Tag: Substance Use

Spit for Science

COBE Director Dr. Danielle M. Dick, Ph.D., talks about her longitudinal research study Spit for Science which aims to study the challenges young people face in terms of substance use and mental health as well as using that data to inform programming and interventions on campus.

White Privilege and the Drug War

Eric E. Sterling, J.D., traces the history of drug law in America as well as the cultural evolution of drug use and misuse in the context of growing racial, class and other prejudices.

Pathways to Recovery

Dr. John F. Kelly presents on language, terminology and conceptualization of addiction, rationale for recovery support systems and science of recovery support services as well as the Recovery Research Institute which he founded at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The Craving Mind

Judson Brewer MD, PhD, explores how addiction forms by looking at social media, fast food and other facets of daily life.

Stress and Drugs in Vulnerable Boys and Men

Dr. Lula Beatty, Ph.D. discusses reasons for drug use in vulnerable boys and men as well as evidence-based approaches to prevention and treatment.

Opioid Addiction in Youth

Dr. Marc Fishman, MD, discusses the treatment of opioid addiction for adolescents and young adults.

Gender & Substance Use, Misuse, Treatment and Recovery

Dr. Mishka Terplan talks about how developing addiction to opioids and other drugs vary across gender, and how those expectations impact the conception of treatment and stigma around use.

Spit for Science: A How-To Guide

A reflection by COBE Director Dr. Danielle Dick on what we’ve learned after running the Spit for Science research project for the past seven years.

Service Utilization and Mental Health at VCU

For the April COBE Connect Ph.D. student Jessica Bourdon presents her research on mental health and service utilization at VCU as well as next steps for promoting and studying support services for students.

What Does Science Say about Marijuana Use?

It’s no secret that marijuana legalization and use is hotly debated across America. But how much do you know about the latest research and policy debates?

Uncovering the Science Behind E-Cigarettes

What do e-cigarettes do and who is using them at VCU? Learn more from the March COBE Connect lecture video recap with researcher Tory Spindle.

Can You Really Be Drunk In Love?

In music, movies and many other parts of popular culture, we are surrounded by media portrayals likening love to mind-altering substances – Billie Holiday’s lover goes to her head; Beyoncé is drunk in love; the Weeknd compares his lover to the anesthetic Novocain.

An Update and Overview of Spit for Science

The February COBE Connect Lunch series featured Dr. Danielle Dick discussing the history of Spit for Science and the creation of the College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute.

Does Experiencing Divorce Cause Drinking Problems, or Vice Versa?

Research shows that having an alcohol use disorder and getting divorced are closely related, meaning that if you experience one then you are more likely to experience the other. But how exactly does this association hold?

Tackling the Surgeon General’s Report: Part 1

In 2016, in the midst of growing awareness of an opioid epidemic that claims more lives just due to overdose than car accidents or gun violence, the Surgeon General has released the first Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health with the hope of encouraging a similar decline in alcohol and other drug use.

How Is Vaping Different than Smoking?

E-cigarettes are often portrayed as a healthy alternative or even a way to quit smoking. But how does e-cig use actually differ from tobacco cigarettes? Spit for Science researchers at VCU set off to find out more.