This manual is designed to orient helpers to offer psychological first aid (PFA) to people following a serious crisis event. PFA involves humane, supportive and practical assistance for people who are distressed, in ways that respect their dignity, culture and abilities.

The orientation aims to build the capacity of helpers in crisis situations:

• To approach a situation safely, for themselves and others;

• To say and do the most supportive things for very distressed people; and

• To NOT cause further harm by their actions.

The orientation provides many opportunities for...

Dear friends and colleagues, 

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs is starting very soon! In fact, tomorrow, Monday, 14 March 2022. 

Once again, all sessions, as well as the side events, are to be held online due to the pandemic. The good thing about that means that, you can still follow the plenaries and the side events! That’s why we thought that you might appreciate having all the links in one place.

GENERAL LINKS TO FOLLOW CND

• Link to 65th session with general information on organizational arrangements: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CND/session/65_Session_2022/65CND...

Hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial designs have become increasingly prevalent in implementation research. As hybrid designs enter their second decade of widespread use, the Frontiers in Health Services’ Implementation Science section launches a Research Topic to fuel the field’s discourse on the past, present, and future of hybrid designs in knowledge translation. Submissions are welcome of both Original and/or Brief Research, Review, Methods, and Perspective articles. The call addresses critical assessments of hybrid designs, innovative use of hybrid designs in current trials, and...

BACKGROUND

In Ukraine, substance use disorders (SUDs) and rates of HIV infection are growing, the number of specialists does not meet country’s addiction treatment demands, and the quality of the care is often insufficient and does not cover the current treatment needs. A necessary first step to improving care for people with SUD in Ukraine is training needs assessment of addiction specialists.

METHODS

A survey instrument, “Training Needs Survey for SUD Specialists,” developed by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency of the United States...

The Annual Meeting will be held on March 2-5 2022, and is currently scheduled to take place at the Edinburgh International Conference Center in Edinburgh, Scotland.  

The SRNT 2022 Annual Meeting may be a hybrid (part in person, part virtual) or entirely virtual, depending on how things play out in the coming months. A final decision about the meeting format (face-to-face hybrid virtual component vs. entirely virtual) will not be made for some time. In the meantime, attendees should not hesitate to submit for fear of being unable to travel. Rest assured that the meeting, no matter the...

Affective disorders, or mood disorders, are often diagnosed in people who use or are addicted to psychoactive substances. Symptoms of substance use disorder can mimic symptoms of both depression and mania. For example, acute alcohol intoxication or stimulant intoxication can cause symptoms of mania or hypomania, and withdrawal symptoms often manifest with dysphoria and depression. Treatment of comorbid mood disorders affects the further course of the disease and treatment prognosis. Why does this happen? Why is it important to diagnose depression, bipolar disorder? Is it correct to screen for...

The effect of psychoactive substances on the human body has it’s gender differences. For example, alcohol dependence is a growing problem among women. Predisposition to alcoholism is higher in women primarily due to structural and physiological differences, they are more likely experience adverse effects, faster than men develop addiction to alcohol. There are also specific health risks associated only with women, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, breast cancer and others. In general, women more likely have stronger craving for psychoactive substances and more likely experience relapse. About...