Readable research linked to original sources
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Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
88 articles
Newest firstBackground‘Kava,’ or ‘kava kava,’ (Piper methysticum) is a psychoactive plant indigenous to the Pacific Islands. Historical consumption is reported to provide anxiolytic and sedating effects. In regions where kava is native, it has been used in religious and cultural practices, as well as for medicinal purposes. The mechanisms by which kavalactones – the best studied psychoactive constituent of kava – may mediate…
Open article record in new tab ↗BACKGROUND: In 2018, the Cannabis Act regulated the production and sale of cannabis for non-medical purposes in Canada. With the aim of continuing to protect the public health and safety of Canadians as the legal cannabis market matures, we conducted a thorough data disaggregation to identify segments of the cannabis consumer base in Canada who are more likely to engage in ‘higher risk’ cannabis use behaviours. Th…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence, drug education, and associated individual level, family and peer level, school level and community/macro level risk/protective factors of current illicit drug use among in-school adolescents in the Philippines. Method The 2019 Philippines Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), a nationally representative survey of teenagers aged 11 to 18 (mea…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Canada legalized recreational cannabis in 2018, and one of the primary objectives of the Cannabis Act was to protect youth by reducing their access to cannabis and providing public education. Canada has the highest prevalence of cannabis use worldwide, particularly among youth and young adults under the age of 25. Cannabis use is linked with many adverse effects for youth and young adults including psyc…
Background Since 1996, an urban community-based organization whose primary mission is to serve diverse94 and emerging community health needs has provided screening, testing, overdose prevention and training, referrals, and access to treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) and communicable diseases such as HIV through its Life Points harm reduction program. Methods As a partner in a State survey in 2021, the co…
Introduction Research has established natural recovery (NR) as an important pathway to substance use recovery. Studies investigating correlates of NR have mainly focused on demographic and substance use variables rather than life circumstances. This study seeks to better understand the phenomenon of natural recovery by (i) validating the international scientific literature concerning demographic and substance use…
Open article record in new tab ↗The prevalence and influence of gangs on adolescents and young adults remain a concern in Western Cape, South Africa-particularly as they have one of the largest gang presence. While less attention has been focused on young women, there is a need to elucidate the relationship between gang exposure and health behaviors, such substance use, in addition to understanding whether becoming a caregiver impacts this relat…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Cannabis marketing exposure via social media may impact use in youth and young adults. Most states with recreational cannabis lack policies regarding social media-based marketing. Thus, we examined such policies among prominent platforms, particularly those popular among youth and young adults. Methods In September-October 2022, 3 research team members extracted policies applying to the general communit…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundSubstance use constitutes a major public health issue especially among adolescents as it has associated adverse behavioural, health, social and economic outcomes. However, there is a paucity of comprehensive evidence on the prevalence and associated factors of substance use (alcohol, marijuana and amphetamine) among school-going adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study examined the magnitude o…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundYouth mortality from drugs is worryingly increasing in Europe. Little is so far known about what substance use services are available to young people. An out-of-home care placement is often used but does not suffice alone as an intervention in problematic substance use among youth. Additional interventions are needed.ObjectiveThis narrative review investigated what has been done, what works, and what is…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundYoung people are disproportionately more likely than other age groups to use substances. The rise in substance use and related harms, including overdose, during the Covid-19 pandemic has created a critical need for more innovative and accessible substance use interventions. Digital interventions have shown effectiveness and can provide more engaging, less stigmatizing, and accessible interventions that m…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundIn the US and Israel, non-medical (‘recreational’) cannabis use is illegal at the national level; however, use rates are high and decriminalization and legalization is spreading. Thus, theory-based intervention efforts, especially for youth prevention, are crucial.MethodsThis mixed-methods study of adults in the US (n = 1,128) and Israel (n = 1,094) analyzed: 1) cross-sectional survey data (Fall 2021) to…
BackgroundLower-risk substance use guidelines (LRSUGs) are an evidence-based harm reduction strategy used to provide information to people who use drugs so they can reduce harms associated with substance use.ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify LRSUGs accessible to youth and to characterize the recommendations within these guidelines. The overall goal is to identify gaps in current LRSUGs and to inform researche…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundSubstance use is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide. Population-wide screening for problematic substance use in primary health care may mitigate the serious health and socio-economic consequences of such use, but the standard Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST 3.1) may be too long for wide-scale screening. How well validated shorter versions (A…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background In 2018, Canada legalized recreational cannabis use with the purpose of protecting youth and restricting access. However, concerns have been raised that this objective has not been met as rates of cannabis use among youth aged 16-24 have not declined. Youth cannabis use is associated with various adverse effects including psychosis, anxiety, depression, suicidality, respiratory distress, cannabinoid hyp…
BackgroundBased on the US DARE-kiR, a version of the Keepin’ it REAL program, the Drug and Violence Resistance Educational Program (PROERD) is the most widely implemented Brazilian prevention program. It originates from the translation of the DARE-kiR, a version of the Keepin’ it REAL program. Previous results suggest its inefficiency in preventing drug use among Brazilian adolescents. Since kiR fidelity can impac…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Cannabis use during methadone treatment may negatively impact treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of cannabis use among patients attending a methadone treatment clinic in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods This was a retrospective study of 874 patients on methadone therapy at a methadone maintenance treatment clinic in Nairobi, Kenya from December 2014 to November…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Age is a critical factor in substance use and related outcomes, with adolescence being a particularly sensitive period. Early initiation of substance use has been linked with higher risk for developing substance use disorders. In Ontario, Canada, substance use is common among youth, yet treatment is underutilized, suggesting the potential for an unmet need in terms of substance use care. Despite these c…
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 underutilized 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…
Background Daily cannabis use is most strongly implicated in the cannabis-attributable burden of disease. In the context of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Canada, we characterized trends in daily cannabis use in the overall sample and various population subgroups, and examined risk characteristics associated with daily cannabis use. Methods A cross-sectional design was operationalized using d…