Shared by James Harvey
(ISSUP staff) - 9 October 2024
Don't miss our latest newsletter for details of recent meetings and activities in Latin America and Africa. This issue also includes information on how to gain advanced clinical skills with the UTC16 Self Led Course.
Learn about global drug trends from the authors of the World Drug Report 2024!
UNODC experts will present the World Drug Report 2024, giving an overview of the latest developments and diving into the most up-to-date global data. In the...
Shared by James Harvey
(ISSUP staff) - 1 July 2024
Format
Report
Published by / Citation
UNODC
A global reference on drug markets, trends and policy developments, the World Drug Report offers a wealth of data and analysis and in 2024 comprises several elements tailored to different audiences.
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Europol (2024), EU Drug Market: Drivers and facilitators, https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/eu-drug-markets/drivers-and-f…
EU Drug Market: Drivers and facilitators provides an overview of the key factors influencing the operation of the markets for illicit drugs in the European Union. It considers the changes and developments happening in the wider environment in which the illicit drug market is embedded (drivers), and the people or processes (facilitators) that make it easier to commit drug-related criminality or avoid detection. The focus of the report is on identifying key issues and presenting recommendations for action at EU and Member State level.
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (2024), European Drug Report 2024: Trends and Developments, https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/european-drug-report/2024_en
The European Drug Report 2024: Trends and Developments presents the EMCDDA’s latest analysis of the drug situation in Europe. Focusing on illicit drug use, related harms and drug supply, the report provides a comprehensive set of national data across these themes, as well as on specialist drug treatment and key harm reduction interventions.
The purpose of the report is to provide an overview and summary of the European drug situation up to the end of 2023.
Coughlan, E., Mckeown, P., Corrigan, N., & Harris, A. (2023). The implementation of quality standards (QS) at Coolmine Therapeutic Community. Adiktologie, 23(1), 47–53. https://doi.org/10.35198/01-2023-002-0003
BACKGROUND:
Coolmine’s implementation of quality standards involves a period of change management, strategic planning, and national policy development.
METHODS:
A narrative case study focusing on national policy and internal strategic planning.
CONCLUSIONS:
From 2000, Coolmine embarked on a change management journey that kept the organisation at the forefront of drug and alcohol treatment in Ireland and internationally while maintaining fidelity to the Therapeutic Community. The strategy for quality assurance is replicable across similar organisations.
Shared by James Harvey
(ISSUP staff) - 20 May 2024
On 14th May ISSUP was proud to co-sponsor an event on Tackling the Emerging International Threat of Synthetic Drugs at the UK’s House of Lords with Police, Treatment and Community Collaborative (PTACC), The Forward Trust, The Nelson Trust and Druglink Ltd.
Gleason-Comstock, J., Calhoun, C.B., Locke, B.J. et al. People who use drugs engagement in substance use disorder services and harm reduction: evaluation, challenges and future direction of a community-based intervention. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 19, 24 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-024-00601-1
Background
Since 1996, an urban community-based organisation 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 community organisation recruited a convenience sample of people who use drugs to participate in a survey focused on their substance use, healthcare, and barriers to SUD...
Stimulants are a class of drugs that act on the central nervous system, increasing alertness, energy, and attention while elevating mood. They achieve these effects by enhancing the activity of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.
Many stimulant-related hazards are linked to intensive, high-dose, or long-term usage. The mode of administration plays a significant moderating role; injecting stimulants and smoking crack cocaine or methamphetamine have been specifically associated with more problematic use behaviours. Even people who use stimulants sporadically or...
Cunningham, J.A., Schell, C., Walker, H. et al. Patterns of remission from alcohol dependence in the United Kingdom: results from an online panel general population survey. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 19, 3 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-023-00588-1
Background
Previous research has demonstrated that remissions from alcohol use disorders can occur without accessing treatment. The current study explored the prevalence of such untreated remissions in the UK and further, examined the extent to which people who resolved an alcohol use disorder regarded themselves as ever, or currently, being in recovery.
Methods
Participants were recruited using the Prolific online platform. Participants who met criteria for lifetime alcohol dependence (ICD-10) were asked about their drinking at its heaviest, use of treatment services, whether they...
