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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December 2019
Pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine/amphetamine use disorder—a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Most medications for methamphetamine/amphetamine use disorder have not shown a statistically significant benefit but there is low‐strength evidence that methylphenidate may reduce use.
Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on craving and substance consumption in patients with substance dependence: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Excitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the dorsolateral pre‐frontal cortex appears to have an acute effect on reducing substance craving and consumption in patients with substance dependence.
Changes in associations of prescription opioid use disorder and illegal behaviors among adults in the United States from 2002 to 20
In the US from 2002-2014, rates of some crimes potentially related to drug use increased among people with prescription opioid use disorder compared with those without that disorder.
Trajectories of injection drug use among people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada, 1996–2017: growth mixture modeling using data from prospective cohort studies
People who used drugs in Vancouver, Canada from 1996 to 2017 appeared to follow one of five drug use trajectories ranging from persistent high frequency use to early cessation. Almost 25% of participants remained high‐frequency injectors over the study period.
Associations between young adult marijuana outcomes and availability of medical marijuana dispensaries and storefront signage
Living near more medical marijuana dispensaries is positively associated with more frequent use of marijuana within the past month and greater expectations of marijuana's positive benefits than living near fewer dispensaries.
Risky driving behaviours among stimulant drug users and the role of aggression: findings from a national survey
Stimulant use appears to be positively associated with risky driving behaviours even after adjusting for aggressiveness.
Perceived relative harm of using e‐cigarettes predicts future product switching among US adult cigarette and e‐cigarette dual users
US adult dual users of e‐cigarettes and cigarettes who perceive e‐cigarettes as less harmful than cigarettes appear to be more likely to switch to exclusive e‐cigarette use 1 year later than dual users with other perceptions.
Cost‐effectiveness of population‐level proactive tobacco cessation outreach among socio‐economically disadvantaged smokers: evaluation of a randomized control trial
Population‐level proactive tobacco treatment with personal telephone outreach was effective in achieving higher quit rates and was cost‐effective at various willingness‐to‐pay thresholds compared with usual care.
Schizophrenia is associated with increased risk of subsequent substance abuse diagnosis: A nation‐wide population‐based register study
In Denmark a diagnosis of schizophrenia is significantly associated with increased risk of subsequent diagnosis of substance abuse.
Genetic and environmental risk factors in the non‐medical use of over‐the‐counter or prescribed analgesics, and their relationship to major classes of licit and illicit substance use and misuse in a population‐based sample of young adult twins
In Australian young adults, the non‐medical use of analgesics appears to have moderate heritability and is associated with cannabis and nicotine use and nicotine dependence.
Association between experience of racial discrimination and hazardous alcohol use among Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand
The association between Māori ethnicity and hazardous drinking in New Zealand may be partially mediated by experience of discrimination.
Comparison of e‐cigarette use characteristics between exclusive e‐cigarette users and dual e‐cigarette and conventional cigarette users: an on‐line survey in France
Dual e‐cigarette users in France may have higher nicotine intake overall than exclusive e‐cigarette users, but they may take in less nicotine from their e‐cigarettes.
Assessment of the accuracy of salivary cotinine readings from NicAlert strips against a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry assay in self‐reported non‐smokers who passed carbon monoxide but failed NicAlert validation
In participants in a randomized trial, NicAlert saliva tests incorrectly classified a high proportion of non-smokers as smokers.
Adding quality to quantity in randomized controlled trials of addiction prevention and treatment: a new framework to facilitate the integration of qualitative research
The ‘temporal parallel purpose framework’ provides a tool for combining qualitative research with treatment and prevention RCTs.
Cost‐effectiveness of scaling‐up HCV prevention and treatment in the United States for people who inject drugs
Hepatitis C screening and treatment for people who inject drugs, combined with medication‐assisted treatment and syringe‐service programs, is a cost‐effective strategy to reduce the hepatitis C burden in the US.