Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) have developed a new version of a medication for opioid use disorder that could offer longer-lasting treatment. Current medications for opioid addiction often require daily doses, but the new formulation of nor-levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (nor-LAAM) is designed to be taken once a month or less frequently. This long-acting medication has shown promise in reducing opioid use and withdrawal symptoms in rodent models. The goal is to provide an alternative to existing treatments like methadone and buprenorphine, which come with barriers such as...

Few studies have looked into how cannabis use during pregnancy affects the development of disruptive behavioral disorders (DBDs) in children, often using small sample sizes and self-reported data. This study aimed to understand the link between maternal cannabis use disorder (CUD) during pregnancy and after childbirth, and the risk of DBDs in children. We used health data from New South Wales, Australia, for children born between 2003 and 2005. We compared children whose mothers had CUD to those whose mothers did not, and assessed the risk of DBDs in these children. Both CUD and DBDs were...

This briefing paper aims to raise awareness about the widespread and severe impact of GBV on women and people of diverse gender identity and expression who use drugs, as well as the strong connection between GBV and the HIV epidemic within these populations. It outlines practical responses that harm reduction providers and allied services can adopt to address violence and support the rights and health of these groups. The paper also demonstrates how a gender-responsive approach to drug use can improve outcomes for women and gender-diverse individuals by reducing harm, increasing access to...

The National Survey of Substance Use and Mental Health Services (N-SUMHSS) is a voluntary, annual survey that collects data from all active substance use and mental health treatment facilities across the United States, its territories, and Washington D.C. The annual report provides valuable insights into key operational characteristics of these treatment facilities, including the use of pharmacotherapies, availability of language assistance services, and the provision of suicide prevention assistance. This comprehensive survey helps to inform policymakers, researchers, and service providers on...

BACKGROUND: Exponential growth of addiction specific services accelerated the need and pressure on professionalizing workforce. It is followed by the increasing number of university and higher education programs specifically focused on substance use, hand in hand with curricula development. In such fast condition changes, emphasis on quality assurance is key. The aim of the paper is to describe and reflect the development process of international quality standards and a competency model for clinically oriented university programs in addictions.

METHODS: The study is based on a process...

INTRODUCTION: According to Brichcín (1999), a self-regulating person is someone who can resist the temptation of immediate gratification of their needs and is capable of achieving challenging goals. Self-regulation represents the ability to make free and responsible choices and actions in relation to oneself, others, and the environment, in spite of deterministic influences. In real life, this relationship may also be reflected by the quality of mental health and engagement in risk behaviors during adolescence (Jessor & Jessor, 1977). The aim of the present paper was to investigate the...

INTRODUCTION: The impact of ongoing conflict in the country on substance use among youth remains unclear. This study aims to identify the risk factors for substance use among university students and their association with mental health problems and sociodemographic characteristics during the war in Ukraine.

METHODS: University students (N =1398) in Ukraine aged 18-20 (75.5% female) completed surveys on substance use, PTSD, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and a brief screening for insomnia and suicidal behaviour. ANOVA analysis was used to examine interaction between sociodemographic...

INTRODUCTION: Existing research highlights current issues in youth mental health that are often related to the overuse of modern technology, the experience of depression, or reduced resilience to mental stress. The main aim of this study is to analyse the relationships between Internet Gaming Disorder, depression, and resilience, with a focus on gender differences among Czech adolescents.

METHODS: A quantitative research design was chosen for the study. Three assessment instruments were utilised – the Internet Gaming Disorder ScaleShort Form (IGDS9-SF), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21...

INTRODUCTION: Longitudinal prevention research in adolescents often involves sensitive data collection, necessitating anonymity. Self-Generated Identification Codes (SGICs) have emerged as a tool for linking anonymous data while preserving privacy, but their effectiveness, especially in large-scale studies, remains under-explored. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using SGICs for linking anonymous longitudinal data in a school-based substance use prevention study.

METHODS: We utilised a three-armed randomised control trial design, utilising data from the Czech Unplugged Study. The...

INTRODUCTION: Parental technoference (PTF) refers to the behaviour of a parent who looks at the screen of their smartphone (or other electronic device) instead of their child’s face during parent-child interaction. The parent’s inattention to the child disrupts adult–child reciprocal trust and warmth, negatively affecting the parent-child relationship. The parent may also unconsciously convey to the child that they are of low importance. Additionally, given that children lack awareness about what is right and wrong in relation to screen use, frequent PTF may lead to the establishment of bad...

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