Given the large availability of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) throughout the brain, and the wide range of neurotransmitter systems affected (norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine), nicotine influences a wide variety of cognitive domains such as sensorial, motor, attentional, executive, learning and memory. This article reviews current state of the art research on the effects of nicotine upon cognition. There are different neurobiological mechanisms involved in acute/chronic smoking and nicotine abstinence. Smoking reinforcement could be due to the initial cognitive improvement, that is, individuals can learn that smoking temporarily increases cognitive functioning (improving some components of attention and memory). These acute nicotine effects improve (i) cognitive performance above smokers’ normal levels, and (ii) cognitive disruption resulting from nicotine abstinence. Both neurobiological effects act as reinforcers to nicotine use, greatly contributing to the development of nicotine dependence. However, heavy smoking is associated with cognitive impairment and cognitive decline in middle age. Future clinical research should investigate the role of positive and negative cognitive effects of nicotine in smoking cessation treatment. This is clearly an important scientific issue, with insufficient current data from which to draw definitive conclusions.

Tobacco use is associated with an annual global economic cost of two trillion dollars and mortality of half of its regular users. Tobacco leaf cultivation is the starting point of the tobacco cycle. Tobacco farming employs millions of small-scale tobacco farmers around the globe, most of whom are out growers who rely on the tobacco industry. This paper aims to map the regions of greatest tobacco production globally (i.e., the US, Brazil, China, Indonesia, India, and Zambia) and tobacco use rates in these locations. Smoking rates were higher in those areas, except for India, where important population subgroups reported an upward trend for tobacco smoking. In general, there was a relationship between tobacco farming and tobacco smoking. Tobacco farming may lead to a higher risk of tobacco use and lower adherence to tobacco control policies. Therefore, promoting viable alternative livelihoods for tobacco farmers must have dual benefits. Additionally, specific health prevention policies might be necessary for those populations reporting higher tobacco use and lower perception of tobacco-related health risks.

(1) Background: The treatment of substance addiction is challenging and has persisted for decades, with only a few therapeutic options. Although there are some recommendations for specific treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), there is no specific medication used to treat alcohol cravings, which could benefit millions of patients that are suffering from alcoholism. Cravings, or the urge to use drugs, refer to the desire to experience the effects of a previously experienced psychoactive substance. (2) Methods: We included original studies of alcohol abuse or dependence extracted from a controlled, blind, pharmacological treatment study which presented measures and outcomes related to alcohol cravings. (3) Results: Specific drugs used for the treatment of alcoholism, such as Naltrexone and Acamprosate, have had the best results in relieving craving symptoms, as well as promoting abstinence. Baclofen and anticonvulsants such as Gabapentin and Topiramate have shown good results in promoting abstinence and the cessation of cravings. (4) Conclusions: Specific drugs used for the treatment of alcoholism to obtain the best results can be considered the gold standard for promoting abstinence and relieving cravings. Anticonvulsants and Baclofen also had good results, with these medications being considered as second-line ones. Varenicline is an option for alcohol dependents who also concomitantly ingest tobacco.

Background: The management of mental disorders in child and adolescent is challenging. In addition, when substance use disorders are associated with mental disorders, important complications are noted. Dual pathology and Substance-induced disorders should be distinguished in cases like this.Objective: To summarize the latest information on the epidemiology, etiology and management aspects of dual pathology in adolescents.Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO and SciELO databases were searched to perform a narrative review.Results: Dual pathology is the term used to designate the co-occurrence of an addictive disorder and at least one other mental health disorder, independently. To distinguish dual pathology from substance- induced disorders, the temporal association between the disorders in a longitudinal assessment should be emphasized. If the symptoms of the mental disorder appear prior to the substance use or after a long period of abstinence, a diagnosis of dual pathology should be considered. Patients with dual pathology present greater psychosocial issues, more medical problems, and worse prognosis than those with substance-induced disorders. The proposed etiological models agree that biological, psychological and social factors are shared in the development of these conditions.Conclusion: Healthcare systems should focus on creating policies that will allow early detection, preventive public health measures, and an integrated and coordinated care for these patients. Public health policies should create means to promote awareness and prevention of these pathologies since early initiation of treatment (pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, family therapy, education in schools, behavioral interventions and treatment of comorbidities) reduces the risks associated to substance use disorders and other negative consequences.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a heavy impact on daily life, leading to physical and psychosocial consequences. Nowadays, clinicians and health researchers are particularly interested in describing and facing the long-term effects of COVID-19, also known as “long-COVID syndrome”. Pandemic fatigue has been defined as a cluster of demotivation, tiredness, and psychological effects that emerge gradually over time after the infection or through the adoption of the recommended measures to combat it. In this study, we report the findings of a large survey conducted in South America involving 1448 participants (mean age: 33.9 ± 11.2 years old) from Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, Peru, and Paraguay. An online survey was launched through the common social media based on a specific assessment aimed to detect the prevalence of pandemic fatigue and associated factors. Socio-demographic characteristics, medical, and personal information were collected; the Pandemic Fatigue Scale (PFS) and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) were also administered. We found mid-levels of pandemic fatigue among respondents (21.7 ± 7.95 score at PFS) as well as significant anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic (1.56 ± 2.76 score at CAS). In addition, pandemic fatigue was significantly associated with the experience of the loss of a relative/friend due to COVID-19, anxiety related to the infection, and reliance on social media as a primary source of information on the pandemic. Vaccination significantly reduced the levels of fatigue among respondents. Our findings may add to the international debate regarding the long-term health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and strategies to manage them in the general population of South America.

This review aims to summarize neuroimaging studies in order to better understand the neural correlates of depressive symptoms in tobacco smokers. Using the keywords "depressive OR depression" AND "tobacco OR nicotine OR smok* OR cigarette" AND "neuroimage OR magnetic resonance OR smri OR structural magnetic resonance OR fmri OR functional magnetic resonance OR pet OR positron emission tomography", literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases. The first and the last author read the abstracts of all the studies found in the search (n = 179). The inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied and 150 articles were excluded. Then, both authors assessed the remaining 29 studies for eligibility and 16 studies were included in the present review. In the phase of active/chronic smoking, depressive symptoms are characterized as comorbidity related to an enhancement of dopamine release, and smokers have decreased Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A). Stimuli-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (Stimuli-fMRI) studies also show that there is a positive correlation between the level of depressive symptoms and a greater response to general negative stimuli in active/chronic smokers. In the withdrawal phase, depressive symptoms are related to the withdrawal syndrome and increased MAO-A. Stimuli-fMRI studies show that there is a negative correlation between level of depressive symptoms and reactivity to negative stimuli in recent abstinent smokers. Major areas of the reward system such as the striatum and areas related to impulse control are activated to a greater extent in depressive smokers compared to non-depressed smokers.