UK Drug Strategy
The International Journal of Drug Policy has published a special collection of articles focusing on UK drug strategy. The collection includes: Introduction to special section
Share the Knowledge: ISSUP members can post in the Knowledge Share – Sign in or become a member
Compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation: Human Rights issues in Sri Lanka
K.A. WARUNI KUMARASINGHA,
Assistant Lecturer,
Department of International Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Abstract
As attitudes toward cannabis, its legal status, and patterns of use continue to evolve, the landscape surrounding this substance is in a constant state of flux. Against this backdrop, this review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the literature on the comorbidity of cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD) with other substance use and psychiatric disorders.
Results:
The most available data on the prevalence of cannabis use come from population surveys conducted in high-income countries in North America, Oceania and Europe. Less is known about the prevalence of cannabis use in Africa. This systematic review aimed to summarize general population-level cannabis use in sub-Saharan Africa since 2010.
Background: This study examined the context of drug use and trafficking in irregular migration among identified Nigerian-returned migrants from Libyan detention centers in the transit or destination along the Mediterranean irregular migratory route. Method: Population of study utilized sample size of 382 (238 males and 144 females). Participants’ recruitment employed the use of snowballing and judgmental sampling.
Importance Limited literature has characterized patterns of mental illnesses and barriers in seeking mental health care among police officers.
Objectives To assess the prevalence of mental illness (diagnosis) and symptoms of mental illness, evaluate the characteristics of officers interested in seeking mental health care, and characterize perceptions of mental health care use.
Epidemiological studies identified alcohol use disorder (AUD) as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet there is conflicting evidence on how alcohol use promotes AD pathology. In this study, a 10-week moderate two-bottle choice drinking paradigm was used to identify how chronic ethanol exposure alters amyloid-β (Aβ)-related pathology, metabolism, and behavior.
Abstract: (1) Background: The popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has recently increased. Although they are less harmful than regular cigarettes, they still cause health consequences and their use for smoking cessation is inconclusive.
Abstract
Alcohol consumption increases the risk of several types of cancer, including several common cancers. As part of their corporate social responsibility activities, the alcohol industry shares information about alcohol and cancer.
in this article, the authors examined the information that the alcohol industry shares to the public through its ‘social aspects and public relations organizations’ and related bodies.
Alcohol is often perceived as an underrated risk factor for human health.
This systematic review, published in drug and alcohol dependence explores the barriers and facilitators to accessing inpatient and community substance use treatment and harm reduction services for people who use drugs in Muslim communities.
BACKGROUND: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are associated with high rates of comorbid depression. Finding effective treatments for many of the substances of abuse is still an area of developing research. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an established treatment for depression, but its effects in SUDs are less conclusive.
This study aims to increase understanding of the relationship between heavy episodic drinking (HED) and fathers' involvement in parenting in five countries.
Many primary care clinicians (PCCs) hold stigma toward people with opioid use disorder (OUD), which may be a barrier to care. Few interventions exist to address PCC stigma toward people with OUD.
Many annual, nationally representative US surveys that assess cannabis use do not collect information on product characteristics despite varying health risks and benefits.
Background: Suicide risk is prominent among the problems affecting populations, mainly due to the broad family, psychosocial and economic impact. Most individuals at suicidal risk have some mental disorder. There is considerable evidence that psychiatric disorders are accompanied by the activation of neuro-immune and neuro-oxidative pathways.
There is little recent information about the prevalence of symptomatology of mental health disorders in representative population samples in Mexico.
Binge drinking is the consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time. This pattern of consumption is highly prevalent during the crucial developmental period of adolescence. Recently, the severity of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) has been linked with microbiome alterations suggesting a role for the gut microbiome in its development.
Brief intervention with peer recovery coach support has been used to generate referrals to substance use disorder treatment from the emergency department (ED). This retrospective study evaluated factors associated with successful linkage to treatment following brief intervention in the ED.
The impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on behavioral, mental, and physical health have been extensively investigated. As such, it is paramount to synthesize their quantified effects, especially within vulnerable populations.
Mental health services continues to be a high priority for healthcare and social service systems. Funding structures within community mental health settings have shown to impact service providers’ behaviour and practices. Additionally, stakeholder engagement is suggested as an important mechanism to achieving the intended goals.
This study identified patient profiles in terms of their quality of outpatient care use, associated sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and adverse outcomes based on frequent emergency department (ED) use, hospitalization, and death from medical causes.
BACKGROUND: Adolescence is one of the most important stages in a human life. This period is full of different stimuli and types of influence – from parents, peers, and society. It is related to greater susceptibility to problematic behaviour and to impulsivity. Because of that it is important to explore the topic of impulsivity and impulsive behaviour.
INTRODUCTION: As the prevalence of substance use continues to rise all over the world amidst the ongoing pandemic, substance use prevention professionals are challenged to find alternative ways to enhance their knowledge and competence to use the best practices in the field. In the present global health situation, in which running face-to-face training seminars is extremely difficult, the most feasible option is through online learning.
INTRODUCTION: The trajectory and nature of depression in patients with alcohol use disorder as they enter treatment needs to be understood better. This study assessed the nature and course of depressive features among male patients with alcohol use disorder.
BACKGROUND: As a theoretical base we used Jessor’s concept of the Syndrome of Risk Behaviour in Adolescence, the self-concept, and the concept of body image.
INTRODUCTION: Individuals who visit nightclubs and electronic dance music (EDM) festivals tend to use psychoactive substances, often multiple substances, in this setting and are at risk of serious negative health effects. This paper aims to explore respondents’ experiences and perceptions in order to have a better understanding of patterns and motives related to psychoactive substance use and high-risk behaviours in EDM event attendees.
BACKGROUND: Suicide is considered a severe global phenomenon as near to 700,000 people die annually as a result of suicidal behaviours. Suicide is a major public health problem among patients with a substance use disorder.
Among the many variables that affect implementation of evidence-based interventions in real-world settings, self-efficacy is one of the most important factors at the provider level of the social ecology. Yet, research on the construct of provider self-efficacy remains limited.
The Evidence-Based Practice Attitudes Scale (EBPAS) is widely used in implementation research, but it has not been adapted and validated for use among general education teachers, who are most likely to deliver evidence-based prevention programs in schools, the most common setting where youth access social, emotional, and behavioral health services.