This blog post explores how Sweden’s municipal policymaking often falls short of its stated commitments to equality and evidence-based governance—particularly when it comes to addressing intersecting identities and structural inequalities. Current impact assessments tend to be superficial and lack both an intersectional lens and a preventive approach.

Through the lived experience of a politically active single mother and researcher, the post imagines a future where municipalities are supported by independent, interdisciplinary teams focused on improving the quality and depth of impact...

Across Europe, one in four children faces poverty or social exclusion, with vulnerable groups—such as migrants, refugees, and children from disadvantaged families—bearing the greatest burden. These disparities were worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the urgent need for more equitable access to health and social services.

Early childhood is a critical window for health and development, yet investment in prevention remains low. Barriers such as financial constraints, administrative complexity, and lack of coordination across sectors hinder access to essential services—especially...

This publication presents key findings from the 8th round of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD), conducted in 2024 among 113,882 students aged 15–16 across 37 European countries.

Marking 30 years of monitoring adolescent risk behaviours, the 2024 edition introduces a new focus on mental well-being and prevention activities, highlighting their growing role in shaping youth health outcomes.

The key findings report is available in 33 languages and optimised for online access. A full report, ESPAD Report 2024, will be released in October 2025.

Background
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Although Medicaid covers tobacco cessation treatments, smoking rates remain much higher among Medicaid beneficiaries (30%) compared to those with private insurance (18%). This study examined how often South Carolina Medicaid fee-for-service beneficiaries received tobacco counseling from 2019 to 2022.

Methods
The study analyzed data from 49,401 individuals diagnosed with tobacco use disorder. It assessed differences in counseling rates by age, race, sex, region, and provider type using Chi-squared tests.

Re...

Background
Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for bladder cancer. Harmful substances in tobacco smoke can damage cells and lead to cancer. Understanding this link is important for better prevention and treatment.

Objective
This study reviews global research on the connection between smoking and bladder cancer using bibliometric analysis, aiming to identify key trends, topics, and future directions.

Methods
We analyzed studies published between 1999 and 2023 from the Web of Science database. Tools like VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to map contributions from countries, institutions...

Screen4Success – A Tool for Health, Wellness, and Well-being Assessment

SAMHSA’s new “Talk. They Hear You.”® campaign mobile app helps parents and caregivers prepare for some of the most important conversations they may ever have with their kids. Screen4Success is a new screening tool developed to support individuals, families, and caregivers by providing a structured way to assess aspects of personal health, wellness, and well-being.

Key Points:

• Screen4Success offers a user-friendly format to help individuals recognise potential areas where additional support might be needed.

• It...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month 

Join the movement to prioritise mental health! 

Use SAMHSA’s Digital Toolkit to help raise awareness, start important conversations, and share the powerful message that #MentalHealth is health.

The Toolkit is a one-stop shop offering:
✔️ Key messages and weekly themes for May
✔️ Ready-to-use social media content, graphics, and promotional materials
✔️ Messaging to encourage acceptance and support for individuals living with mental illness
✔️ Best practices for having supportive conversations about mental health
✔️ Additional resources to keep the...

Background
Smoking is one of the top causes of preventable death and is linked to many serious health problems, including cancer and chronic diseases. Nurses can play a big role in helping people quit smoking by offering support through counselling, education, and mental health care. These nurse-led programs have been shown to increase quit rates. Training nurses to deliver these programs is important, and reviewing past studies helps us understand what works best.

Methods
Researchers searched eight major health databases between March 27 and August 1, 2024, to find studies on nurse-led...

Europol’s EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (EU-SOCTA) 2025, published today, reveals how the very DNA of crime is shifting – reshaping the tactics, tools and structures employed by criminal networks.

The EU-SOCTA offers one of the most thorough analyses conducted on the threats posed by serious organised crime to the EU’s internal security. Based on intelligence from EU Member States and international law enforcement partners, this report not only analyses the state of organised crime today – it anticipates threats of tomorrow, providing a roadmap for Europe’s law enforcement...

Background
The digitalization of society blurs the boundaries between the analog and digital worlds, providing opportunities such as telemedicine and global connectivity. However, it also introduces risks, including cyberbullying, addiction, harmful content, misinformation, and privacy concerns from data breaches and surveillance technologies. Social media, with its vast reach, amplifies both opportunities for positive engagement and the responsibility to navigate largely unregulated content. Adolescents, due to their developing critical evaluation skills and higher prevalence of mental health...

Background
Child poverty is linked to poorer physical and mental health, negative educational outcomes, and long-term social and psychological issues, all of which increase service demand and costs. Traditionally, prevention and early intervention efforts have focused on improving inter-parental relationships, parenting skills, or child development (e.g., early childhood education, family therapy, youth mentoring). These programs often target low-income families but rarely address poverty directly. While such interventions have shown some success, their effects are typically small, short-term...

Substance use surveillance has emerged as a crucial public health strategy across Africa, particularly in light of the alarming rise in substance use among adolescents (1). This trend poses significant health risks that require a comprehensive understanding of the underlying dynamics. Substance use surveillance plays a pivotal role in developing a thorough understanding of the underlying dynamics of substance use across various populations, particularly in Africa. By systematically collecting and analyzing data on substance use trends, prevalence, and associated health risks, surveillance...

Background

Drug use trends among youth change rapidly, making it difficult for experts to respond quickly. Delays in addressing these issues can lead to preventable health problems and deaths. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for better strategies to respond quickly and fairly using existing treatments and prevention efforts. Evidence-based interventions (EBIs), like the Michigan Model for Health™ (MMH), are already effective in tackling emerging drug problems. However, we need to improve how these strategies are implemented to better respond to new drug trends. This research aims...