Published in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, this systematic review examines the effectiveness of family-based interventions for addressing substance use among adolescents and young adults.

The researchers reviewed 41 studies published between 2000 and 2023, including randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies involving young people aged 10–25 years. The interventions included family therapy, counselling, psychoeducation and other approaches involving family members in treatment.

The findings suggest that family-based interventions can contribute to reductions...

This study, published in Frontiers in Adolescent Medicine, examines the relationship between community recovery support, parental and peer attitudes towards substance use, and recovery among young people.

Using data from the 2022 Illinois Youth Survey and the Recovery Ecosystem Index, researchers explored whether parental and peer disapproval of substance use helped explain the association between community recovery resources and self-reported recovery status.

The findings suggest that stronger community recovery environments are associated with greater parental and peer disapproval of...

This qualitative study explores the experiences of young people involved in drug trafficking in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. Based on interviews with 16 young adults, the research examines why they joined drug trafficking, how they perceived the risks, and how they viewed their future within and beyond criminal networks.

The findings suggest that many participants were attracted by the prospect of financial gain, social acceptance, recognition, and the hope of achieving a successful future. For many, drug trafficking was viewed not only as a source of income but also as a pathway for personal...

This report examines how and why young people are recruited into criminal drug networks across Europe. It highlights the range of factors that can increase vulnerability to recruitment, including social and economic disadvantage, peer influence, family circumstances, and community environments.

Drawing on international evidence, the report identifies several promising approaches to prevention, including family-based support, school-based interventions, community engagement, digital prevention initiatives, and targeted efforts to disrupt criminal networks. It also emphasizes the importance of...

This study examined how non-medical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) among youth aged 12–24 is linked to their health, social needs, and use of services within an integrated youth services network in British Columbia, Canada. Data from over 6,000 youth showed that 4% reported recent NMPOU. Youth who used prescription opioids non-medically were more likely to report poor physical health, mental health challenges, polydrug use, and recent exposure to violence. Despite these greater needs, their use of services was similar to youth who did not report NMPOU. The findings suggest that integrated...

Nivishe Foundation successfully launched “Understanding Emotions,” the first chapter in its groundbreaking Brainwaves Comic Book Series, one of Africa’s first comic books dedicated to mental health education.

The series uses relatable storytelling and vibrant illustrations to help young people understand emotions, break mental health stigma, and build resilience. It transforms complex psychological concepts into simple, accessible lessons that speak directly to the realities of adolescents and youth in Kenya’s informal settlements.

Since its launch in Nairobi, the comic has reached over 2...

The United Nations Youth Office launched the flagship initiative on Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing! The initiative promotes an ecosystem model for youth mental health and wellbeing, using a whole-of-society approach.

The initiative was launched at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha. The launch video is available here

This flagship initiative by the UN Youth office reframes the conversation to a broader vision grounded in care, connection and community. This effort bridges policy leadership with youth-led movements across the world centering young people as equal...

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) transforms complex data into insights that reflect real human experiences. Every aspect of the Canadian Substance Use Cost and Harms (CSUCH) project represents individuals with lived or living experience of substance use, along with their families, workplaces, and communities.

A new resource highlights these journeys and the human cost of substance use through illustrated stories from people with lived experience and their families. The illustrations cover three key areas of the CSUCH project: healthcare, lost productivity, and...