Key Findings

This is a quick summary of the main discovery for each research paper we have published, organized issue by issue. Each key finding is below the article title, with a link to the abstract. 


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July 2020

The status of hepatitis C virus infection among people who inject drugs in the Middle East and North Africa

Half of people who inject drugs in the Middle East and North Africa appear to have been infected with hepatitis C virus, with large variations in antibody prevalence among countries.

Link to Abstract

Effect of alcohol use disorders and alcohol intake on the risk of subsequent depressive symptoms: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of cohort studies

Alcohol use disorders are associated with increased the risk of subsequent depressive symptoms. Heavy drinking does not significantly predict occurrence of depressive symptoms after adjusting for potential confounders.

Link to Abstract

Titrated baclofen for high‐risk alcohol consumption: a randomized placebo‐controlled trial in out‐patients with 1‐year follow‐up

Baclofen was more effective than placebo in reducing alcohol consumption to low‐risk levels but had more, and more serious, adverse events than placebo.

Link to Abstract

Relationships between US state alcohol policies and alcohol outcomes: differences by gender and race/ethnicity

The effects of beverage‐specific taxes and alcohol availability policies may vary across subgroups, highlighting the importance of considering differential policy impacts in future research and interventions.

Link to Abstract

Toxic trade: the impact of preferential trade agreements on alcohol imports from Australia in partner countries

Preferential trade agreements involving Australia have been positively associated with alcohol imports from Australia in countries with low rates of alcohol consumption.

Link to Abstract

Using contributing causes of death improves prediction of opioid involvement in unclassified drug overdoses in US death records

In modeling opioid involvement in unclassified drug overdoses, statistical models with decedent characteristics and contributing causes of death as predictors provide highest predictive accuracy.

Link to Abstract

Perceptions of extended‐release buprenorphine injections for opioid use disorder among people who regularly use opioids in Australia

Among regular opioid users in Australia, perceptions of extended‐release buprenorphine as a good treatment option are associated with being female, recent illicit drug use and factors relating to the (in)convenience of current opioid agonist treatment.

Link to Abstract

Self‐reported exposure to, perceptions about, and attitudes about public marijuana smoking among US adults, 2018

While one in four US adults report recent marijuana second‐hand smoke exposure, a majority believe marijuana second‐hand smoke is harmful and oppose public marijuana smoking.

Link to Abstract

Behavioral couples therapy versus cognitive behavioral therapy for problem gambling: a randomized controlled trial

Differences in the efficacy of internet‐based behavioral couples therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for treatment of problem gambling were not significant, but more gamblers started treatment in the couples therapy group.

Link to Abstract

Effect of increasing the delivery of smoking cessation care in alcohol and other drug treatment centres: a cluster‐randomized controlled trial

Integrating smoking cessation treatment into addiction services did not significantly improve short‐term abstinence from smoking.

Link to Abstract

Nicotine replacement therapy sampling for smoking cessation within primary care: results from a pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial

Providing smokers with a free 2‐week starter kit of nicotine replacement therapy increased quit attempts, use of stop smoking medications and smoking abstinence compared with standard care in a primary care setting.

Link to Abstract

Genetic liability to ADHD and substance use disorders in individuals with ADHD

A higher genetic liability to attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) appears to be associated with higher risks of substance use disorders in people with ADHD.

Link to Abstract