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. 

Understanding the effects of drug and alcohol misuse on kinship families

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Online

This workshop is open to all kinship carers living in England whose families have been affected by drug and/or alcohol misuse, or who want to learn where to get support around this topic.

The workshop covers alcohol and substance misuse and abuse, as well as what the impact of this behaviour can be, and how to support the child/ren you’re caring for who might be affected.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to:

Prescription drugs regulations

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Online

Adfam organises forum events for practitioners and professionals with an interest in supporting families affected by substance use or gambling.

At each forum we focus on a unique topic relating to families and substance use, inviting a guest speaker with expertise in that topic, followed by a Q&A and wider discussion.

"The Science of Addiction"

Leaflet, Infographic, Fact sheet, Poster
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Understanding how addiction works in the mind helps emphasize how addiction isn't just a choice; it's a brain disease. Substances alter brain chemistry, causing habits immensely hard to break. Recognizing that addiction isn't just a simple...
This infographic showcases what happens mentally when enduring addiction, helping to reduce stigma in society.

EUDA webinar: International drug checking day

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Online

Objective: Taking place on the eve of International Drug Checking Day, this webinar offers a timely opportunity to highlight the role drug-checking services play across three domains: harm reduction, drug market monitoring and public health alerts. The session will demonstrate the benefits of drug checking for a variety of stakeholders, including consumers, public health authorities and monitoring bodies.