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Research included in this condition report
30 rights-cleared articles published in 2025, ordered newest first.
30 articles from 2025
Newest firstBackground Drug use disorders (DUDs), a significant public health issue worldwide, encompass disorders related to sedatives, cannabis, opioids, heroin, hallucinogens, club drugs, and inhalants. This study examines the changes in the global burden of DUDs from 1990 to 2021, aiming to provide a scientific foundation for strategies to mitigate the harms associated with substance abuse. Methods The study utilized Glob…
Introduction Fentanyl is the leading cause of opioid-related overdose deaths in the United States. Given the exogenous market shock of fentanyl and subsequent transition in the illicit opioid supply, our analysis sought to explore the social and relational experiences of people who use opioids (PWUO). Methods We conducted qualitative interviews with 30 PWUO (n = 30) in Los Angeles, CA from July 2021 to April 2022.…
Background While many studies have explored the relationship between cannabis and opioid use, few have examined how individuals who use opioids only, cannabis only, or both substances differ in terms of sociodemographic and health-related characteristics. Understanding these differences may support the development of clinical and public health strategies addressing substance use patterns. Methods We analyzed data…
Drug use disorders (DUDs) represent a major global health challenge, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality, while also being compounded by social and structural barriers. In this study, we examined global epidemiological trends in DUDs over the past three decades to inform clinical and public health responses. We extracted data on the incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributa…
Background The media has immense power in shaping public narratives surrounding sensitive topics such as substance use. Its portrayals can unintentionally fuel harmful stereotypes and stigma, negatively impacting individuals struggling with addiction, influencing policy decisions, and hindering broader public health efforts. Objective This study aimed to examine how the regional newspaper, The Philadelphia Inquire…
Background To inform the feasibility and acceptability of evidence-informed police practices related to substance use, addiction, and overdose, we sought to better understand how US police chiefs perceive substance use and related policing practices. Methods A national sample of randomly selected US police chiefs (N = 276) completed a 37-item survey about substance use and policing. Nine items assessed chiefs' per…
Cannabidiol (CBD) has emerged as a potential treatment option for various psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders. This systematic review is aimed at reviewing the evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of CBD as a therapeutic option in opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in clinical and preclinical studies. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, CDSR and CENTRAL up to…
Background Increasing opioid and other substance use has led to a crisis of epidemic proportions, with substance use now recognized as a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States. Interventions will only be effective if those who would benefit are identified early and connected to care. Apps are a ubiquitous source of pregnancy information, but their utility as a platform for evaluatin…
Background The objective of this qualitative study was to better understand the experiences of individuals living with opioid use disorder (OUD) and chronic pain using medical cannabis (MC) for 12 months. Methods Perspectives were captured via 10 key informant interviews conducted after 12 months of treatment with MC RESULTS: Key themes identified regarding the reasons for initially pursuing MC included: (1) canna…
Background There are no prior studies investigating the attitudes and knowledge of opioid treatment program (OTP) clinicians on prescribed medicinal cannabis in OTP clients. This study examined the OTP clinicians' medicinal cannabis experience, knowledge, concerns, and educational needs. Methods Staff from six public OTP services in New South Wales completed a medicinal cannabis survey. Staff included nurses, doct…
Background Medical cannabis (MC) is approved for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) in Pennsylvania, but little is known about how MC impacts illicit opioid use or the clinical and psychosocial factors including pain severity levels that can precede illicit opioid use. This observational study examined the extent to which changes in rates of illicit opioid use and in pain and psychosocial functioning were…
Background/Objectives: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with opioid use disorder (OUD) frequently have co-occurring psychiatric conditions and substance use disorders (SUDs). This study evaluated the association of psychiatric comorbidities and other SUDs with treatment retention and urine drug test (UDT) results in AYAs with OUD. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included AYAs enrolled in the Substance…
Abstract The endocannabinoid (eCB) system has been proposed as a potential target for developing new medications for opioid use disorder (OUD). However, the status of the eCB system, specifically brain cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) in OUD, is unknown. In this study, CB1R availability was measured in males with OUD on stable opioid agonist treatment (OAT) (n = 10) versus healthy controls (HC) (n = 18), using H…
Background Chronic pain is among the leading causes of disability worldwide, of which only a small percentage of patients receive adequate treatment for. Non-prescribed opioid analgesics are commonly sought out in effort to alleviate unrelieved pain. This study assesses the prevalence and correlates of chronic pain among primary fentanyl users. Methods A cross-sectional and structured survey was conducted with 200…
Background Vaping is increasing in popularity. Vape products are offered in a wide variety and promise to reduce harms associated with cigarette smoking, among other claims. The motivations for vaping in patients with substance use disorder are largely unknown. Aims To describe perceptions and motivations regarding vaping among patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) who vape. Method A convergent mixed-methods stu…
Importance In the context of the US opioid crisis, factors associated with the prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) must be identified to aid prevention and treatment. State medical cannabis laws (MCL) and recreational cannabis laws (RCL) are potential factors associated with OUD prevalence. Objective To examine changes in OUD prevalence associated with MCL and RCL enactment among veterans treated at the Vetera…
Background Illicit drug use may lead to dependence on those drugs, is associated with various psychiatric disorders, and can have hazardous, sometimes life-threatening, consequences. We investigated the genetic architecture underlying the lifetime use (LU) of several drugs, individually and in combination. Methods We conducted genome-wide association studies of LU of cocaine, methamphetamine, inhalants, illegal op…
Although substance use is associated with a shortened lifespan, impeded health and accelerated biological ageing, the factors contributing to the associations between substance use and ageing are poorly understood. We used summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to investigate whether substance involvement (N from 28K to 2M)-including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and opioid use and use disorde…
Background Drug overdoses are a significant public health concern, but there is limited research on the associated factors among patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED). We investigated the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with drug overdoses among patients with substance-related diagnoses (SRD) in a Southern California healthcare system's ED. Methods A cross-sectional study em…
Background Opioid use disorder often co-occurs with other mental health and substance use disorders. Identifying clusters of individuals receiving treatment for opioid use disorder based on co-diagnosed conditions, healthcare plans, and service utilization over a seven-year treatment period provides insight into service needs. Objectives included [1] characterizing the sample [2], examining subtypes of the sample…