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Psychoactive Substances
Psychoactive substances are natural or synthetic substances that act on the central nervous system and alter mental processes such as mood, perception, cognition, consciousness, and behaviour. These substances may be legally prescribed medications (e.g., pain medications or sedatives), legally available substances such as alcohol or caffeine, or controlled or illicit drugs. Psychoactive substances can be used for medical, social, cultural, or recreational purposes, but some carry risks of misuse, dependence, and health or social harms when used in harmful ways.
FDA Approves New Buprenorphine Treatment Option for Opioid Use Disorder
For Immediate Release: May 23, 2023
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Brixadi (buprenorphine) extended-release injection for subcutaneous use (under the skin) to treat moderate to severe opioid use disorder (OUD)...
Substance use disorders: a comprehensive update of classification, epidemiology, neurobiology, clinical aspects, treatment and prevention
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly prevalent and impact individuals' health, well-being, and social functioning. Long-lasting changes in brain networks involved in reward, executive function, stress reactivity, mood, and...
Strategies to Address Cocaine and Methamphetamine
Presented by Richard Rawson, PhD, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, UCLA School of Medicine and a Research Professor at the University of Vermont, this presentation provided an overview of the...
UNODC supported delegations from four Central Asian countries in a high-level study tour to the United Kingdom
The UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) together with the UNODC Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section (PTRS) organized a study tour for high-level representatives, including senior officials, policymakers and substance...
72º Regular Session of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Comission was held
In the magazine CIJ Informa, the participation of CIJ, host chapter institution of ISSUP Mexico, in the 71st Regular Session of CICAD is reviewed.
The Anti-Stigma Network
The Anti-Stigma Network has been launched!
The Mission
The Anti-Stigma Network has been created by a group of organisations coming together with a shared mission.
Collectively they aim to improve understanding of the stigma and...
Buprenorphine versus methadone for the treatment of opioid dependence
Summary
Background
Opioid dependence is associated with substantial health and social burdens, and opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is highly effective in improving multiple outcomes for people who receive this treatment. Methadone and...
Economic Evaluations of Pharmacologic Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review
Abstract
Objective
The crisis of opioid use puts a strain on resources in the United States and worldwide. There are 3 US Food and Drug Administration–approved medications for treatment of opioid use disorder: methadone, buprenorphine...
Comparison of Treatments for Cocaine Use Disorder Among Adults
Key Points
Question What treatments for cocaine use disorder are associated with objective reductions in cocaine use among adults?
Findings In this meta-analysis of 157 clinical trials comprising 402 treatment groups and 15 842...
Cocaine Reading List
Cocaine is an addictive stimulant drug that originates from the leaves of the coca plant, which is indigenous to South America. The drug's effects include heightened alertness, attention, and energy, as well as feelings of euphoria and...
Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and related substances
Introduction
The markets for hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and related semi-synthetic cannabinoids (SSC) are rapidly evolving areas with relatively limited information currently available.
The European situation presented in Section 1 can...
Responding to stimulant use — developments in treatment
Objective: To better understand current developments in the treatment of stimulant use.
Background: Stimulant drugs are second only to cannabis as the most widely used class of illicit drug globally, accounting for 68 million past-year...
Exploring treatment barriers on the use of crystal methamphetamine among young people in Zimbabwe
Substance misuse among young people is one of the most public concerns in global health. This study set out to explore treatment barriers among young people in Zimbabwe.
Data was collected through interviews with 30 participants
The study...
2022-2023 Medical Council on Alcohol (MCA) Legacy Essay Competition
It has been widely reported that youth alcohol consumption has decreased over recent years. What is the evidence to support this view? What are the implications for alcohol related health harm, promotion of safe drinking and health policy?
...
Trends in Overdose and Other Drug-Induced Deaths in Australia
This report presents the most recent and in-depth data on overdose and drug-induced deaths in Australia, covering the period 2002 to 2021. It is the most recent output in a series of annual publications on trends in drug overdose deaths...
Implementing PLAT in Sri Lanka
Psychoactive substance use and substance use disorders (SUDs) remain to be a major problem around the world. Which has a negative effect on global health and social and economic functioning. When we are paying attention to the most...
Early exposure to cannabis and long-lasting consequences in the brain
ISSUP Italy are pleased to present their Webinar on How early exposure to cannabis misshapes the brain and exerts long-lived effects.
Normalisation of Prevention Principles and Practices to Reduce Substance Use Disorders Through an Integrated Dissemination and Implementation Framework
Major research breakthroughs over the past 30 years in the field of substance use prevention have served to:
(1) enhance understanding of pharmacological effects on the nervous systems and the health and social consequences of the use of...
Free Telementoring Mentoring Program Aims to Bring Research-Based Practices and Skills Related to Health Care Professionals Working with People who Use Alcohol
The Alcohol Use and Mental Health Project ECHO is a no-cost virtual program for health care professionals who are looking for up-to-date and research-based information on working with people who use alcohol.
The program, which is only in...
Cigarette/Nicotine use - a Gateway to other drug use?
ISSUP The Gambia are pleased to present their upcoming Webinar on Cigarette/Nicotine use.