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The Authors’ Own Words: The State of Substance Use Education in Masters of Social Work Programs: A Content Analysis Of Course Listings and Faculty Profiles

Nov 18, 2019 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.

The State of Substance Use Education in Masters of Social Work Programs: A Content Analysis Of Course Listings and Faculty Profiles

Dane Minnick, LMSW

Substance Abuse Vol. 40, Iss. 2, 2019

“It is my belief that this manuscript identifies a significant issue for both the addictions and social work fields. The results generated by this research should encourage future investigations into the capacity of social workers to deliver substance use services, and could potentially be used to facilitate an increase in the amount of substance use courses and material offered in social work academic programs.“

The Authors’ Own Words: Gender-Specific Predictors of Methadone Treatment Outcomes Among African Americans at an Urban Clinic

Nov 17, 2019 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.

Gender-Specific Predictors of Methadone Treatment Outcomes Among African Americans at an Urban Clinic

Jamey J. Lister, PhD; Suzanne Brown, PhD; Mark K. Greenwald, PhD; & David M. Ledgerwood , PhD

Substance Abuse Vol. 40, Iss. 2, 2019

“This study delivers the first gender-specific methadone treatment implications among African Americans or any racial minority group, intent on addressing minority health disparities. We identified gender differences and differential MMT outcome predictors between African American female and male patients. We recommend interdisciplinary stakeholders across clinical and research fields consider these findings as they develop and implement assessment and treatment protocols tailored to African American patient needs.“

The Authors’ Own Words: Trends of major depressive episode among people with cannabis use: Findings from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2006-2015

Nov 17, 2019 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.

Trends of major depressive episode among people with cannabis use: Findings from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2006-2015

Giuseppe Carrà, MD, MSc, PhD; Francesco Bartoli, MD, PhD; & Cristina Crocamo, PhD

Substance Abuse Vol. 40, Iss. 2, 2019

“A dose-response association, suggesting that heavy cannabis users are more likely to report depressive disorders, has been hypothesized. We aimed at testing the existence of a linear association between different levels of cannabis use and depressive disorders using data between 2006 and 2015 from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Cannabis users, regardless of intensity, were more likely to have suffered from MDE in the past year. We detected, just for adults, only a minor gradient in MDE rates by increasing cannabis levels, which is unlikely to support a proper dose-response relationship as found in previous studies. Other common predisposing factors, including genetic liability and early familial environment, are likely to play a key role for depression onset. Nonetheless, since cannabis users have consistently higher prevalence rates of depressive disorders compared with non-users, there is the need for integrated screening and treatment programs to tackle this comorbid condition.“

The Authors’ Own Words: ‘A Scarlet Letter:’ Stigma and Other Factors Affecting Trust in the Healthcare System for Women Seeking Substance Abuse Treatment in a Community Setting

Nov 16, 2019 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.

‘A Scarlet Letter:’ Stigma and Other Factors Affecting Trust in the Healthcare System for Women Seeking Substance Abuse Treatment in a Community Setting

Joshua D. Cockroft, BA; Susie M. Adams, PhD, RN, PMHNP; Kemberlee Bonnet, MA; Deondria Matlock, MS; Jessica McMillan, DNP, RN, PMHNP; & David Schlundt , PhD

Substance Abuse Vol. 40, Iss. 2, 2019

“Though derived from a small sample size, the findings of this study demonstrate multiple factors that influence trust of the healthcare system for women who seek substance abuse treatment in a community setting. Efforts should be made to address components of healthcare organizations that predispose to stigma, poor quality of care, negatively aligned payment structure and reimbursement, ensuring patients’ rights and protections, and mediating the healthcare system’s potential role in causing or influencing an individual’s substance use disorder (SUD). These findings suggest that public health or institutional interventions to improve treatment for women with a history of SUD may require direct engagement with experiential and structural factors that influence trust and healthcare entry and engagement in order to be effective.“

The Authors’ Own Words: Synthetic cannabinoid use among a sample of individuals enrolled in community-based recovery programs: Are synthetic cannabinoids actually preferred to other drugs?

Nov 16, 2019 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.

Synthetic cannabinoid use among a sample of individuals enrolled in community-based recovery programs: Are synthetic cannabinoids actually preferred to other drugs?

Kirsten Elin Smith, MSW & Michele Staton, PhD

Substance Abuse Vol. 40, Iss. 2, 2019

“A majority of individuals (68%) enrolled in peer-led residential recovery programs who reported synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (SCRA) use were more likely to be younger, White, and to have been arrested and experienced homelessness in the past year compared to those who had not used SCRA. Though this group reported versatile substance use patterns, including use of other novel psychoactive drugs, they did not prefer SCRA to other drugs. Rather, heroin, non-prescribed opioids, and amphetamines were preferred. One reason may be that several adverse side effects were attributed to SCRA use. This latter finding is particularly concerning in that individuals using SCRA to circumnavigate drug monitoring, such as some in this clinical sample reported, may be motivated not to disclose use or seek medical treatment for SCRA-related effects. Indeed, few individuals who reported adverse SCRA side effects also reported seeking medical care. Given that SCRA are typically undetectable via standard drug screens, clinicians should consider alternative assessment methods and remain mindful of how psychiatric symptoms may be influenced by SCRA use. These findings indicate that only a minority of individuals who reported lifetime SCRA use prefer SCRA and intend to use it in the future, perhaps indicating that use of some SCRA compounds will not endure long-term.“