The International Drug Policy Academy (IDPA), established by the Council of Europe's Pompidou Group, is dedicated to enhancing the capabilities of professionals involved in drug policy and addiction services. With over 50 years of international cooperation and capacity building, the IDPA aims to bridge the gap between policy, research, and practice across various sectors, fostering the development of coherent and sustainable drug policies.  

Objectives of the IDPA

• Capacity Building: Strengthening the skills of professionals for effective design, management and evaluation of drug...

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%...

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...

INTRODUCTION: Existing research highlights current issues in youth mental health that are often related to the overuse of modern technology, the experience of depression, or reduced resilience to mental stress. The main aim of this study is to analyse the relationships between Internet Gaming Disorder, depression, and resilience, with a focus on gender differences among Czech adolescents.

METHODS: A quantitative research design was chosen for the study. Three assessment instruments were utilised – the Internet Gaming Disorder ScaleShort Form (IGDS9-SF), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21...

INTRODUCTION: Longitudinal prevention research in adolescents often involves sensitive data collection, necessitating anonymity. Self-Generated Identification Codes (SGICs) have emerged as a tool for linking anonymous data while preserving privacy, but their effectiveness, especially in large-scale studies, remains under-explored. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using SGICs for linking anonymous longitudinal data in a school-based substance use prevention study.

METHODS: We utilised a three-armed randomised control trial design, utilising data from the Czech Unplugged Study. The...

The Global Recovery Network is committed to providing valuable and relevant content for our community. 

To ensure our upcoming webinar series aligns with the needs and interests of our audience, we have developed this survey with U.S. based Faces and Voices of Recovery to determine which topics may be of most relevance. Our goal is to offer webinars that not only inform but also develop and build skills that support recovery, advocacy, and professional growth.
 
Your feedback is crucial in helping us design a webinar series that resonates with and benefits you.

Click here to complete a short...

BACKGROUND: The sports sector with all its aspects has become an inseparable part of modern society and its influence is manifested in both, local and global, aspects of the life in every country. Not only does sport create and promote friendship, team play, regardless of gender, age, education, religion, ethnicity, social status, etc., but it is also associated with numerous undesirable consequences. AIM: The primary objective of the research paper at hand was to examine the correlation between the amount invested in sports betting, as a form of gambling, and selected characteristics of...

BACKGROUND:

In the field of harm reduction (HR), an established quality assurance system with implemented quality standards is rather rare in practice. Together with limited evidence in this area, this leads to an imbalance in the basic segments of drug demand reduction and their lack of compatibility and alignment in terms of therapeutic continuity.

AIMS:

The paper presents case study analysis of the context and a description of the original quality management system in harm reduction at the national level.

METHODS:

The case study design is based on a narrative review from a search of...

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a condition unique to a newborn that results from the abrupt cessation of chronic intrauterine drug exposure following birth. Slightly persistent, late onsetting, or slowly fading-out symptoms’ manifestation may take weeks or months. In case the infant is not kept in the biological family, one possible subsequent placement after discharge from hospital in the Czech Republic is a Temporary Foster Care Institution called Pěstounská péče na přechodnou dobu (TFCI). It is unclear what knowledge, education, and experience TFCI caregivers have in...