Drug Testing and Analysis
January 1, 2014
Lucy Burns, Amanda Roxburgh, Allison J Matthews et al.
78 citations
In 2013, 44% of a sample of 654 regular ecstasy users in Australia had used a new psychoactive substance (NPS) in the past six months. The most common NPS were the hallucinogens 2C-I (14%) and 2C-B (8%). Users of NPS were younger, used a wider variety of drugs more frequently, and were more likely to rate ecstasy purity as low compared to those who did not use NPS. NPS have become a regular part of Australia's recreational drug scene, and monitoring systems need to adapt to track this rapidly changing market.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
July 1, 2012
Raimondo Bruno, Allison J Matthews, Matthew Dunn et al.
58 citations
More than a quarter (28%) of regular ecstasy users in Australia had used an emerging psychoactive substance (EPS) in the past six months, most often a stimulant like mephedrone (17%) rather than a psychedelic like 5-MeO-DMT (13%). Users of stimulant EPS resembled mainstream ecstasy users in demographics and risk behaviors, while psychedelic EPS users were a distinct subgroup who started ecstasy earlier, used more multiple substances (cannabis, inhalants, GHB, ketamine), and experienced more legal, psychological, and social problems. The demographic similarity of stimulant EPS consumers and positive responses to these drugs, combined with declining ecstasy purity, suggest stimulant EPS may expand further into ecstasy markets and pose greater public health risks.
The International journal on drug policy
February 1, 2017
Allison J Matthews, Rachel Sutherland, Amy Peacock et al.
23 citations
Frequent psychostimulant consumers in Australia rated stimulant-type new psychoactive substances (NPS), such as mephedrone and methylone, less favorably than ecstasy and cocaine in terms of pleasurable effects and likelihood of future use. DMT, a hallucinogenic tryptamine, showed a similar profile to LSD for pleasurable effects and future use likelihood, but its negative acute and comedown effects were rated lower. Hallucinogenic phenethylamines like 2C-B had a negative profile similar to LSD but were rated as less pleasurable and less likely to be used again. The potential for expanded use of stimulant-type NPS may be lower than for common stimulants, while DMT's potential may be higher relative to LSD due to fewer negative effects.
Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.)
May 11, 2023
Monique Williams, Cynthia Honan, Sarah Skromanis et al.
22 citations
A systematic review and meta-analysis of eight articles (four independent studies, 334 participants) examined the effects of mindfulness training on anxiety and attention in adults diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder who completed an 8-week manualized program. Mindfulness training produced a large reduction in anxiety symptoms compared to inactive or non-specified controls, but not compared to active controls. Effects on depression, worry, and trait mindfulness were not statistically significant. Changes in aspects of trait mindfulness were found to mediate anxiety reduction. The evidence was limited by few studies, high risk of bias, and low certainty.
Journal of Psychiatric Research
February 1, 2024
Monique Williams, Cynthia Honan, Sarah Skromanis et al.
9 citations
A systematic review and meta-analysis of five controlled trials (277 participants with elevated trait or generalized anxiety) examined the acute effects of a brief audio-based mindfulness induction on state anxiety and attention. Compared with non-therapeutic control conditions, mindfulness induction produced a medium reduction in state anxiety and a large increase in state mindfulness. Two studies comparing mindfulness to therapeutic active controls also showed small-to-moderate anxiety reductions, though results could not be pooled. Evidence for attention improvements was limited, with one study reporting changes in brain activity in the anterior cingulate cortex. State mindfulness partially mediated anxiety reductions. The small number of studies, high risk of bias, and low certainty of evidence qualify confidence in the findings.