Fillmore, M. (2003). Drug Abuse as a Problem of Impaired Control: Current Approaches and Findings. Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Reviews, 179-197

The author presents a selective and integrative overview of cu-rent research examining acute effects of abused drugs on aspects of behavioral control in humans. The review discusses the concept of behavioral control and reviews research models that examine inhibitory influences as a central mechanism of control. Evidence for drug-induced impairment of inhibitory mechanisms is reviewed from current neuroanatomical, neuropharmacological, and behavioral perspectives.

Questions to Consider:

1)After reading this article, how do these perspectives mentioned above differ in their explanation of drug inducted impairment of inhibitory mechanisms?

 

2)What questions for further studies can be developed after reading the results of this study?

 

Mouttapa, M., Watson, D., Mcculler, W., Sussman, S., Weiss, J., Reiber, C., . . . Tsai, W. (2009). I'm Mad and I'm Bad: Links Between Self-Identification as a Gangster, Symptoms of Anger, and Alcohol Use Among Minority Juvenile Offenders. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 71-82.

This preliminary study examined whether anger and identification with the ‘‘gang member’’ peer group are associated with heavy alcohol use. Participants were 91 (53.8% male) juvenile offenders in four juvenile probation camps in Southern California who completed a self-report survey. More than half (53.4%) indicated that they best fit in with the ‘‘gang member’’ peer group.

Questions to Consider:

1)  One of the results of this study was, “Whites generally have lower rates of alcohol use compared to ethnic minorities”.  What social factors can account for this?

 

2)  One of the results from this study was “incarcerated youth are more likely to usealcohol as a means to cope with psychological symptoms as opposed to peer pressure”.  Is this finding surprising to you?  Why or why not? 

           

3)  What can researchers learn from the results of this study?  How can these findings be helpful those who treat drug addiction?

 

Miller, K., Melnick, M., Farrell, M., Sabo, D., & Barnes, G. (n.d.). Jocks, Gender, Binge Drinking, And Adolescent Violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 105-120.

Previous research has suggested a link between athletic involvement and elevated levels of adolescent violence outside the sport context. The present study expanded on this literature by positing differences in the sport-violence relationship across dimensions of athletic involvement (athletic participation vs. jock identity), type of violence (family vs. nonfamily), and gender as well as by examining the impact of binge drinking on the sport-violence relationship.

Questions to Consider:

1)One of the results of this study indicated that those who stated that they were actively involved in athletic participation were less likely to engage in nonfamily violence.  What factors can account for this?

 

2)The main method of gathering information was face-to-face interviews.  What are the disadvantages associated with this type of research method?

 

3)What can researchers learn based on the results of this study? 

 

Eassey, J. M., C. L. Gibson, and M. D. Krohn. "Using a Group-Based Trajectory Approach to Assess Risk and Protective Factors of Marijuana Use." Journal of Drug Issues 45.1 (2014): 4-21.

Marijuana is the most widely used illegal substance in the world, and persistent and frequent use during adolescence has been associated with precocious transitions and deleterious consequences in adulthood. This study used a group-based trajectory approach to analyze panel data collected from 1,725 youth participating in the National Youth Study to describe pathways of marijuana use and to explore protective factors that may reduce the continuation of use.

Questions to Consider:

1)The authors of this research study discuss some of the factors associated with marijuana usage such as family, friends, and non-environmental factors.  Which factor, in your opinion, has the strongest association with marijuana usage?  Why?

 

2)What are some questions for further research studies based on the results of this study?

 

Alpert, P. T. "Alcohol Abuse in Older Adults: An Invisible Population." Home Health Care Management & Practice 26.4 (2014): 269-72.

Alcohol abuse among older adults is known as the hidden epidemic as the number of individuals who suffer from dependency and abuse has about doubled in the last decade. Because baby boomers were more liberal substance users during the 1960s and 1970s, experts anticipate the epidemic will increase even further by 2020. Definition of abuse and screening as a preventive measure to identify alcohol abuse in older adults are explored.

Questions to Consider:

1)The article states, “Alcohol and prescription medication abuse among those aged 60 years and older is a growing epidemic. Approximately 2.5 million older adults have a drinking or drug abuse problem”.  What factors, in your opinion, have led to the increase of alcohol and prescription about among this demographic?

 

2)How can the results of this study be used by those who work with the elderly (i.e. nursing home administrators, caregivers)?