Problem-solving courts (PSCs) are specialized courts offering evidence-based interventions for rehabilitating and diverting individuals from carceral institutions. PSCs allow participants to address problems influencing their behavior, such as mental health and/or substance use disorders, while remaining in the community under court supervision. PSCs are designed to serve as linkage sites to support services and research supports PSCs' efficacy in doing so.

The prevalence of polysubstance use is known to be high among individuals who use/misuse drugs. This study aims to extend existing research by (a) measuring polysubstance use through objective drug testing rather than fallible self-reports, (b) determining the most frequent three- and four-substance combinations instead of being limited to typical two-substance combinations, and (c) examining a comprehensive panel of substances beyond those commonly studied.

Individuals who are in recovery from opioid use disorder experience enacted stigma, which can undermine treatment retention and recovery. Stronger understanding of who is at risk of experiencing enacted stigma can inform intervention efforts to reduce experiences of enacted stigma, enhance wellbeing, and promote treatment outcomes among people in recovery from OUD. The current study applies a machine learning framework to examine predictors of enacted stigma among people in recovery from OUD.

Alcohol continues to be one of the most consumed substances worldwide, with unhealthy use on the rise. This study investigates the transition from the first full drink to the onset of alcohol dependence within 12 months among individuals with newly incident alcohol use in the United States.

The use of Delta-8 THC, a naturally occurring isomer of Delta-9 THC, has increased in the United States following the 2018 Farm Bill. However, data on the prevalence of its use and associated health conditions remain limited. This study aims to assess the association between chronic health conditions and Delta-8 THC use among U.S. adults. A cross-sectional internet-based survey collected self-reported Delta-8 THC use and chronic medical conditions from 1,080 adults aged 18-59 through the Qualtrics research panel. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between sociodemographic and clinical correlations of Delta-8 THC use. Results showed that participants reporting any chronic medical conditions had higher odds of reporting Delta-8 THC use in the past 12 months [(aOR)=1.87, 95% (CI): 1.04, 3.28; p<0.05)]. More specifically, participants reporting a history of diabetes [(aOR)=1.95, 95% CI: 1.09, 3.48; p<0.05)], heart disease [(aOR)=3.74, 95% CI: 1.81, 7.72; p<0.01)], and cancer [(aOR)=3.51, 95% CI: 1.75, 7.04; p>0.01)] had higher odds of using Delta-8 THC. Comprehensive research using larger, nationally representative samples and longitudinal assessments is essential to understand the health implications of Delta-8 THC use and inform public health policy.

The e-cigarette industry has targeted low- and middle-income countries and young adults, suggesting the particular susceptibility of populations at the intersection. This study assessed e-cigarette perceptions, use, and use intention among college students in Georgia, an LMIC with high smoking rates.

The opioid overdose crisis continues to worsen in suburban and rural regions. Expanding harm reduction approaches in primary care offers a patient-centered approach to reduce opioid overdoses.

The opioid epidemic is a significant public health concern, particularly among adults with chronic pain. Although sex differences in opioid-related behaviors have been observed, little work has examined the role of negative affect and related variables in greater opioid misuse severity risk among men.

To investigate the differences in alcohol use among Black adults by sex across U.S. states the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

The present study examined whether individuals perceived their peers' impulsivity as different from their own impulsivity and if perceptions of peers' impulsivity moderated the associations between personal impulsivity and alcohol use and consequences.

Contingency management (CM) for substance use disorders (SUD) is effective in strengthening recovery behaviors, however can be quite burdensome. When health facilities experience staff shortages, adapting current CM protocols to be less staff and time intensive may be one way to address this challenge.

To estimate the extent to which drinking to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and experiencing pandemic-related life stressors are associated with alcohol use escalation among young adults.

Despite the prevalence and negative outcomes associated with simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use (i.e., marijuana [SAM] use; i.e., so that the effects of both alcohol and cannabis overlap) among college students, there is no comprehensive measure of SAM use, with past research relying on single items. The present studies aimed to develop the Alcohol and Cannabis Simultaneous Use Scale (ACSUS), a comprehensive self-report measure of SAM use frequency, quantity, and problems in college students.

Treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) in people who inject drugs (PWID) has been associated with increased health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Polysubstance use (PSU) is common among PWID, but no studies have investigated PSU influence on PWID's HRQOL HCV treatment.

Research on alcohol-related problems often examines individual problem types in isolation or uses scales that provide a single cumulative severity score for alcohol-related harms. This study aims to assess the patterns of seventeen distinct alcohol-related problems and how they co-occur.

Delta-8 THC is a federally unregulated, implicitly legal, psychoactive substance from the cannabis plant. Delta-8 THC popularity and related consequences have been rising in the U.S.

This review provides an in-depth analysis of the intersection between substance use disorder (SUD) recovery and post-traumatic growth (PTG). It highlights the transformative journey toward a renewed self and purpose, including personal development, social support, and environmental factors. The review reveals that recovery involves navigating past traumas, reshaping identity, fostering resilience, and building community connections. This review emphasizes the critical role of environmental factors such as stable housing and financial security in supporting sustained recovery and growth. The importance of spiritual growth and empowerment through support groups and mentorship is also highlighted. The review advocates for a holistic approach to substance use treatment, integrating psychological healing, social reintegration, personal empowerment, and environmental stability. It also identifies critical areas for future research, including the impact of environmental factors and the long-term effects of support group participation on recovery. The synthesis offers valuable insights for clinicians, policymakers, and researchers, contributing to a more effective, empathetic, and holistic approach to PTG and recovery from substance use disorders.

The negative impact of opioid use in the U.S. has led providers to seek alternative methods for pain control. More specifically, preoperative opioid usage has been demonstrated to adversely affect patients and clinical outcomes. This study aims to assess the extent of the relationship between preoperative opioid use on postoperative outcomes across surgical disciplines using statewide population databases.

Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) has no FDA approved treatment. Serotonin-2c (5HT2c) agonists have preclinical and human laboratory evidence for potential efficacy for CUD. We assessed the tolerability and effects of lorcaserin (5HT2c agonist) on CUD.

This mixed-methods study assessed buprenorphine provider and administrator perceptions and experiences in offering telebuprenorphine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prenatal opioid exposure has been associated with adverse child health outcomes. Changes to the epigenome provide a plausible mechanism through which effects may be elicited. We investigated whether prenatal opioid exposure was associated with locus-specific changes in umbilical cord blood DNA methylation (DNAm) and gestational epigenetic age.