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 2021

Applying a complex systems perspective to alcohol consumption and the prevention of alcohol‐related harms in the 21st century: a scoping review

The use of a complex systems perspective has provided a variety of ways of conceptualizing and analyzing alcohol use and harm prevention efforts.

Link to Abstract

Support can increase use of the AUDIT-C in Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services: a cluster randomised trial

Providing Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services with training and support can improve alcohol screening rates.

Link to Abstract

A systematic review and meta‐analysis on the association between solitary drinking and alcohol problems in adults

Solitary drinking appears to have a small positive association with alcohol problems.

Link to Abstract

Societal development and the alcohol-attributable burden of disease

The adverse impact of alcohol use appears to be higher in countries with lower human development, as measured by HDI.

Link to Abstract

Modelling the number of avoidable new cancer cases in France attributable to alcohol consumption by following official recommendations: a simulation study

Perfect adherence to French alcohol consumption guidelines would likely prevent almost 16,000 cancer cases per year.

Link to Abstract

Evaluating the effects of the Licensing Act 2003 on the characteristics of drinking occasions in England and Wales: a theory of change‐guided evaluation of a natural experiment

The Licensing Act 2003, deregulating trading hours in England and Wales, had limited effects on the characteristics of drinking occasions.

Link to Abstract

Do alcohol product labels stating lower strength verbal description, percentage alcohol‐by‐volume, or their combination affect wine consumption? A bar laboratory adaptive randomised controlled trial

In a laboratory setting, more low strength wine was consumed when warning labels included a numerical strength indicator than a verbal indicator ('super low')

Link to Abstract

A pilot trial of collaborative care with motivational interviewing to reduce opioid risk and improve chronic pain management

Shared decision‐making and a personalized pain care plan appeared to reduce high‐risk opioid use and improve pain among US veterans.

Link to Abstract

Alcohol policy and gender: a modelling study estimating gender‐specific effects of alcohol pricing policies

Alcohol pricing policies in England are likely to be more effective at reducing consumption and harm for men than women.

Link to Abstract

Reward drinking and naltrexone treatment response among young adult heavy drinkers

Naltrexone may be particularly effective at reducing risky drinking among reward drinkers.

Link to Abstract

Abuse‐deterrent extended‐release oxycodone and risk of opioid‐related harm

Patients with a new prescription of abuse‐deterrent formulation oxycodone may be at increased risk of opioid‐related harm.

Link to Abstract

Effectiveness of incentivised adherence and abstinence monitoring in buprenorphine maintenance: a pragmatic, randomised controlled trial

Buprenorphine maintenance with monitoring to enable contingent access to increasing take‐home medication increased abstinence from opioids compared with treatment‐as‐usual.

Link to Abstract

Cannabidiol as a treatment for craving and relapse in individuals with cocaine use disorder: a randomized placebo‐controlled trial

An RCT found that cannabidiol did not reduce cocaine craving or relapse among people being treated for cocaine use disorder.

Link to Abstract

Acute impact of self‐guided mental imagery on craving in cocaine use disorder: a mixed‐methods analysis of a randomized controlled trial

In people with cocaine use disorder, after cue exposure, a self‐guided imagery task with positive themes reduced craving.

Link to Abstract

Content analysis of cannabis vaping videos on YouTube

A large number of videos on cannabis vaping are available on‐line without age‐restriction.

Link to Abstract

New psychoactives within polydrug use trajectories—evidence from a mixed‐method longitudinal study

In Northern Ireland, new psychoactive substances appear to be a feature of broader polydrug use rather than a standalone class of drug use.

Link to Abstract

Differences between ethnic groups in self‐reported use of e‐cigarettes and nicotine replacement therapy for cutting down and temporary abstinence: a cross‐sectional population‐level survey in England

In England, e-cigarette use for cutting down and temporary abstinence of smoking is less common among Asian smokers than White smokers.

Link to Abstract

Expert appraisal of criteria for assessing gaming disorder: an international Delphi study

A Delphi consensus study has identified the most diagnostically valid and clinically useful criteria for gaming disorder.

Link to Abstract

Genetic architecture of four smoking behaviors using partitioned SNP heritability.

A biobank study of smoking behaviour traits suggested that the phenotypic variance of smoking initiation, age of initiation, cigarettes per day, and smoking cessation is modest overall.

Link to Abstract

Comparison of e-cigarette use prevalence and frequency by smoking status among youth in the United States, 2014-2019

Among US youth, a rising share of never smokers and former smokers seem to be using e-cigarettes and the majority of current smokers seem to be dual-using with e-cigarettes.

Link to Abstract

Characterising vaping products in the United Kingdom: an analysis of Tobacco Products Directive notification data

In the UK, reporting requirements for manufacturers of vaping products are unstandardized.

Link to Abstract

Age as a predictor of quit attempts and quit success in smoking cessation: findings from the International Tobacco Control Four‐Country survey (2002–14)

Young smokers are more likely to attempt to quit than older smokers when controlling for dependence.

Link to Abstract

Effects of cannabis use on alcohol consumption in a sample of treatment‐engaged heavy drinkers in Colorado

Heavy drinkers in treatment to reduce alcohol consumption who also use cannabis appear to increase cannabis use on days when they reduce drinking.

Link to Abstract

Do dual purchasers behave differently? An analysis of purchasing data for households that buy both alcohol and tobacco in the United Kingdom.

UK households that buy both tobacco and alcohol spend a greater share of their total household expenditure on those products than households who buy only one of these commodities.

Link to Abstract

Orbitofrontal cortex thickness and substance use disorders in emerging adulthood: Causal inferences from a cotwin control/discordant twin study

Alcohol or cannabis use disorder in emerging adulthood appears to reduce the thickness of the medial orbitofrontal cortex (a region associated with decision making).

Link to Abstract