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Psychoactives, Volume 1, Issue 2 (December 2022) – 5 articles

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13 pages, 274 KiB  
Article
Concurrent Hookah (Waterpipe) and Substance Use among Sexual Minority Adults in the United States: Findings from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study
by Daniel Dobrin, Angelica Means, Chiao-Wei Cheng, Amanda Adolfo, Shenita Anderson, Umme Shefa Warda, Mary-Lynn Brecht and Mary Rezk-Hanna
Psychoactives 2022, 1(2), 89-101; https://doi.org/10.3390/psychoactives1020010 - 8 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2111
Abstract
Despite higher rates of hookah (i.e., waterpipe) tobacco smoking among sexual minority (SM) adults, little is known on concurrent substance use, including alcohol or other drugs, among SM hookah smokers as compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Utilizing data from the Population Assessment of [...] Read more.
Despite higher rates of hookah (i.e., waterpipe) tobacco smoking among sexual minority (SM) adults, little is known on concurrent substance use, including alcohol or other drugs, among SM hookah smokers as compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Utilizing data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (2013–2015), weighted analyses compared concurrent substance use among current SM adult hookah smokers versus heterosexuals. Findings revealed that SM hookah smokers had a higher prevalence of concurrent alcohol, marijuana and other drug use, including stimulants and sedatives, than heterosexuals (p < 0.05). As compared to heterosexuals, SM women and young adult (18–24 years old) smokers had higher odds of marijuana use (Women: Wave 1 odds ratio (OR), 2.16, [95% CI = 1.30–3.60]; Wave 2 OR, 2.67 [95% CI = 1.36–5.25]); young adults: Wave 1 OR, 1.55, [95% CI = 0.99–2.43]; Wave 2 OR, 2.19, [95% CI = 1.22–3.94]). In this population-based, representative sample of U.S. adults, concurrent hookah smoking and substance use differed between SM and heterosexuals. Sexual minority women and young adult hookah tobacco smokers were at increased risk for concurrent marijuana use, increasing the risk for health-related consequences in this group vulnerable to tobacco and substance use. Full article
2 pages, 211 KiB  
Editorial
Natural Hallucinogens in Mental Health
by Rafael Guimarães Dos Santos and Jaime Eduardo Cecilio Hallak
Psychoactives 2022, 1(2), 87-88; https://doi.org/10.3390/psychoactives1020009 - 21 Nov 2022
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Abstract
In the last two decades, an increasing trend has unfolded toward the possible beneficial uses of natural hallucinogenic substances for treating mental health disorders [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Hallucinogens in Mental Health)
17 pages, 3473 KiB  
Article
The Nose Knows: Aroma, but Not THC Mediates the Subjective Effects of Smoked and Vaporized Cannabis Flower
by Jeremy Plumb, Shaban Demirel, Jeremy L. Sackett, Ethan B. Russo and Adrianne R. Wilson-Poe
Psychoactives 2022, 1(2), 70-86; https://doi.org/10.3390/psychoactives1020008 - 8 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 18658
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that cannabis consumers are willing to pay more money for higher-quality products; however, the definition of “quality” cannabis has not been defined. Despite the known health risks of THC overuse, THC potency has been adopted as the primary market-driving [...] Read more.
Previous studies have shown that cannabis consumers are willing to pay more money for higher-quality products; however, the definition of “quality” cannabis has not been defined. Despite the known health risks of THC overuse, THC potency has been adopted as the primary market-driving feature of cannabis products. The purpose of this study was to objectively identify features of cannabis that contribute to its appealing subjective effects. In the course of conducting cannabis competitions, commercially available cannabis inflorescences were distributed to healthy volunteers (“judges”) in a randomized, double-blind fashion. Anonymous online survey data about the subjective effects of each cannabis sample were analyzed independently, by researchers not involved with the competitions. Pleasant subjective aroma (but not terpene expression, THC potency, or THC dose) was positively correlated with pleasant subjective effects. There was also a moderate but significant negative association between the amount of cannabis consumed and subjective appeal. These results suggest that, unlike THC potency, pleasant aroma is predictive of pleasant subjective effects. Similar to other agricultural commodities such as coffee and tea, aroma appears to be a robust indicator of the quality of cannabis inflorescence. These findings have wide-reaching public health implications, given the well-established health risks of THC overuse. Full article
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6 pages, 236 KiB  
Opinion
Genotoxic Aspects of Psychoactive Substances
by Nuno G. Oliveira and Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira
Psychoactives 2022, 1(2), 64-69; https://doi.org/10.3390/psychoactives1020007 - 24 Oct 2022
Viewed by 2011
Abstract
Exposure to psychoactive substances is undoubtedly a serious public health issue that should be carefully analyzed from different perspectives. Regarding the types of toxic effects inflicted by these xenobiotics, it is already known that many of the common abused psychoactives have shown positive [...] Read more.
Exposure to psychoactive substances is undoubtedly a serious public health issue that should be carefully analyzed from different perspectives. Regarding the types of toxic effects inflicted by these xenobiotics, it is already known that many of the common abused psychoactives have shown positive genotoxicity findings in complementary genetic toxicology assays. Nevertheless, while there are several experimental articles and reviews on this topic, it is also clear that additional information, particularly mechanistic studies, is still needed. This article addresses these issues, pointing out some aspects of the potential genotoxicity of psychoactive substances that should be further explored, and suggests some possible approaches that could be valuable in future toxicological studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Psychoactives)
18 pages, 708 KiB  
Review
The Role of the Dynorphin/Kappa Opioid Receptor System in the Actions of Alcohol
by Keerthana Sureshkumar, Juliane Go, Michelle Tran, Sagunya Malhotra, Syed Muzzammil Ahmad and Kabirullah Lutfy
Psychoactives 2022, 1(2), 46-63; https://doi.org/10.3390/psychoactives1020006 - 13 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3183
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) represents major public and socioeconomic issues. Alcohol exerts its pharmacological effects by altering different neurotransmitter systems, such as g-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, opioids, etc. Recent evidence suggests that the dynorphin (DYN)/kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system mediates the negative affective [...] Read more.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) represents major public and socioeconomic issues. Alcohol exerts its pharmacological effects by altering different neurotransmitter systems, such as g-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, opioids, etc. Recent evidence suggests that the dynorphin (DYN)/kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system mediates the negative affective states associated with alcohol withdrawal. This system is also involved in stress-mediated alcohol intake in alcohol-dependent subjects. The DYN/KOR system probably exerts its action in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) to mediate the negative affective states associated with alcohol withdrawal. This article aims to review the current literature regarding the role of the DYN/KOR system in the actions of alcohol. We first review the literature regarding the effect of alcohol on the level of the peptide and its receptor, and the role of the endogenous DYN/KOR system in alcohol reward and negative affective states associated with alcohol withdrawal is then discussed. We also review the literature regarding the effects of KOR ligands on these processes. Full article
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