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Mental Health
The relationship between mental health disorders and substance use and integrated approaches. .
Aggression Linked to Substance Use
New Research published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry has found that people with intermittent explosive disorder (IED) – a condition with a significant genetic component characterised by regular outbursts of aggression, whether...
Could LSD Have a Role in New Therapeutic Treatments?
New research published in the journal Translational Psychiatry has found that LSD reduces activity in the region of the brain responsible for negative emotions such as fear.
The researchers call this the drug’s ‘de-frightening effect’...
Mental Health and Synthetic Cannabinoid Use
Recently published in the journal Pediatrics, the first prospective study of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) – chemicals that mimic the effects of marijuana – links depressive symptoms and marijuana and alcohol consumption with an increased...
ESPAD Report 2015
The European Schools Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) collects comparable data on substance use among 15- to 16-year-old students. It monitors drug usage trends within, as well as, between European countries.
The latest...
Scotland and New Psychoactive Substances
A collaborative research project geared towards understanding the patterns of use, motives and harms of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) - commonly referred to as ‘Legal Highs’ - in Scotland has recently published its findings. Amongst the...
Looking to the Future: Healthcare for Adolescents
A recent review published in the Journal of Adolescent Health that looks at the effectiveness of interventions for improving the well-being of teenagers has reached a number of significant conclusions. These include:
- Sexual and...
Report: Mixing Alcohol with Energy Drinks
VicHealth has released a report summarising a recent investigation into Australia’s consumption of alcohol mixed with energy drinks and its harmful consequences.
The key findings include:
- Young people in metropolitan areas drink...
Young Australians Concerned about Alcohol, Drugs and Mental Health
A new study, which surveyed nearly 22,000 15- to 16-year-olds, sheds light on the concerns of Australian teens. Young Aussies identified alcohol and drugs (29%) as the most important issue in Australia today, followed by equity and...
Mental Health and Substance Use: Prevention Guidelines for the Classroom
Mentor ADEPIS has recently released a detailed publication that aims to provide those working within the school setting with practical guidelines for helping to prevent children and young people from developing mental health issues as a...
Teenage Binge Drinking and Future Offspring’s Brain Development
Frequent binge drinking during your teenage years can affect the brain functioning and development of your future offspring, according to new research published by Loyola University. Indeed, the study suggests that excessive alcohol...
Marijuana Linked to Psychosis
The increased use of marijuana as well as the debate over decriminalisation and legalisation has left many with questions about the potential dangers of cannabis. A new study found that people who used marijuana were more likely to develop...
Substance Abuse and the Transition to Adulthood
Transitioning from childhood to adulthood can be a particularly difficult time for a lot of young people. A new study published in Emerging Adulthood investigates the way that adolescent substance users view this change in relation to their...
Mental Health Issues and Drug Use Disorder in Young People
This new report analyses treatment services provided to youth with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders across Australia. Awareness of the complex relationship between mental health problems and substance abuse can help...
Smoking and Depression: What's the Relationship?
Almost 20% of American adults smoke cigarettes. Those diagnosed as having a moderate mental health problem are approximately twice as likely to smoke, whereas for those diagnosed as severely ill the risks are roughly three times greater...
Applications Are Now Open for Research Innovation Grants
Alcohol Research UK is now accepting applications for the Research Innovation Grants 2016/17 programme. The focus of this year's programme is treatment and recovery today. The alcohol services sector and approaches to both treatment and...
Adolescence, Alcoholism and Interventions
Substance abuse entails a whole host of social, physical and mental health problems. A recent overview published in the Journal of Adolescent Health evaluates the effectiveness of interventions focused on smoking, alcohol or combined drug...
Alcohol Use and Cognitive Harm
Around 88,000 Americans die from alcohol-related harm each year. The physical effects of alcohol abuse, including certain cancers, heart disease and liver disease, are well-known. There is also much evidence that suggests alcohol can have a...
What Are Kids Taking?
The results are in. The 2014 – 15 Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs Survey shows that, on the one hand, smoking rates are generally down, while on the other, experimentation with synthetic and prescription drugs is increasing...
Marijuana on the Brain
According to new research smoking marijuana regularly distorts the brain’s natural risk and reward circuitry which, in turn, can affect people’s decision-making as well as their ability to maintain relationships. In this way, the study...
Higher Numbers Getting High
Marijuana use amongst adults in the United States is increasing. A study of over half-a-million people carried out between 2002 – 2014 and subsequently published in The Lancet suggests that this is because fewer perceive the drug to be...