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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September 2020

Variability and effectiveness of comparator group interventions in smoking cessation trials: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Interventions delivered to comparator groups in smoking cessation randomized controlled trials vary considerably in content, and cessation rates are strongly predicted by stop‐smoking medication and number of behaviour change techniques delivered.

Link to Abstract

The interactive effect of location, alcohol consumption and non‐traffic injury

Location appears to influence the relationship between alcohol consumption and risk of injury. The association appears to be greater in streets and public places compared with private residences.

Link to Abstract

Brief interventions targeting long‐term benzodiazepine and Z‐drug use in primary care: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Brief interventions delivered in primary care are more effective than usual care in reducing and discontinuing long‐term benzodiazepine/Z‐drug use.

Link to Abstract

The effect of wine glass size on volume of wine sold: a mega‐analysis of studies in bars and restaurants

Restaurants in England that serve wine in 370ml rather than 300ml glasses appear to sell more wine.

Link to Abstract

Where's the wine? Heavy social drinkers show attentional bias towards alcohol in a visual conjunction search task

The visual conjunction search task appears to be a highly reliable method for assessing alcohol‐related attentional bias and shows that heavy social drinkers prioritize alcoholic cues in their immediate environment.

Link to Abstract

Opioid agonist treatment and fatal overdose risk in a state‐wide US population receiving opioid use disorder services

Among Maryland, USA patients in specialty opioid treatment, methadone and buprenorphine are associated with significantly lower overdose death compared with non‐medication treatments.

Link to Abstract

World Health Organization risk drinking level reductions are associated with improved functioning and are sustained among patients with mild, moderate and severe alcohol dependence in clinical trials in the United States and United Kingdom

Reductions in World Health Organization risk levels for alcohol consumption appear to be achievable, associated with better functioning, and maintained over time in both the US and the UK.

Link to Abstract

The association between legalization of cannabis use and traffic deaths in Uruguay

In Uruguay, the 2013 legalization of recreational cannabis consumption may have been associated with an increase in fatal motor vehicle crashes.

Link to Abstract

Effects of winning cues and relative payout on choice between simulated slot machines

In a gambling simulation, student participants chose more risky slot machines when payouts were relatively higher and when casino‐related cues were associated with payouts.

Link to Abstract

Cannabis use and stressful life events during the perinatal period: cross‐sectional results from Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data, 2016

Stressful life events during the year prior to childbirth appear to be linked to greater odds of women's cannabis use during the perinatal period, especially during pre‐pregnancy.

Link to Abstract

‘It's like sludge green’: young people's perceptions of standardized tobacco packaging in the UK

Standardized packaging and larger graphic warnings seem have reduced the perceived attractiveness of cigarette packs among young people in the UK who smoke or are at increased risk of becoming smokers.

Link to Abstract

Youth daily exposure to tobacco outlets and cigarette smoking behaviors: does exposure within activity space matter?

Among young people in urban California, higher exposure to tobacco outlets appears to be positively associated with the number of cigarettes smoked on that day.

Link to Abstract

Comparison of smoking cessation rates of Quitline users in Korea between smokers of ultra‐low nicotine yield cigarettes and other types of cigarette: a prospective study

Male smokers who use the Korean Quitline are more likely to quit successfully if they smoke ultra‐low nicotine yield cigarettes than if they smoke higher nicotine yield cigarettes.

Link to Abstract

Association between alcohol consumption and subclinical femoral atherosclerosis in smoking and non‐smoking men: the AWHS study

Among middle‐aged men who smoke, moderate alcohol consumption appears to be associated with lower prevalence of femoral artery subclinical atherosclerosis compared with alcohol abstinence.

Link to Abstract

Equivalent gambling warning labels are perceived differently

House‐edge warning labels on electronic gambling machines and on‐line casino games, which explain what a gambler might expect to lose, could help gamblers pay greater attention to product risk and would be better understood by gamblers than equivalent return‐to‐player labels.

Link to Abstract

The prevalence of loot boxes in mobile and desktop games

Loot boxes (video game items bought with real‐world money that provide randomized rewards) appear to be prevalent in video games that are deemed suitable for children, especially on mobile platforms.

Link to Abstract