Substance Abuse and Addiction Commons^™

Associations Between Childhood Trauma And Tobacco Dependence Among Latine Adults: Testing The Protective Effects Of Compassion For Self And Others, Camila Tirado

Theses and Dissertations

Tobacco dependence has posed a significant public health challenge in the United States and disproportionately affects Latine adults' risk of developing a variety of adverse health conditions. Childhood trauma is a recognized risk factor for dependence, overall health, and mental health concerns. Still, the influence of compassion for self or compassion for others in this context remains unclear. This cross-sectional study investigated the moderating effects of self-compassion and compassion for others on the relationship between childhood trauma and cigarette dependence among Latine adults. Data was collected through questionnaires assessing childhood trauma, self-compassion, cultural values and factors, compassion for others, and …

Acute Effects Of An Oral Nicotine Pouch In People Who Use Smokeless Tobacco, Alisha Eversole

Theses and Dissertations

People who use smokeless tobacco (SLT) are exposed to a variety of carcinogenic toxicants, yet, despite health risks, nearly 6 million people in the US use SLT. SLT contains and delivers nicotine, a psychostimulant that causes dependence and hinders cessation efforts. An orally-administered nicotine pouch marketed as “tobacco-free” recently has become available for purchase in the US. However, there are very few non-industry-sponsored studies regarding the effects of these oral nicotine pouches.

The current study used clinical laboratory methods to determine the acute effects of an oral nicotine pouch in people who use SLT. Participants completed four sessions (within subjects, …

Assessing Providers’ Readiness To Integrate Mat Services In A Primary Care Setting, Carmen Ingram-Thorpe

Theses and Dissertations

Opioid use disorder is a growing concern in the United States. Despite medication-assisted treatment (MAT) being a more effective treatment option than behavioral treatment alone, primary care providers’ rate of adoption and utilization of MAT has not matched the demand of the opioid crisis. The largest barrier facing our local community is the availability of organizations and providers that can and will actually provide MAT services. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that impact primary care providers’ readiness to treat individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) using MAT. This study used the ADKAR model as framework, which …

Neural Hyperactivity During Value-Based Decision-Making In People With Daily/Near Daily Cannabis Use, Miranda Ramirez

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Value-based decision-making involves the coordinated effort of multiple brain regions to guide future choices based on past experiences. These processes are disrupted in cannabis use disorder, where individuals continue to use cannabis despite negative consequences. Reinforcement learning (RL) paradigms can be used to capture changes in the value of available options and may inform how the brain is impacted by frequent cannabis use. This study combined fMRI with behavioral modeling of probabilistic choice task data to compare value-based choices between young adults reporting daily/near daily cannabis use (CAN) and controls (CTRL). Participants selected one of two options reinforced ($0.25) at …

Primary Care Providers’ Experiences Treating Opioid Use Disorder Using Telehealth In The Height Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sarah Alexandra Marshall, Lachan E. Siebenmorgen, Katherine Youngen, Tyrone F. Borders, Nickolas Zaller

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a rapid shift in healthcare delivery towards telehealth services, impacting patient care, including opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. Regulatory changes eliminated the in-person evaluation requirement for buprenorphine treatment, encouraging adoption of telehealth. This study focused on understanding experiences of primary care providers in predominantly rural areas who used telehealth for OUD treatment during the pandemic. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 primary care providers. Participants practiced in 13 rural and 9 urban counties in Kentucky and Arkansas. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results: The pandemic significantly impacted healthcare delivery. While telehealth was …

Combining Neuroimaging And Brain Stimulation To Test Alternative Causal Pathways For Nicotine Addiction In Schizophrenia, Xiaoming Du, Fow-Sen Choa, Joshua Chiappelli, Heather Bruce, Mark Kvarta, Ann Summerfelt, Yizhou Ma, William T Regenold, Kevin Walton, George F Wittenberg, Stephanie Hare, Si Gao, Andrew Van Der Vaart, Zhiwei Zhao, Shuo Chen, Peter Kochunov, L Elliot Hong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The smoking rate is high in patients with schizophrenia. Brain stimulation targeting conventional brain circuits associated with nicotine addiction has also yielded mixed results. We aimed to identify alternative circuitries associated with nicotine addiction in both the general population and schizophrenia, and then test whether modulation of such circuitries may alter nicotine addiction behaviors in schizophrenia. In Study I of 40 schizophrenia smokers and 51 non-psychiatric smokers, cross-sectional neuroimaging analysis identified resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) between the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) and multiple extended amygdala regions to be most robustly associated with nicotine addiction severity in healthy controls and …

Increased Risk For Alcohol- And Other Substance-Exposed Pregnancies Among Women Who Smoke Tobacco: A Secondary Analysis Of A Primary Care-Based Intervention, Thomas F Northrup, Angela L Stotts, Stephen M Fischer, Kirk L Von Sternberg, Mary M Velasquez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Among women at risk for alcohol-exposed pregnancies (AEP), smoking tobacco may be associated with increased severity of alcohol use, and risk for tobacco-exposed and other substance-exposed pregnancies (TEPs/SEPs). Our secondary data analysis of the 'CHOICES Plus' intervention trial explored AEP and SEP risk by smoking status.

Methods: Eligible women (N=261) were recruited from 12 primary care clinics in a public healthcare system, not pregnant, aged 18-44 years, drinking >3 drinks/day or >7 drinks/week, sexually active, and not using effective contraception. We compared women who did and did not smoke tobacco on alcohol and drug severity, and psychological distress (e.g. …

Assessment Of Simultaneous Alcohol And Cannabis Use And Its Related Consequences And Cognitions In College Students: A Narrative Review, Jennifer L. Shipley, Abby L. Braitman

Psychology Faculty Publications

As rates of students using cannabis continue to rise, simultaneous use of alcohol and cannabis (such that their effects overlap; commonly referred to as simultaneous alcohol and marijuana [SAM] use) is prevalent among college students who use both substances. Although research focusing on SAM use and related cognitions and consequences continues to grow, there are no common established measures, as approaches vary across studies. This narrative review identifies current methods for assessing SAM use and measures of SAM-related consequences and cognitions (motives and expectancies) among college students, evaluates how they were developed, identifies gaps in the literature, and provides recommendations …

Refining The Scope Of Genetic Influences On Alcohol Misuse Through Environmental Stratification And Gene-Environment Interaction, Jeanne E. Savage, Christiaan A. De Leeuw, Josefin Werme, Spit For Science Working Group, Danielle M. Dick, Danielle Posthuma, Sophie Van Der Sluis

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background

Gene-environment interaction (G X E) is likely an important influence shaping individual differences in alcohol misuse (AM), yet it has not been extensively studied in molecular genetic research. In this study, we use a series of genome-wide gene-environment interaction (GWEIS) and in silico annotation methods with the aim of improving gene identification and biological understanding of AM.

Methods

We carried out GWEIS for four AM phenotypes in the large UK Biobank sample (N = 360,314), with trauma exposure and socioeconomic status (SES) as moderators of the genetic effects. Exploratory analyses compared stratified genome-wide association (GWAS) and GWEIS modeling approaches. …

Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation And Functional Connectivity In People Living With Hiv/Aids Who Smoke Tobacco Cigarettes: A Preliminary Pilot Study, Gopalkumar Rakesh, Thomas G Adams, Rajendra A Morey, Joseph L Alcorn, Rebika Khanal, Amanda E Su, Seth S Himelhoch, Craig R Rush

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: People living with HIV (PLWHA) smoke at three times the rate of the general population and respond poorly to cessation strategies. Previous studies examined repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L. dlPFC) to reduce craving, but no studies have explored rTMS among PLWHA who smoke. The current pilot study compared the effects of active and sham intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) on resting state functional connectivity (rsFC), cigarette cue attentional bias, and cigarette craving in PLWHA who smoke.

METHODS: Eight PLWHA were recruited (single-blind, within-subject design) to receive one session of iTBS (n=8) over the L. …

The Influence Of Flavor On The Abuse Liability Of A Heated Tobacco Product And Its Feasibility As A Menthol Cigarette Substitute, Augustus White

Theses and Dissertations

Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) purport to expose people that use cigarettes to fewer of the harmful or potentially harmful constituents of tobacco while still delivering reinforcing amounts of nicotine (Auer, Concha-Lozano et al., 2017). An exemplar of the HTP class, IQOS, and its three varieties of “HeatSticks” have been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as “Modified Risk Tobacco Products” (MRTP). However, as the FDA is planning to ban menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes, questions remain regarding whether characterizing flavors should be permitted in HTPs (FDA, 2022e). New evidence regarding HTP abuse liability (i.e., the likelihood …

Development And Implementation Of Occupational Therapy Group Protocols For Individuals In Recovery For Substance Use Disorder: Considering Social Determinants Of Health And Occupational Areas Of Need, Samantha Jane Windisch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are becoming a more widespread issue globally. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 19.7 million adults in the U.S. suffered from an SUD in 2017. (SAMSHA, 2018). Recurrent alcohol and/or drug use that results in significant disability, including health issues, and/or a failure to prioritize obligations like employment, school, or family life are characteristics of SUD (SAMHSA, 2022). Research suggests that healthcare providers must integrate cutting-edge and successful treatments for this population to lower the risk of overdose and relapse rates, given the swift global spread of addictive disorders. In the past, …

Empowering Providers To Empower Their Patients: One Model To Expand Knowledge, Competency, And Awareness For The Perinatal Substance Use Workforce, Jacqueline Jacobs

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Perinatal substance use (PSU) is a serious and growing public health concern. It is associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes for both mother and child and has been shown to negatively impact the parent-child relationship. Despite the growing prevalence of PSU, there are notable deficits in provider knowledge regarding, and comfortability with, PSU. Moreover, providers report feelings of judgment, resentment, fear, and hesitancy related to their work with women with PSU. Subsequently, women with PSU struggle to find appropriate, compassionate, and effective treatment for their substance misuse. Widespread and accessible training is needed to bolster provider knowledge base, …

Harm Reduction In Undergraduate And Graduate Medical Education: A Systematic Scoping Review, Kelsey R. Smith, Nina K. Shah, Abby L. Adamczyk, Lara C. Weinstein, Erin L. Kelly

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Substance use increasingly contributes to early morbidity and mortality, which necessitates greater preparation of the healthcare workforce to mitigate its harm. The purpose of this systematic scoping review is to: 1) review published curricula on harm reduction for substance use implemented by undergraduate (UME) and graduate medical education (GME) in the United States and Canada, 2) develop a framework to describe a comprehensive approach to harm reduction medical education, and 3) propose additional content topics for future consideration.

METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, ERIC: Education Resources Information Center (Ovid), and MedEdPORTAL were searched. Studies included any English language curricula about harm …

The Effect Of Postoperative Naloxone In Certain Otolaryngologic Surgeries, Natalie M. Perlov, Sohan S. Shah, Joann Bluj, Zachary D. Urdang, Rebecca C. Chiffer

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of postoperative naloxone with the development of new substance use disorder (SUD), overdose, and death within 6 months of otolaryngologic surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort database study on TriNetX.

METHODS: Adult patients who underwent tonsil surgery (noncancerous), thyroid/parathyroid, septorhinoplasty, otology/neurotology, sinus/anterior skull base, and head and neck cancer surgeries between January 2003 and April 2023. Patients were excluded if they had an instance of SUD or overdose recorded in their charts prior to surgery, or had undergone another surgery within that 6-month time frame. We hypothesized that patients prescribed naloxone postoperatively would have decreased odds …

The Federal Government Must Revise Public Housing Policies To Protect Vulnerable Populations From Evictions, Caroline Grabowski

Population Health Research Brief Series

Over 100,000 Americans are now dying from drug overdoses annually, signifying that the goal of the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act (ADAA) to end illicit drug use has not been achieved. What’s more, numerous statutes within the ADAA have created or worsened housing instability among people who use drugs and their families. This is because the ADAA allows public housing officials to use their own discretion when determining evictions and lease refusals and has disproportionately harmed individuals in public housing who did not participate in the drug-related activities that led to their eviction. This brief describes how the ADAA negatively affects …

Editorial; Biophysics Approaches To Investigate Multi-Organ Alcohol-Induced Damage, Janos Paloczi, Youngchan Kim

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Impacts Of Perinatal Oxycodone Exposed Offspring In Early Adolescence, Adrian Flores

Theses & Dissertations

The Opioid Epidemic has been a point of public health interest for the last twenty years. In this time, use of prescription opioids has grown exponentially, including use by pregnant women. The initial crisis has been focused on mitigating immediate problems such as lowering the significant loss of life in overdoses and providing support to cessation. Despite these advancements a separate phenomenon is on the rise: The rise in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome in neonatal care and associated challenges for these children as they age.

Currently preclinical research and epidemiological data suggests that exposed children are at risk for experiencing …

Recovery Capital, Mental Health And Substance Use Among Individuals Initiating Office-Based Buprenorphine Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder, Hannah R. Callahan, Karen Dugosh, Emily Hurstak, Patty Mccarthy, Emily Garber, Daniel Dejoseph, Julia Dejoseph, Michelle R. Lent

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Recovery capital refers to the internal and external resources available to support an individual in their recovery from substance use disorders. Using data from an ongoing trial, the current study examined recovery capital among 225 individuals initiating office-based buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) at Federally Qualified Health Centers in the mid-Atlantic region. At baseline, participants completed the Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital-10 (BARC-10), a validated measure assessing the 4 major domains of recovery capital and completed a urine toxicology screening. Participants reported BARC-10 scores of 49.22 on average (SD = 8.14). Average scores were highest for the …

Identifying Locations Of Drug Overdose In Las Vegas To Implement The Cardiff Violence Prevention Model, John Girard, Shikha Pandey, Zack Bunn, Chris Papesh, Jacquelyn Cheun Phd, Ying Zhang

SMU Data Science Review

This paper will provide an innovative approach to drug overdose prevention programs. Using data from Las Vegas emergency departments, this paper will analyze geospatial trends of drug overdoses. Leveraging the Cardiff Violence Prevention Model, the information is shared with local law enforcement agencies and decision makers to empower them to make evidence-based strategies. This paper highlights the efficacy of a data-driven model in addressing public health issues and underscoring its ability for even broader implementation in urban settings. Findings will suggest significant implications for policymaking, crime prevention, and public health initiatives, demonstrating a step towards a safer Las Vegas.