Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies

Rethinking E-Cigarette Flavor Policy: Can We Reduce Harm for Adults Without Inviting Youth Use?: Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs: Vol 86, No 5

Rethinking E-Cigarette Flavor Policy: Can We Reduce Harm for Adults Without Inviting Youth Use? (new #openaccess in @jsadjournal.bsky.social 86/5)
@nyusilver.bsky.social @browncaas.bsky.social @laurenmic.bsky.social @marielsbello.bsky.social @dalemaglalang.bsky.social
www.jsad.com/doi/full/10....

Happy #NationalRecoveryMonth! Team members from the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University were happy to attend Providence's 22nd #Rally4Recovery last weekend for connection, celebration & community! Thanks to @ricares.bsky.social for organizing such a fun event! #RecoveryMonth

Jane will be a fantastic leader for RSMj. Congratulations, Jane!

I am thrilled that we just received the NOA for the 23rd year of our #NIDA T32 at @browncaas.bsky.social, headed by Jen Tidey and Damaris Rohsenow. We await the NOA for year 40 of our #NIAAA T32. These are essential pipelines for early career investigators, who are navigating so much uncertainty.

Excited to share that I was elected as Member-at-Large (Early Career Psychologist) for the Society of Addiction Psychology. Looking forward to serving in this role @apadivision50.bsky.social 🎉

Preloading with nicotine replacement therapy in people with HIV who smoke: a pilot randomized controlled trial AbstractIntroduction. Smoking cessation rates in people with HIV (PWH) are lower than in the general population, even when evidence-based treatments are us

Our recent pilot study led by Trish Cioe at
@browncaas.bsky.social shows promise for nicotine patch preloading among people with HIV who smoke. Increased self efficacy for quitting and lower cigarettes per day. #HIV #quitsmoking
academic.oup.com/ntr/article-...

A New Study at Brown University May Help Alleviate Symptoms of PTSD - Rhode Island Monthly For those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, the drug MDMA might ease the pain. Last year, a team of Brown University researchers launched a

CAAS researchers are investigating whether the drug MDMA, aka molly or ecstasy, in combination with guided therapy, can help to alleviate PTSD symptoms for veterans. "It's just mind-blowing. It's not something we ever see with traditional PTSD treatments," says Assistant Professor Christy Capone.

Huge congratulations to CAAS Assistant Professor David Zelaya for winning the APA Division 45 Emerging Professional – Contributions to Service Award! 🎉 We're so proud of his dedication and impact. #APADivision45 #EmergingProfessional #ServiceAward #PublicHealth @apadivision45.bsky.social

Congratulations to CAAS Director @chriskahlerphd.bsky.social, the newly elected Vice President of @rsaofficial.bsky.social! 🎉 #AlcoholResearch

Overdose deaths have declined 27% in 2024. Professors Brandon Marshall and Alexandria Macmadu talked to @washingtonpost.com and @wsj.com about it. Links below.

After hitting staggering heights, U.S. overdose deaths fell sharply in 2024 The opioid crisis in the U.S. shows signs of improvement, with a significant drop in fentanyl overdose deaths in 2024.

US drug deaths plunged in 2024, according to new federal data. “I would characterize this as a historically significant decrease in overdose deaths,” says Professor Brandon Marshall. “We’re really seeing decreases almost across the entire nation at this point.” www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Is There a Least Bad Alcohol?

Is there a least bad alcohol? Professor Damaris Rohsenow of @browncaas.bsky.social says that, when it comes to hangovers, there may be. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/w...

Mark your calendars🗓! The CAAS Rounds Spring Forward Drive supporting Sojourner House is on Friday May 16th.

Drop off a donation and stay for refreshments, crafts, and a brief presentation by representatives from Sojourner House!

We look forward to seeing you there, read the flyer for more info!

Congratulations to the former and current CAAS postdocs who were recognized in the Research Society on Alcohol 2025 Annual Awards!🎉 @rsaofficial.bsky.social

Event Reminder! Join CAAS today at 12pm for the 2025 Dr. Angela Stevens Memorial Lecture!

Dr. Noel Vest, will deliver his talk, “Researching with Conviction: An Academic Journey from Prison to PhD.”

More information here: events.brown.edu/caas/event/3...

Congratulations to CAAS Faculty Jennifer Merrill & Elizabeth Aston who received a 2025 Seed Award!🎉 @jenmerrillphd.bsky.social

This award supports their research focusing on the labeling of alcohol products.

Learn more about their research: division-research.brown.edu/research-cyc...

Heavy and Even Moderate Drinking Can Cause Brain Damage Tied to Dementia In a new study, people who drank 8 or more drinks per week had over double the risk of brain lesions compared to people who never drank.

CAAS faculty Chris Kahler and Mollie Monnig were quoted in an article about the effects of drinking on the brain.

@chriskahlerphd.bsky.social

Check out the article by Everyday Health below!
www.everydayhealth.com/neurological...

Join us Friday May 2 for the 2025 Dr. Angela Stevens Memorial Lecture.

This year, we welcome Dr. Noel Vest, who will deliver his talk, “Researching with Conviction: An Academic Journey from Prison to PhD.”

More information here: events.brown.edu/caas/event/3...

i-BSHS Seminar Series (Dr. Jennifer Roberts) “Moon Marked and Touched By Sun: Confronting the Roots of Active Living Inequities” Jennifer D. Roberts is a tenured Associate Professo...

Next Friday April 25 Jennifer Roberts PhD will be presenting as part of the i-BSHS Seminar Series.

Her presentation is titled “Moon Marked and Touched By Sun: Confronting the Roots of Active Living Inequities”

Click the link to learn more about the event!

events.brown.edu/public-healt...

CAAS Event Recap!

Last Friday CAAS was joined by Dr. Craig McClain who gave an insightful presentation about Nutrition Deficiencies and Nutrition Therapy in Alcohol Use Disorder and Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease as part of the CADRE sponsored Distinguished Visiting Scholar Series.

Heavy and Even Moderate Drinking Can Cause Brain Damage Tied to Dementia In a new study, people who drank 8 or more drinks per week had over double the risk of brain lesions compared to people who never drank.

A new study from the @uspoficial.bsky.social finds 8 or more alcoholic drinks/week raises the risk of developing dementia. Professor Mollie Monnig of @browncaas.bsky.social says the findings, based on post-mortem brain studies, are an important step forward. www.everydayhealth.com/neurological...

New study finds surprising way to curb college-aged drinking harms—without cutting alcohol A complementary approach called Counter-Attitudinal Advocacy has been found to help young adults reduce the harms related to heavy drinking by shifting how they think—not how much they drink.

CAAS Professor Kate Carey describes a new study that aims to curb college-aged drinking harms: “Counter-Attitudinal Advocacy frames the discussion more broadly: ‘Why is it good for young people to avoid problems?’ rather than ‘You personally need to change.’”

Tomorrow April 9th at 12pm – Angelica Meinhofer from Cornell will be presenting on "Early school Medicaid expansions and health services for children with parental opioid use disorder."

More info on the infographic below!

Please join us for CAAS Rounds this Friday, April 11th at 12 PM!
Joshua Kemp, Ph.D. & Melissa Simon, Ph.D. will present on Academic Entrepreneurship in the Behavioral Sciences. We hope to see you there!  

More information here: events.brown.edu/caas/event/3...

The People Who Never Get Hangovers Researchers have repeatedly found that around a quarter of drinkers report feeling perfectly fine after a big night out. Why?

Dr. Rohsenow, Associate Director of CAAS, was quoted in The New York Times for her research on hangovers.

Read the article here! www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/w...

So grateful to have been at #CPA2025, sharing science, friendship, and resilience with talented scientists from around the country, including David Zelaya, @aguywithaphd.bsky.social, and so many students, staff, postdocs, faculty, and alums from @browncaas.bsky.social.

CAAS Rounds Dismantling The "War On Drugs" Jon Soske (he/him), PhD Jon Soske's research utilizes ethnography and community-engaged research to understand the unfolding crisis in mental health and SUD treatment. He is a Systems of Care Fellow at RISD's Center for Complexity and a research associate in the Division of Addiction Medicine at Brown University Health. Cecilia Fix(she/her), MD Dr. Cecilia Fix is the Director of the Division of Addiction Medicine at Brown University Health. She is trained in internal medicine and addiction medicine. Dr. Fix sees patients at the Brown Recovery Center and at Addiction Care Today where she treats all substance use disorders. On Friday Feb 21, 2025 Starts 12PM-1PM SPH Room 245

This Friday, 2/21, at 12pm in SPH 245, Dr. Jon Soske (He/Him) and Dr. Cecilia Fix (She/Her) will present “Dismantling the 'War on Drugs'” for this week’s CAAS Rounds!

Please note this event is in-person only. We hope to see you there!