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 190 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 in the follow-up phase, where participants complete interviews on a quarterly basis about their alcohol, tobacco, substance use, moods, and stress levels.

Chicago Smoking Treatment 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 is actively recruiting 324 adult smokers who desire to quit smoking. The study will enroll participants from June 2006 to August 2008. All treatment is provided at no charge and there is compensation for travel and other expenses.

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 complete study measures at various intervals in the sessions. There is financial compensation and travel reimbursement for participation. ***Sorry, but enrollment for this study is now closed***

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. ***Sorry, but enrollment for this study is now closed***

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Employment

Current CARL Staff

All inquiries regarding full or part-time employment opportunities should be directed to either:
- Patrick McNamara - ( pmcnamar@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu)
  --Project Coordinator

All inquiries regarding internships and other training opportunities in CARL should be directed to Dr. Andrea King.

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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.