Addiction Medicine
Clinical Inquiries
How much does smoking cessation cut CHD risk?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Significantly. Patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) who refrain from smoking over a 2-year follow-up period decrease...
PURLs
Help smokers quit: Tell them their “lung age”
A clever twist on presenting spirometry results can boost smoking cessation rates.
Clinical Inquiries
Alcoholic liver disease: Is acetaminophen safe?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes—acetaminophen is a safe and effective analgesic that can be appropriately used for adult patients with stable chronic...
Clinical Inquiries
What common substances can cause false positives on urine screens for drugs of abuse?
EVIDENCE-BASED THERAPY: False-positive reports on urine drug screens by immunoassay are rare (strength of recommendation [SOR]: C, small...
Clinical Inquiries
What predicts a successful smoking cessation attempt?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Quit date abstinence (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, based on low-quality randomized controlled trial [RCT] of...
Clinical Inquiries
What interventions can help patients stop using chewing tobacco?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), including gum and patches, decreases cravings and short-term abstinence rates, but does...
Commentary
Tramadol addiction
Clinical Inquiries
What is the addiction risk associated with tramadol?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Tramadol (Ultram, generic and with acetaminophen in Ultracet) carries a risk of substance abuse (strength of recommendation...
Applied Evidence
3 Regimens for alcohol withdrawal and detoxification
Q&A
Screening and intervention for excessive drinking produce small results
BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization has recommended screening for excessive alcohol consumption. However, the effectiveness of screening, as...
Q&A
Oral topiramate effective for alcoholism
BACKGROUND: Alcohol dependence is a fairly common problem seen in family practice.