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.

Psychosocial Stressors and Alcohol Use, Severity, and Treatment Receipt across HIV Status in a Nationally Representative Sample of U.S. Residents

Emily C. Williams, PhD, MPH; Young Sun Joo, MSW; Lauren Lipira, MSW; & Joseph E. Glass, PhD, MSW

Substance Abuse Vol. 38, Iss. 3, 2017

“Alcohol use is harmful for persons living with HIV (PLWH) and its use, severity, and treatment may vary across HIV status.  Because HIV disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations, PLWH may have greater exposure to psychosocial stressors than those without HIV, which may increase alcohol use and serve as barriers to alcohol treatment receipt.  This study, conducted in a large nationally-representative sample of U.S. residents, describes psychosocial stressors, and alcohol use, symptom severity, and treatment receipt for PLWH and those without HIV, and assess whether psychosocial stressors mediate differences in alcohol use and treatment receipt across HIV status. PLWH were more likely than those without HIV to experience discrimination and had higher levels of perceived stress than those without HIV, but did not differ regarding alcohol-related stigma. PLWH were less likely to use alcohol and had similar rates of heavy drinking relative to participants without HIV, but alcohol symptom severity and treatment receipt were greater among PLWH. Perceived stress mediated associations; experiencing discrimination did not. Results further highlight PLWH as a population that is particularly vulnerable to experiences of stress and certain adverse alcohol-related outcomes and suggest a need for future longitudinal research.”

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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.

Self-Regulating Profession? Administrative Discipline of “Pill Mill” Physicians in Florida

Corey S. Davis, JD, MSPH & Derek H. Carr, JD

Substance Abuse Vol. 38, Iss. 3, 2017

“While physicians are required to follow a variety of laws and regulations, they are typically licensed by medical boards that are tasked with ensuring that all licensed physicians meet minimal standards for safe practice. This research suggests that, at least in Florida, the medical board (which by law is composed primarily of practicing physicians who are themselves licensed by the board) often permitted physicians indicted or convicted of crimes directly impacting the safe practice of medicine to continue to practice for an extended period of time. We suggest that more proactive investigation and enforcement may reduce opioid-related risks in the state.”

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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.

Screening and Brief Intervention in High Schools: School Nurse Practices and Attitudes in Massachusetts

Julie Lunstead, MPH; Elissa R. Weitzman, ScD, MSc; Dylan Kaye, BA; & Sharon Levy, MD, MPH

Substance Abuse Vol. 38, Iss. 3, 2017

“In this survey of Massachusetts school nurses, we found that self-reported brief intervention practices are in alignment with adolescent SBIRT recommendations, though few nurses screen routinely, and reported barrier included unfamiliarity with screening tools and insufficient time for this procedure. These barriers can be addressed by introducing validated, self-administered screens into schools as they prepare to implement SBIRT as required by a new Massachusetts law.”

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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.

The Role of Pain in Quitting among HIV Positive Smokers Enrolled in a Smoking Cessation Trial

Carrie J. Aigner, PhD; Ellen R. Gritz, PhD; Irene Tamí-Maury, DMD, MSc, DrPH; George P. Baum, MS; Roberto C. Arduino, MD; & Damon J. Vidrine, DrPH

Substance Abuse Vol. 38, Iss. 2, 2017

“The results of this study identify PLWHA with greater pain as having poorer quit outcomes in a smoking cessation intervention trial. With the mounting evidence linking pain to smoking, there is a need for greater focus on ways in which we can better tailor interventions to meet the needs of smokers. Among PWLHA trying to quit, this may mean integrating aspects of pain and symptom management into smoking cessation treatment.”

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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.

Development of an Opioid-Related Overdose Risk Behavior Scale (ORBS)

Enrique R. Pouget, PhD; Alex S. Bennett, PhD; Luther Elliott, PhD; Brett Wolfson-Stofko, PhD; Ramona Almeñana, MPA; Peter C. Britton, PhD; & Andrew Rosenblum, PhD

Substance Abuse Vol. 38, Iss. 3, 2017

“The ORBS includes items regarding opioid-related overdose risks that are not captured using common risk assessment methods. The scale’s focus on polysubstance use, modes of administration, and social contexts for use may prove to be useful for better understanding overdose risks that can change over time or may differ across populations. Use of the ORBS has the potential to help improve the precision of overdose research and of overdose education and prevention efforts.”

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