The intersection of substance use with broader public health concerns.
Public Health
Preventing Drug-Related Deaths
Drug-related deaths are rising and are a major concern to councils and our health partners. Deaths have increased sharply over the past five years and are now at their highest levels since records began. Any death related to the misuse of...
The Effectiveness of Illegal Drug Interventions
This Health Research Board document reviews evidence on the effectiveness of interventions in the areas of prevention, harm reduction and long-term recovery from addiction to illegal drugs. It asks which interventions are effective for...
Compilation of Evidence-Based Family Skills Training Programmes
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) Compilation of Evidence-Based Family Skills Training Programmes offers a treasure trove of information on such initiatives, answering key questions like: Who is the target group? What...
What Is Known about New Psychoactive Substances?
New psychoactive substances (NPS), sometimes referred to as ‘legal highs’, are new drugs that have received much media attention of late. A new study published in Public Health Research reviewed existing research into NPS with the view to...
Standards of Knowledge for the Science of Prevention
Published by the Society for Prevention Research in 2011, Standards of Knowledge for the Science of Prevention is an important document for those working within substance use prevention. With the aim of professionalising the field, it...
Education, Leisure and Adolescent Drinking: What's the Link?
A new study published in The International Journal of Drug Policy investigates differences in drinking patterns between Russian adolescents who favour vocational training and those who do not. Results suggest that the former educational...
Marijuana and Alcohol Use as Predictors of Academic Achievement
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND We tested the effect of initiating marijuana and alcohol use at varying frequencies on academic indices. METHODS In a sample of 26,475 grade 9-12 students with at least 2 years of linked longitudinal data from year 1 (Y1...
Towards a New Consensus for Addiction Medicine Training
A new study asks for the opinions of addiction experts, with a view to reaching a consensus on the necessary core skills that medical education ought to cover.
Drug Misuse and Dependence: UK Guidelines on Clinical Management
There is no more important document for doctors treating problem drug use in the UK than the so-called ‘Orange guidelines’. This major update will substantially inform judgements of what constitutes acceptable medical practice - should...