Elizabeth Noyes , Elizabeth Hausman , Ellis J. Yeo , Paul A. Bain , Maxwell Bannister , Irving Barrera Lopez , Brammy Rajakumar , Grace Wang , Avik Chatterjee
{"title":"Harm reduction interventions for AYA who use opioids: A scoping review","authors":"Elizabeth Noyes , Elizabeth Hausman , Ellis J. Yeo , Paul A. Bain , Maxwell Bannister , Irving Barrera Lopez , Brammy Rajakumar , Grace Wang , Avik Chatterjee","doi":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112677","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112677","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Adolescents and young adults (AYA) are highly vulnerable to substance use and substance use-related harms. Existing harm reduction programs do not optimally serve AYA, and there is minimal data regarding harm reduction interventions specific to AYA.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a preliminary search in MEDLINE (Ovid) to identify names used to describe harm reduction interventions to include in the final search. We performed a scoping review of electronic bibliographic databases MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), PsycINFO (EBSCO), and Web of Science (Clarivate). We included studies that discussed any harm reduction interventions specific to adolescents and young adults. We performed thematic analysis of included studies and used a narrative synthesis approach to consolidate and present findings.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We included 58 studies in our review. AYA demonstrated different patterns of substance use and engagement with harm reduction compared to adults. AYA are open to harm reduction practices and engage in forms of harm reduction informally. A variety of harm reduction interventions were effective among AYA, including naloxone training, fentanyl test strips, and safe injection facilities. AYA respond well to programs that are convenient, private, and emphasize longitudinal relationship building with community and providers. They may uniquely benefit from virtual programming, telehealth, and delivery services.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>We must better serve AYA with youth-centered programs that prioritize privacy, safety, and convenience; offer a wide variety of services relevant to AYA substance use patterns; offer mobile and virtual options; and focus on building and leveraging community and networks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11322,"journal":{"name":"Drug and alcohol dependence","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 112677"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143911730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Self-underestimation of BAC as a predictor of risky driving in heavy drinkers","authors":"Sarah A. Heymsfeld, Mark T. Fillmore","doi":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112682","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112682","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Alcohol-related driving fatalities persist as a public health issue in the United States. Recent studies have focused on the role of driver risk-taking in DUI occurrences and consequent driving fatalities. This laboratory study examined simulated driver risk-taking under an acute dose of alcohol and a placebo to test the degree to which individual differences in risk-taking were predicted by drivers’ self-appraisal of their intoxication and the degree to which alcohol impaired their inhibitory control.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Eighty young adult drivers (41 men and 39 women) received 0.65<!--> <!-->g/kg alcohol (target BAC=80<!--> <!-->mg/dL) or a placebo in a counterbalanced order on two different days and performed a simulated driving test that measured driver risk-taking as reduced distance to other vehicles. A cued go/no-go task measured drivers’ inhibitory control, and their perceived intoxication was assessed via self-reported intoxication and BAC estimation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Compared with placebo, alcohol increased driver risk-taking, impaired inhibitory control, and increased perceived intoxication. The riskiest drivers under alcohol were those with the lowest estimations of their BAC. Tolerance to the subjective effects of alcohol might explain this relationship as the underestimators had heavier drinking histories.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>The findings indicate that risky driving under alcohol could result in part from BAC underestimation, possibly owing to the development of alcohol tolerance. Sustained heavy drinking might reduce perceived intoxication and, consequently, the perceived need to compensate for potential impairing effects of alcohol while driving. The evidence suggests that drivers’ proclivity to risk-take under alcohol might depend largely on their self-appraisal of intoxication.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11322,"journal":{"name":"Drug and alcohol dependence","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 112682"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143911637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Evelyn Lai , Katie B. Biello , Jane A. Buxton , Brandon D.L. Marshall , Alexandria Macmadu
{"title":"Characteristics associated with forced treatment discontinuation among people who use drugs in Rhode Island","authors":"Evelyn Lai , Katie B. Biello , Jane A. Buxton , Brandon D.L. Marshall , Alexandria Macmadu","doi":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112686","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112686","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>A barrier to remaining in substance use treatment in the U.S. is abstinence-based policies, which can lead to premature treatment termination. In this study, we examine factors associated with forced treatment discontinuation due to substance use among participants in the Rhode Island Prescription and Illicit Drug Study (RAPIDS).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We examined baseline data from RAPIDS participants (who enrolled between August 2020 and February 2023) and who reported any history of enrollment in substance use treatment programs. Modified Poisson regression was used to assess sociodemographic, drug use behavior, and clinical characteristics associated with forced treatment discontinuation due to substance use. The type of treatment from which participants were removed and the drug(s) that were implicated in the removal were also summarized.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 406 eligible participants, 96 (24 %) experienced forced treatment discontinuation due to drug or alcohol use. The most frequently reported program from which participants were removed was residential treatment (75 %). The most frequently reported drug that was implicated in the removal was crack cocaine (33 %). In the modified Poisson analysis, regular use of powder cocaine was associated with experiencing forced treatment discontinuation (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.50; 95 % confidence interval: 1.05, 2.15).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Forced treatment discontinuation due to substance use is common, particularly in residential drug treatment. Our findings suggest a need for enhanced access to evidence-based treatments for stimulant use disorders. Persisting racial/ethnic disparities in treatment access underscores the need for strategies to ensure racial and ethnic equity in substance use treatment access and retention in care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11322,"journal":{"name":"Drug and alcohol dependence","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 112686"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143890922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HEALing Communities Study Consortium, Joshua A. Barocas , Arnie Aldridge , Karrie F. Adkins , Carolina Barbosa , Tracy A. Battaglia , Joshua Bush , Mathieu Castry , Grace Corry , Thomas Clarke , Nabila El-Bassel , Wilson Figueroa , Darcy A. Freedman , Bridget Freisthler , Brent Gibbons , Erin B. Gibson , LaShawn Glasgow , Kristin Harlow , Timothy R. Huerta , Timothy Hunt , Kathryn McCollister
{"title":"An economic analysis of community costs incurred to implement the communities that HEAL intervention to reduce opioid overdose deaths in four states","authors":"HEALing Communities Study Consortium, Joshua A. Barocas , Arnie Aldridge , Karrie F. Adkins , Carolina Barbosa , Tracy A. Battaglia , Joshua Bush , Mathieu Castry , Grace Corry , Thomas Clarke , Nabila El-Bassel , Wilson Figueroa , Darcy A. Freedman , Bridget Freisthler , Brent Gibbons , Erin B. Gibson , LaShawn Glasgow , Kristin Harlow , Timothy R. Huerta , Timothy Hunt , Kathryn McCollister","doi":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112671","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112671","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The HEALing Communities Study (HCS) was conducted across four states with the goal of decreasing opioid-related overdose deaths by increasing community-level adoption of evidence-based practices (EBPs). Providing communities with training, technical assistance, and resources to aid them in addressing opioid overdoses was central to the Communities That HEAL (CTH) intervention. The intervention included 1) community engagement (CE) to facilitate data-driven EBP selection and implementation, 2) a menu of EBPs to implement, and 3) communication campaigns.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We performed an economic cost analysis for the 33 communities implementing CTH over a 30-month intervention period in Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio. Cost data were obtained from community members, consultants, and research faculty and staff. This study focuses on the communities’ perspective and reports costs paid directly with HCS funds and the opportunity costs of community members’ time and other unreimbursed resources. We report average costs across communities and for each component of the CTH.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The average cost per community of CE was $1030,405, EBPs was $668,030, and communication campaigns was $235,915. The total community cost of CE was $34,003,373, of EBP implementation was $22,044,987, of communications campaign was $7785,182.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our study provides insight into the scope and value of resources incurred to implement community-based interventions to reduce opioid overdose deaths across four states.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11322,"journal":{"name":"Drug and alcohol dependence","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 112671"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143887567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jared C. James , Jessica R. Thrush , Taher M. Yusufali , Hannah E. Shaw , Marina Avram , Jeffery H. Moran , William E. Fantegrossi
{"title":"Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists exacerbate fentanyl-elicited respiratory depression and confer resistance to naloxone rescue in mice","authors":"Jared C. James , Jessica R. Thrush , Taher M. Yusufali , Hannah E. Shaw , Marina Avram , Jeffery H. Moran , William E. Fantegrossi","doi":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112672","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112672","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Concurrent use of fentanyl with other drugs may contribute to the growing phenomenon of naloxone-resistant overdose. Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) bind to CB1 receptors with high affinity and efficacy, eliciting psychoactive and abuse-related effects. Fentanyl is a common adulterant in SCRA products, and SCRAs are frequently detected as adulterants in street opioids, suggesting that these drugs are coadministered. Here we compared respiratory depressant effects of fentanyl to those of two structurally-distinct SCRAs: the naphthyl indole JWH-018 and the indazole carboxamide 5F-ADB-PINACA, following acute and chronic administration, using whole body plethysmography in mice. Fentanyl and the SCRAs were also co-administered, and antagonist rescue studies were conducted using large doses of naloxone, rimonabant, or a combination of both antagonists. In separate groups of mice, fentanyl and the SCRAs were administered alone or in binary combiations, and a single blood sample was drawn at a time of maximal respiratory depression to provide a pharmacokinetic snapshot of blood concentrations of drugs at this overdose-relevant timepoint. Fentanyl decreased respiratory rate, no tolerance to this effect was observed, and naloxone (but not rimonabant) attenuated respiratory depression. Both of the SCRAs similarly decreased respiratory rate, tolerance to this effect was observed with JWH-018 but not with 5F-ADB-PINACA, and rimonabant (but not naloxone) attenuated respiratory depression. Co-administration of fentanyl and the SCRAs exacerbated respiratory depression and confered resistance to naloxone rescue, most likely <em>via</em> pharmacodynamic interactions between μ-opioid and CB1 cannabinoid receptors, but we also suggest that some SCRAs will also instigate pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions with fentanyl.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11322,"journal":{"name":"Drug and alcohol dependence","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 112672"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143899038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C. Austin Zamarripa , Tory R. Spindle , Destiny Schriefer , Edward J. Cone , Ruth E. Winecker , Ronald Flegel , Eugene Hayes , Lisa S. Davis , David Kuntz , Ryan Vandrey
{"title":"A within-subject cross-over trial comparing the acute effects of oral delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy adults","authors":"C. Austin Zamarripa , Tory R. Spindle , Destiny Schriefer , Edward J. Cone , Ruth E. Winecker , Ronald Flegel , Eugene Hayes , Lisa S. Davis , David Kuntz , Ryan Vandrey","doi":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112676","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112676","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Oral products containing Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC), a chemical isomer of the primary psychoactive consistent of cannabis, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), have increased in popularity in recent years. The behavioral effects and pharmacokinetics of oral Δ8-THC remain poorly characterized.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Nineteen healthy adults with no past-month cannabinoid exposure completed five randomized outpatient sessions in a within-subjects, double-blind, crossover design. Participants ingested a brownie containing Δ8-THC (10, 20, 40<!--> <!-->mg), Δ9-THC (20<!--> <!-->mg), or placebo. Measures included whole blood cannabinoid concentrations, subjective drug effects, cognitive/psychomotor performance, and vital signs.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Whole blood cannabinoid concentrations peaked between 2 and 4<!--> <!-->h post-dose in a dose-orderly manner. The psychoactive 11-OH metabolite of Δ8-THC was markedly lower than that of Δ9-THC at the same dose. Δ8-THC produced dose-dependent subjective effects across multiple domains, differing from placebo. Compared to 20<!--> <!-->mg Δ9-THC, 20<!--> <!-->mg Δ8-THC resulted in significantly lower ratings of “feel drug effect,” negative subjective effects, cognitive/psychomotor impairment, and heart rate increases. No pharmacodynamic differences were observed between 40<!--> <!-->mg Δ8-THC and 20<!--> <!-->mg Δ9-THC. Both 20<!--> <!-->mg and 40<!--> <!-->mg Δ8-THC produced comparable positive subjective effects (e.g., drug liking) to 20<!--> <!-->mg Δ9-THC, suggesting similar misuse potential.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Δ8-THC demonstrated dose-dependent psychoactive effects qualitatively similar to Δ9-THC but with reduced potency, possibly due to lower biotransformation to its 11-OH metabolite. Importantly, higher doses of Δ8-THC offset reduced potency, as 40<!--> <!-->mg Δ8-THC and 20<!--> <!-->mg Δ9-THC produced similar effects; this is noteworthy considering people who consume cannabis products generally perceive Δ8-THC as less harmful or intoxicating than Δ9-THC. These findings inform regulatory decisions and public education, though further research on emergent cannabinoids is needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11322,"journal":{"name":"Drug and alcohol dependence","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 112676"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143877039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohammad Ghasoub , Chloe Scholten , Meaghan Perdue , Madison Long , Curtis Ostertag , Preeti Kar , Carly McMorris , Christina Tortorelli , W.Ben Gibbard , Deborah Dewey , Catherine Lebel
{"title":"Associations between white matter asymmetry and communication skills in children with prenatal alcohol exposure","authors":"Mohammad Ghasoub , Chloe Scholten , Meaghan Perdue , Madison Long , Curtis Ostertag , Preeti Kar , Carly McMorris , Christina Tortorelli , W.Ben Gibbard , Deborah Dewey , Catherine Lebel","doi":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112674","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112674","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) occurs in ~10 % of pregnancies and can cause behavioral and neurological deficits, including alterations to white matter pathways involved in language processing. Language and communication skills are generally left-lateralized in the brain, and this asymmetry is associated with better performance in typically developing individuals, while alterations to this association are found in children with language challenges. However, the degree of asymmetry and its relationship with language skills remain poorly understood in children with PAE.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>200 datasets collected from 98 children (46 with PAE) aged 4–8 years were included here. Language skills were assessed using the Children’s Communication Checklist, 2nd edition (CCC-2) parent report. Diffusion MRI was used to examine white matter microstructure and asymmetry in five major language white matter pathways. Measures of white matter microstructure were extracted (fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity), and a laterality index was calculated. Linear mixed models were used to test associations between language scores and white matter laterality, and whether PAE moderates this relationship.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Children with PAE had lower language scores than controls across all CCC-2 indices. Both groups had similar patterns of white matter asymmetry; however, leftward white matter lateralization was associated with worse language scores in children with PAE, but better language scores in unexposed children.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our findings show alterations to the white matter asymmetry-language relationship in children with PAE. This may indicate an altered language processing mechanism that could underlie language deficits observed in many individuals with PAE.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11322,"journal":{"name":"Drug and alcohol dependence","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 112674"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143887566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stacey C. Sigmon , Sydney R. Batchelder , Gary J. Badger
{"title":"Novel intervention to improve food insecurity among individuals with opioid use disorder: A randomized clinical trial","authors":"Stacey C. Sigmon , Sydney R. Batchelder , Gary J. Badger","doi":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112673","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112673","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Food insecurity (FI) is 4–7 times greater among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) than the general population and is associated with increased risk for licit and illicit drug use, sexual and drug risk behaviors, infectious disease, and a two-fold odds of premature death. In this randomized study, we evaluated a novel, mail-based meal delivery intervention for improving household FI and other outcomes among individuals with OUD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Fifty adults with FI and OUD were randomized to one of two 12-week experimental conditions: Nutritional Education (NE) involved brief education and assistance with contacting community-based FI-related resources. NE + Meal Delivery (NE+MD) involved the same education plus weekly premade meals directly from a commercial service. The primary outcome of household FI was measured at monthly assessments, with secondary measures of depression symptoms, quality of life, and biochemically-verified drug use.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The NE+MD intervention was associated with significant improvements in household FI, with rates of FI significantly lower in the NE+MD vs. NE group at all post-intake timepoints (54.6–62.5 % and 90.5–95.2 % among NE+MD and NE groups, respectively; p’s < .05). NE+MD participants rated the enjoyment and convenience of meals at 80.7 and 92.8, respectively (range: 0–100). Improvements in FI were also associated with improvements in depression, quality of life and illicit opioid abstinence.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study supports the feasibility, acceptability and initial efficacy of a novel NE+MD intervention for improving household FI among individuals with OUD and provides new preliminary evidence that FI may be associated with participants’ mental and physical health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11322,"journal":{"name":"Drug and alcohol dependence","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 112673"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143844162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jillian Halladay , Steph Kershaw , Emma K. Devine , Lucinda Grummitt , Rachel Visontay , Samantha J. Lynch , Chris Ji , Lauren Scott , Marlee Bower , Louise Mewton , Matthew Sunderland , Tim Slade
{"title":"Covariates in studies examining longitudinal relationships between substance use and mental health problems among youth: A meta-epidemiologic review","authors":"Jillian Halladay , Steph Kershaw , Emma K. Devine , Lucinda Grummitt , Rachel Visontay , Samantha J. Lynch , Chris Ji , Lauren Scott , Marlee Bower , Louise Mewton , Matthew Sunderland , Tim Slade","doi":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>This meta-epidemiological review examines covariate selection and reporting practices in observational studies analyzing longitudinal relationships between youth substance use and mental health problems (internalizing and externalizing).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Sixty-nine studies published in high-impact journals from 2018 to 2023 were included. Studies were included if they explored prospective relationships between substance use and mental health among youth (12–25 years) and used repeated measures designs. Data extraction focused on study characteristics, covariates and their selection methods, and reporting practices.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>There were 574 covariates included across studies; 33 were included as moderators and 18 were included as mediators. At the study level, the most common covariate domains included demographics (90 % of included studies had at least one demographic, mostly sex), substance-related variables (67 %; mostly alcohol or smoking), internalizing symptoms (39 %; mostly depression), family-related variables (29 %; mostly parental substance use or mental illness), and externalizing symptoms (19 %; mostly conduct). 93 % of studies had unique sets of lower-order covariates. Across all studies (n = 69), only 35 % provided details for how, and why, all covariates were selected with only 12 % reporting selecting covariates <em>a priori</em>, and none being pre-registered. Only 60 % mentioned confounding and only 13 % mentioned risk of confounding in their conclusions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The findings highlight the need for improved covariate selection and reporting practices. Establishing a core set of covariates and adhering to standardized reporting guidelines would enhance the comparability and reliability of research findings in this field. Researchers can use this review to identify and justify the inclusion and exclusion of commonly reported covariates when analyzing relationships between youth substance use and mental health problems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11322,"journal":{"name":"Drug and alcohol dependence","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 112665"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143820825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Peter J. Kelly , Frank P. Deane , Amanda L. Baker , Camilla Townsend , James R. McKay , Tayla J. Degan , Erin Nolan , Kerrin Palazzi , Gerard Byrne , Briony Osborne , Johanna Meyer , Laura Robinson , Christopher Oldmeadow , Kenny Lawson , Andrew Searles , Joanne Lunn , Jason Nunes , Isabella Ingram
{"title":"The continuing care project: A multi-arm randomised controlled trial of a continuing care telephone intervention following residential substance use treatment","authors":"Peter J. Kelly , Frank P. Deane , Amanda L. Baker , Camilla Townsend , James R. McKay , Tayla J. Degan , Erin Nolan , Kerrin Palazzi , Gerard Byrne , Briony Osborne , Johanna Meyer , Laura Robinson , Christopher Oldmeadow , Kenny Lawson , Andrew Searles , Joanne Lunn , Jason Nunes , Isabella Ingram","doi":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112668","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112668","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Previous research suggests telephone-delivered continuing care interventions are effective in reducing rates of substance use. This study assessed the effectiveness of telephone-delivered continuing care for people who had stayed in a residential alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment facility for at least 4-weeks.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Participants were 277 (20 – 71 years; <em>M</em> = 38 years, <em>SD</em> = 10.4; 58 % male) individuals attending residential AOD treatment. Following discharge participants were randomised to: i) 12 weekly telephone sessions; ii) 4 weekly telephone sessions; or iii) no telephone sessions (control group). A multi-centre prospective, randomised, open, blinded endpoint (PROBE) design compared three study arms with follow up at 3- and 6-months. Primary outcome was the odds of complete abstinence and the days of AOD use for those not completely abstinent at 6-months.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>At 6-months follow-up, the odds of being completely abstinent in the past month was not significantly different between the three study arms (<em>p</em> > 0.6) and the number of days abstinent was not significantly different (<em>p</em> > 0.4). Participants across all arms were more likely (<em>p</em> < 0.001) to be completely abstinent compared to baseline [12-session <em>OR</em> = 12.86 (5.4, 30.9); 4-session <em>OR</em> = 9.52 (4.0, 22.4); Control <em>OR</em> = 7.02, (3.4, 14.7)].</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The results suggest that the residential programs are associated with positive long-term impacts among participants who complete at least 4 weeks of treatment. Further continuing care research should include those who do not remain in treatment for at least 4 weeks, as they may be likely to benefit the most.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11322,"journal":{"name":"Drug and alcohol dependence","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 112668"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143876572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}