{"id":43,"date":"2024-04-12T15:38:01","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T14:38:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs-draft\/?page_id=43"},"modified":"2026-02-02T15:43:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T15:43:43","slug":"addiction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs\/research\/addiction\/","title":{"rendered":"Addiction medicine"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Global Section &#8211; Main Menu&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#0071b3&#8243; min_height=&#8221;38px&#8221; max_height=&#8221;150px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-20px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;5px||0px||false|false&#8221; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; min_height=&#8221;81px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_menu menu_id=&#8221;7&#8243; active_link_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; menu_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; menu_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#0071b3&#8243; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_menu][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Section &#8211; Breadcrumbs&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-50px|auto||auto|false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][lwp_divi_breadcrumbs home_text=&#8221;PBS&#8221; font_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; module_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; global_module=&#8221;254&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/lwp_divi_breadcrumbs][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Title Section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-110px||||false|false&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_post_title meta=&#8221;off&#8221; featured_image=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; title_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; title_font_size=&#8221;35px&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Intro&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder associated with changes to the brain&#8217;s reward system.\u00a0 Substance addictions (nicotine, alcohol, other drugs) and behavioural addictions (e.g. gambling, gaming, shopping) are recognised. Addiction is characterised by compulsion, continues use despite negative personal and social impacts, withdrawal, tolerance, and repeated attempts to control or stop use. The personal and social costs of addiction are substantial, with harms to individuals, families, communities and governments.<\/p>\n<p>Addiction medicine research is a cross cutting speciality that involves the acquisition of skills to undertake biological (e.g. neurocognitive and other domains of behavioural and imaging related neuroscience), clinical (e.g. cardiovascular, infections, respiratory pathologies and other multiple morbidities), behavioural (e.g. fatal and non-fatal overdose, injecting, co-dependencies, criminal activities) social (e.g. homelessness) and policy (e.g. global health) related activities.<\/p>\n<p>A programme of teaching, research, policy development, and international innovation collaboration activities is organised by the <em>Baldacchino Lab for Addiction Medicine.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#f1f1f1&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Title&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Principal Investigators<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;on&#8221; gutter_width=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text &#8211; AB&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<!-- pure output start --><!-- pure output start --><style>\n.pureProfileListItem {\n\tdisplay: block;\n\twidth: 100%;\n\tmargin-bottom: 15px;\n}\n\n.pureProfileListItem h3 {\n\tfont-size: calc(0.9 * 1.3em);\n}\n\n.pureProfileListItem h4 {\n\tfont-size: calc(0.9 * 1.1em);\n}\n\n.pureProfileListItem:after {\n  content: \"\";\n  display: table;\n  clear: both;\n}\n\n.pureImage {\n  object-fit: none; \/* Do not scale the image *\/\n  object-position: center; \/* Center the image within the element *\/\n  height: auto;\n  width:50px;\n  height:50px;\n  overflow:hidden;\n  float:left;\n  margin-right: 10px;\n  margin-bottom: 15px;\n}\n.pureTextArea {\n\twidth: 80%;\n\tfloat:left;\n}\n\n\n.pureName {\n\n}\n.pureJob {\n\n}\n.pureContact {\n\tdisplay: block;\n\tfloat:left;\n}\n.purePhone {\n}\n.pureEmail {\n}\n.pureJob {\n}\n.pureProfileKeywords {\n\tfont-style:italic;\n\tdisplay: inline-block;\n\tmargin-bottom: 10px;\n}\n\n\n<\/style><a href=\"https:\/\/research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk\/en\/persons\/f98a7000-1256-450f-b6f1-db0cdace8bb4\" target=\"_blank\"><div class=\"pureProfileListItem\"><div class=\"pureImage\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pure.st-andrews.ac.uk\/portal\/files\/324310980\/medium.jpg\" alt=\"amb30\"><\/div><div class=\"pureTextArea\"><div class=\"pureName\"><h3>Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry and Addictions Alexander Baldacchino<\/h3><\/div><h4><div class=\"pureJob\">Professor<\/div><\/h4><div class=\"pureContact\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>\n<!-- pure output end -->\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Section &#8211; Projects&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Title&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Projects of Interest<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/digitas\/&#8221; button_text=&#8221;DigitAS&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Btn &#8211; Digitas&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; button_on_hover=&#8221;off&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||5px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;-85px||||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;|0px|||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Txt &#8211; Digitas&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><em>Digital Innovation in Addiction Services<\/em> <em>(DigitAS St Andrews)<\/em>\u00a0is transforming how addiction healthcare is delivered by generating real-world evidence to guide the design, adoption, and equitable scale-up of digital interventions.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/digitas\/2025\/06\/29\/multimorbidity-in-the-context-of-harmful-alcohol-use&#8221; button_text=&#8221;Multimorbidity in the Context of Harmful Alcohol Use&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Btn &#8211; Multimorbidity&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; button_on_hover=&#8221;off&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||5px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;-85px||||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;|0px|||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Txt &#8211; Multimorbidity &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>An exploration of factors associated with, and outcomes from, harmful alcohol use in Scotland. Work packages include a systematic review, analysis of large-scale linked electronic health records, and interviews with affected individuals.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/ideas-addiction.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk&#8221; button_text=&#8221;IDEAS in Addiction Medicine&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Btn &#8211; IDEAS&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; button_on_hover=&#8221;off&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||5px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;-85px||||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;|0px|||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Txt &#8211; IDEAS&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><em>Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship, Action &amp; Systems Hub for Addiction Medicine (IDEAS St Andrews)<\/em>\u00a0is a multi-disciplinary innovation hub that draws on expertise and resources across the University of St Andrews and connects with partners from the NHS, local government, academia, industry, funding and philanthropy across the UK and globally to drive and research innovation in addiction medicine.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/digitas\/2025\/06\/29\/chronic-opioid-use-and-cardiovascular-disease&#8221; button_text=&#8221;Chronic Opioid Exposure and Cardiovascular Disease: the CO-CARDIO Study&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Btn &#8211; Opioid&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; button_on_hover=&#8221;off&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||5px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;-85px||||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;|0px|||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Txt &#8211; Opioid&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>Chronic opioid exposure (COE) is increasingly recognised as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and adverse events.\u00a0 This study aims to detect and characterise the association between COE and CVD in the context of multimorbidity and modifiable risk factors.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"et_pb_module lwp_divi_breadcrumbs lwp_divi_breadcrumbs_0\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lwp-breadcrumbs\"> <span class=\"before\"><\/span> <span vocab=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/\" typeof=\"BreadcrumbList\"><span property=\"itemListElement\" typeof=\"ListItem\"><a property=\"item\" typeof=\"WebPage\" href=\"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs\/\" class=\"home\"><span property=\"name\">PBS<\/span><\/a><meta property=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/span> <span class=\"separator et-pb-icon\">5<\/span> <\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder associated with changes to the brain&#8217;s reward system.\u00a0 Substance addictions (nicotine, alcohol, other drugs) and behavioural addictions (e.g. gambling, gaming, shopping) are recognised. Addiction is characterised by compulsion, continues use despite negative personal and social impacts, withdrawal, tolerance, and repeated attempts [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":126,"featured_media":0,"parent":38,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-43","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/126"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}