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 experience...

At the 10th International Conference on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users, held in Glasgow, Scotland, international policymakers gathered to discuss the global overdose crisis and the role that supervised consumption sites can play in helping end these needless and preventable deaths.

The policy brief

A new policy brief is now available that summarises the day’s discussions and provides a starting point for those wanting to know more about supervised consumption rooms and their impact.

It includes:

• Evidence of success
• Global case studies
• Evaluation models 
• Implementation...

Emotional wellness is a cornerstone of the recovery process. The American Addictions Centers explained in this short guidance how to use mindfulness therapy and other techniques to help individuals overcome negative thinking, leading to a healthier life and a successful recovery journey.

The Many Paths to Wellness: Explore Chapter 5 in "Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health," which defines the concept of recovery from substance use disorders and reviews methods used by mutual aid groups and recovery support services to foster and sustain recovery. Understand why recovery matters and the diverse paths to wellness.

The American Addictions Centers provide insights into how a healthy diet and exercise can enhance overall health and recovery. This resource offers an overview of the root of addiction and how to overcome it through healthy life habits. This guidance will emphasize the benefits of a healthy diet in improving overall health and supporting recovery. It will also shed light on the positive impact of exercise, including therapies like yoga, on both physical and mental well-being. Additionally, it will provide an overview of the underlying causes of addiction and offer insights on how to overcome...

SAMHSA explains the concept of wellness, encompassing physical and mental health. This resource elaborates on the eight dimensions of wellness that cover various aspects of modern-day life, highlighting the interconnection between physical and mental well-being.

BACKGROUND: The role of physicians is crucial in the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders and addiction. The quality of addiction-specific medical education varies, as do postgraduate and continuing medical education programmes in different countries. In order to ensure a high level of quality education, it is necessary to name and define competency-based quality standards that enable physicians to provide the highest quality care to patients.

METHODS: The objective of the study will be the identification of quality standards in competency-based postgraduate and continual...