Background

Smoking is more common in lower socioeconomic position (SEP) groups, but smoking cessation interventions are less effective for these groups. StopCoach, an mHealth intervention, supports people with lower SEP in quitting smoking. A non-randomized controlled trial found that adding StopCoach to accredited smoking cessation counselling (SCC) led to higher abstinence rates immediately after and one year after SCC, compared to SCC alone. Users also rated its usability, acceptability, and practicality positively. Recent studies show a dose-response relationship, where more mHealth use...

INTRODUCTION: Declining fertility and rising numbers of only children necessitate understanding their specific characteristics. The main objective of the present research study is to map the area of sibling constellations. It focuses on perfectionism and the Big Five personality traits.

METHODS: Online data were collected from 1,384 Slovak participants aged 15-74 (133 only children, 1,251 with siblings) using the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) and the Big Five Inventory (BFI 10). MannWhitney U tests compared groups, with effect sizes (AUC) calculated. Spearman’s...

INTRODUCTION: The addiction workforce encompasses a diverse group of professionals across various sectors, such as prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. Training for this workforce is highly variable both at local and international levels, influenced by differences in drug policies, regulatory frameworks, and educational systems across regions. The need for a more holistic and inclusive competency framework has become increasingly apparent to address these disparities.

METHODS: This article draws on insights from a transdisciplinary team involved in the WAVE (Workforce...

ABSTRACT: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), a plant native to Southeast Asia, has gained global popularity due to both its dose-dependent stimulant and sedative effects. This has raised concerns, particularly around adolescent use, as regular consumption can lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms. In the Czech Republic, kratom is reportedly used alongside cannabis among adolescents. However, there is limited clinical data on the impact of kratom dependence within this demographic. This study aims to address this gap by exploring adolescent kratom use from the clinical and healthcare policy...

BACKGROUND: Prescription drug use disorders are increasingly becoming a reason for people contacting addiction services. The onset is often slow and not obvious. People can be very good at hiding the problem from their social environment. When overused, psychoactive medications, particularly sedatives, hypnotics, and/or opioid analgesics, may cause a range of severe health and social difficulties. Some of these issues may be due to cognitive function deficits or impairments which are reflected in various ways in the daily functioning of an individual.

AIM: The aim of the research is to...

INTRODUCTION: Psychoactive substance use constitutes a significant determinant of morbidity and mortality among adolescent and emerging adult populations across European Union member states. This study aims to examine associations between substance use prevalence and drug-induced mortality rates, with a focus on age- and gender-specific disparities and spatiotemporal patterns across selected EU countries.

METHODS: The research design employed a quantitative descriptive-comparative analysis of EMCDDA and EUDA datasets spanning the years 2010–2022, complemented by predictive modelling using...

The article explores basic personality characteristics in accordance with the Big Five inventory; it concerns the age category of adolescence, i.e. the ages 11–19. Particular attention is paid to the variables of age, sex, and nationality as factors contributing to the establishment of these personality characteristics. The research involved 2,830 adolescents aged 11–19. The average age was 14.89 (SD = 2.23). Participants attended lower or higher secondary education (ISCED 2 and 3) in the Czech Republic or the Slovak Republic. The research employed the Big Five Inventory BFI-10. While...

INTRODUCTION: Substance use among adolescents in the European Union constitutes a significant public health challenge. Particularly concerning are the early onset of use, patterns of polydrug consumption, and the emergence of novel psychoactive substances. This study examines prevailing trends and associated mental health risks through a secondary analysis of available data sources.

METHODS: The study employs secondary analysis of quantitative data from international and national databases (EMCDDA, ESPAD, Euro-DEN Plus, Public Health England), focusing on adolescents aged 10–24 years. The...

More than 100 million people — including at least 15 million children — are now using e-cigarettes, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Children are nine times more likely than adults to vape, raising serious concerns about early nicotine dependence. WHO officials warn that e-cigarettes, often marketed as “harm reduction,” are in fact hooking a new generation on nicotine and undermining decades of progress in tobacco control.

While traditional tobacco use continues to decline globally, vaping is rapidly increasing, especially in high-income countries. Yet by the end of 2024, 62...

The European Union and Central Asian countries have joined forces through the EU–Central Asia Action Plan on Drugs 2014–2020, building on earlier cooperation dating back to 2002. This plan recognises the shared challenges posed by drug trafficking, drug abuse and the security risks linked to developments in neighbouring Afghanistan. With law enforcement and judicial systems in need of modernisation, the Action Plan focuses on reducing both the demand for and supply of illicit drugs, while also strengthening national capacities to respond effectively.

At its core, the Action Plan represents...

The UNODC has developed a Toolkit designed to strengthen the capacity of civil society, academia, and the private sector to support the implementation of the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) and its Protocols.

The Toolkit aims to:

• Equip non-governmental stakeholders with practical strategies to engage with governments and build partnerships with UNODC.

• Facilitate knowledge-sharing, showcase promising practices, and provide useful resources for preventing and combating organized crime.

• Highlight the importance of collaboration across sectors...