AMERSA, Author at AMERSA

The Authors’ Own Words: High-Intensity and Simultaneous Alcohol and Marijuana Use among High School Seniors in the U.S.

Mar 6, 2020 by AMERSA

The Authors’ Own Words: We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

High-Intensity and Simultaneous Alcohol and Marijuana Use among High School Seniors in the U.S.

Megan E. Patrick, PhD; Philip T. Veliz, PhD; & Yvonne M. Terry-McElrath, MSA

Substance Abuse Vol. 38, Iss. 4, 2017

“Results based on 10 years of data from nationally-representative samples of US high school seniors indicate that the risk of simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use is highest for adolescents who engage in high-intensity drinking (10+ drinks in a row) and marijuana use (at least 1 marijuana joint/day). Health professionals, educators, parents, and researchers can use these results to help identify youth at highest risk for the acute and long-term deleterious effects of combined alcohol and marijuana use on neuropsychological development and cognitive functioning.”

The Authors’ Own Words: Similarity in Romantic Couples’ Drinking Motivations and Drinking Behaviors

Mar 5, 2020 by AMERSA

Ivy-Lee L. Kehayes, BSc; Sean P. Mackinnon, PhD; Simon B. Sherry, PhD; Kenneth E. Leonard, PhD; & Sherry H. Stewart, PhD

Substance Abuse Vol. 38, Iss. 4, 2017

“The present study contributes to the literature by focusing on the social determinants of drinking motives and alcohol use within romantic couples. Much of the research concerning drinking motivation focuses on individual factors that influence motives, such as personality traits. The present study is one of the few that has examined drinking motives in romantic couples from a social learning theory perspective, and is the first to show that couples are similar in not only their drinking behaviors, but in their drinking motives as well. Further, our study is the first to utilize a similarity profile in the measurement of drinking behavior and drinking motives, and advances the literature by using a more accurate estimation of similarity within romantic couples. Our results have clear clinical implications and further highlight the importance of addressing an individual’s social network when attempting to lower risky drinking behavior.”

The Authors’ Own Words: Post-discharge smoking cessation in subgroups of hospitalized smokers: a latent class analysis

Mar 5, 2020 by AMERSA

Post-discharge smoking cessation in subgroups of hospitalized smokers: a latent class analysis

Thomas Ylioja, MSW; Gerald Cochran, PhD; Yuchiao Chang, PhD; Hilary A. Tindle, MD; & Nancy A. Rigotti, MD

Substance Abuse Vol. 38, Iss. 4, 2017

“Latent class analysis can facilitate understanding which subgroups of smokers benefit from a hospital-initiated cessation intervention while others return to smoking. Multiple smoking behaviors and health conditions used as predictors to generate latent subgroups of patients provides insight into how patient complexity predicts the probability of cessation after hospital discharge. Patient subgroups with high probability of nicotine dependence combined with depressive symptoms and alcohol problems have additional barriers to cessation that may require intervention focus.”

The Authors’ Own Words: Core addiction medicine competencies for doctors, an international consultation on training

Mar 4, 2020 by AMERSA

Core addiction medicine competencies for doctors, an international consultation on training

Astri Parawita Ayu, MD; Nady el-Guebaly, MD; Arnt Schellekens, MD, PhD; Cor De Jong, MD, PhD; Gabrielle Welle-Strand, MD; William Small, PhD, MA; Evan Wood, MD, PhD; Walter Cullen, MD; & Jan Klimas, PhD, MSc

Substance Abuse Vol. 38, Iss. 4, 2017

“Our findings provide a consensus opinion that was derived from interviews with a panel of international scholars on a core set of principles for progression of knowledge, attitude, and skills in addiction medicine to be developed throughout medical education. This is particularly important for the development of new addiction medicine curricula and enhancement of available courses. If applied, our findings would have profound effects on the quality of medical education and subsequent clinical care provided to patients with substance use disorders worldwide.”

The Authors’ Own Words: “I feel like I’ve hit the bottom and have no idea what to do.”: Supportive social networking on Reddit for individuals with a desire to quit cannabis use

Mar 4, 2020 by AMERSA

“I feel like I’ve hit the bottom and have no idea what to do.”: Supportive social networking on Reddit for individuals with a desire to quit cannabis use

Shaina J. Sowles, MPH; Melissa J. Krauss, MPH; Lewam Gebremedhn; & Patricia A. Cavazos-Rehg, PhD

Substance Abuse Vol. 38, Iss. 4, 2017

“Reddit is a popular social media site built of organically-formed topic-specific groups. This timely study examines one such community on Reddit consisting of individuals who desire to quit the use of cannabis. From the results, this community appears to be an accessible resource for users to find support and encouragement from others with similar experiences, and highlights the potential of online communities as tools for individuals coping with addiction to supplement more traditional recovery practices.”