This brief examines the average alcohol consumption of people in Canada and where it falls within the risk zones outlined in Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health (CGAH). The publication presents updated data on weekly drinking patterns by province, age, and sex, and assesses the extent to which people in Canada adhere to the CGAH guidelines. This report is intended to inform public health professionals, policy makers and researchers working to reduce alcohol-related harm.

Three Key Points You Will Find in the Document:

• People who drink alcohol in Canada consume an average of more than13...

CSUCH’s data visualisation tool can be used to estimate substance use trends across the country. The data helps inform programs, practices, and research to protect communities, save lives, and improve the well-being of people in Canada.

Spotlight: Top 3 causes of death due to substance use in Canada 

More than 200 people died each day due to substance use (SU) in 2020 (the latest year for which data are available). That works out to 73,994 deaths that year. The average age of death due to SU was 45 years. Tobacco use caused 63% (46,366) of SU-related deaths, followed by alcohol at 23%...

Background
Cognitive deficits are common in patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and can impact treatment outcomes. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) is a widely used tool that could help identify cognitive impairments in SUD patients. This systematic review examines the RBANS’ effectiveness in detecting cognitive impairment in SUD patients and discusses knowledge gaps and the need for further research.

Methods
A systematic search was conducted in PsycINFO, Medline, and Cochrane databases to find relevant studies on the use of RBANS in SUD...

Background
A non-medicalized safer supply model called a “Compassion Club” has recently been evaluated. The model involved providing rigorously tested and accurately labeled illicit substances to members at cost. Operating for 14 months in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, the initiative aimed to explore the effects and feasibility of this approach among individuals at risk of fatal overdose.

Methods
At the one-year mark, 43 club members completed a survey for this cross-sectional analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the perceived impact of membership on factors like drug use...

Addiction and obesity share similar neurological pathways, both linked to compulsive behaviors and the brain's reward system. Research has highlighted the potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally developed for diabetes, to help manage both appetite and addictive cravings. These medications, such as semaglutide, may regulate addictive behaviors by influencing reward circuits in the brain. However, they come with potential side effects, and their long-term effects are still under investigation.

In addition, a new compound, 5-Methoxy-2-aminoindane (MEAI), is being researched for its...

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...