Background: Over the past decade, drug-related overdoses have seen a significant rise both in North America and globally. The COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasised the urgent need for safer supply programs to replace unregulated substances, reducing toxicity and overdose risks. Service providers play a crucial role in delivering safer supply initiatives, yet there's limited empirical evidence from their perspective on what constitutes effective safer supply programs. This study delves into the initial implementation and impacts of a safer supply program, capturing insights from an...

This miniguide is one of a larger set, which together comprise Health and social responses to drug problems: a European guide. It provides an overview of what to consider when planning or delivering health and social responses to stimulant-related problems, and reviews the available interventions and their effectiveness. It also considers implications for policy and practice.

The Cannabis, Mental Health, and Substance Use Health: Research Knowledge Exchange Event Summary Report presents the findings and themes discussed at an event jointly hosted by CCSA (Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction) and the Mental Health Commission of Canada. With funding from Health Canada, the two organizations supported approximately 70 research teams in exploring the potential benefits, harms, and risks of cannabis on substance use health and mental health. The event provided a platform for these research teams to share their project results, observations, and experiences...

Background

Previous research has demonstrated that remissions from alcohol use disorders can occur without accessing treatment. The current study explored the prevalence of such untreated remissions in the UK and further, examined the extent to which people who resolved an alcohol use disorder regarded themselves as ever, or currently, being in recovery.

Methods

Participants were recruited using the Prolific online platform. Participants who met criteria for lifetime alcohol dependence (ICD-10) were asked about their drinking at its heaviest, use of treatment services, whether they...

INTRODUCTION:

This study aimed to (i) analyse the prevalence of gaming in young elementary school-aged children; (ii) assess the effect of gaming frequency on excessive screen use; and (iii) identify sociodemographic variables associated with frequent gaming.

METHODS:

A survey was conducted in April–June 2021 with parents of children attending grades 1–3 in randomly selected elementary schools in Czechia, Slovakia, and Finland. Parents (n = 1871) reported the daily screen time and the weekly gaming frequency of their children during a typical week and provided sociodemographic...

The DIMS annual report 2022 covers the concentrations, adulterations, and other relevant information produced by DIMS in the past year, and in doing so forms a topical image of the Dutch drug market. Spread out over all Dutch provinces, the DIMS network encompasses 32 testing-facilities providing nation-wide coverage. Together with these partners, DIMS aims to create a clear insight into the Dutch drug market, and signal potential health risks to the public.

Harm reduction (HR) has been a pillar of drug policy in the Netherlands for many decades. In fact, the Netherlands was a pioneer in the field of HR. Like many other Western countries, the Netherlands was hit by a wave of heroin use in the 1970s. The Dutch adopted HR programs early on at the height of their heroin crisis in the 1980s, and implemented the first needle and syringe exchange program worldwide. HR seeks to reduce the health and social harms of drug use to individuals and the wider community, without requiring people to stop using drugs (EMCDDA, 2010). It is a client-centered and low...

Tobacco harm reduction is a public health strategy aimed at lessening the health impact of cigarette smoking. This approach involves using non-combustible alternatives to cigarettes, such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), which deliver nicotine without combustion. Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes produce an aerosol without burning, resulting in lower levels of harmful or potentially harmful chemicals.

This narrative review delves into existing literature examining the chemistry of e-cigarette aerosols, associated toxicology in cell culture and animal models, and clinical...

Background

This study explores substance use (SU) and substance use disorders (SUDs) among Arabic-speaking refugees in Germany. The research investigates the challenges and experiences related to SU treatment from the perspectives of both refugees and professionals.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 26 participants, including 13 refugees and 13 professionals, between 2020 and 2021 in Berlin. Refugees, aged 21 to 52, were individually interviewed in rehabilitation centers, with an average of 6.3 years in Germany. Professionals, aged 22 to 66 with 5 to 9 years of...