This brief examines the average alcohol consumption of people in Canada and where it falls within the risk zones outlined in Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health (CGAH). The publication presents updated data on weekly drinking patterns by province, age, and sex, and assesses the extent to which people in Canada adhere to the CGAH guidelines. This report is intended to inform public health professionals, policy makers and researchers working to reduce alcohol-related harm.

Three Key Points You Will Find in the Document:

• People who drink alcohol in Canada consume an average of more than13...

CSUCH’s data visualisation tool can be used to estimate substance use trends across the country. The data helps inform programs, practices, and research to protect communities, save lives, and improve the well-being of people in Canada.

Spotlight: Top 3 causes of death due to substance use in Canada 

More than 200 people died each day due to substance use (SU) in 2020 (the latest year for which data are available). That works out to 73,994 deaths that year. The average age of death due to SU was 45 years. Tobacco use caused 63% (46,366) of SU-related deaths, followed by alcohol at 23%...

In a recent article, Gunawan and colleagues explore how the Incentive Salience (IS) domain in the Addictions Neuroclinical Assessment (ANA) framework relates to alcohol motivation and alcohol insensitivity. Their findings support previous research suggesting a connection between alcohol insensitivity and the motivation-driven response to alcohol-related cues. This review highlights the importance of understanding how individuals with low alcohol sensitivity (LS) experience stronger reactions to alcohol cues compared to those with high alcohol sensitivity (HS). It also emphasizes the need for...

Background
Binge drinking, defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks in a single session, is a major public health issue. It leads to cognitive and motor impairments and is linked to numerous health problems. This study aims to analyze globally published peer-reviewed literature on binge drinking.

Methods
A thorough search was conducted in the Scopus database using keywords related to binge drinking. Specific criteria were applied to filter the results, resulting in 2,763 relevant research papers. VOSviewer software was used to analyze and visualize connections between these studies...

Background
Cognitive deficits are common in patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and can impact treatment outcomes. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) is a widely used tool that could help identify cognitive impairments in SUD patients. This systematic review examines the RBANS’ effectiveness in detecting cognitive impairment in SUD patients and discusses knowledge gaps and the need for further research.

Methods
A systematic search was conducted in PsycINFO, Medline, and Cochrane databases to find relevant studies on the use of RBANS in SUD...

Background
A non-medicalized safer supply model called a “Compassion Club” has recently been evaluated. The model involved providing rigorously tested and accurately labeled illicit substances to members at cost. Operating for 14 months in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, the initiative aimed to explore the effects and feasibility of this approach among individuals at risk of fatal overdose.

Methods
At the one-year mark, 43 club members completed a survey for this cross-sectional analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the perceived impact of membership on factors like drug use...

Addiction and obesity share similar neurological pathways, both linked to compulsive behaviors and the brain's reward system. Research has highlighted the potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally developed for diabetes, to help manage both appetite and addictive cravings. These medications, such as semaglutide, may regulate addictive behaviors by influencing reward circuits in the brain. However, they come with potential side effects, and their long-term effects are still under investigation.

In addition, a new compound, 5-Methoxy-2-aminoindane (MEAI), is being researched for its...

Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) have developed a new version of a medication for opioid use disorder that could offer longer-lasting treatment. Current medications for opioid addiction often require daily doses, but the new formulation of nor-levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (nor-LAAM) is designed to be taken once a month or less frequently. This long-acting medication has shown promise in reducing opioid use and withdrawal symptoms in rodent models. The goal is to provide an alternative to existing treatments like methadone and buprenorphine, which come with barriers such as...

Few studies have looked into how cannabis use during pregnancy affects the development of disruptive behavioral disorders (DBDs) in children, often using small sample sizes and self-reported data. This study aimed to understand the link between maternal cannabis use disorder (CUD) during pregnancy and after childbirth, and the risk of DBDs in children. We used health data from New South Wales, Australia, for children born between 2003 and 2005. We compared children whose mothers had CUD to those whose mothers did not, and assessed the risk of DBDs in these children. Both CUD and DBDs were...

This briefing paper aims to raise awareness about the widespread and severe impact of GBV on women and people of diverse gender identity and expression who use drugs, as well as the strong connection between GBV and the HIV epidemic within these populations. It outlines practical responses that harm reduction providers and allied services can adopt to address violence and support the rights and health of these groups. The paper also demonstrates how a gender-responsive approach to drug use can improve outcomes for women and gender-diverse individuals by reducing harm, increasing access to...

The National Survey of Substance Use and Mental Health Services (N-SUMHSS) is a voluntary, annual survey that collects data from all active substance use and mental health treatment facilities across the United States, its territories, and Washington D.C. The annual report provides valuable insights into key operational characteristics of these treatment facilities, including the use of pharmacotherapies, availability of language assistance services, and the provision of suicide prevention assistance. This comprehensive survey helps to inform policymakers, researchers, and service providers on...

A study was conducted to examine how patterns of alcohol and cannabis use are associated with bystander intervention in situations involving the risk of sexual and relationship violence among college students. Researchers aimed to explore whether students' substance use influenced their awareness of risky situations (referred to as bystander opportunities) and their likelihood of taking action (bystander behaviors). Two key hypotheses guided this investigation: the first being that the frequency of bystander opportunities would vary depending on the students’ patterns of alcohol and cannabis...

Conducted annually, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) provides nationally representative data on the use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs; substance use disorders; mental health issues; and receipt of substance use and mental health treatment among the civilian, noninstitutionalized population aged 12 or older in the United States. NSDUH estimates allow researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the general public to better understand and improve the nation’s behavioral health. These reports and detailed tables present national estimates from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use...