American Society of Addiction Medicine
American Society of Addiction Medicine
Lead: Did alcohol facilitate the evolution of complex societies?
Lead: Did alcohol facilitate the evolution of complex societies?
Lead: Did alcohol facilitate the evolution of complex societies?
Tuesday 22nd July 2025
Explore the 'Drunk Hypothesis' and its impact on societal evolution, plus studies on smoking cessation, gabapentin risks, and more.
7 minutes
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American Society of Addiction Medicine
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Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Family Recovery from Addiction
Nutritional Pathways to Recovery
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Get the buttons here!Did Alcohol Influence the Rise of Complex Societies?
Episode Overview
- Alcohol may have contributed to social bonding and cooperation in early societies.
- Vaporised nicotine products show promise for smoking cessation.
- Gabapentin prescriptions could be linked to increased dementia risk.
- Integrated care could improve alcohol use disorder treatment availability.
- Public perception of cannabis for pain may not match current evidence.
Traditional fermented alcohols provided social benefits that helped societal evolution.
Imagine a world where alcohol might have played a role in the development of complex societies. This episode of 'This Week in Addiction Medicine' from ASAM takes you on a journey through the 'Drunk Hypothesis', exploring whether alcohol was a key player in societal evolution. The study featured in this episode analysed data from 186 non-industrial societies, revealing a modest link between indigenous alcoholic beverages and political complexity.
However, it's not all about the booze - factors like agriculture and religion also had their parts to play. The host, Zach Caruso, doesn't stop there. He dives into other intriguing studies, such as the effectiveness of vaporised nicotine products over traditional nicotine replacement therapies for smoking cessation among socially disadvantaged Australians. With findings showing VNPs have higher success rates and fewer adverse effects, there's hope for those struggling to quit smoking.
If you're curious about the potential risks of gabapentin prescriptions, the episode covers a study examining the association between gabapentin use and dementia risk in chronic pain patients. The results suggest increased risk with higher prescriptions, particularly for older adults. The episode also touches on opioid use disorder treatment in primary care settings and the dramatic rise in non-medical gabapentin use in Kentucky.
It raises questions about access to treatment for alcohol use disorder at mental health facilities and the relationship between congenital heart defects and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Finally, it addresses the limited evidence for cannabis and cannabinoids in pain treatment, cautioning against public perceptions that may not align with scientific data. With so much to ponder, this episode provides a comprehensive look at addiction medicine's latest findings.
So why not give it a listen and see what new perspectives you might gain?