Journal: Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 2026, doi: 10.1016/j.dadr.2026 .100479
Authors: Moriah R. Harton, Jon Agley, Dong-Chul Seo, Roger S. Zoh, & Maria A. Parker
Abstract:
Background: Longitudinal patterns of common substance use in young adulthood may identify risk for later opioid-related and other drug-related harm. We examined whether longitudinal trajectories of alcohol, cannabis, and nicotine use during young adulthood were associated with non-prescribed opioid use and other drug use disorder (ODUD) symptoms in adulthood.
Methods: We analyzed restricted longitudinal Monitoring the Future panel data from 26 baseline cohorts (1976-2002). Group-based trajectory modeling identified polysubstance use trajectories from baseline through the first three biennial follow-ups. Trajectories were classified as low-use or high-use. Outcomes were any non-prescribed opioid use and ODUD symptoms between ages 35 and 55. Propensity score weighting estimated associations under average treatment effect for the treated, average treatment effect for the untreated, and average treatment effect estimands.
Results: Five trajectory groups were identified and classified as low-use or high-use. The low-use trajectory included 14.7% of participants and was characterized by no cannabis or nicotine use and low-to-moderate alcohol use; the remaining trajectories involved high use of at least one substance. In average treatment effect models, high-use trajectory membership was associated with higher odds of later non-prescribed opioid use (OR=3.61; 95% CI: 3.34, 3.91) and ODUD symptoms (OR=15.9; 95% CI: 13.5, 18.8).
Conclusion: In this US national longitudinal cohort, young adults with sustained high use of alcohol, cannabis, and/or nicotine had higher odds of non-prescribed opioid use and ODUD symptoms later in adulthood. These findings support targeted prevention, harm reduction, and cessation efforts addressing polysubstance use among young adults.
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Journal: Journal of American College Health, 2026, doi: 10.1080/07448481.2026.2733871
Authors: Allie F. Silverman, Justin Bell, Sarah K. Lipson, Christina E. Freibott, & Noel Vest
Abstract:
Objectives: This study explores the prevalence of substance use recovery among college students and the demographic, mental health, and substance use differences in students who do and do not identify as being in recovery.
Participants: Students in the Healthy Minds Study between 2021 and 2024 who took the substance use module (n = 24,279).
Methods: Descriptive and bivariate statistics to assess differences between groups of students.
Results: Across all years, an average of 8.91% of students identified as being in recovery from substance use (n = 2,146). A majority (56.4%) of college students self-identified as being in recovery reported past-month alcohol and/or substance use.
Conclusions: Though the demographics of students in recovery are similar from those not in recovery, they appear to use substances at similar rates. This has implications for college programming, with findings suggesting that many students in recovery may be using substances and benefit from non-abstinence-based resources.
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Journal: Behavioral Sciences, 2026, doi: 10.3390/bs16091651
Authors: Karli R. Hochstatter, Kalie Quon-Adams, & Jamison S. Bottomley
Abstract:
The ongoing overdose crisis has created a widespread but understudied population of bereaved individuals at elevated risk for adverse mental health outcomes. This study examines cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal factors associated with symptom severity of prolonged grief disorder (PGD), major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 115 adults who lost a loved one to drug overdose. Participants completed an online survey assessing continuing bonds, centrality of the death event, integration of the loss, unfinished business, resilience, and social support. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate associations between these factors and severity of mental health outcomes, adjusting for relevant covariates. Results indicated that greater centrality of the death event was consistently associated with higher PGD, MDD, and GAD symptoms, while unfinished business, particularly surrounding unfulfilled wishes, was associated with higher MDD and PTSD symptoms. Continuing bonds were also linked to higher PGD and GAD symptoms. In contrast, greater integration of the loss and higher resilience were associated with lower symptom severity across multiple outcomes, and greater social support was associated with lower depressive symptoms. Findings highlight the multidimensional nature of overdose bereavement and identify potentially modifiable factors that warrant further investigation in longitudinal and intervention research.
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Journal: American Journal of Community Psychology, 2026, doi: 10.1002/ajcp.70107
Authors: Kristina Conroy, M. Grace Albright, Kendall B. Roberts, Meghan A. Costello, Anthony J. Jannetti, Alexis R. Wing, & Randi M. Schuster
Abstract:
Recent policy change in Massachusetts encourages schools to limit their use of exclusionary discipline to “extraordinary circumstances,” but little work has explored the opportunities and challenges of transitioning to nonpunitive practices after student substance use infractions in schools. As such, the current study conducted semistructured interviews with key school administrators involved in disciplinary decisions to examine their personal beliefs about punishment, their policies for addressing student substance use, and their perceptions of transitioning to nonpunitive approaches. Participating school administrators (N = 24) served 20 schools, with 25% of participants working in schools serving students from predominantly ethnically/racially minoritized groups. Analyses leveraged a combined inductive and deductive content analysis. Qualitative themes highlighted how suspension remains the most common response, and yet, administrators have mixed feelings (e.g., perceived advantages, concerns about equity and effectiveness) about punishment for student substance use. Accordingly, school administrators are exploring alternative responses and believe in incorporating educational components into substance use response. School administrators discussed logistical (e.g., staff capacity) and attitudinal (e.g., “old-school” discipline mindset) determinants of transitioning to nonpunitive school practices. As key school decision makers, continued partnership with school administrators is vital to inform sustainable policy change that optimizes adolescent outcomes.
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Journal: Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2026, doi: 10.1037/ pha0000878
Authors: Thomas P. Shellenberg, Tavishi Baidwan, Alexandra N. Johansen, Justin C. Strickland, Suky Martinez, Sean D. Regnier, … Joshua A. Lile
Abstract:
Delay discounting describes the devaluation of consequences as the delay to their occurrence increases, which can yield a preference for smaller, sooner over larger, later rewards. Conceptual models and preliminary data suggest that delay discounting is exacerbated in deprivation states, including opioid withdrawal, which can shift choice allocation to more immediate rewards. Although withdrawal is hypothesized to affect decision making in opioid use disorder, research that experimentally manipulates withdrawal in people with opioid use disorder is limited by feasibility considerations. Simulated withdrawal manipulations could address this gap, but their validity is not well established. The current analysis compared the effects of real and simulated opioid withdrawal on delay discounting in people with moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder and daily fentanyl use by combining data from two previous studies. Study 1 (n = 12) elicited opioid withdrawal via double-blind, placebo substitution of oxycodone maintenance medication during inpatient admission. Study 2 (n = 17) simulated opioid withdrawal via verbal instructions to outpatient participants. All participants completed five-trial, adjusting delay discounting tasks for money and opioid pills. Linear mixed models revealed steeper rates of discounting of delayed opioid pills during opioid withdrawal, regardless of withdrawal manipulation modality (real or simulated). Delay discounting for money was steeper in the simulated withdrawal group only, potentially reflecting pre-existing group differences in the sensitivity of money discounting during withdrawal. These results are consistent with prior research and support the use of simulated withdrawal as an effective experimental proxy in decision-making studies when real withdrawal manipulations are not feasible or warranted.
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