Tierneyhaley8985
1%). Noncompliance was highest among packaged goods stores compared with bar/taverns, and in neighborhoods with a lower median household income and a higher proportion of African American residents (p < .050). Noncompliant outlets were also located closer to public schools (p < .050).
This evaluation demonstrates that, in the absence of enforcement, ordinances are neither likely to be honored nor to achieve the intended public health benefits.
This evaluation demonstrates that, in the absence of enforcement, ordinances are neither likely to be honored nor to achieve the intended public health benefits.
This study characterized the use of prior authorization for opioid use disorder medications as compared with that for opioid pain medications in the United States among Medicare Part D plans.
Medicare Part D formulary data from 2017-2019 were used to describe differences in prior authorization between opioid use disorder medications and opioid pain medications.
In 2017, 72% of Medicare Part D formularies required prior authorization for brand buprenorphine-naloxone, whereas 6% of formularies required prior authorization for brand oxycodone. In 2019, 3% of formularies required prior authorization for brand buprenorphine-naloxone, whereas 16% of formularies required prior authorization for brand oxycodone. Throughout the study period, other formulary restrictions such as quantity limits were similar for both medications.
The disparate use of prior authorization in 2017 for opioid use disorder medications as compared with opioid pain medications suggests that formulary decision making may be inconsistent between medications used to treat substance use disorders and those used to treat pain. If Part D formularies publicly released their decision-making criteria, then there would be a greater understanding of why prior authorization was differentially applied. Greater transparency would help ensure that formulary decisions are not the result of biases and stigma toward substance use disorders.
The disparate use of prior authorization in 2017 for opioid use disorder medications as compared with opioid pain medications suggests that formulary decision making may be inconsistent between medications used to treat substance use disorders and those used to treat pain. If Part D formularies publicly released their decision-making criteria, then there would be a greater understanding of why prior authorization was differentially applied. Greater transparency would help ensure that formulary decisions are not the result of biases and stigma toward substance use disorders.
An online training in responsible marijuana vendor (RMV) practices was evaluated for effects on compliance with ID checking regulations.
A random sample of state-licensed recreational marijuana stores (n = 175) in Colorado and Washington State was selected in 2016-2017 and was enrolled in a randomized pretest-posttest controlled design. After baseline assessment, 75 stores were randomly assigned to a usual and customary training control group, stratified by state and region. The remaining stores (n = 100) were invited to use the RMV training. Stores were posttested at 3 and 9 months postrandomization. The primary outcome was refusal of sale measured with pseudo-underage patrons who attempted to enter stores and purchase cannabis without a state-approved ID.
There was no difference by treatment group in refusal of pseudo-underage patron buyers (baseline 92.5% intervention vs. 94.7% control; 3-month posttest 94.8% vs. 97.5%; 9-month posttest 97.5% vs. 97.1%, p = .286 [one tailed, adjusted for covariates]). The use of training increased refusals at store entry (trained 65.9% baseline 82.5%, 3 months 79.9%, 9 months; not trained 82.6%, 83.1%, 84.5%, p = .020 [two tailed, adjusted for covariates]). This difference was especially evident in Washington State (trained 40.3%, 65.1%, 60.4%; not trained 57.9%, 68.5%, 72.3%) but not in Colorado (trained 95.2%, 101.0%, 101.4; not trained 95.7%, 98.6%, 99.2%, p = .033 [two tailed, adjusted for covariates]).
When used by store personnel, online RMV training increased refusal of buyers who appeared young and did not provide a state-approved ID. However, it did not improve refusal rates overall. Stores that had lower refusals at baseline and used the training may have benefited from it.
When used by store personnel, online RMV training increased refusal of buyers who appeared young and did not provide a state-approved ID. However, it did not improve refusal rates overall. Stores that had lower refusals at baseline and used the training may have benefited from it.
Inhibitory deficits contribute to impulsive drug-seeking behavior in individuals with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). Whether abstinent individuals with MUD exhibit greater cognitive disinhibition when the suppressed response is associated with drug-related images is not fully known. This study evaluated the potency of drug-associated cue exposure in this process.
We recruited 54 abstinent men with MUD and 46 healthy control (HC) subjects to complete a novel go/no-go task in which drug-associated cues were presented in 240 trials.
Upon exposure to drug-associated cues, the numbers of commission errors increased significantly only in the abstinent MUD group (p < .001), and the abstinent MUD group produced higher levels of commission errors than the HC group (p = .009). When drug-associated cues were not available (in scrambled trials), the abstinent MUD group produced similar levels of commission errors when compared with the HC group (p = .336). The reaction times in drug cue exposure trials were longer than in scrambled trials across groups (p < .001), whereas the abstinent MUD group produced shorter reaction times than HCs, regardless of trial conditions (p = .004).
The novel go/no-go task is a useful method for detecting impulsivity in abstinent individuals with MUD. Cue exposure triggers impairment of inhibitory control in individuals with MUD at abstinence.
The novel go/no-go task is a useful method for detecting impulsivity in abstinent individuals with MUD. Cue exposure triggers impairment of inhibitory control in individuals with MUD at abstinence.
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used in medical practice, used recreationally since the mid-1960s. This study describes trends in ketamine use in sentinel cross-sectional samples of Australians who regularly use illicit stimulants, along with characteristics of consumers.
Data on trends in recent ketamine use (i.e., use in past 6 months) were drawn from annual interviews (approximately 800/year) with cross-sectional samples of people recruited from Australian state capitals from 2009 to 2019 as part of the Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) study. Characteristics of those reporting recent use were examined in the 2019 EDRS data set (n = 728) using logistic regression.
Recent ketamine use increased between 2009 and 2019 (10% to 41%, respectively, p < .001), primarily driven by use among participants recruited in Melbourne (21% to 84%, p < .001) and Sydney (19% to 68%, p < .001). However, frequency of use remained low. In 2019, consumer characteristics associated with use included being born outside of Australia and residing in Sydney or Melbourne (compared with Canberra).
Among EDRS participants in Australia, we observed an increase in recent ketamine use between 2009 and 2019, although indicators of potential problematic use remained low. The increase in recent ketamine use was largely driven by increases in Melbourne and Sydney. Further research on drivers of use in these cities is required to effectively inform harm-reduction strategies.
Among EDRS participants in Australia, we observed an increase in recent ketamine use between 2009 and 2019, although indicators of potential problematic use remained low. The increase in recent ketamine use was largely driven by increases in Melbourne and Sydney. Further research on drivers of use in these cities is required to effectively inform harm-reduction strategies.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in abrupt, drastic changes to daily life in many nations. Experiences within the United States have varied widely. In the State of Oregon in the early months of the pandemic protective protocols (e.g., social distancing) were comparatively high, resulting in concern for increases in loneliness and COVID-related stress. The present study of college students examined the indirect relationship of loneliness and other stressors to alcohol use, via drinking-to-cope motives.
A sample of traditional- and nontraditional-aged college students (N = 215; 68.1% female; mean age = 24.8 years) completed an online survey assessing COVID-19 experiences during shelter-in-place orders in Oregon over a 5-week period in April and May of 2020.
Cross-sectional structural equational modeling revealed that loneliness and COVID-19 news consumption were associated with stronger coping motives, whereas rated seriousness of COVID-19 was related to weaker coping motives. Coping motives, in turn, were related to more frequent past-30-day consumption; significant indirect effects were revealed for all three predictors on drinking frequency and heavy drinking frequency, via drinking-to-cope motives. Syk inhibitor Drinking-to-cope motives were also related to greater past-30-day marijuana use.
These findings provide insight into how COVID-related stressors and associated social relationship repercussions relate to alcohol and marijuana use and drinking-to-cope motivations while sheltering in place. These results have implications for how frequent substance use and coping-motivated use can be mitigated during a crisis.
These findings provide insight into how COVID-related stressors and associated social relationship repercussions relate to alcohol and marijuana use and drinking-to-cope motivations while sheltering in place. These results have implications for how frequent substance use and coping-motivated use can be mitigated during a crisis.
Alcohol use among adults varies by season, and drinking among 4-year college students has been linked to holidays and the academic calendar. Little research has assessed calendar-related variation in marijuana use. We examined calendar month variation in alcohol and marijuana use among a sample of young adults that was diverse with respect to college status and educational attainment.
Data were drawn from a community sample of 761 individuals (57% female; ages 18-23 at enrollment). Participants were surveyed monthly for 24 consecutive months. Multilevel models accounted for nesting of monthly data within individuals.
All measures of substance use showed evidence of variation by calendar month, with the exception of hours high in months when marijuana was used. Drinks per week and peak number of drinks were relatively elevated in summer months and in October and December; the prevalence of heavy episodic drinking was also elevated in October and December. Attending a 4-year college was associated with more drinking than not being enrolled in a 4-year college, regardless of whether a 4-year degree had been obtained. Students in a 4-year college reported more drinks per week than those not in a 4-year college in September and October, whereas the peak number of drinks converged across educational status in the summer months and in December. Across educational statuses, marijuana use was highest in April and December.
Findings may guide the targeting and timing of substance use prevention programs by focusing efforts before and during higher risk months.
Findings may guide the targeting and timing of substance use prevention programs by focusing efforts before and during higher risk months.
