Addictive Behaviors

Associations among simultaneous and co-occurring use of alcohol and marijuana, risky driving, and perceived risk Publication date: September 2019 Source: Addictive Behaviors, Volume 96 Author(s): Jennifer C. Duckworth, Christine M. Lee

Shifts in momentary motivation to quit smoking based on experimental context and perceptions of motivational instability Publication date: September 2019 Source: Addictive Behaviors, Volume 96 Author(s): Jennifer C. Veilleux Abstract Background Smoking quit intentions (i.e., plans or commitments to reduce smoking) are distinct from quit motivation (i.e., desire to quit). Motivation to quit is a dynamic avoidance motivational state, likely subject to frequent fluctuations and shifts based on environmental context, similar to craving (an approach motivational state). Moreover, people's perceptions of motivational instability may influence their momentary quit motivation and beliefs surrounding their abilities to manage the quit process successfully. Methods In the current study, smokers were recruited online. Baseline motivation to quit was examined along with perceptions of motivational instability. Participants who reported some interest in eventually quitting (n = 174; Mage = 45.29, SD = 14.81, 74.1% women) were randomly assigned to negative affect, cigarette or neutral cue conditions and then momentary motivation to quit was assessed, followed by a validated index of quit intentions. Results Participants in the negative affect and cigarette cue conditions reported greater momentary motivation to quit than participants in the neutral condition (F = 3.73, p = .03), particularly for people who reported upfront that their motivation did not change from day-to-day (F = 3.97, p = .02). In addition, greater momentary quit motivation predicted stronger quit intentions (B = 0.66, p < .001). Conclusion Findings from this study suggest that motivation to quit is likely dynamic and influenced by context as well as by self-perceptions. Implications suggest that further efforts to separate motivation from intention may be useful in understanding smokers' desires and plans to quit smoking.

Evaluating the predictive value of measures of susceptibility to tobacco and alternative tobacco products Publication date: September 2019 Source: Addictive Behaviors, Volume 96 Author(s): Jessica L. Barrington-Trimis, Fei Liu, Jennifer B. Unger, Todd Alonzo, Tess Boley Cruz, Robert Urman, Mary Ann Pentz, Kiros Berhane, Rob McConnell Abstract Background The "cigarette susceptibility index" has been adapted for other products, yet, the validity of these adapted measures–particularly among youth who have used other tobacco products–has not been evaluated. Methods We used prospective data from the Southern California Children's Health Study to evaluate the association of questionnaire measures assessing susceptibility to e-cigarette, cigarette, hookah and cigar/cigarillo/little cigar use at wave 1 (W1; 11th/12th grade) with subsequent initiation between W1 and W2 (16 months later, N = 1453). We additionally examined whether each effect estimate differed by use of other tobacco products at W1. Results Odds ratios, attributable risk%, and risk differences for product initiation among susceptible vs. non-susceptible youth were consistently higher among never users of any tobacco product than among youth with any tobacco use history. For example, susceptible (vs. non-susceptible) youth with no prior tobacco use had 3.64 times the odds of subsequent initiation of e-cigarettes (95%CI:2.61,5.09), while among users of another product, susceptible (vs. non-susceptible) youth had 1.95 times the odds of e-cigarette initiation (95%CI:0.98,3.89; p-interaction = 0.016). 60.4% of e-cigarette initiation among never users of any product could be attributed to susceptibility, compared to 19.8% among users of another product. The e-cigarette absolute risk difference between susceptible and non-susceptible youth was 21.9%(15.2,28.6) for never users, vs. 15.4%(0.2,30.7) for users of another product. Conclusion Tobacco product-specific susceptibility associations with initiation of use at W2 were markedly attenuated among prior users of other products, demonstrating reduced utility for these measures among subjects using other products.

Peer victimization and problematic internet use in adolescents: The mediating role of deviant peer affiliation and the moderating role of family functioning Publication date: September 2019 Source: Addictive Behaviors, Volume 96 Author(s): Boyu Zhai, Dongping Li, Jichao Jia, Yuxiao Liu, Wenqiang Sun, Yanhui Wang Abstract The role of social-environmental factors in adolescent problematic Internet use (PIU) has attracted considerable attention recently. Several studies have documented that peer victimization is positively associated with PIU. However, little is known about "how" (i.e., mediation mechanisms) and "under what conditions" (i.e., moderation mechanisms) peer victimization is associated with adolescent PIU. To contribute to this gap in the knowledge, this study used a large sample of Chinese adolescents (N = 2758; Mage = 13.53 years, SD = 1.06) to examine deviant peer affiliation (DPA) as a mediator and family functioning as a moderator in this relationship. Students completed anonymous questionnaires to measure the main variables. After controlling for important covariates related to PIU, the results indicated that (a) peer victimization was positively associated with PIU, (b) DPA partially mediated the link between peer victimization and PIU, and (c) family functioning moderated the association between peer victimization and DPA. Specifically, for adolescents with better family functioning, the relationship between peer victimization and DPA was weaker. The current research deepens our understanding of "how" and "under what conditions" peer victimization is related to PIU in adolescents.

Associations between loot box use, problematic gaming and gambling, and gambling-related cognitions Publication date: September 2019 Source: Addictive Behaviors, Volume 96 Author(s): Gabriel A. Brooks, Luke Clark Abstract Loot boxes are virtual goods in video games that produce randomly-generated in-game rewards, and have attracted scrutiny because of a resemblance to gambling. This study tests relationships between gaming involvement, engagement with loot boxes, and their associations with disordered gambling and gambling-related cognitions. Online questionnaires were completed by 144 adults via MTurk (Study 1) and 113 undergraduates (Study 2). Gaming and loot box-related variables included estimated time spent gaming and monthly expenditure, the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (IGDS), and questions that assessed perceptions and behaviours related to loot boxes. Most participants thought loot boxes were a form of gambling (68.1% & 86.2%). A subset of items were condensed into a unidimensional "Risky Loot-box Index" (RLI) via exploratory factor analysis. In Study 1, the RLI showed significant associations with the Problem Gambling Severity Index (r = .491, p < .001) and the Gambling Related Cognitions Scale (r = .518, p < .001). Overall, gambling-related variables predicted 37.1% (p < .001) of the variance in RLI scores. Findings were replicated, though attenuated, in Study 2. These results demonstrate that besides the surface similarity of loot boxes to gambling, loot box engagement is correlated with gambling beliefs and problematic gambling behaviour in adult gamers.

Heavy episodic drinking in late adolescents: The role of theory of mind and conformity drinking motives Publication date: September 2019 Source: Addictive Behaviors, Volume 96 Author(s): Fiorenzo Laghi, Dora Bianchi, Sara Pompili, Antonia Lonigro, Roberto Baiocco Abstract Background Heavy episodic drinking (HED) implies severe consequences for health, both in the short and long term. Peer conformity has shown contradictory relationships with HED, suggesting the presence of a complex interaction between social and individual factors. Objective This study investigated the moderation role of conformity in the relationship between theory of mind (ToM) and HED. Method Participants were 170 Italian adolescents (Mage = 18.71, SDage = 0.77) recruited in public high schools. Self-report measures were administered for evaluating drunkenness and HED. The Drinking Motives Questionnaire was used to assess three drinking motives, namely coping with negative emotions, enhancement of positive feelings, and the need for peer conformity, whereas the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test was adopted to test advanced theory of mind skills. ANOVAs, MANOVAs and regression moderation analyses were performed. Results Drunkenness, HED and drinking motives did not vary with gender. Only social motives were higher in boys (vs. girls). HED was positively related to drunkenness and to social, coping and enhancement motives. However, only enhancement significantly predicted HED. Finally, conformity moderated the relationship between ToM and HED. In the presence of high conformity, adolescents with impaired ToM reported significantly more HED than adolescents with high ToM. Conclusions In the presence of conformity needs, social cognition impairment appeared to be a risk factor for HED, whereas good socio-cognitive skills were protective. Implications for research, clinical assessment and prevention are discussed.

Cross-cultural examination of college marijuana culture in five countries: Measurement invariance of the Perceived Importance of Marijuana to the College Experience Scale Publication date: September 2019 Source: Addictive Behaviors, Volume 96 Author(s): Matthew R. Pearson, Adrian J. Bravo, Melissa Sotelo, Cross-Cultural Addictions Study Team Abstract Marijuana internalized norms, measured by the Perceived Importance of Marijuana to the College Experience Scale (PIMCES; 8 items), has been found to be distinct from marijuana descriptive/injunctive norms and to be a unique robust predictor of marijuana-related outcomes among college students, yet the role of these beliefs has not been studied outside the U.S. Using confirmatory factor analysis, the present work examined the level of measurement invariance (i.e., configural, metric, and scalar) of the PIMCES across five different countries with distinct marijuana-related regulations (i.e., U.S., Argentina, Spain, Uruguay, and the Netherlands), sex, and marijuana user status among college students (n = 3424) recruited between September 2017 and January 2018. To make valid comparisons across groups, metric invariance is needed to compare correlations and scalar invariance is needed to compare latent means. We found strong measurement invariance (i.e., scalar invariance) for the PIMCES across countries, across males and females, and across marijuana users and non-users. College students in the U.S. reported the highest levels of marijuana internalized norms compared to college students from all other countries. As expected, males and marijuana users showed significantly higher scores on the PIMCES than females and non-users, respectively. Bivariate correlations between PIMCES scores and other marijuana-related variables were remarkably similar across males and females, though differences across countries warrant further exploration. Taken together, the degree to which college students view marijuana use to be an integral part of the college experience may be an important target for college student marijuana interventions across various countries/cultures.

Psychiatric comorbidity among first-time and repeat DUI offenders Publication date: September 2019 Source: Addictive Behaviors, Volume 96 Author(s): Layne M. Keating, Sarah E. Nelson, Rhiannon C. Wiley, Howard J. Shaffer Abstract Driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances is a serious public health concern. Previous research has shown that psychiatric comorbidity is more prevalent for repeat offenders than the general population, and that first-time offenders exhibit elevated rates of psychiatric comorbidity, but few studies have directly compared first-time and repeat DUI offenders. The current study compares psychiatric comorbidity among repeat and first-time DUI offenders. First-time and repeat DUI offenders completed the screener module of the Computerized Assessment and Referral System (CARS), adapted from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI: Kessler & Ustun, 2004), to measure potential psychiatric comorbidity. For 16 of 19 psychiatric disorders, repeat DUI offenders were more likely to screen positive during their lifetime compared with first-time DUI offenders. Similarly, repeat DUI offenders were more likely to screen positive during the past year for 11 of 16 assessed psychiatric disorders. Overall, repeat DUI offenders screened positive for an average of 6.3 disorders during their lifetime, compared to first-time offenders who screened positive for an average of 3.7 disorders. Repeat DUI offenders also screened positive for more past-year disorders (M = 3.3) than first-time offenders (M = 1.9). Compared to first-time offenders, repeat DUI offenders evidence more severe and pervasive psychiatric comorbidity. Further research is necessary to determine whether psychiatric comorbidity among first-time offenders directly predicts re-offense. If so, screening for mental health issues among first-offenders could provide valuable information about how best to allocate resources for these offenders.

Cocaine use is declining among emerging adults in the United States: Trends by college enrollment Publication date: September 2019 Source: Addictive Behaviors, Volume 96 Author(s): Kristin E. Schneider, Julie K. Johnson, Renee M. Johnson Abstract Background The difference in cocaine use between student and non-student emerging adults is not well understood, despite the longstanding assumption that college is protective against use. Objective To describe trends in cocaine use among emerging adults by college enrollment. Methods Using cross-sectional, nationally-representative data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2002–2016), we estimated the prevalence of four cocaine use indicators by year among emerging adults (ages 18–22) and stratified by college enrollment. We tested for linear and quadratic trends over time. Results From 2002 to 2016, 11.7% reported lifetime cocaine use, 5.8% reported past 12-month use, 1.7% reported past 30-day use, and 1% had a use disorder in the past 12-months. We observed significant linear decreases in all four use indicators over time (Lifetime: β = −0.20, Past 12-months: β = −0.17, Past 30-days: β = −0.22, Past 12-months disorder: β = −0.37). Students had lower rates of cocaine use than non-students, although prevalence estimates were more similar between groups for past 12-month (Students:5.3%, 95% CI:5.0–5.5; Non-students:6.3%, 95% CI:6.1–6.5) and past 30-day use (Students:1.6%, 95% CI:1.4–1.7; Non-students:1.8%, 95% CI:1.7–1.9) than for lifetime use (Students:9.4%, 95% CI:9.1–9.7; Non-students:13.8%, 95% CI:13.5–14.1). Conclusions Cocaine use has declined among emerging adults since the early 2000s. The college environment appears compensate for early life differences in cocaine use risk between students and non-students, closing the gap between groups for recent indicators of cocaine use. Given the severe health consequences associated with cocaine use, more public health attention to this issue is needed.

Desire thinking as a predictor of drinking status following treatment for alcohol use disorder: A prospective study Publication date: August 2019 Source: Addictive Behaviors, Volume 95 Author(s): Francesca Martino, Gabriele Caselli, Elena Fiabane, Federica Felicetti, Cecilia Trevisani, Marco Menchetti, Clarice Mezzaluna, Sandra Sassaroli, Ian P. Albery, Marcantonio M. Spada Abstract Research has indicated that craving is one of the strongest predictors of treatment outcome and relapse in Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) but there is little consensus on the factors that may influence its activation and escalation. Research has also shown that desire thinking is an important cognitive process which may exacerbate craving in problem drinkers. The aim of present study was to explore, for the first time, the role of desire thinking in prospectively predicting relapse, craving and binge drinking in patients receiving treatment for AUD. One hundred and thirty-five patients admitted to two rehabilitation centres and two outpatient services for addiction and mental health problems were administered baseline, treatment completion and three months follow-up measures of anxiety and depression, AUD severity, binge drinking frequency, craving and desire thinking. Results indicated that the verbal perseveration component of desire thinking at treatment completion was the only significant predictor of relapse at follow-up over and above baseline AUD severity and binge drinking frequency. Furthermore, the imaginal prefiguration component of desire thinking and craving levels at treatment completion were found to predict craving levels at follow-up independently of AUD severity and binge drinking frequency at baseline. Finally, both the imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration components of desire thinking at treatment completion were found to be the only predictors of binge drinking frequency at follow-up independently of AUD severity and binge drinking frequency at baseline. Treatments for AUD should aim to reduce desire thinking in people to enhance clinical outcomes and reduce relapse risk.