Alcohol Research Group

Regulatory approaches to alcohol availability vary widely, yet policies that control the number or location of alcohol retail outlets remain under-documented. This study aimed to identify and describe these approaches across jurisdictions in the USA and Canada. A two-stage document analysis was conducted for all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces, and three Canadian territories (jurisdictions). Relevant legislative documents were identified and reviewed, with data extracted on policies establishing quantitative thresholds on either total outlet numbers (including outright prohibition), outlets numbers per population, distances between alcohol retail outlets, or distances between alcohol retail outlets and sensitive locations such as schools. Data collection took place between March and May 2024. Among 63 jurisdictions, 56 (88.9 %) used at least one approach to limiting the number and/or location of alcohol retail outlets, with 39 (61.9 %) using two or more. The most common approach (63.5 % of jurisdictions) was limiting minimum distances between outlets and specific locations, such as schools or places-of-worship. Population-based limits on outlet density were used by 44.4 % of jurisdictions, but thresholds varied substantially, (e.g. from 1.36 to 200 outlets per 100,000 population for on-sales, and 5.00 to 200 per 100,000 population for off-sales). Nearly half of all jurisdictions (47.6 %) had at least one dry county or area, while a smaller proportion (17.5 %) set minimum distances between outlets to prevent clustering. Fixed caps on the absolute number of outlets, regardless of population size, were least common (12.7 %). Quantitative controls on the number and/or location of alcohol retail outlets are widely used across the USA and Canada but vary significantly in structure and stringency. While some jurisdictions impose multiple controls, others apply none. Understanding these policy approaches provides insight into regulatory frameworks but does not indicate enforcement levels or public health impact. Further research could examine how these measures are implemented and whether different models influence alcohol availability.

Prosapip1 is a brain-specific protein, encoded by Lzts3, localized to the postsynaptic density, where it promotes dendritic spine maturation in primary hippocampal neurons. However, nothing is known about the role of Prosapip1 in vivo. To examine this, we utilized the Cre-loxP system to develop a Prosapip1 neuronal knockout mouse. We found that Prosapip1 controls the synaptic localization of its binding partner SPAR, along with PSD-95 and the GluN2B subunit of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) in the dorsal hippocampus (dHP). We next sought to identify the potential contribution of Prosapip1 to the activity and function of the NMDAR and found that Prosapip1 plays an important role in NMDAR-mediated transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of the dHP. As LTP is the cellular hallmark of learning and memory, we examined the consequences of neuronal knockout of Prosapip1 on dHP-dependent memory. We found that global or dHP-specific neuronal knockout of Prosapip1 caused a deficit in learning and memor,y whereas developmental, locomotor, and anxiety phenotypes were normal. Taken together, Prosapip1 in the dHP promotes the proper localization of synaptic proteins which, in turn, facilitates LTP driving recognition, social, and spatial learning and memory.

Objective Since the 2018 Farm Bill, many new types of intoxicating cannabis products (ICPs) are widely sold throughout the United States. However, there is little information on popular brands, which is essential for understanding associated risks, marketing strategies, and major industry players who may oppose effective public health legislation. The current study identified popular ICP brands in vape shops across the U.S. Methods In November–December 2023, telephone surveys were conducted for 520 vape shops across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Google Maps was used to locate 10 vape shops per state/territory. Shops were asked about the availability of THC products and popular brands. Responses were dual-coded, and descriptive statistics were used to describe popular ICP brands. Results Vape shops in 48 states/territories reported selling ICPs. Overall, 74% of shops surveyed sold ICPs. Among these, 62% (N = 273) provided information about brands (N = 188 unique brands; average 2.4 per shop). The top ten brands identified were Torch (12.7%), Mellow Fellow (9.7%), Cake (8.4%), Modus (8.0%), Delta Extrax (7.6%), Hidden Hills (7.6%), Looper (7.2%), Urb (7.2%), Ghost (6.3%), and Space Gods (6.3%). Conclusion This is the first study to systematically document popular brands of ICPs sold in vape shops nationwide. Findings suggest substantial competition in the market including many popular brands. These brands provide a foundation for future research assessing the characteristics of products from these brands and use prevalence, the nature of the industries producing these products, and industry dynamics over time, all of which can help inform regulatory efforts.

To examine the association between the use of the grocery card supplemental benefit offered by Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and health care utilization. Observational study utilizing 2021-2022 MA claims data. This observational cohort study examined eligible adults who were continuously enrolled between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022, in MA dual-eligible special needs plans that offered a grocery card benefit from January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022. We performed difference-in-differences analyses comparing health care utilization among dual-eligible members who opted to use grocery card supplemental benefits vs those who did not, before and after the benefit's introduction. Grocery card use was associated with an increase in the likelihood of annual wellness, primary care provider (PCP), and specialist visits (6.6%, 4.9%, and 6.6%, respectively) and increased number of office and specialist visits (2.3% and 2.8%, respectively). Frequent use (more than half of the available grocery card dollars) was analyzed separately and was associated with slightly greater increases in the likelihood and number of visits (all P <.05). This observational study of dual-eligible beneficiaries found a modest relative increase in office visits, including annual wellness, PCP, and specialist visits, among beneficiaries who opted to use the grocery card supplemental benefits after they were offered compared with beneficiaries who did not. These findings suggest that policy changes that allow for nonmedical supplemental benefits have had favorable results, especially for dual-eligible beneficiaries.

Involvement in mutual-help groups (MHGs) is associated with positive alcohol recovery outcomes. Attendance is a first step to involvement, but barriers to attendance remain poorly understood, especially among second-wave (non-12-step) MHGs. This study aimed to describe the most common barriers to MHG attendance, describe variation in barriers across diverse MHG types, and identify attendance barrier domains associated with MHG involvement over a 12-month period. Data were from the Peer Alternatives (PAL) Study 2021 Cohort, a longitudinal, online survey of second-wave and 12-step MHG participants (n = 531) with follow-ups at 6 and 12 months. Surveys measured MHG attendance barriers (11 items, 3 domains) and MHG involvement (5 items). We used adjusted generalized estimating equations to examine lagged associations between barrier subscale scores and MHG involvement at 6 and 12 months. Social anxiety and psychiatric concerns were overall more highly endorsed than low motivation/perceived need and dislike of meeting attendees and content in the total sample and for each MHG except LifeRing. The most highly endorsed individual barrier to attendance was "I don't like crowds or large groups." Higher social anxiety and psychiatric concerns domain scores predicted lower MHG involvement at 6- and 12-month follow-ups in adjusted models (beta = -.09, 95% CI [-.18, -.01], p < .01), and this was the only barrier domain associated with MHG involvement. Social anxiety and psychiatric concerns are salient barriers to attending a variety of MHG groups and to MHG involvement. Efforts to enhance MHG social experiences and the availability of groups for people with psychiatric concerns could improve MHG involvement.

Background: Family burden has not been studied in relation to alcohol and other drug harms from others. We adapted a family burden scale from studies of caring for those with mental health conditions for use in the US Alcohol and Drug Harm to Others Survey (ADHTOS). We investigated associations between a seven-item summative burden scale and different types of harms attributed to someone else’s use of alcohol, cannabis, or another drug: (a) being assaulted/physically harmed; (b) having family/partner problems; (c) feeling threatened or afraid; and (d) being emotionally hurt/neglected due to others’ substance use. Methods: A survey of adults aged 18 years and over conducted between October 2023 and July 2024 (n = 8,311), involved address-based sampling (n = 3,931 including 193 mail-backs) and web panels (n = 4,380), oversampling Black (n = 951), Latinx (n = 790) and sexual or gender minority (SGM) respondents (n = 309). Data from seven items on types of burdens experienced from other people’s alcohol or drug use were provided by those harmed by someone else’s alcohol or drug use and were used to create a burden scale. Analyses used negative binomial regression on burden sum adjusting for covariates, such as age, gender, race and ethnicity, marital status and years of education. Results: The single factor burden scale showed good internal consistency (α = .91). Components assessing being emotionally drained/exhausted and family friction/arguments were endorsed by 38–39% of participants; finding stigma of the other’s substance use upsetting was affirmed by 33%. Fewer endorsed feeling trapped in caregiving roles (22%), problems outside the family (26%), neglect of other family members’ needs (16%), and having to change plans (14%). In adjusted regression models, seven of eight harm exposures were significantly associated with burden scores. Discussion: People reported substantial burden from others’ use of alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs. Family support interventions and policy remedies to mitigate these burdens are needed.

The COVID-19 pandemic created barriers to social support for sexual minority women (SMW), which is vital to the promotion of mental and behavioral health resilience when confronting prolonged and/or excessive stress. We used phenomenological analysis to characterize ways SMW experienced and fostered social support during the pandemic. Seventeen Black, Latina, and White SMW completed Zoom and telephone interviews about their experiences during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, including changes in support from family, friends, partners, neighbors, colleagues, and the LGBTQ+ community. Study findings highlight the importance of social support and mutual aid for SMW’s resilience and wellbeing during the pandemic.