The intersection of substance use with broader public health concerns.
Public Health
Socioeconomic Status and Alcohol-Related Harm: What's the Link?
New research published in The Lancet Public Health has examined the link between alcohol-related health effects and socioeconomic status. The study suggests that the less affluent a person is, the less likely they are to suffer from alcohol...
How Do We Tackle the Opioid Epidemic?
The over-prescription of opioids is a significant public health issue in the United States. For example, opioids are often prescribed for minor injuries unnecessarily. This, in turn, increases the risk of addiction. New research presented...
'Pre-Drinks': The Possible Dangers of a Growing Cultural Phenomenon
Preloading with alcohol, or ‘pre-drinking’, before a night out is becoming more and more common. New research carried out in a night-life district in Queensland, Australia, has looked to gauge the extent of ‘pre-drinking’. The study reports...
Receptivity to Tobacco Ads Linked to Smoking Susceptibility Among Youth
There is a strong link between receptivity to tobacco product advertisements and susceptibility to smoking cigarettes later in life, according to new research published in the journal Pediatrics. Put simply, the study suggests that the more...
SHAAP/IAS Seminar Series: Women, Alcohol, and Stigma
Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) and the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) are co-hosting a four part seminar series to discuss issues relating to women and alcohol.
Parental Absence in Early Childhood and Onset of Smoking and Alcohol Consumption before Adolescence
Abstract Background: Parental absence, due to death or separation from a parent, has been associated with smoking and alcohol consumption in adolescence and adulthood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether parental absence in...
Current Tobacco Smoking and Desire to Quit Smoking among Students — Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2012–2015
Summary What is already known about this topic? Smoked tobacco products, such as cigarettes and cigars, are the most common form of tobacco consumed worldwide and most tobacco smokers begin smoking during adolescence. What is added by this...
Do α2-Adrenergic Agonists Decrease the Symptoms Associated With Opioid Withdrawal?
Study Selection This systematic review included randomized controlled clinical trials that compared the administration of an α2-adernergic agonist with other interventions such as placebo or methadone to reduce symptoms of opioid withdrawal...
Estimating the Cost-Effectiveness of Brief Interventions for Heavy Drinking in Primary Health Care across Europe
Background Screening and brief interventions for alcohol are an effective public health measure to tackle alcohol-related harm, however relatively few countries across the European Union (EU) have implemented them widely. This may be due to...
Non-Medicinal Ritalin Use: Study Enhanced, But Taking a Chance
New research published in the Journal of Neural Transmission highlights a number of potential adverse side-effects from using the stimulant drug Ritalin without a prescription. Ritalin (Methylphenidate) is medically used to treat Attention...