Nivishe Foundation successfully launched “Understanding Emotions,” the first chapter in its groundbreaking Brainwaves Comic Book Series, one of Africa’s first comic books dedicated to mental health education.

The series uses relatable storytelling and vibrant illustrations to help young people understand emotions, break mental health stigma, and build resilience. It transforms complex psychological concepts into simple, accessible lessons that speak directly to the realities of adolescents and youth in Kenya’s informal settlements.

Since its launch in Nairobi, the comic has reached over 2...

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) transforms complex data into insights that reflect real human experiences. Every aspect of the Canadian Substance Use Cost and Harms (CSUCH) project represents individuals with lived or living experience of substance use, along with their families, workplaces, and communities.

A new resource highlights these journeys and the human cost of substance use through illustrated stories from people with lived experience and their families. The illustrations cover three key areas of the CSUCH project: healthcare, lost productivity, and...

In this reading list, we provide resources to help engage our members with the latest knowledge, tools, and case studies on quality standards in substance use disorder treatment. These materials highlight international frameworks, research-backed practices, and country-level initiatives designed to improve access, strengthen systems, and ensure safe, ethical, and effective care. 

Together, they offer a practical foundation for policy-makers, service providers, researchers, and healthcare professionals to reflect on what “quality” means in treatment and how to achieve it across diverse...

The 2025 Annual Report to the Parliament on Drug Addictions in Italy offers a comprehensive overview of the current drug addiction landscape. Despite a slight decline in youth drug use for the first time since 2018, the report highlights ongoing challenges, particularly with substances like cocaine, synthetic opioids, and high-potency cannabis derivatives. Law enforcement and judicial efforts remain strong, and Italy continues to be a key collaborator in global anti-drug initiatives, particularly with countries in South America and the Indo-Pacific region.

The report also emphasizes the...

A large U.S. study has found that some children and teens who start using alcohol, cannabis, or nicotine at an early age already show differences in their brains before they ever try any substance. This challenges the common belief that drug use causes brain changes—it suggests that some young people may already be more vulnerable due to personality traits like curiosity or risk-taking, or because of early life stress or genetics.

The good news is that these early traits can be addressed. A school-based program in Canada helped teens better understand and manage their personalities—and five...

The WHO Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders provides a comprehensive snapshot of global trends in alcohol consumption, related harms, and national policy responses, alongside the availability and quality of treatment services for alcohol and drug use disorders.

Key Highlights:

• Presents the latest data from WHO Member States, aligned with SDG Health Target 3.5: “Strengthen prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.”

• Offers updated insights on global alcohol consumption patterns...

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...