Article 1: Hanson, K.L., Thayer, R.E., & Tapert, S.F. (2014). Adolescent marijuana users have elevated risk-taking on the balloon analog risk task. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 28(11), 1080-1087. doi: 10.1177/0269881114550352

Questions that apply to this article:

1. What is executive function? How have you used it today?
2. How did the researchers characterize the drug use and executive functions of their subjects?
3. What biases or other factors can influence research on drug use and its effects?

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Article 2: Harrell, P.T., Simmons, V.N., Correa, J.B., Padhya, T.A., & Brandon, T.H. (2014). Electronic nicotine delivery systems ("e-cigarettes"): review of safety and smoking cessation efficacy. Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 151(3), 381-393. doi: 10.1177/0194599814536847

Questions that apply to this article:

1. What are the risks of smoking cigarettes and what chemicals within the cigarettes lead people to smoke them?
2. What benefits do e-cigarettes offer?
3. If e-cigarettes offer a different source of nicotine, but still provide that addictive chemical, it is ethical to sell them to adults? What about to children?

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Article 3: Randler, C., Horzum, M.B., & Vollmer, C. (2014). Internet addiction and its relationship to chronotype and personality in a Turkish university student sample. Social Science Computer Review, 32(4), 484 - 495. doi: 10.1177/0894439313511055

Questions that apply to this article:

1. What is internet addiction and how is it similar to and different from the drug addictions described in the textbook?
2. What is “chronotype” and why might it be a factor in internet addiction?
3. How did the authors collect data for this study and what concerns might you have about these methods?

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Article 4: Biskupska, J., Borowiak, K.S., Karlin-Grazewicz, K., Janus, T., Waloszczyk, P., Potocka-Banas, B., . . . Ciechanowicz, A. (2013). Estimation of BDNF gene polymorphism and predisposition to dependence development for selected psychoactive compounds: genetic aspects of addiction with the selected drugs, amphetamine, tetrahydrocannabinol and opiates. Human & Experimental Toxicology, 32(3), 236-240. doi: 10.1177/0960327112459203

Questions that apply to this article:

1. Why did these researchers want to study genes associated with dopamine?
2. What do the results of this study suggest about the relationship between these genes and addiction?
3. Why is it useful and important to publish studies with this type of result?