This survey is a collaborative effort by ICUDDR, NECPAM and ISAM. Together, we are trying to assess the impact recent reductions in funding have had to the workforce of fields dealing with substance use related issues.
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...
Lee, EH., Yu, HJ. Effectiveness of nurse-initiated smoking cessation intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 20, 18 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-025-00648-8
Background
Smoking is one of the top causes of preventable death and is linked to many serious health problems, including cancer and chronic diseases. Nurses can play a big role in helping people quit smoking by offering support through counselling, education, and mental health care. These nurse-led programs have been shown to increase quit rates. Training nurses to deliver these programs is important, and reviewing past studies helps us understand what works best.
Methods
Researchers searched eight major health databases between March 27 and August 1, 2024, to find studies on nurse-led...
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...
This week, we say goodbye to our dear friend and mentor, Jeff Lee, the founding Executive Director of ISSUP. Jeff was a steadfast advocate for the professionalization of prevention, insisting that those working in this field should be appropriately specialized. He often reminded us that while generalists and treatment specialists are well-meaning and deeply embedded within their communities, they are not always best placed to develop and implement evidence-based prevention systems. Jeff emphasized that prevention must be treated as a distinct science—one that is grounded in rigorous research...
The National Chapters Team held a pivotal 2-day virtual meeting from 10th – 11th December 2024 to evaluate the current operational model for National Chapters and identify opportunities for improvement and growth. The meeting was dubbed a ‘Vision Meeting’ to reflect the core agenda: Crafting a forward-looking plan for the ISSUP National Chapters.
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.
From October 23rd to 25th, 2024, Lisbon hosted the Lisbon Addictions 2024 Conference, bringing together 2,231 participants from around the world. The event provided a dynamic platform for sharing the latest research in addiction science and exploring future directions in addiction policy and practice. The Conference theme, "Empowering the Workforce of the Future," focused on strengthening the workforce in addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery, underscoring the critical need for well-trained professionals to meet the evolving demands of the field.
Don't miss our latest newsletter for details of recent meetings and activities in Latin America and Africa. This issue also includes information on how to gain advanced clinical skills with the UTC16 Self Led Course.
Learn about global drug trends from the authors of the World Drug Report 2024!
UNODC experts will present the World Drug Report 2024, giving an overview of the latest developments and diving into the most up-to-date global data. In the...
A global reference on drug markets, trends and policy developments, the World Drug Report offers a wealth of data and analysis and in 2024 comprises several elements tailored to different audiences.
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Europol (2024), EU Drug Market: Drivers and facilitators, https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/eu-drug-markets/drivers-and-f…
EU Drug Market: Drivers and facilitators provides an overview of the key factors influencing the operation of the markets for illicit drugs in the European Union. It considers the changes and developments happening in the wider environment in which the illicit drug market is embedded (drivers), and the people or processes (facilitators) that make it easier to commit drug-related criminality or avoid detection. The focus of the report is on identifying key issues and presenting recommendations for action at EU and Member State level.
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (2024), European Drug Report 2024: Trends and Developments, https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/european-drug-report/2024_en
The European Drug Report 2024: Trends and Developments presents the EMCDDA’s latest analysis of the drug situation in Europe. Focusing on illicit drug use, related harms and drug supply, the report provides a comprehensive set of national data across these themes, as well as on specialist drug treatment and key harm reduction interventions.
The purpose of the report is to provide an overview and summary of the European drug situation up to the end of 2023.
Abi Hana R, Abi Ramia J, Burchert S, Carswell K, Cuijpers P, Heim E, Knaevelsrud C, Noun P, Sijbrandij M, van Ommeren M, Van't Hof E, Wijnen B, Zoghbi E, El Chammay R, Smit F. Cost-Effectiveness of Digital Mental Health Versus Usual Care During Humanitarian Crises in Lebanon: Pragmatic Randomized Trial. JMIR Ment Health. 2024 May 29;11:e55544. doi: 10.2196/55544. PMID: 38810255; PMCID: PMC11170045.
Background:
Digital mental health interventions for depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders are generally cost-effective, but evidence is lacking for guided digital mental health care in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) facing humanitarian crises. Step-by-Step (SbS) is effective for Lebanese citizens and war-affected Syrians in Lebanon. Assessing SbS's cost-effectiveness is crucial due to Lebanon's strained health care system.
Objective:
This study aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of SbS compared to enhanced usual care (EUC) through a randomized trial.