Expert Summaries

CRIA Expert Summaries provide timely information on addictions and substance abuse topics. Each summary provides an overview of a problem area as well as researched-based suggestions on how to address it. The Expert Summaries are available for download in either HTML or PDF formats.

  • Alcohol and Depression
    11/13/18
    There are people whose depression only manifests after they begin abusing alcohol. Determining which problem came first is often the key to effective treatment for both issues.
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Illness
    11/13/18
    Are people with mental illness more likely to abuse drugs? Or does abusing drugs contribute to mental illness?
  • Substance Abuse in Older Adults: A Hidden Problem
    11/13/18
    One of the fastest growing health problems in the United States is substance abuse among adults age 65 and older.
  • The Facts on Teen Drinking
    11/13/18
    Underage drinking continues to be a problem in the U.S. and could have lasting repercussions.
  • Parenting Drug-Free Children
    11/13/18
    If children develop substance abuse problems, it can hamper their development and keep them from living up to their full potential.
  • Does Drinking Affect Marriage?
    11/13/18
    Research shows the answer to that question often depends on who is doing the drinking and how much is consumed.
  • Alcohol and Sexual Assault
    11/13/18
    It is the position of the UB Research Institute on Addictions that reduction of binge drinking must be recognized as a crucial goal for prevention efforts.
  • The Growing Peril of Heroin
    11/13/18
    Drug officials believe the increase may be linked to the rise in prescription drug abuse, as people who abuse drugs such as Oxycontin or Vicodin look for a greater, cheaper high.
  • Is Marijuana Medicine?
    11/13/18
    The use of medical marijuana has elicited strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
  • ‘Molly’ Who? The New Ecstasy
    11/13/18
    Molly” has been making news lately. Bad news. Recently, organizers of a New York City music festival cancelled the last day of performances when two people died—and four more were hospitalized in critical condition—due to ingesting the club drug “Molly.”
  • DXM (Cough Suppressant) Abuse
    11/13/18
    A dangerous chemical kick may be no farther away than your medicine cabinet… About one in 20 teens have gotten high on dextromethorphan (DXM) – the active ingredient in more than 100 over-the-counter (OTC) cold remedies.
  • Prescription Drug Abuse
    11/13/18
    What do pain killers, tranquilizers, and stimulant medications all have in common?
  • College Student Drinking
    11/13/18
    The “college years...” – for many, reflection on this time includes remembrances of either initiating alcohol use or the escalation of drinking.
  • "Bath Salts" Synthetic Drugs
    11/13/18
    “Bath salts” – and we're not speaking of the pleasant hygiene products purchased at your grocery store or local shopping mall – are a relatively new type of psychoactive drug containing synthetic stimulants.
  • Gambling
    11/13/18
    From 1900-1960, Nevada was the only state with legalized gambling. Outside of Nevada, gambling translated to charity bingo, horse and dog tracks.
  • Drinking and Drugs in the Workplace
    11/13/18
    A seminal study at UB’s Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) reported that during the course of the year “15% of the U.S. workforce has used or been under the influence of alcohol at work.”
  • Energy Drinks
    11/13/18
    Energy drinks are highly caffeinated beverages designed to provide a short-term energy boost. These drinks typically contain as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and three times as much as a standard soft drink, with some brands containing much higher doses.