MAPL News

MAPL's director, Dr. Jeff Boissoneault, will be speaking at the final Pain Interest Group (PIG) monthly meeting for the 2023-2024 academic year. If you are interested in attending the session virtually, email umnpig@gmail.com for the Zoom link!

MAPL's director, Dr. Jeff Boissoneault, features as a guest on The Addiction Psychologist Podcast on Spotify, providing as overview of the intersection between pain and substance use. He makes a case for why scientists and clinicians should prioritize measuring and treating chronic pain.  The Addiction Psychologist, an official podcast of the Society for Addiction Psychology, is run by Dr. Samuel Acuff and Dr. Noah Emery. They use their platform to interview researchers, clinicians, and policymakers in the field of addiction psychology with the hopes of enhancing recovery. You can find Dr. Boissoneault's podcast episode here. 

The MAPL Team is pleased to announce the approval of our new and upcoming Automatic Alcohol Use Detection study! The goal of this study is to validate an automatic alcohol topography algorithm based on changes in drink weight collected using a virtual reality bar platform. Through the development of automatic alcohol drink detection using smartwatches, we hope to facilitate an accessible means by which research studies that can incorporate larger samples and help to develop new interventions to reduce the risk of alcohol-related consequences. This technology may also help to improve triggers for ecological-momentary assessment studies and help to develop just-in-time interventions to moderate alcohol consumption. This project will also assess whether the automatic drinking detection can be used to improve the accuracy and utility of transdermal alcohol sensors, especially in the early stages of alcohol consumption. If you are interested in participating in this study, please fill out the survey found in the flyer to the left. 

MAPL's director, Dr. Jeff Boissoneault, spoke on the effects of pain on alcohol use during the University of Minnesota Medical Discovery Team on Addiction's annual Fall Symposium. He discussed the relationship between pain and the motivation to use alcohol, as well as the subsequent effect of that relationship on the drinking topography of individuals. It was highlighted that these effects are especially strong among men and individuals with higher negative urgency. Dr. Boissoneault also outlined the CANUE model, which provides a framework for identifying individuals at risk for pain self-management with alcohol. Finally, he called for more systematic inclusion of individuals at a higher risk for alcohol-related consequences, particularly older adults, marginalized identities, individuals with chronic pain and people in recover from AUD. 

Graduate Research Assistant, Nick Bush, presented a poster titled Task-dependent functional connectivity in placebo responder at the University of Minnesota's Fall Pain Day. The poster detailed research conducted by both Nick and Dr. Boissoneault at the University of Florida. We are excited to see Nick's research grow here in Minnesota!

In fall of 2023, the Minnesota Alcohol and Pain Lab conducted a study at the Minnesota State Fair with a goal of developing a more precise way of analyzing drinking topography via a smart watch. By developing tools that allow researchers to have clearer insight surrounding the mechanics of alcohol use, we hope to increase the amount of interventions available to those wanting to better manage their alcohol consumption.