Exploring the Relationship Between Stimulant Use and Gambling in College Students

The indirect effects of self-regulation on the association of social support with increased protective drinking behavior and decreased alcohol problems in a predominantly Hispanic college student sample

BACKGROUND

Research suggests that self-regulation, which refers to one's ability to manage a behavior, and social support are related to alcohol use. Other research suggests that social support may serve as a precursor to self-regulation and health-promoting behaviors. We examined whether self-regulation has an indirect effect on the association between social support and both protective drinking behaviors and alcohol problems.

METHODS

A random sample of students at a Hispanic Serving Institution completed an online survey, which included sociodemographic questions, the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, the Short Self-Regulation Questionnaire, the Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS) Scale, and the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index. Undergraduate students (n = 192) who reported drinking in the last month were included in the analysis. A path analysis using Mplus8 was conducted to investigate the relationships among social support, self-regulation, PBS, and alcohol-related problems.

RESULTS

The sample was mostly female (58.9) and of Hispanic ethnicity (89.6). Analyses showed that social support had a significant positive association with PBS and a significant negative association with alcohol-related problems. When self-regulation was added to the models, these associations were no longer significant, and self-regulation had a significant indirect effect on the relationship between social support and both PBS and alcohol-related problems.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current cross-sectional study suggest that a viable hypothesis in future longitudinal studies is that self-regulation is a mechanism by which social support increases PBS and reduces alcohol problems. Future research should assess longitudinally both the mediating effects of self-regulation between social support and drinking outcomes and potential moderators, such as ethnicity.

Relationships Between Impulsivity, Methamphetamine use Disorder and Gambling Disorder

Methamphetamine use disorder (MAUD) and gambling disorder (GD) frequently co-occur. Individuals with both conditions are typically more difficult to treat than those with either disorder alone. This study aimed to investigate the co-occurrence and clinical characteristics of people with MAUD and GD. Between March 2018 and August 2020, 350 men with methamphetamine use entering a compulsory drug rehabilitation center in Changsha, Hunan Province received semi-structured interviews. Participants completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 and provided information on childhood upbringings and drug use characteristics. Independent sample t-tests compared differences between individuals with MAUD and with and without co-occurring GD. Dichotomous logistic regression was used to statistically predict co-occurring GD. The prevalence of GD was 45.1%. Most individuals (39.1% overall) had post-onset methamphetamine use (PoMAU-GD). The number of MAUD symptoms, history of gambling by family members, age of first sexual activity, and non-planning impulsivity statistically predicted PoMAU-GD, jointly explaining 24.0% of the total variance. The regression model fit well (HLχ2 = 5.503, p = 0.70), in which the specificity was 0.80, the sensitivity was 0.64, and the area under the curve was 0.79 (95%CI: 0.75-0.84). This study clarifies the prevalence of and potential risk factors for GD among individuals engaging in compulsory MAUD treatment in China. The high prevalence and associated clinical features of GD in the MAUD group highlight the importance of screening for GD in this population and intervening accordingly.

Prepubertal methylphenidate leads to sex-dependent differences in probabilistic discounting

Prescription psychostimulants, such as methylphenidate (MPH), have served as a first line treatment for ADHD and associated developmental disorders since 1961. Psychostimulants has been shown to improve attention, response inhibition, and reduce hyperactivity in patients with ADHD, as well as in non-clinical human populations and animals. While there is a considerable amount of preclinical research investigating the effects of stimulant medications on reward sensitivity and basic learning in male rats, less is understood about their effects in females. Further, there are competing theories on the long-term cognitive impact of MPH, specifically in children who do not have ADHD. To this end, Long-Evans female and male rats were exposed to methylphenidate (0, 2.5, 5 mg/kg, BID, IP) for 20 days during early development (PD10-29). After discontinuation of MPH into adulthood, rats (beginning PD 60) were trained and tested for risk-preference using a 2-choice probabilistic discounting task. For this task, rats were given an option between a 'large-risky' choice (3 sugar pellets delivered on a probabilistic VR schedule) and 'small-certain' choice (1 sugar pellet delivered on a FR schedule). Rats were subsequently tested on an open field conflict test. The results demonstrate that prepubertal exposure to MPH can have lasting effects on decision-making. Specifically, female rats treated with 2.5 mg/kg MPH displayed a decrease in preference for the risky option, whereas male rats treated with the same dose showed an overall increase in preference compared to sex-matched controls. Irrespective of sex, rats treated with 2.5 mg/kg MPH also demonstrated a decrease in anxiety/inhibitory behavior on the modified open field test compared to controls. These results were not due to differences in locomotor behavior. Overall, the study contributes to the growing body of evidence to suggest that MPH exposure early in development can have a sex-dependent impact on decision-making in adulthood.

The role of resilience in alcohol use, drinking motives, and alcohol-related consequences among Hispanic college students

Background: Hispanic college students experience minority stressors and are therefore at greater risk of experiencing alcohol-related consequences. Resilience may protect against problem drinking and related consequences, yet its relationship to drinking motives remains unexplored. Given that drinking motives precede both alcohol use and its consequences, investigating the role of resilience in such associations may inform interventions to reduce alcohol-related health disparities.Objectives: The current study investigated whether greater resilience predicted fewer drinking motives, lower alcohol consumption, and reduced the negative impact of drinking motives on alcohol consequences among Hispanic college students.Methods: Resilience, drinking motives and alcohol consequences were assessed among 443 students living on the U.S./Mexico border recruited via e-mail (68% female; M_age = 22.6 years, SD = 5.09). Linear regressions assessed whether drinking motives (i.e., coping, conformity, social, enhancement) and resilience predicted alcohol consumption. A linear regression also assessed resilience, drinking motives, and alcohol consumption as potential predictors of alcohol consequences. Lastly, linear regressions tested the moderating effects of resilience between each drinking motive and alcohol consumption as well as alcohol consequences.Results: Greater resilience predicted fewer alcohol-related consequences (β = -.024, p = .028). Additionally, resilience moderated the relationships social (β = -.095, p = .050) and enhancement drinking motives (β = -.084, p = .050) had with alcohol consequences. Higher social and enhancement motives were not associated with alcohol consequences among resilient individuals.Conclusion: Strengthening resilience among Hispanic students whose drinking is motivated by a desire for socialization or mood enhancement may protect against alcohol-related consequences.

An exploratory study of indicators of recent nonmedical prescription stimulant use among college students

To explore the relationship between past 30-day nonmedical prescription stimulant use (NPSU) and past 30-day marijuana and/or alcohol use, past 30-day risky marijuana and/or alcohol use, student demographics, and student activity involvement among college students. Participants: Sample of 604 college-aged students at two large universities in the southeastern U.S. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was completed electronically. Logistic regression was used to identify and test covariates of past 30-day NPSU. Results: Over 20% of participants self-reported past NPSU. Using both marijuana and alcohol in the past 30 days (B = 3.293, p = .002, OR= 26.91, 95% CI OR= 3.42, 211.92) and engaging in both risky marijuana and alcohol use (B = 2.095, p < .001, OR = 8.13, 95% CI OR = 2.52, 25.17) were significantly related to past 30-day NPSU. Conclusions: NPSU may be indicative of broader polysubstance use problems among college-aged students.

Profiles of motivations for responsible drinking among college students: A self-determination theory perspective

The present study sought to identify motivational profiles for responsible drinking from a self-determination theory (SDT) perspective among college students. We used data from 507 students who reported drinking alcohol at least once in the past 3 months that were recruited from a random sample of undergraduate students at a Southwestern university. Participants completed an online survey that included measures assessing amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, and autonomous motivation for responsible drinking as well as other SDT constructs, alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS), and alcohol use/problems. A latent profile analysis suggested that a 3-class solution was optimal: a "High Quality" class (i.e., relatively high on introjected regulation and autonomous motivation but relatively low on all other types of motivation), a "High Quantity" class (i.e., relatively high on all types of motivation), and a "Low Quantity" class (i.e., relatively low on all types of motivation). The High Quality class reported the highest level of psychological need satisfaction and dispositional autonomy, followed by the High Quantity class, with the Low Quantity class reporting the lowest levels. The High Quality class reported more frequent use of serious harm reduction PBS than the High Quantity class. Generally, both the High Quality and High Quantity classes reported more frequent use of all types of PBS and less alcohol use/problems than the Low Quantity class. These results provide initial support for different profiles of motivations based on SDT for responsible drinking. Potential implications for alcohol interventions among college students are discussed.

Perceived discrimination and alcohol-related problems among Hispanic college students: The protective role of serious harm reduction behaviors

The present study investigated the use of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) as moderators of the association between perceived discrimination and alcohol-related problems among Hispanic college students. Participants who were between 18 and 24 years of age (n = 379) completed self-report measures. The results showed that greater perceived discrimination was associated with less frequent PBS use, more problematic alcohol use, and more alcohol-related problems, while greater use of PBS types was associated with fewer alcohol-related problems. Furthermore, serious harm-reduction behaviors moderated the association between perceived discrimination and alcohol-related problems. The findings suggest that serious harm-reduction behaviors may protect against the negative effects of perceived discrimination on alcohol-related problems among Hispanic college students.

Gaming under the influence: An exploratory study

Background and aims Association between substance use and excessive play of online games exists both in theory and research. However, no study to date examined playing online games under the influence of licit and illicit drugs. Methods We questioned a convenient online sample of 3,952 Czech online gamers on their experiences and motives of using caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, psychoactive pharmaceuticals, and illicit drugs while playing massive multiplayer online games (MMOGs). Results The results showed low prevalence of illicit drug use while playing online games. Substance use was positively associated with intensity of gaming and both addiction and engagement; psychoactive substances with stimulating effect were linked to higher engagement and gaming intensity, whereas use of sedatives was associated with higher addiction score. Substance use varied slightly with the preference of game genre. Discussion Drug use while playing appears as behavior, which is mostly not related to gaming - it concerns mostly caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, or cannabis. For some users, however, drug use was fueled by motivations toward improving their cognitive enhancement and gaming performance.

Pathological Gambling among Italian Nursing Students

PURPOSE

To investigate the role of psychiatric dimensions, behavioral or substance addictions and demographical variables as determinants of pathological gambling among nursing students.

DESIGN

Multicenter cross-sectional study.

METHODS

From June to October 2015 a survey was carried out among Italian Nursing students. Data were collected using a six-section tool.

FINDINGS

Nursing students who completed the survey numbered 1083, 902 (83.3%) had some problems with gambling and 29 (2.7%) showed pathological gambling. Percentage of pathological gambling was significantly associate with illicit drug/alcohol use (65.5%; p=0.001) and with male gender (58.6%) comparing to student nurse with non-pathological gambling (20%) and those with some problem (24.2%). Significant main effect was observed for IAT score (Beta=0.119, t=3.28, p=0.001): higher IAT scores were associated with higher SOGS scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Italian nursing students have some problems with gambling and pathological gambling problem, and males are those who have more problems. Results might be useful for faculties of health professionals to identify students at risk in an early stage, to direct prevention tailored interventions.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Nursing faculties should be aware of the prevalence of Gambling among students. Prevention interventions should be planned to minimize the risk of gambling behavior in the future nurses' health care workers.