive alcohol consumption is a predominant health concern on college campuses in the United States. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to examine the predictive values of demographic factors in relation to alcohol subscales (Drinking Context Scale, College Alcohol Problems Scale-revised, and Social Modeling Scale) with the outcome of number of drinking days in the past 30 days among a sample (n = 224) of first-year college students. The final model predicted 37.5% of the variability in drinking days in the past month. All variables, except for race, were significantly associated with the outcome (p < .05).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Individuals who are trying to control their drug use should be encouraged to affiliate with others in recovery or attending a 12-step program.
Abstract: In a sample of active drug users, we assessed the associations between frequency of attending a 12-step program, perceived social norms, and social network structure. Participants who reported that most or all of their drug partners attended 12-step groups were over ten times more likely to be frequent attenders compared to individuals who did not go to Narcotics Anonymous (NA). While social network structure of number of cocaine and heroin users and number of members in treatment was associated with frequent attendance, there was no association among individuals who infrequently went to a 12-step program. Individuals who are trying to control their drug use should be encouraged to affiliate with others in recovery or attending a 12-step program.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Tolerance to alcohol may be a useful concept regarding nondependent drinkers that is not just a proxy for alcohol quantity but also reflects the presence of additional problems.
Abstract: Background: Ten percent of teenagers and young adults with no alcohol diagnosis and a third of those with alcohol abuse report tolerance to alcohol. However, relatively few data are available on the clinical implications of tolerance in nondependent men and women. Methods: Data were gathered from 649 18-to-22-year-old drinking offspring from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) families. The prevalence and clinical correlates of tolerance were evaluated across subjects with no DSM-IV alcohol abuse and no tolerance, similar individuals with tolerance, subjects with alcohol abuse but no tolerance, and individuals with both alcohol abuse and tolerance. Results: Tolerance was associated with an almost doubling of the number of drinks needed to feel alcohol's effects, and correlated with additional alcohol-related problems. In regression analyses, the most consistent and robust correlates of tolerance were the maximum number of drinks and alcohol problems, and tolerance remained informative after covarying for drinking quantity. Conclusions: Tolerance to alcohol may be a useful concept regarding nondependent drinkers that is not just a proxy for alcohol quantity but also reflects the presence of additional problems.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Adverse childhood events may lead to an altered view of the environment that contributes to increased irritability with daily life events among cocaine-dependent individuals.
Abstract: This study investigated the link between exposure to early life trauma, sensitivity to current daily stressors, and cocaine dependence. Individuals with (n = 105) or without (n = 53) cocaine dependence completed the Early Trauma Inventory and the Daily Hassles Scale. In comparison to controls, cocaine-dependent individuals reported almost twice as many daily hassles and perceived those hassles more negatively (p < .001). For participants with cocaine dependence, a significant relationship between exposure to early life trauma and negative perception of current daily hassles was observed (p < .01), whereas no such relationship was observed for participants without cocaine dependence. Adverse childhood events may lead to an altered view of the environment that contributes to increased irritability with daily life events among cocaine-dependent individuals.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Further work aimed at designing a psychometrically sound measure that specifically assesses the assets that someone brings with them into substance abuse treatment is needed.
Abstract: Objective: The current study was conducted to determine whether items culled from multiple measures and identified by a consensus panel as indicators of recovery capital would cohere as a unified, meaningful measure predictive of outcome. Methods: Three-hundred twenty-three alcohol dependent individuals receiving inpatient care completed multiple psychosocial instruments at treatment intake and three-month post-admission follow-up. Results: Exploratory factor analysis supported the multi-dimensional nature of the recovery capital construct. Modest relationships with proximal and distal outcomes were observed. Conclusions: Further work aimed at designing a psychometrically sound measure that specifically assesses the assets that someone brings with them into substance abuse treatment is needed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Single-gender group treatment may confer added benefit for women with substance abuse and high psychiatric symptom severity than mixed-gender treatment.
Abstract: Objective: This exploratory study examined psychiatric symptom severity as a moderator of outcomes among women receiving either the Women's Recovery Group (WRG), a new manualized group treatment for substance use disorders combining single-gender group composition and women-focused content, or Group Drug Counseling (GDC), an empirically supported mixed-gender group treatment. Methods: We used a mixed model analysis of variance. Results: We found a significant 3-way interaction effect of treatment condition, time, and baseline Brief Symptom Inventory scores as well as Beck Depression Inventory scores. Conclusion: Single-gender group treatment may confer added benefit for women with substance abuse and high psychiatric symptom severity than mixed-gender treatment.

Journal ArticleDOI
Lin Kang1, Dan Wang1, Bing Li1, Min Hu1, Ping Zhang1, Jing Li1 
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that mirtazapine attenuates morphine withdrawal and morphine-induced CPP in rats and it is suggested that mIRTZapine may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of opiate dependence.
Abstract: The effects of mirtazapine, a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant, on morphine withdrawal and morphine conditioned place preference (CPP) were investigated in rats. Our results showed that some morphine withdrawal signs, including teeth chattering, grooming, chewing, and escape attendance, were attenuated by single pretreatments with 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg mirtazapine. Wet-dog shakes, rearing, and grooming were inhibited by daily pretreatment with 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg mirtazapine. The expression of morphine-induced CPP was significantly blocked by mirtazapine (10 or 30 mg/kg, i.p.), while chronic treatment with mirtazapine (1 or 10 mg/kg, i.p. once, daily, for six consecutive days) significantly attenuated the acquisition of morphine CPP. Our results demonstrated that mirtazapine attenuates morphine withdrawal and morphine-induced CPP in rats and suggest that mirtazapine may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of opiate dependence.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Antisocial behavioral syndromes are commonly diagnosed in patients with SUD and future research should evaluate prognostic implications of AABS compared to ASPD in a variety of clinical treatment settings.
Abstract: Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is highly associated with substance use disorders (SUD). In addition to the full ASPD syndrome, which requires both childhood conduct disorder and the adult features, other antisocial behavioral syndromes, including conduct disorder (CD) alone without the adult syndrome, and the adult antisocial behavioral syndrome without childhood CD (AABS) are also frequently diagnosed in patients with SUD. The aim of this study was to compare the rates of these various ASPD syndromes between cocaine- and cannabis-dependent individuals seeking treatment. A structured interview for ASPD excluding symptoms that occurred solely in the context of substance use was conducted in 241 outpatients (cocaine dependence, n = 111; cannabis dependence, n = 130). Overall, the proportion of substance-dependent individuals in this study with AABS was significantly larger than the proportion with ASPD (30.9% vs. 17.3%). A diagnosis of CD-only, where CD did not progress to ASPD, was uncommon. No significant differences in the prevalence of antisocial behavioral syndrome diagnoses were found between cocaine- and cannabis-dependent patients. Antisocial behavioral syndrome diagnosis did not influence treatment retention. Antisocial behavioral syndromes are commonly diagnosed in patients with SUD and future research should evaluate prognostic implications of AABS compared to ASPD in a variety of clinical treatment settings.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings implicate the use of alcohol as a possible maladaptive coping mechanism among college females with childhood sexual trauma in the form of blackout frequency and problematic drinking.
Abstract: The present study examined whether childhood sexual trauma moderated the relationships between dissociation and both problematic college drinking and alcohol-induced blackouts among a sample of college females (N = 156). Cross-sectional data were consistent with the moderation hypotheses. Simple effects showed that the relationship between dissociation and blackout frequency as well as problematic drinking only existed among those with sexual trauma histories (p < .035), but not among those reporting no sexual trauma exposure (p = .333). Findings implicate the use of alcohol as a possible maladaptive coping mechanism among college females with childhood sexual trauma.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The findings suggest that both Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Drug Dependence and relaxation-based approaches show promise for treating comorbid depression in drug dependent populations.
Abstract: Objective: This Stage 1b controlled trial sought a preliminary test of the relative efficacy of Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Drug Dependence (BTDD) against a structured relaxation intervention (REL) for treating DSM-IV depressive disorders and substance abuse. Method: Thirty-eight methadone maintained opiate dependent participants, who met criteria for a DSM-IV depressive disorder, were randomized to one of two, 24-week treatment conditions (BTDD or REL). Results: Depression response, defined as at least a 50% reduction in Hamilton Depression Scale score from baseline to the end of study, was high and similar in both BTDD (61%) and REL (65%). Rates of drug use were low overall, both at baseline and at the end of study, and did not differ between treatment groups at study endpoint. Conclusions: The findings suggest that both behavioral- and relaxation-based approaches show promise for treating comorbid depression in drug dependent populations. Future work should examine combining or modifying these...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Following British importation of opium to China in the 1760s, the use and production of the drug in China increased dramatically and before the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, it increased dramatically.
Abstract: Following British importation of opium to China in the 1760s, the use and production of the drug in China increased dramatically. Before the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949,...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Rural opioid-using pregnant women appear to have some characteristics associated with better treatment outcomes, but they may face additional barriers in accessing treatment (e.g., greater distance from treatment clinic).
Abstract: Historically, research on opioid use during pregnancy has occurred in urban settings and it is unclear how urban and rural populations compare. We examined socio-demographic and other variables in opioid-using pregnant women seeking treatment and screened for participation in a multi-site randomized controlled trial. Women screened in rural Burlington, Vermont (n = 54), were compared to those screened in urban Baltimore, Maryland (n = 305). Rural opioid-using pregnant women appear to have some characteristics associated with better treatment outcomes (e.g., less severe drug use, greater employment). However, they may face additional barriers in accessing treatment (e.g., greater distance from treatment clinic).