Alcohol and drugs Archives

Antiviral medications that treat hepatitis C improve long-term outcomes

June 17, 2024

New Kaiser Permanente study identifies some patients cured of hepatitis C who may not require semi-annual surveillance for liver cancer.

Study offers clues to which people with HIV may experience suicidal thoughts

May 14, 2024

People with HIV were more likely to report suicidal thoughts if they had been diagnosed with depression or anxiety, misused stimulants, or reported use of multiple substances, according to new research from Kaiser Permanente and the University of California San Francisco.

Modest amounts of alcohol tied to increased heart disease risk, especially in women

March 29, 2024

Kaiser Permanente study finds women who reported drinking 8 or more alcoholic beverages a week were more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who drank less.

Study finds more patients sought addiction treatment for drug use during early pandemic

May 19, 2023

More Kaiser Permanente Northern California patients sought out addiction treatment during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with a similar period in 2019.

Doctors less likely to ask women about their drinking

March 29, 2023

Among patients who reported problem levels of drinking alcohol, women were less likely than men to have a conversation with their doctors about it, according to a study in the journal Addiction from Kaiser Permanent researchers.

Alcohol check-in at primary care visit may benefit other conditions

January 30, 2023

Patients with hypertension and unhealthy alcohol use were more likely to see a decline in their blood pressure if they were asked about their alcohol drinking habits and provided a brief intervention during a visit with their primary care team, according to new Kaiser Permanente research.

Patients more likely to start treatment for alcohol problems during early pandemic

December 28, 2022

A Kaiser Permanente study finds more patients starting treatment for an alcohol problem in the pandemic, during a transition to telehealth, suggesting some may be more comfortable with a video or phone visit.

Cannabis legalization may have made use easier in pregnancy

December 14, 2022

California’s legalization of cannabis for adult-use may have reduced the stigma of using cannabis products during pregnancy and made them easier to obtain, according to new research from Kaiser Permanente investigators.

Helping patients with addiction tackle their health needs

November 10, 2022

Teaching patients who are in addiction treatment to work with their primary care medical team on both mental and physical health concerns resulted in long-term benefits over 5 years, including more primary care use and fewer emergency department visits, Kaiser Permanente researchers have found.

Intervening with at-risk adolescents shows long-term benefits

September 27, 2022

A long-term Kaiser Permanente study following 1,851 adolescents who reported substance use or mood problems at a pediatric clinic found those who had access to a brief intervention and referral to treatment were less likely to have a related diagnosis 7 years later, in their 20s.

Threshold for problem drinking identified in Kaiser Permanente study

August 24, 2022

Five or more days of heavy drinking in a 3-month period predicts an increased likelihood that a person will develop a severe alcohol use disorder, according to new research from Kaiser Permanente.

New approach to alcohol withdrawal treatment reduced patients’ time in the hospital

February 22, 2022

Kaiser Permanente quality improvement effort to update hospital management of alcohol withdrawal was associated with shorter time in the hospital and less use of the intensive care unit (ICU), according to research published Feb. 22 in JAMA Network Open.

Online quiz can help parents assess if their teen has a substance use problem

February 1, 2022

An analysis by Kaiser Permanente researchers suggests there may be clues in a child’s medical history about their risk for a substance use problem. The investigators used that research and input from parents to develop a free online risk prediction tool that anyone can use.

Researchers seek answers for pregnant patients about cannabis

January 18, 2022

In a new KP Research Radio podcast, investigators studying use of cannabis during pregnancy discuss common misconceptions about prenatal cannabis use, their future research plans, and more.

Cannabis use by pregnant women increased during pandemic

September 27, 2021

A Kaiser Permanente analysis of more than 100,000 pregnancies in Northern California finds a 25% increase in the rate of cannabis use early in pregnancy after the pandemic began in spring 2020.

Pregnant women who use cannabis more likely to live near a cannabis retailer

March 4, 2021

Pregnant women who lived near recreational use cannabis retailers were more likely to use cannabis early in their pregnancies, new Kaiser Permanente research found.

Pediatrician screening of young people with substance use, mood problems can have long-term results

December 28, 2020

Adolescents who had access to a brief intervention and referral to treatment for substance use or mood problems at a pediatric clinic were less likely to have a related diagnosis 3 years later, new Kaiser Permanente research finds.

Gaining insight into medically complex patients

December 11, 2020

New Kaiser Permanente study aims to help providers improve the health of patients most likely to sustain high medical costs, frequently use the emergency department, or need to be hospitalized.

People with medical conditions more likely to abstain from drinking heavily

May 13, 2020

An analysis of 2.7 million Kaiser Permanente patients finds a higher risk of unhealthful drinking among people who drink and have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic liver disease, diabetes, and hypertension.

5 Questions for . . . Cynthia Campbell

January 8, 2020

Cynthia Campbell is a Division of Research investigator who spearheaded the development of a multi-site prescription opioids registry to better understand opioid use and patient outcomes.

Behavioral health researchers seek new ways to problem-solve for patients

October 7, 2019

Kaiser Permanente clinicians and researchers with its Northern California Division of Research work closely together to identify ways creative thinking and research can improve behavioral care for patients.

Kaiser Permanente program reduces opioid use for women delivering by C-section

August 8, 2019

Taking less pain medication, along with moving around sooner after the surgery, can allow women to recover more quickly and care for their newborns.

More women using cannabis daily before and during pregnancy, Kaiser Permanente research finds

July 19, 2019

The number of women using cannabis in the year before they get pregnant and early in their pregnancies is increasing, and their frequency of use is also rising, according to new data from Kaiser Permanente.

Lower surgical opioid dosage leads to less long-term use, Kaiser Permanente research finds

June 19, 2019

Surgical patients given less opioids and more alternative methods of pain control were less likely to continue using opioids 6 months to a year later, an analysis by Kaiser Permanente Northern California researchers finds.

‘Motivational interview’ may lessen problem drinking in people with HIV

June 11, 2019

A single, 45-minute “motivational interview” with two 20-minute follow-up phone calls may help people with HIV who report unhealthy drinking reduce their alcohol intake, say researchers at UC San Francisco and Kaiser Permanente.

Intervention, referrals lead to reduced health care needs for adolescents with substance abuse disorders

April 23, 2019

A new study suggests that the benefits to adolescent teens of screenings, interventions, and referrals can last for many years and can include sustained reductions in mental health conditions.

5 Questions for . . . Stacy Sterling

April 3, 2019

The former social worker now researches how to prevent and treat alcohol abuse in primary care. She’s looking at ways to reduce alcohol, drug, and other behavioral health problems in at-risk children, adolescents, and adults.

Kaiser Permanente Substance Abuse Researcher Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

March 20, 2019

The Research Society on Alcoholism awarded its 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award to Constance (Connie) Weisner, DrPH, for a “long, balanced career including outstanding research, training, service, and advocacy.”

The New Faces of Health Care Research, Pt. 2

January 30, 2019

In part 2 of our profile series, meet the last three of the seven early-career researchers who began their post-doctoral appointments this past year and represent not only diverse communities but diverse research interests as well.

Primary Care is an Untapped Resource for Depression Screening

September 10, 2018

A new study has identified at-risk populations for which depression screening combined with hazardous alcohol use screening could catch depressive symptoms that might otherwise go untreated.

New Kaiser Permanente Study Reveals an Increase in Marijuana Use During Pregnancy

December 26, 2017

A new study from the Division of Research, using data from almost 300,000 pregnant women treated at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, found that maternal prenatal marijuana use increased from 4 to 7 percent from 2009 to 2016.

Research Spotlight

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