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.

Tobacco outlet density and attitudes towards smoking among urban adolescent smokers
Jeremy Mennis and Michael Mason
Substance Abuse Vol. 37 , Iss. 4,2016

This research shows an association between residential exposure to stores selling tobacco with attitudes towards smoking among youth smokers, and suggests that exposure to ambient tobacco advertising molds a youth’s intention to smoke and their perception of self-efficacy regarding smoking cessation. Youth living in areas of high concentrations of stores selling tobacco may have more difficulty stopping smoking as compared to other youth. Thus, the efficacy of youth smoking interventions may be enhanced by explicitly addressing the contextual influence of pro-tobacco messages found in residential environments.

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Our newly released issue is now online —> October-December 2016.
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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 association between benzodiazepine prescription and aberrant drug-related behaviors in primary care patients receiving opioids for chronic pain
Tae Woo Park, Richard Saitz, Kerrie P. Nelson, Ziming Xuan, Jane M. Liebschutz, and Karen E. Lasser
Substance Abuse Vol. 37 , Iss. 4,2016

We found that benzodiazepine prescription was associated with early opioid refills in patients prescribed opioids for pain. An important part of a clinician’s role is to weigh the risks and benefits of a treatment. We feel that this study can help clinicians who treat chronic pain patients with opioids in making that risk-benefit calculation before prescribing a benzodiazepine by providing more information about the potential risks of benzodiazepine use in this population.

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Our newly released issue is now online —> October-December 2016.
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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.

Racial differences and the role of neighborhood in the sequencing of marijuana and tobacco initiation among urban youth.
Kerry M. Green, Renee M. Johnson, Adam J. Milam, Debra Furr-Holden, Nicholas S. Ialongo, and Beth A. Reboussin
Substance Abuse Vol. 37 , Iss. 4,2016

This study highlights an important potential pathway to tobacco use among urban youth, which begins with marijuana use.  Among this urban sample, Black youth and youth with greater exposure to violent victimization were at increased risk of initiating marijuana use before initiating tobacco use.  Prevention and intervention work should recognize the risk of transitioning to tobacco use among marijuana users with particular risk profiles.

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Our newly released issue is now online —> October-December 2016.
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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.

Monitoring neonatal abstinence syndrome in buprenorphine-exposed in vitro fertilization twins: A case study
Laura Brandt, Patrick Swoboda, Gabriele Fischer, and Annemarie Unger
Substance Abuse Vol. 37 , Iss. 4,2016

This is the first case report on neonatal outcomes of IVF-conceived twins exposed to buprenorphine in utero including NAS course and treatment. In the present case (where no concomitant substance use occurred over month prior to delivery), the NAS treatment duration exceeds that reported for buprenorphine-exposed neonates in previous studies. Of note, the total neonatal morphine dose for both twins far exceeds the average reported by other publications. Considering that the staff in the present case was not blinded with regard to maternal medication and dose or the IVF-status, this may have led to concerns for using a more rapid tapering process. In light of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, a discussion of the presented case, and especially the treatment course in the neonates, with researchers and practitioners in the field but also with patient ombudsmen might have the potential to improve the human rights situation for such patients.

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Our newly released issue is now online —> October-December 2016.
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