Public health

Cannabis and the Gateway Drug Theory: Correlation or Causation – Where does the Evidence Point?

Dalgarno Institute
Publication Date

Cannabis and the Gateway Drug Theory: Correlation or Causation – Where does the Evidence Point? (Dalgarno Institute Research Report, October 2021)
This Research Report looks a the ever oscillating debate around Cannabis and the 'Gateway Drug Theory'. 

Impact of an adult family member’s problematic substance use on family life

Sari Kaarina Lindeman, Kristine Berg Titlestad, Lennart Lorås & Terese Bondas (2021) An unknown invisible intrusion. Impact of an adult family member’s problematic substance use on family life: a meta-ethnography, Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, DOI: 10.1080/09687637.2021.1943316

Problematic substance use can be a significant cause of stress for family members of the person using substances. This review, published in the journal Drug: Education, Prevention and Policy, examines current research in order to explore the question 'What is the impact of an adult family member's problematic substance use for family life?'

Following a systematic search, the researchers analysed the data of 15 qualitative studies.

The Pregnancy Edit

Created by
Society for the Study on Addiction

The Society for the Study on Addiction (SSA) Pregnancy Edit is a series of articles on alcohol-related harm in pregnancy, published on the Society for the Study of Addiction website in September 2021.

Topic covered include:

Assessing the Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in the UK

McCarthy R, Mukherjee RAS, Fleming KM, Green J, Clayton Smith J, Price AD, Allely CS, Cook PA. 2021. Assessing the Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): A cross-sectional active case ascertainment study in schools in Greater Manchester, UK. Acoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research:

In a new study, led by a team at the University of Salford, evidence has been found to suggest fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a significant issue among the population, likely to be as common as autism, despite being rarely diagnosed.

The project, which investigated the number of primary school children affected by FASD in Greater Manchester, is the first of its kind in the UK.

The increase in alcohol-related deaths: How can we respond?

Online,

This joint webinar between Addiction Professionals and DDN will look at the statistics behind the worrying increase in alcohol-related deaths and will consider the causes, and what we can do to prevent further increases.

We have a panel of experts to discuss these issues including:

Research led by people who use drugs: centering the expertise of lived experience

Salazar, Z.R., Vincent, L., Figgatt, M.C. et al. Research led by people who use drugs: centering the expertise of lived experience. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 16, 70 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-021-00406-6
Publication Date

Despite a long history of successful, community-led harm reduction programs and rising health inequalities suffered by PWUD, research collaborations between PWUD and researchers remain generally ignored. PWUDs are crucial in identifying developing concerns in the drug industry, as well as related health behaviors and consequences.

Minority Fellowship Program

The NBCC Foundation and NAADAC are pleased to announce the 2022 application period for the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Minority Fellowship Program for Addictions Counselors (MFP-AC) is now open. This program is made possible by a grant awarded to the NBCC Foundation in collaboration with NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The program will administer up to 40 Master’s degree-level counseling fellowships of

Psychosocial Interventions to Improve Psychological, Social and Physical Wellbeing in Family Members Affected by an Adult Relative’s Substance Use: A Systematic Search and Review of the Evidence

McGovern, R., Smart, D., Alderson, H., Araújo-Soares, V., Brown, J., Buykx, P., Evans, V., Fleming, K., Hickman, M., Macleod, J., Meier, P., & Kaner, E. (2021). Psychosocial Interventions to Improve Psychological, Social and Physical Wellbeing in Family Members Affected by an Adult Relative's Substance Use: A Systematic Search and Review of the Evidence. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(4), 1793. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041793
Publication Date

The use of alcohol and drugs is a significant public health concern and is prevalent in families. Over 100 million people are thought to be affected by a close relative's substance use, with many experiencing negative health and social consequences. Additional associated stressors, such as interpersonal conflict, financial issues, the burden of care, and family conflict, frequently increase the multi-dimensional impact of substance use.