Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines were originally published by CCSA in November 2011 and were the result of the work of alcohol research experts in Canada. Since then, substantial new research on the association between alcohol use and physical, mental and social harms has been completed. Many countries have updated their guidance on drinking to reflect these advancements in what is known about the risks and benefits associated with alcohol consumption.

The report is composed of three documents: the Public Summary, the Technical Summary and the Technical Report. 

• The...

Background

Appointment no-show and early dropout from treatment represent major challenges in outpatient substance use disorder treatment, adversely affecting clinical outcomes and health care productivity. In this quasi-experimental study, we examined how a brief reminder intervention for new patients before their first appointment affected treatment participation and retention. No-shows (not attending any sessions) and dropouts (discontinuation of initiated treatment because of three consecutively missed appointments) were compared between a period with pre-admission telephone calls...

Background

In somatic health care settings, interdisciplinary collaborations (where various disciplines work coordinated and interdependently toward shared goals) are considered to yield higher team effectiveness than multidisciplinary approaches (where various disciplines work in parallel within their professional boundaries). Nonetheless, research on multidisciplinary techniques for the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in hospitalised patients is limited since these approaches are relatively uncommon. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a novel multidisciplinary AUD treatment...

Background

Aftercare programs for people with substance use disorders (PWSUD) are frequently challenged with a number of overlapping obstacles, including uncertain policy consequences and a lack of resources. Despite demographic variety, service providers in South Africa are obligated to offer aftercare programs that effectively reintegrate people with PWSUD into society, the workforce, family, and community life, as specified by Act No. 70 of 2008. Little is known about the availability of aftercare services in South Africa, particularly in rural areas. This paper investigates service...

Background

Opioid overdose remains a public health crisis in diverse communities. Between 2019 and 2020, there was an almost 40% increase in drug fatalities primarily due to opioid analogues of both stimulants and opioids. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD; e.g., buprenorphine) are effective, evidence-based treatments that can be delivered in office-based primary care settings. We investigated disparities in the proportion of national prescribers who have obtained a waiver issued to prescribe MOUD by demographic characteristics.

Methods

Data for the secondary data analyses...

Background

Recently developed buprenorphine depot injections have the potential to reduce risk for diversion and misuse, and to increase adherence with fewer visits for supervised intake. However, it is unclear how patients perceive this new form of medication. The purpose of this study was to explore patients’ experiences of depot injections and their reasons for continuing, discontinuing, or declining depot injection treatment.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 32 people, 14 of whom had ongoing depot injection treatment, 11 who had discontinued depot...

Background

Substance use among youth (ages 12–24) is troublesome given the increasing risk of harms associated. Even more so, substance use services are largely under utilised among youth, most only accessing support when in crisis. Few studies have explored young people’s help-seeking behaviours to address substance use concerns. To address this gap, this study explored how youth perceive and experience substance use services in British Columbia (BC), Canada.

Methods

Participatory action research methods were used by partnering with BC youth (under the age of 30) from across the...

Background

When used in combination with other therapies for drug use disorders, neurofeedback (NF) has been classified as "probably effective," according to recent research in the community of people with opioid use disorder. Despite these encouraging results, the severity of the opioid crisis, and the high risk of relapse even with the most effective medication-assisted maintenance therapy, NF remains a little-studied therapeutic option. The possibility of incorporating Alpha/Theta Neurofeedback into standard opioid addiction therapy in an outpatient urban treatment facility is examined...

Background

The long-running opioid epidemic and the more recent COVID-19 pandemic are two interrelated events with major public health implications for people who use opioids (OUD). The majority of studies on the interaction of these two public health concerns have employed pre-existing data to focus on community, state, or national patterns. Complementary qualitative research is needed to determine how persons with opioid use disorder (OUD) comprehend, experience, and navigate this unique period. The current study investigates people with OUD's perceptions and experiences as they...

The Ohio Attorney General selected experts from a number of academic fields to the Scientific Committee on Opioid Prevention and Education (SCOPE) to help the State of Ohio in tackling the opioid crisis in the United States. The focus of SCOPE is the application of scientific principles in the development of prevention and educational strategies for reducing substance use disorder (SUD). SUD education for healthcare workers was one of SCOPE's main areas of interest. The objective of the present was to identify the content and extent to which future healthcare professionals are trained in pain...

Early detection of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome allows infected people to use prophylaxis against opportunistic infections and beginning immediate treatment for secondary complications. People who receive treatment benefit from increased social support and, more crucially, change their behaviour to prevent the virus from spreading to others. One of the most major methods of HIV transmission is through medication injections, and this group is responsible for the spread of HIV since they are ignorant of their illness. The coexistence of HIV and other opportunistic infections and illnesses...

Cannabis is the most widely used illegal substance in the world, with a global prevalence of 4% among people aged 15 to 64 years and a recent trend of growing use. Cannabis usage can have negative health consequences, such as impaired neurodevelopment, an increased risk of addiction and other drug abuse, cognitive impairment, low educational attainment, and an increased risk of mental disease, such as psychosis, depression, and anxiety disorders. Cannabis usage during methadone therapy may have a negative influence on the success of the treatment. The purpose of this study was to find out how...