This webinar presents key findings from a recent scoping review examining how artificial intelligence and social media are creating new opportunities for the detection and prevention of substance use, including among hard-to-reach populations. Alongside an overview of emerging trends in AI research, the session will explore the ethical considerations, practical challenges, and real-world opportunities involved in applying these technologies to strengthen the work of the substance use professional workforce, with particular relevance to the Global South. Researchers, practitioners, and...

This guide highlights the critical importance of maintaining personal well-being in a field that is both highly rewarding and emotionally demanding. The guide explores common workplace stressors, such as high caseloads, complex client needs, and organisational pressures, and how these can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, and reduced effectiveness if left unaddressed.

It presents a whole-health approach to well-being, emphasising multiple dimensions including emotional, physical, social, and occupational health, and underscores the shared responsibility between individuals and...

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...