Data

Systematically collected information used to understand patterns of substance use, substance use disorders, treatment needs, and drug market dynamics. This may include epidemiological data, service utilisation records, treatment outcomes, law enforcement intelligence, and public health surveillance. Data helps identify emerging trends, assess the effectiveness of prevention and treatment programmes, monitor trafficking and market activity, and guide evidence-informed policy and decision-making. Reliable data systems are essential for improving responses to substance use and ensuring that interventions are targeted, effective, and responsive to population needs.

Society for Prevention Research - 27th Annual Meeting

28 May 2019

San Francisco

The Society for Prevention Research’s 27th annual meeting will be held May 28 – May 31, 2018, in San Francisco.

The theme for the event is “Prevention Science in a Big Data World”. It is hoped that the event will open up a discussion about ways in which the prevention science community can make use of data and innovative technologies to develop new opportunities in prevention research.

Dying for a Drink

Book

26 October 2018

Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) has published its latest report, ‘ Dying for a drink’. Scottish people tend to consume more alcohol than people in England and Wales. Alcohol is a harmful substance and, consumed in excess...

How Alcohol Can Change How Memories Are Formed

Scientific article

25 October 2018

Consuming alcohol often comes with negative side effects, such as nausea or headaches, however we have a tendency to remember the positive experience of drinking rather than the negative consequences. Understanding how alcohol influences...

Sex Differences in Cannabis Use

Scientific article

26 October 2018

Cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide and, with the rise of decriminalisation and legalization of marijuana for medical and recreational use, it is expected this will increase even further. There are, however...

Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2018: Preventing Problematic Substance Use in Youth

Book

23 October 2018

The Public Health Agency of Canada has released its latest report on the state of public health, with a spotlight on the prevention of problematic substance use among youth. Results from the analysis found that almost 80% of Canadians aged...

NIDA-NIAAA 2018 Mini-Convention: Frontiers in Addiction Research

2 November 2018

San Diego

United States

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) are hosting a one-day mini convention on the 2nd of November in San Diego.

The satellite event is part of the 2018 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting and will involve presentations from researchers covering the following topics:

The Mechanism Behind Alcohol Addiction

Scientific article

22 October 2018

Alcohol is known to affect a region in our brain called the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), otherwise known as the “pleasure centre”. By activating specific neurones that then go on to release the neurochemical dopamine within this particular...

Gene Therapy for Cocaine Addiction

Scientific article

17 September 2018

Cocaine addiction is linked with uncontrollable drug seeking. Cues within the environment act as a constant reminder of the experience and can lead to relapse. Current medication options are limited when it comes to meeting the needs for...

The 2019 North American Cannabis Summit

28 January 2019

Los Angeles

The 2019 North American Cannabis Summit will take place January 28th– 30th, 2019. The event will offer the opportunity for practitioners, researchers, policy makers and others interested in the field to learn about the most up to date trends and research, collaborate ideas, find out about the latest evidence based practice and address key public health issues.

Substance Use and Adolescent Cognitive Development

Scientific article

3 October 2018

Both alcohol and cannabis misuse is linked with impaired mental functioning. Understanding the impact of substance use is particularly important when studying the developing brain. A recent piece of research, published in the American...