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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May 2020

Experimental manipulations of behavioral economic demand for addictive commodities: a meta‐analysis

In behavioral economic studies, purchase tasks and multiple‐choice procedures appear to provide indices sensitive to manipulations that influence motivation to consume addictive substances in field experiments.

Link to Abstract

Prevalence of respiratory conditions among people who use illicit opioids: a systematic review

There is evidence of increased burden of respiratory diseases in people who use illicit opioids.

Link to Abstract

High‐ versus low‐intensity internet interventions for alcohol use disorders: results of a three‐armed randomized controlled superiority trial

At 6‐month follow‐up, there were no significant differences between a therapist‐guided high‐intensity internet intervention and an unguided low‐intensity internet intervention in reducing drinking among individuals with alcohol use disorders.

Link to Abstract

Problem drinking, wellbeing and mortality risk in Chinese men: findings from the China Kadoorie Biobank

Eight percent of men in China are problem drinkers, which is associated with significantly increased risk of physical and mental health problems and premature death.

Link to Abstract

Which adolescent factors predict alcohol misuse in young adulthood? A co‐twin comparisons study

Adolescent substance use, positive alcohol expectancies and higher academic performance appear to be robust predictors of later alcohol misuse.

Link to Abstract

Combined treatment and prevention strategies for hepatitis C virus elimination in the prisons in New South Wales: a modelling study

Modelling of policy impacts shows that elimination of hepatitis C virus in Australian prisons is feasible.

Link to Abstract

Frequent intoxication and alcohol tolerance in adolescence: associations with psychiatric disorders in young adulthood

Both higher alcohol tolerance and frequent intoxication in adolescence appear to be associated with increased risk of future substance use disorder.

Link to Abstract

Clinical effects beyond cocaine use of sustained‐release dexamphetamine for the treatment of cocaine dependent patients with comorbid opioid dependence: secondary analysis of a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled randomized trial

Sustained‐release dexamphetamine reduces cocaine use and may improve health‐related outcomes in patients with cocaine dependence who are in heroin‐assisted treatment for comorbid heroin dependence.

Link to Abstract

Associations between prescribed benzodiazepines, overdose death and buprenorphine discontinuation among people receiving buprenorphine

Benzodiazepine receipt appears to be associated with increased risk of opioid overdose and all‐cause mortality and decreased risk of buprenorphine discontinuation among people receiving buprenorphine.

Link to Abstract

Rapid increase in the prevalence of cannabis use among people with depression in the United States, 2005–17: the role of differentially changing risk perceptions

The prevalence of cannabis use in the US increased from 2005 to 2017 and was approximately twice as common among people with depression as people without depression.

Link to Abstract

Association of prevalence of electronic cigarette use with smoking cessation and cigarette consumption in England: a time–series analysis between 2007 and 2017

Changes in prevalence of e‐cigarette use in England have been positively associated with overall quit rates and quit success rates but not clearly associated with the prevalence of quit attempts or mean cigarette consumption.

Link to Abstract

The rise in non‐fatal and fatal overdoses involving stimulants with and without opioids in the United States

While increases in cocaine‐involved deaths in the US from 2006 seem to be driven by opioids, increases in overdoses involving psychostimulants are occurring with and without opioids.

Link to Abstract

Diffusion of effects of the ASSIST school‐based smoking prevention intervention to non‐participating family members: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

The ASSIST school‐based smoking prevention intervention may have reduced the prevalence of smoking in people who lived with ASSIST‐trained students.

Link to Abstract

Comparison of Allen Carr's Easyway programme with a specialist behavioural and pharmacological smoking cessation support service: a randomized controlled trial

Allen Carr’s Easyway (ACE) method of quitting smoking, which does not include pharmacotherapy, appeared to generate broadly similar success rates to a specialist stop smoking service that includes pharmacotherapy.

Link to Abstract