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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April 2023

An exploration of flavours in studies of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation: secondary analyses of a systematic review with meta-analyses

While there is no clear association between e-cigarette flavours, smoking cessation or longer-term e-cigarette use, there is evidence that people using e-cigarettes to quit smoking switch between flavours.

Link to Abstract

The opioid epidemic: A worldwide exploratory study using the WHO pharmacovigilance database

Among 21 countries, there are four distinct clusters with similar opioid abuse and dependence profiles.

Link to Abstract

Fentanyl withdrawal: Understanding symptom severity and exploring the role of body mass index on withdrawal symptoms and clearance

Among inpatients with OUD, fentanyl status appears to have no statistically significant effects on opioid withdrawal symptoms

Link to Abstract

Longitudinal transitions in adolescent polytobacco use across waves 1–4 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study

US adolescents who mainly use single, specific tobacco products show more stable patterns of use than those who use several products

Link to Abstract

Impacts of the New York State COVID-19 disaster emergency orders on prescription dispensing for opioids and medication for opioid use disorder

New York State Emergency Orders to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission may have been associated with a decline in dispensing non-MOUD opioids

Link to Abstract

Association between genetic risk of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related morbidity and mortality under different alcohol policy conditions: Evidence from the Finnish alcohol price reduction of 2004

Although the decrease of alcohol price in Finland in 2004 substantially increased overall alcohol-related morbidity and mortality, the genetic susceptibility to alcohol consumption did not become more manifest in predicting them.

Link to Abstract

Evaluation of the gap in delivery of opioid agonist therapy among individuals with opioid-related health problems: a population-based retrospective cohort study

Factors influencing engagement and declining retention in treatment with opioid agonist therapy in Ontario's health system include age, sex and neighbourhood income, as well as mental health diagnoses or residing in rural regions.

Link to Abstract

Effectiveness of a French mass-media campaign in raising knowledge of both long-term alcohol-related harms and low-risk drinking guidelines, and in lowering alcohol consumption

A French mass-media campaign may be associated with improved knowledge of the ‘maximum 2 drinks per day’ guideline and the risks of hypertension and brain haemorrhage, and with reduced drinking

Link to Abstract

Estimating child maltreatment cases that could be alcohol-attributable in New Zealand

In New Zealand, exposure to parents with an alcohol-attributable hospitalisation or service use is a risk factor for substantiated child maltreatment.

Link to Abstract

Concurrent validity of the marijuana purchase task: a meta-analysis of trait-level cannabis demand and cannabis involvement

The marijuana purchase task appears to have concurrent validity to quantify cannabis demand, most robustly for intensity, Omax and elasticity.

Link to Abstract

Alcohol-specific inhibition training in patients with alcohol use disorder: a multi-centre, double-blind randomized clinical trial examining drinking outcome and working mechanisms

Alcohol-specific inhibition training with high inhibitory demands increased days abstinent at 3-month follow-up in patients with severe alcohol use disorder.

Link to Abstract

The effect of prenatal cannabis exposure on offspring preterm birth: a cumulative meta-analysis

Offspring exposed to maternal prenatal cannabis use are associated with higher risk of preterm birth

Link to Abstract

Evaluating the causal effect of tobacco smoking on white matter brain aging: a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis in UK Biobank

Smoking may have a significant causal effect on the brain age gap (the difference between brain age and chronological age)

Link to Abstract

Genetic support of a causal relationship between cannabis use and educational attainment: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study of European ancestry

Genetic liability to cannabis use disorder may lead to lower educational attainment.

Link to Abstract