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Clinical Addictions Research Laboratory

About Us

The Clinical Addictions Research Laboratory (CARL) was incepted in 1997 under the direction of Andrea King, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry.

The overarching mission of CARL is two-folded:

a). to investigate factors that lead to excessive use of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances, and factors involved in increased risk for the development of substance use disorders

b). to develop more effective interventions in the treatment of substance use disorders, particularly tobacco dependence.

This web site provides a brief overview of the mission of CARL as well as some background information on each of our ongoing research studies. If you are interested in enrolling in any of these studies, links are provided for secure online surveys to get you started.

Current Research Studies

  • Chicago Social Drinking Project
    This is an experimental and longitudinal study of social drinkers in the Chicagoland area. The aim is to assess social drinkers' responses to several commonly used substances, including stimulants, alcohol and sedatives. The study is currently enrolling new partcipants, obtaining follow-up data via quarterly interviews about alcohol, tobacco, substance use, moods, and stress levels, and conducting 5-year retest experimental sessions with the original subject cohort.

  • Chicago STOP Smoking Research Project (C-STOP)
    • This study examines the efficacy of an investigational study drug in combination with standard treatment of a nicotine patch and behavioral counseling on quit rates in a stop-smoking trial. The study enrolled subjects from June 2006 to March 2009. Currently, the remaining subjects are completing their study visits, follow-up interviews are being conducted at 6 and 12 months, and initial data analysis has begun.

  • Social Smoking Moods and Behaviors Study
    • This laboratory study examines the cognitive and mood effects of several classes of substances, such as alcohol, stimulants and sedatives. Social smokers (those who are not nicotine dependent) engage in two laboratory sessions where they may smoke one or more cigarettes. Subjects completed study measures at various intervals in the sessions. A manuscript is currently being prepared to report results from this study.

  • Social Smoking Brain Imaging Project
    • In this study, we use a non-invasive, advanced brain imaging technology of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to examine specific brain regions associated with social smokers' cognitive and mood effects of alcohol, stimulants or sedatives. Subjects will view images on a small screen and provide subjective reports and breath tests at several intervals. The total time in the fMRI scanner is less than one hour. A manuscript is currently being prepared to report results from this study.

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Clinical Studies

  • Courage to Quit ®
    • Courage to Quit ® is a stop smoking program sponsored by the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago (RHAMC). The program includes an orientation meeting and 6 behavioral counseling sessions delivered in an individual, couples, or group format. Each session includes information, practice skills, and support to help you reach your smoke-free goal. Treatment is provided at no cost.
    Click Here to learn more about and to apply for the Courage to Quit ® program

Employment

 

  • Current CARL Staff

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    Publications

    King, A.C., Houle, T., de Wit, H., Holdstock, L., & Schuster, A. (2002). Biphasic alcohol response differs in heavy versus light drinkers. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 26: 1198-1204.

    King, A.C. (2002). Role of Naltrexone in initial smoking cessation: preliminary findings. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 27: 1489-1498.

    King, A.C., Bernardy, N.C., Hauner, K. (2003). Stressful events, personality, and mood disturbance: gender differences in alcoholics and problem drinkers. Addictive Behaviors 28: 171-187.

    King, A.C. & Byars, J.A. (2004). Alcohol-induced performance impairment in heavy episodic and light social drinkers. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 65: 27-36.

    King, A.C. & Canada, S.A. (2004). Client-related predictors of early treatment drop-out in a substance abuse clinic exclusively employing individual therapy. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 26: 189-195.

    Epstein, A.M. & King, A.C. (2004). Naltrexone attenuates acute cigarette smoking behavior. Pharmacology,Biochemistry, and Behavior 77: 29-37.

    King, A.C. & Epstein, A.M. (2005). Alcohol dose-dependent increases in smoking urge in light smokers. Alcoholism:Clinical and Experimental Research 29: 547-552.

    King, A.C., Munisamy, G., de Wit, H., & Lin, S. (2006). Attenuated cortisol response to alcohol in heavy social drinkers. International Journal of Psychophysiology 59: 203-209.

    Epstein, A.M. Sher, T.G., Young, M.A., King A.C. (2007). Tobacco chippers show robust increases in smoking after alcohol consumption. Psychopharmacology 190: 321-329.

    Brumback, T., Cao, D., King, A.C. (2007). Effects of alcohol on psychomotor performance and perceived impairment in heavy binge social drinkers. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 91: 10-17.

    King, A.C ., Sánchez-Johnsen, L., Van Orman S., Cao, D., Matthews, A.K. (2008). A pilot community-based intensive smoking cessation intervention in African Americans: feasibility, acceptability, and early outcome indicators. Journal of the National Medical Association 100 : 208-217.

    Walsh, Z., Epstein, A., Munisamy, G., & King, A.C. (2008). The impact of depressive symptoms on the efficacy of naltrexone in smoking cessation. Journal of Addictive Diseases 27 : 65-72.

    King, A.C ., Epstein, A., Conrad, M., McNamara, P., & Cao, D. (2008) Sex differences in the relationship between alcohol-associated smoking urge and behavior: A pilot study. The American Journal on Addictions 17 : 347-353

    Rueger SY, McNamara PJ, & King AC (2009). Expanding the utility of the biphasic alcohol effects scale (BAES) and initial psychometric support for the brief-BAES (B-BAES). Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 33: 916-24

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