Background: In experimental studies using the cue reactivity paradigm (CRP), classically conditioned substance craving is well-documented among individuals who use substances with trauma histories. However, the magnitude of this effect has not yet been quantified, nor have moderators of this relationship been identified [DeGrace, S., Romero-Sanchiz, P., Standage, C., & Stewart, S. H. (2022). A scoping review of the literature on trauma cue-induced drug craving in substance users with trauma histories or PTSD. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.103816].Objective: While the mechanism driving these trauma cue-induced craving effects has been suggested to involve trauma cue-induced negative affect [Baker, T. B., Piper, M. E., McCarthy, D. E., Majeskie, M. R., & Fiore, M. C. (2004). Addiction motivation reformulated: An affective processing model of negative reinforcement. Psychological Review, 111(1), 33-51. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.111.1.33], this remains largely untested.Method: We conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the trauma cue-induced craving effect size, as well as possible moderators of these effects. Moreover, we utilized two-step meta-analytic structural equation modelling (TS-MA-SEM) to test the indirect effect of trauma (vs. neutral) cue exposure on substance craving through negative affect as the mediator. Our literature search returned n = 32 studies involving a total of k = 21 unique datasets that were included in our analyses.Results: Results supported our hypothesis that trauma cues would induce greater substance craving relative to other cue types/controls (neutral cues, substance cues, pre-cue baseline), with small to medium effect sizes (d = 0.259 - 0.526). We found a few theoretically relevant moderators (CRP method, study quality, and % of sample with PTSD) that varied by comparator condition. Additionally, results supported our proposed mediational model with negative affect indirectly explaining the relationship between trauma cue exposure and substance craving.Conclusions: Results suggest that trauma cue-elicited substance craving is a robust phenomenon that may be explained through trauma cue-induced negative affect driving increased craving.

Background The association between cannabis use and suicidality has been established, but details on impacts of legalisation, as well as long-term service use, have had limited attention. Aims To examine if changes are present in suicide presentations with access to legal cannabis. Method This study employed administrative database and medical record reviews to identify two cohorts of patients presenting with suicidal ideation/attempts and cannabis use to emergency departments, for two periods: 17 October 2018 to 30 April 2019, and 17 October 2020 to 30 April 2021. Demographic and clinical outcome data were obtained, and emergency department healthcare usage for 2 years before and 2 years after index encounter were compared, to further understand emergency department presentations for the same complaint. Results Number of emergency department encounters following the index visit and number of emergency department encounters specifically relating to suicidality following the index visit were significantly different between cohorts (t = 2.05, P = 0.042; t = 2.23, P = 0.027, respectively), with the immediate post-cannabis legalisation period demonstrating greater numbers of subsequent emergency department visits for suicidality. Additional associations were found between personality disorders and repeat emergency department visits related to cannabis use. Conclusions There appears to be stability in the patient profile of those presenting to the emergency department with a complaint relating to suicide while reporting cannabis use from the period directly following legalisation in Canada, to a similar time frame 2 years later despite reported increased use of cannabis in the general population over this period. Despite the rising potency and access to legal cannabis, suicide risk remains stable, although concerning.

OBJECTIVE:Firefighters are exposed to carcinogens from combustion, necessitating decontamination practices. This study developed and validated the Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale (FECS) to assess exposure-mitigating behaviors. METHODS:The sample included 179 volunteer firefighters from across Canada, comprising both English and French speakers, evaluated 20 items on exposure prevention across the following three dimensions: perceived importance, past behavior, and future intention. Principal axis factor analysis was conducted, and parallel analysis based on principal components determined the number of factors. McDonald's Omega measured internal consistency, and item-total correlations were examined. RESULTS:A one-factor solution was acceptable for all scales, with high coefficient omega values indicating strong internal consistency. Small mean differences between language groups were nonsignificant, and no correlations were found with demographic variables. CONCLUSIONS:The FECS is a reliable, valid one-factor model for both languages, supporting cancer prevention efforts.

Contexte: Dans un contexte o & ugrave; les pratiques et les politiques & eacute;voluent constamment, il est essentiel d'& ecirc;tre & agrave; l'aff & ucirc;t des plus r & eacute;centes donn & eacute;es scientifiques et de les int & eacute;grer afin d'optimiser la prise en charge des personnes atteintes d'un trouble li & eacute; & agrave; l'usage d'opio & iuml;des. Cet article r & eacute;sume le nouveau guide de pratique clinique nationale de l'Initiative canadienne de recherche sur les impacts des substances psychoactives (ICRIS) sur la prise en charge clinique du trouble li & eacute; & agrave; l'usage d'opio & iuml;des qui r & eacute;vise les recommandations de 2018.M & eacute;thodes: Aux fins de la mise & agrave; jour, nous avons suivi l'Institute of Medicine Standards for Developing Trustworthy Clinical Practice Guidelines et utilis & eacute; l'outil AGREE-REX (Appraisal of Guidelines REsearch and Evaluation-Recommendations EXcellence) pour assurer la qualit & eacute;. Au terme d'une revue syst & eacute;matique de la litt & eacute;rature scientifique pertinente publi & eacute;e entre le 1er janvier 2017 et le 14 septembre 2023, nous avons formul & eacute; et class & eacute; les nouvelles recommandations selon l'approche GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation). Un comit & eacute; multidisciplinaire national externe - auquel si & eacute;geaient notamment des personnes ayant un savoir exp & eacute;rientiel avec le trouble li & eacute; & agrave; l'usage d'opio & iuml;des - a proc & eacute;d & eacute; & agrave; une & eacute;valuation, dont les r & eacute;sultats ont & eacute;t & eacute; pris en compte dans ce guide.Recommandations: Sur les 11 recommandations pr & eacute;sent & eacute;es dans le guide de 2018, 3 sont rest & eacute;es inchang & eacute;es, et les 8 autres ont & eacute;t & eacute; mises & agrave; jour. Quatre d'entre elles ont & eacute;t & eacute; combin & eacute;es en 1 seule, 1 a & eacute;t & eacute; scind & eacute;e en 2, 1 est devenue une consid & eacute;ration particuli & egrave;re et 2 ont fait l'objet d'une simple r & eacute;vision. Les principales modifications d & eacute;coulent de donn & eacute;es probantes substantielles attestant que la m & eacute;thadone et la bupr & eacute;norphine ont une efficacit & eacute; & eacute;quivalente, notamment pour diminuer l'usage d'opio & iuml;des et les effets ind & eacute;sirables, et sont donc maintenant toutes deux les options th & eacute;rapeutiques privil & eacute;gi & eacute;es de premi & egrave;re intention. La morphine orale & agrave; lib & eacute;ration prolong & eacute;e est recommand & eacute;e comme une option de deuxi & egrave;me intention. Il est possible d'offrir des interventions psychosociales comme traitement compl & eacute;mentaire, mais cela ne devrait pas & ecirc;tre obligatoire. Le pr & eacute;sent guide de pratique clinique r & eacute;it & egrave;re l'importance d'& eacute;viter de prendre en charge le sevrage comme unique intervention et d'inclure des services de r & eacute;duction des m & eacute;faits fond & eacute;s sur des donn & eacute;es probantes dans le continuum de soins.Interpr & eacute;tation: La mise & agrave; jour propose de nouvelles recommandations fond & eacute;es sur les derni & egrave;res donn & eacute;es probantes en vue de normaliser la prise en charge du trouble li & eacute; & agrave; l'usage d'opio & iuml;des. L'objectif est d'& eacute;tablir une assi

BACKGROUND:Providing pharmaceutical opioid medications as alternatives to the unregulated drug market, commonly referred to as safe supply or safer supply (hereafter "safe(r) supply"), has emerged as a harm reduction strategy in Canada, with wide variation in principles and implementation. We aimed to clarify the concept of safe(r) opioid supply across harm-reduction and clinical contexts. METHODS:We conducted a scoping review and concept analysis. We systematically searched six major electronic databases and the grey literature to identify articles published between 2010 and 2024. Informed by Walker and Avant's concept analysis methodology, we extracted definitions and descriptions of programs and interventions, organizing key characteristics into thematic dimensions to develop a framework distinguishing various care approaches. RESULTS:Our review included 95 articles. Safe(r) supply operationalizes under two broad approaches: a medicalized/prescribed approach ('safer supply') and a non-medicalized/community-based approach ('safe supply'). We outlined three illustrative cases that nest within these approaches: (1) Prescribed opioids with opioid agonist therapy (OAT) offered and/or co-prescribed, (2) Prescribed opioids without OAT, (3) Community-based distribution of unregulated drugs with known composition. CONCLUSION:Safe(r) supply encompasses prescribed opioid alternatives interventions (safer supply) and non-medicalized (safe supply) approaches with shared antecedents but distinct attributes and consequences. This study highlights the need to better define and standardize the parameters of safer supply approaches, including population, dosing, and intended objectives, to enable a more precise assessment of their potential benefits and risks. This nuanced understanding is crucial for developing evidence-based strategies in response to Canada's drug poisoning crisis.

Contexte: Dans un contexte où les pratiques et les politiques é voluent constamment, il est essentiel d'ê tre à l'affû t des plus ré centes donné es scientifiques et de les inté grer afin d'optimiser la prise en charge des personnes atteintes d'un trouble lié à l'usage d'opioï des. Cet article ré sume le nouveau guide de pratique clinique nationale de l'Initiative canadienne de recherche sur les impacts des substances psychoactives (ICRIS) sur la prise en charge clinique du trouble lié à l'usage d'opioï des qui ré vise les recommandations de 2018. Mé thodes: Aux fins de la mise à jour, nous avons suivi l'Institute of Medicine Standards for Developing Trustworthy Clinical Practice Guidelines et utilisé l'outil AGREE-REX (Appraisal of Guidelines REsearch and Evaluation-Recommendations EXcellence) pour assurer la qualité. Au terme d'une revue systé matique de la litté rature scientifique pertinente publié e entre le 1er janvier 2017 et le 14 septembre 2023, nous avons formulé et classé les nouvelles recommandations selon l'approche GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation). Un comité multidisciplinaire national externe - auquel sié geaient notamment des personnes ayant un savoir expé rientiel avec le trouble lié à l'usage d'opioï des - a procé dé à une é valuation, dont les ré sultats ont é té pris en compte dans ce guide. Recommandations: Sur les 11 recommandations pré senté es dans le guide de 2018, 3 sont resté es inchangé es, et les 8 autres ont é té mises à jour. Quatre d'entre elles ont é té combiné es en 1 seule, 1 a é té scindé e en 2, 1 est devenue une considé ration particuliè re et 2 ont fait l'objet d'une simple ré vision. Les principales modifications dé coulent de donné es probantes substantielles attestant que la mé thadone et la bupré norphine ont une efficacité é quivalente, notamment pour diminuer l'usage d'opioï des et les effets indé sirables, et sont donc maintenant toutes deux les options thé rapeutiques privilé gié es de premiè re intention. La morphine orale à libé ration prolongé e est recommandé e comme une option de deuxiè me intention. Il est possible d'offrir des interventions psychosociales comme traitement complé mentaire, mais cela ne devrait pas ê tre obligatoire. Le pré sent guide de pratique clinique ré itè re l'importance d'é viter de prendre en charge le sevrage comme unique intervention et d'inclure des services de ré duction des mé faits fondé s sur des donné es probantes dans le continuum de soins. Interpré tation: La mise à jour propose de nouvelles recommandations fondé es sur les derniè res donné es probantes en vue de normaliser la prise en charge du trouble lié à l'usage d'opioï des. L'objectif est d'é tablir une assise solide sur laquelle les organismes provinciaux et territoriaux pourront bâ tir leurs directives sur l'optimisation des soins.

BACKGROUND:In an evolving landscape of practices and policies, reviewing and incorporating the latest scientific evidence is necessary to ensure optimal clinical management for people with opioid use disorder. We provide a synopsis of the 2024 update of the 2018 National Guideline for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorder, from the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters. METHODS:For this update, we followed the United States Institute of Medicine's Standards for Developing Trustworthy Clinical Practice Guidelines and used the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation-Recommendation Excellence tool to ensure guideline quality. We carried out a comprehensive systematic literature review, capturing the relevant literature from Jan. 1, 2017, to Sept. 14, 2023. We drafted and graded recommendations according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessments, Development and Evaluation approach. A multidisciplinary external national committee, which included people with living or lived experience of opioid use disorder, provided input that was incorporated into the guideline. RECOMMENDATIONS:From the initial 11 recommendations in the 2018 guideline, 3 remained unchanged, and 8 were updated. Specifically, 4 recommendations were consolidated into a single revised recommendation; 1 recommendation was split into 2; another recommendation was moved to become a special consideration; and 2 recommendations were revised. Key changes have arisen from substantial evidence supporting that methadone and buprenorphine are similarly effective, particularly in reducing opioid use and adverse events, and both are now considered preferred first-line treatment options. Slow-release oral morphine is recommended as a second-line option. Psychosocial interventions can be offered as adjunctive treatment but should not be mandatory. The guideline reaffirms the importance of avoiding withdrawal management as a standalone intervention and of incorporating evidence-based harm reduction services along the continuum of care. INTERPRETATION:This guideline update presents new recommendations based on the latest literature for standardized management of opioid use disorder. The aim is to establish a robust foundation upon which provincial and territorial bodies can develop guidance for optimal care.

Anxiety sensitivity (AS), hopelessness (H), sensation seeking (SS), and impulsivity (IMP) are traits implicated in substance misuse risk. Protective behavioral strategies for marijuana (PBS-M) are behaviors that decrease adverse effects of cannabis use. We hypothesized H, SS, and IMP would be associated with increased adverse cannabis outcomes via decreased PBS-M use, whereas AS would be indirectly associated with decreased cannabis outcomes via increased PBS-M use, and directly associated with increased cannabis-related problems. Analyses were conducted on data from N = 520 past six-month cannabis-using university students who completed measures of personality, PBS-M, cannabis use frequency, and cannabis-related problems. H and IMP were associated with more frequent and problematic cannabis use via decreased PBS-M use. AS was associated with less frequent and problematic cannabis use via increased PBS-M use. PBS-M may prove a useful intervention target to mitigate risk for frequent and problematic cannabis use in university students high on H or IMP.

Objectives Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cannabis use disorder (CUD) commonly co-occur. Conditioned associations between psychological trauma cues, distress, cannabis use, and desired relief outcomes may contribute to the comorbidity. These conditioned associations can be studied experimentally by manipulating trauma cue exposure in a cue-reactivity paradigm (CRP) and examining effects on affective and cognitive outcomes in participants with and without PTSD. However, traditional CRPs take place in-lab limiting recruitment/power. We aimed to examine the effects of CRP condition (trauma and neutral) and PTSD group (likely PTSD+ and PTSD-) on affective and craving outcomes using a stand-alone online expressive writing CRP.Methods Participants (n = 202; 43.6% male; Mage = 42.94 years, SD = 14.71) with psychological trauma histories and past-month cannabis use completed a measure of PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist-5 for DSM-5 [PCL-5]) and were randomized to complete either a trauma or neutral expressive writing task. Then they completed validated measures of affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-Short Form [PANAS-SF]) and cannabis craving (Marijuana Craving Questionnaire-Short Form [MCQ-SF]).Results Linear mixed models tested the hypothesized main and interactive effects of CRP condition (trauma and neutral) and PTSD group (likely PTSD+ and PTSD-) on negative and positive affect (PANAS-SF) and cannabis craving dimensions (MCQ-SF). The hypothesized main effects of trauma versus neutral expressive writing were found for negative affect and the expectancy dimension of cannabis craving and of PTSD group for negative affect and all cannabis craving dimensions; no interactions were observed.Conclusions Expressive writing appears a useful online CRP. Interventions focused on reducing negative affect and expectancy craving to trauma cues may prevent/treat CUD among cannabis users with PTSD.Plain Language Summary Title The Use of an Online Expressive Writing as a Trauma Cue Exposure: Effects on Craving and Emotions People who have gone through trauma sometimes experience both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a tendency to use cannabis excessively (cannabis use disorder or CUD). Researchers believe that there's a connection between traumatic memories, emotional distress, cannabis use, and the relief people feel afterward. These associations can be studied experimentally by using a cue-reactivity paradigm (CRP) to examine effects on craving and affective outcomes in those with and without PTSD. This study included 202 participants who had a history of trauma and reported regular cannabis use. They were randomly assigned to write about a traumatic or neutral personal experience. After, they filled out questionnaires about their PTSD symptoms, emotions (both positive and negative), and cravings for cannabis during the task. We expected that the type of writing task (those assigned to the trauma vs. neutral condition) and PTSD status would be associated with increased cannabis craving, negative emotions, and reduced positive emotions. We found that writing about trauma increased negative feelings and positive expectations about using cannabis for relief, especially for those with PTSD. People with PTSD also seemed to have more ongoing negative feelings and cravings for cannabis. The authors suggest that traditional in-lab experiments might be necessary to fully understand how trauma reminders can influence cravings and emotions in individuals with PTSD-CUD. Objectifs Le Syndrome de stress post-traumatique (SSPT) et le trouble d'usage de cannabis (TUC) surviennent souvent de pair. Les associations conditionn & eacute;es entre les signaux de traumatisme psychologique, la d & eacute;tresse, l'usage de cannabis et les r & eacute;sultats de soulagement souhait & eacute;s peuvent contribuer & agrave; la comorbidit & eacute; .Ces associations conditionn & eacute;es peuvent & ecirc;tre & eacute;tudi & eacute;es exp & eacute;rimentalement en manipulant l'exposition & agrave; des signaux de traumatisme dans un paradigme de signal de r & eacute;activit & eacute; (PSR) et en examinant les effets sur les r & eacute;sultats affectifs et cognitifs chez les participants avec et sans SSPT. Cependant, les PSR traditionnels ont lieu en laboratoire, ce qui limite la capacit & eacute; de recrutement. Nous cherchions & agrave; examiner les effets de la condition de PSR (trauma, neutre) et du groupe SSPT (SSPT probable+, SSPT) sur les r & eacute;sultats affectifs et d'envie & agrave; l'aide d'un PSR d'& eacute;criture expressive en ligne autonome.M & eacute;thodes Les participants (n = 202; 43,6 % masculins; M & acirc;ge = 42,94 ans, ET = 14,71) ayant des ant & eacute;c & eacute;dents de traumatismes psychologiques et fait usage de cannabis le mois pr & eacute;c & eacute;dent ont rempli une mesure des sympt & ocirc;mes de SSPT (liste de contr & ocirc;le du SSPT-5 [PCL-5]) et ont & eacute;t & eacute; affect & eacute;s au hasard & agrave; une t & acirc;che d'& eacute;criture expressive sur un traumatisme ou neutre. Ils ont ensuite r & eacute;pondu & agrave; des mesures valid & eacute;es de l'affect (Calendrier des effets positifs et n & eacute;gatifs - Forme courte [PANAS-SF]) et de l'envie de cannabis (Questionnaire sur l'envie de marijuana - Formulaire court [MCQ-SF]).R & eacute;sultats Des mod & egrave;les lin & eacute;aires mixtes ont test & eacute; l'hypoth & egrave;se des effets principaux et interactifs d'une condition PSR (traumatisme, neutre) et d'un groupe SSPT (SSPT probable+, SSPT) sur l'affect n & eacute;gatif et les dimensions d'envie de cannabis (MCQ-SF). Les principaux effets hypoth & eacute;tiques du traumatisme contre l'& eacute;criture expressive neutre ont & eacute;t & eacute; constat & eacute;s pour l'affect n & eacute;gatif et la dimension attendue de l'envie de cannabis et du groupe SSPT pour l'affect n & eacute;gatif et toutes les dimensions de l'envie de cannabis, aucune interaction n'a & eacute;t & eacute; observ & eacute;e.Conclusions L'& eacute;criture expressive semble & ecirc;tre un PSR utile en ligne. Les interventions ax & eacute;es sur la r & eacute;duction de l'affect n & eacute;gatif et l'envie en attente de signaux de traumatisme peuvent pr & eacute;venir/traiter le TUC chez les utilisateurs de cannabis souffrant du SSPT.

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate potential gambling and gaming-related traits and motivations as predictors of increased loot box purchasing to identify risk factors for engagement with this potentially addictive element of video games. Methods: This study investigated whether impulsivity, completionism (ie, a need to collect in-game items), perceived social pressure, and an overall desire to have one’s gaming avatar look a certain way contribute to increased monthly loot box spending. It was hypothesized that impulsivity would predict increased loot box spending over and above age and gender, and that the sequential addition of completionism, perceived social pressure, and desire to have one’s game avatar look a certain way, will predict increased monthly loot box spending over and above antecedent variables. Results: A total of 601 adult video game players recruited via an online survey panel were analyzed. A large proportion of participants spent $0 on loot boxes. Thus, a gamma hurdle model to investigate binary endorsement of loot box purchasing and changes in monthly loot box spending. All the hypothesized variables significantly predicted binary endorsement, but not changes in monthly loot box spending. Conclusion: The findings highlight the nuance of how players engage in predatory gambling mechanics of video games such as loot boxes. A risk factors related to addiction like impulsivity and factors aligned with video game-related motivations may predict the decision to purchase a loot box, but perhaps not continued spending. Objectif: L’objectif de cette étude était d'étudier les traits de caractère et les motivations liés aux jeux d’argent et de hasard en tant que prédicteurs de l’augmentation des achats de coffres de butin afin d’identifier les facteurs de risque d’engagement avec cet élément des jeux vidéo qui peut créer une dépendance. Méthodes: Cette étude a cherché à savoir si l’impulsivité, l’achèvement (c’est-à-dire le besoin de collecter des objets dans le jeu), la pression sociale perçue et le désir général d’avoir un avatar de jeu d’une certaine façon contribuent à l’augmentation des dépenses mensuelles pour les coffres de butin. L’hypothèse est qu’au-delà de l'âge et du sexe, l’impulsivité prédit l’augmentation des dépenses en coffres de butin et que l’ajout séquentiel de l’achèvement, de la pression sociale perçue et du désir de donner une certaine apparence à l’avatar du jeu permettrons de prédire l’augmentation des dépenses mensuelles en coffres de butin au-delà des variables antécédentes. Résultats: Un total de 601 joueurs de jeux vidéo adultes recrutés par le biais d’un panel d’enquête en ligne a été analysé. Une grande partie des participants ont dépensé 0 $ pour des coffres à butin. Ainsi, un modèle de hurdle gamma a permis d'étudier l’endossement binaire de l’achat de coffres de butin et l'évolution des dépenses mensuelles en coffres de butin. Toutes les variables hypothétiques ont permis de prédire de manière significative l’endossement binaire, mais pas l'évolution des dépenses mensuelles en coffres de butin. Conclusion: Les résultats soulignent les nuances sur la façon dont les joueurs s’engagent dans les mécanismes de jeu prédateurs des jeux vidéo tels que les coffres de butin. Un facteur de risque lié à la dépendance, comme l’impulsivité, et des facteurs alignés sur les motivations liées aux jeux vidéo peuvent prédire la décision d’acheter un coffre de butin, mais peut-être pas la poursuite des dépenses.

Smartphone use provides a significant amount of screen-time for youth, and there have been growing concerns regarding its impact on their mental health. While time spent in a passive manner on the device is frequently considered deleterious, more active engagement with the phone might be protective for mental health. Recent developments in mobile sensing technology provide a unique opportunity to examine behaviour in a naturalistic manner. The present study sought to investigate, in a sample of 451 individuals (mean age 20.97 years old, 83% female), whether the amount of time spent on the device, an indicator of passive smartphone use, would be associated with worse mental health in youth and whether an active form of smartphone use, namely frequent checking of the device, would be associated with better outcomes. The findings highlight that overall time spent on the smartphone was associated with more pronounced internalizing and externalizing symptoms in youth, while the number of unlocks was associated with fewer internalizing symptoms. For externalizing symptoms, there was also a significant interaction between the two types of smartphone use observed. Using objective measures, our results suggest interventions targeting passive smartphone use may contribute to improving the mental health of youth.

OBJECTIVES:Derived from classical conditioning theory and rooted in motivational mechanisms, cue reactivity paradigms (CRPs) are used in addictions research to measure participants' propensities for substance-relevant responses (e.g., craving) during exposure to substance-relevant cues (e.g., drug paraphernalia). CRPs are also useful in PTSD-addiction comorbidity research, allowing the study of affective and substance-relevant responses to trauma cues. However, studies using traditional CRPs are time-consuming with high attrition rates due to repeat testing. Thus, we sought to test whether a single session semi-structured trauma interview could serve as a CRP in terms of eliciting theorized cue exposure effects on craving and affect measures. METHOD:Fifty regular cannabis users with trauma histories provided detailed descriptions of their most traumatic lifetime experience, and a neutral experience, according to an established interview protocol. Linear mixed models examined the effect of cue type (trauma vs. neutral) on affective and craving responses. RESULTS:As hypothesized, the trauma interview elicited significantly greater cannabis craving (and alcohol craving among the drinkers), and, greater negative affect among those with more severe PTSD symptoms, compared to the neutral interview. CONCLUSION:Results suggest an established semi-structured interview may function effectively as a CRP for use in trauma and addictions research.

Introduction While individuals have many motives to gamble, one particularly risky motive for gambling is to cope with negative affect. Conflict with one’s romantic partner is a strong predictor of negative affect, which may elicit coping motives for gambling and, in turn, gambling-related problems. Support for this mediational model was demonstrated in relation to drinking-related problems. We extended this model to gambling. Method Using a cross-sectional design, we examined links between romantic conflict (Partner-Specific Rejecting Behaviors Scale), negative affect (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21), coping gambling motives (Gambling Motives Questionnaire, coping subscale), and gambling-related problems [Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI)] in 206 regular gamblers (64% men; mean age = 44.7 years; mean PGSI = 8.7) who were in a romantic relationship and recruited through Qualtrics Panels in July 2021. Results Results supported our hypothesis that the model would explain a significant amount of variance in gambling-related problems, β = 0.35, 95% CI [0.24, 0.47], and that the association between romantic conflict and gambling-related problems would be sequentially mediated through negative affect and coping gambling motives, β = 0.07, 95% CI [0.03, 0.11], and also showed a strong single mediation pathway through negative affect alone, β = 0.24, 95% CI [0.16, 0.35]. Discussion Negative affect and coping gambling motives partially explain the link between romantic conflict and gambling-related problems. Interventions should target both negative affect and coping gambling motives in response to romantic conflict to reduce gambling-related problems in partnered gamblers.

The global spread of video games has prompted significant increases in research on addictive gaming behaviour, identifying numerous risk factors including games being used to escape life stressors. However, no studies have evaluated how or why this escape occurs. The present study evaluated whether motivations for escapism and identification with a game's avatar explained the relationship between absence of meaning in life and disordered gaming. The sample consisted of 492 adult Canadians who played video games for a minimum of 1 h weekly over three consecutive months. Ordinary least squares regression moderated mediation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between presence of meaning (PM) and search for meaning (SM) in life (predictors) and risk for disordered gaming (outcome) through escapism and avatar identification (mediators) depending on gaming genre (moderator). Escapism and avatar identification serially mediated the relationship between higher SM and disordered gaming. Avatar identification mediated the relationship between higher PM and disordered gaming. Genre preference did not moderate the effect of escapism on avatar identification. Findings expand current literature on mechanisms and maintenance of problem gaming, providing a cohesive model explaining how numerous risk factors interrelate, contributing to disordered gaming for individuals searching for more fulfilling lives.

Background: Polysubstance use, which increases the risk for negative consequences of substance use, is common among emerging adults who regularly consume substances by vaping. Examining predictors of polysubstance vaping is crucial for understanding whether this novel form of substance consumption lends itself equally efficaciously to established forms of intervention for smoked substances. Objective: The current study aimed to examine whether modifiable cognitive risk factors for increased vaping in the form of attitudes, expectancies and norms can predict co-use of nicotine and cannabis among vapers over and above the effect of demographics, personality risk factors and anxiety, depression symptoms.Methods: Regular nicotine and cannabis vapers between 18 and 30 years were recruited online in Canada via a Qualtrics panel. Hierarchical binary logistic regression was used to predict membership in a polysubstance or a single substance vaping group. Demographics, personality risk factors, depression and anxiety symptoms were included as predictors in block 1; attitudes, expectancies and perceived norms of vaping were added in block 2. Results: Attitudes, expectancies and norms predicted polysubstance use over and above the effect of demographics, personality risk factors and anxiety, depression symptoms. Positive expectancies played a uniquely significant role in the prediction of polysubstance vaping.Conclusions: Cognitive interventions targeting attitudes, expectancies and norms may be effective in prevention of polysubstance vaping, although positive expectancies appear to be the main unique factor that has an influence above and beyond all other cognitive factors related to vaping. Treatment and prevention programs should put special focus on lowering positive expectancies.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease which leads to sensory, motor, autonomic, and cognitive symptoms. Cannabis is a common way for persons with MS (pwMS) to seek symptomatic therapy. Given the capacity for both cannabis and MS to cause cognitive impairment, it is important to determine whether there is any negative impact when the two co-occur. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of cannabis and medicinal cannabinoid products on cognition in pwMS in order to provide guidance to clinicians and enable them to make evidence-based recommendations regarding cannabis and cannabinoid products. Methods: A systematic review was carried out searching common keyword combinations for cannabis and MS across five databases, producing 840 unique articles, 18 of which were included in a qualitative synthesis. Results: Aggregate data from existing studies to date highlight potential impairments from chronic whole-plant cannabis use in commonly affected cognitive domains in multiple sclerosis, including attention and working memory, and to a lesser extent, visual memory, verbal memory, and executive function. Results also suggest that in the short-term, medicinal cannabinoid preparations do not significantly impair cognition and may even ameliorate cognitive symptoms in the context of obtrusive MS disease. The findings are limited by disparities in detail of cannabis use data reported across whole-plant cannabis publications. Conclusion: Existing literature on co-occurrence of cannabis use and MS lacks high quality evidence to recommend for or against cannabis and cannabinoid therapies for pwMS based on cognitive effects. Existing data suggest that cognition may be differentially impacted in pwMS depending on the type of product, the duration of use, and the indication. Future studies on whole-plant cannabis require comprehensive cannabis use data reporting including frequency, dosing, duration, and type of cannabis product. Future studies on medicinal cannabinoid products should be long-term to assess the effects of chronicity.

Crowdsourced samples are increasing in popularity, particularly within psychological and addictive behaviors research. The trend has resulted in significant interest in the use of panel samples for the examination of behavioral and substance addictions. One newer panel platform, Qualtrics, has seen an increase in usage in recent years despite lack of research examining the validity of Qualtrics-produced data for addictive behaviors. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the validity of Qualtrics-obtained data for the most recently classified behavioral addiction-video gaming. The evaluation compared a Qualtrics-recruited video gamers sample (n = 586) to traditional community (n = 108) and student (n = 217) samples on demographics and key outcomes relevant to gaming disorder researchers (average playtime, frequency of gaming, and gaming disorder risk scores) to evaluate the generalizability of Qualtrics panel data. The results revealed that Qualtrics samples were comparable to a traditionally recruited community sample, but different from a student sample on gaming frequency (p < .001) and risk for gaming disorder (p < .001). The Qualtrics sample also had longer durations of average gaming time relative to the student sample (p = .01), with some differences in demographics between the all three sources of recruitment. The findings suggest that Qualtrics may provide a suitable method of convenience panel recruitment, generalizable to the broader North American community, for research examining video gaming behaviors and gaming disorder. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

ABSTRACT Social norms feedback interventions are effective in correcting overestimations of peer alcohol use and changing undergraduates’ drinking behaviors. Undergraduates represent a high-risk group for harmful prescription drug use (PDU), yet a group-based social norms intervention has yet to be investigated for undergraduate PDU. Our objectives involved utilizing a mixed methods research design to investigate the impact of a social norms feedback session on norms perceptions and intentions to engage in PDU, and to obtain students’ qualitative feedback on this intervention approach. Thirty-six undergraduates (M age = 20.17; 63.89% women) with PDU use within the prior 4 months were provided accurate information regarding peer PDU rates. Participants reported on their perceptions of rates of peer PDU for each prescription drug type, and their behavioral intentions to engage in PDU, pre- and post-intervention. Subsequently, they participated in a focus group on their perceptions of the PDU intervention. Participants significantly overestimated all types of PDU at pre-intervention. While the intervention led to significant reductions in perceptions of peer PDU rates, significant overestimations remained. Behavioral intentions to use were not reduced from pre- to post-intervention. Content analysis of the focus group data generated four themes that elucidated participants’ thinking about the intervention: (1) Coming to Terms with Overestimation, (2) Reflections on Social Networks, (3) Stigma and Norms, and (4) Benefits of a Social Norms Approach. Results highlight that an intervention which changes knowledge of social norms may not be sufficient to curb PDU. Qualitative findings provide insight into ways to potentially improve the utility of PDU social norms interventions for undergraduates. Les interventions de rétroaction sur les normes sociales sont efficaces pour corriger les habitudes de consommation d’alcool des étudiants de premier cycle et leur tendance à surestimer la consommation d’alcool de leurs pairs. Même si les étudiants de premier cycle sont hautement susceptibles de consommer des médicaments d’ordonnance (MO) nocifs, aucune intervention n’a été menée sur les normes sociales d’un groupe de référence pour étudier cette prévalence. Nos objectifs consistaient donc à utiliser une méthodologie de recherche mixte pour étudier les répercussions qu’une séance de rétroaction sur les normes sociales peut avoir sur les perceptions de ces normes et sur les intentions des participants quant à l’usage de MO. Nous visions aussi à recueillir des commentaires qualitatifs des étudiants sur cette stratégie d’intervention. Trente-six étudiants de premier cycle (âge médian: 20,17; 63,89 % étaient des femmes) ayant consommé des MO dans les quatre mois précédant l’étude ont reçu des renseignements avérés sur le taux d’usage de MO chez leurs pairs. Les participants ont indiqué leurs perceptions du taux d’usage de MO chez leurs pairs pour chaque type de médicament et leur intention comportementale de commencer l’usage de MO, avant et après l’intervention. Par la suite, ils ont participé à un groupe de discussion sur leurs perceptions de l’intervention sur l’usage de MO. Avant l’intervention, les participants ont considérablement surestimé tous les types d’usage de MO. Bien que l’intervention ait entraîné une importante diminution dans les perceptions des participants sur le taux d’usage de MO de leurs pairs, des surestimations considérables subsistent. Aucune diminution n’a été observée avant, pendant et après l’intervention quant à l’intention comportementale de consommer. L’analyse des données du groupe de discussion a généré quatre thèmes qui expliquent ce que pensent les participants de l’intervention: 1) Composer avec la surestimation; 2) Réflexions sur les réseaux sociaux; 3) Normes et stigmatisation; 4) Bienfaits d’une approche sur les normes sociales. Les résultats soulignent qu’une intervention qui modifie la connaissance des normes sociales d’une personne ne suffit peut-être pas à freiner l’usage de MO. Les conclusions qualitatives fournissent des pistes sur les moyens potentiels d’accroître l’utilité des interventions sur les normes sociales pour l’usage de MO chez les étudiants de premier cycle.