Reports: November |
National Collaborative Call for Evidence – Analysis Report (PDF)
The National Collaborative is a project that not only aims to empower people affected by substance use but will also set out how the rights to be included in the forthcoming Human Rights Bill can be effectively implemented. It will do this by applying a human-rights based approach to co-design a Charter of Rights. As part of this process, a Call for Evidence was launched to gather views from around Scotland about people’s experiences of substance use and human rights. This brought together people affected by substance use, their families and people working across a wide range of services and ran between May and August 2023 | Alliance Scotland, UK
First Steps Good Practice Guide
This guide is about how people with their own lived experience of substance use can make that outreach more effective. The guide is published in both English and Welsh | Alcohol Change UK, UK
Naloxone reporting short life working group: Final report
This short report describes the purpose, process and meetings of the Naloxone Reporting Short Life Working Group (SLWG). This report also describes the recommendations of the SLWG and outlines the next stage in this change process, where organisations will review these findings and respond to them | Public Health Scotland, UK
Cannabis liberalisation: lessons for alcohol policy (PDF)
This briefing was based on a roundtable meeting hosted by the Institute of Alcohol Studies on 29th June 2023. At the roundtable, Dr Elle Wadsworth presented research on alcohol and cannabis co-use in Canada and the United States immediately before and one year after legalisation of non-medical cannabis in Canada in 2018, and Dr Sadie Boniface facilitated an informal discussion on research gaps and priorities in this area | IAS, UK
Meeting Critical Needs: Evidence with Impact – CCSA Annual Report, 2022–2023
Outlines CCSA’s activities in fiscal year 2022–2023 and provides the auditor’s report. Highlights how, together with our partners, we offered people in Canada the latest insights and knowledge on the effects of substance use. We also issued new evidence to improve substance use health, inform policy makers at all levels of government, and support care delivery and education | CCSA, Canada
Afghanistan opium cultivation in 2023 declined 95 per cent following drug ban: new UNODC survey
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan plunged by an estimated 95 per cent following a drug ban imposed by the de facto authorities in April 2022, according to a new research brief from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) | UNODC, Austria
E-cigarette Use Down Among U.S. High School Students in 2023
A study released from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration shows that, among high school students, current (past 30-day) use of any tobacco product declined during 2022-2023 (16.5% to 12.6%), primarily driven by a decline in e-cigarette use (14.1% to 10.0%). Declines also occurred for use of any combustible tobacco product, including cigars, among high school students | CDC, USA
Drug consumption data shows serious and organised criminals continue to exploit Australian community
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has released the latest findings from its National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, revealing methylamphetamine and cocaine consumption increased to the highest levels recorded since 2020 | ACIC, Australia
New report shows Victorian overdose deaths increased in 2022
A new report released today by the Coroners Court of Victoria, shows that in 2022 there was an increase in overdose deaths in Victoria — with 549 overdose deaths in 2022, compared to 500 deaths in 2021 | Coroner's Court of Victoria, Australia
Key interventions to prevent and control infections among people who inject drugs
Six interventions, one aim: to prevent and control infections among people who inject drugs. In new public health guidance released today, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) have joined forces to identify key interventions to address infectious diseases in this population. Reflecting new evidence, infectious disease treatments, and public health concepts, this guidance updates the 2011 edition | EMCDDA, Portugal
Health at a Glance 2023
Health at a Glance provides the latest comparable data and trends on different aspects of the performance of health systems in OECD countries. It provides striking evidence of large variations across countries in indicators of health status and health risks, as well as in the inputs and outputs of health systems. [Data is included on alcohol use, smoking, and ilicit drug use] | OECD, UK
Tobacco harm reduction consumer advocacy organisations
Tobacco harm reduction is a potentially life-saving intervention for millions of people across the world.[i] To those who use high-risk tobacco products, like cigarettes and some oral tobaccos, it offers the chance to switch to a range of safer nicotine products that pose fewer risks to their health. These include nicotine vapes (e-cigarettes), snus,[ii] nicotine pouches[iii] and heated tobacco products. While some governments are encouraging people who smoke to switch to safer nicotine products, in many countries, access is being limited or even banned entirely | GSTHR, UK
OHID and NHS England’s Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Workforce Transformation Programme (PDF)
In February 2019, Professor Dame Carol Black was commissioned by the then Home Secretary to undertake a two-part independent review of drugs, which should include an up-to-date analysis of the problems created by drugs in England and a set of recommended policy solutions. This second briefing is designed to update on programme progress and provide an overview of upcoming publications and projects | OHID, UK
2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Releases
Conducted annually, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) provides nationally representative data on the use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs; substance use disorders; mental health issues; and receipt of substance use and mental health treatment among the civilian, noninstitutionalized population aged 12 or older in the United States. NSDUH estimates allow researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the general public to better understand and improve the nation’s behavioral health. These reports and detailed tables present estimates from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health | SAMHSA, USA
Overdose prevention centres, safe consumption sites, and drug consumption rooms: a rapid evidence review (PDF)
This rapid review on overdose prevention centres (OPCs) aims to collate and summarise existing evidence. It describes the impact of OPCs on individuals who use drugs, communities, and public health. OPCs are community facilities which provide a safe, hygienic space for people to consume their own drugs in the presence of trained individuals who can intervene if an overdose occurs | Drug Science, UK
Public opinion on alcohol in Australia
This report highlights that Australians are concerned about alcoholic products and the impact they are having on our community. Alcohol harms are at a crisis point and Australians support change | Alcohol Change Australia, Australia
New guidance for drug checking services in health risk communication
Health risk communication strategies for drug checking services in Europe is the focus of a new EMCDDA manual out today. The resource provides staff working in these services with practical guidance on communicating drug-related risks at both an individual and community level | EMCDDA, Portugal
Vaping: a guide for health and social care professionals (PDF)
These guidleines aim to educate health professionals about vaping and to encourage them to assist smokers to quit with vaping. The guidelines were prepared by a team of UK and international experts in the field | NCSCT, UK
Holding us back: tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food and drink (PDF)
Although, there is such clear alignment between action to reduce the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food and drink and the UK Government’s view of its role in protecting the public’s health, there is little alignment in how government has acted to address the harms from these products. This report calls for a coherent and strategic approach to rebalancing the profit-making powers of industries with the rights of people to live free, healthy and productive lives | OHA, AHA and ASH, UK
Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2023 - wave 4 follow up to the 2017 survey
In 2023, most children aged 11 to 16 years reported that they had not had alcohol (95.1%), cigarettes (98.8%), cannabis and other drugs (99.1%), or used an e-cigarette or vaping device (96.3%) in the previous 7 days. In 2023, the majority of young people aged 17 to 22 years reported that they had not smoked cigarettes (87.3%) or used cannabis and other drugs (91.0%) in the previous 7 days. Young people with a probable mental disorder were more likely to have used a vaping or e-cigarette device in the previous 7 days (32.9%) than those unlikely to have a mental disorder (18.4%). They were also more likely to have used cannabis or other drugs in the previous 7 days than young people unlikely to have a mental disorder (19.5% compared with 3.6%) | NHS Digital, UK
Findings from the 2021-2022 HBSC study for England: Health behaviour in school-aged children: World Health Organisation collaborative cross-national study (PDF)
The HBSC questionnaire asks about many features of daily life for children and young people in England such as their diet, physical activity, sleep, smoking and alcohol use, as well as their experiences with their families, friends, and schools. This report is based on the data from 5377 young people in England. [See page 5 for information on drug use] | University of Kent, UK
Emergency department bloodborne virus opt-out testing: 12-month interim report 2023
An estimated 70,649 people were living with chronic HCV in England in 2022. This number has reduced by 45% since 2015 largely due to the roll out of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment through the NHS England Hepatitis C Elimination Programme. People who inject drugs (PWID) are the largest risk group for HCV and this population has been successfully targeted for testing and treatment, with routine testing in place in drug services | UKHSA, UK
European Drug Report 2023: Trends and Developments
The European Drug Report 2023: Trends and Developments presents the EMCDDA’s latest analysis of the drug situation in Europe. Focusing on illicit drug use, related harms and drug supply, the report contains a comprehensive set of national data across these themes and key harm reduction interventions | EMCDDA, Portugal
Homeless Deaths 2022
In 2022 there were an estimated 89 drug-misuse deaths of people experiencing homelessness. While this is a fall over the past year, drug-misuse accounted for 36% of all homeless deaths | National Records of Scotland, UK
Irish Prison Service drugs strategy 2023-2026
The Irish Prison Service Statement of Strategy 2023-2027 and the Irish Prison Service Drugs Strategy 2023-2026 marks a new chapter in the approach to imprisonment and substance abuse within the Irish prison system. The Irish Prison Service has embarked on an extensive consultation process to identify the strategic priorities that will shape its operations over the next number of years. This collaborative effort involved senior management and staff from across the prison estate, and, for the first time, engagement with individuals in custody facilitated by the Irish Red Cross | Irish Prison Service, Ireland