addiction

Addiction is defined as not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it could be harmful to you.

Addiction is most commonly associated with gambling, drugs, alcohol and smoking, but it’s possible to be addicted to just about anything, including work, the internet, shopping, solvents and sex.

Our addiction Blogs

Breaking the silence about #WomenAndDrugs

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Ian Hamilton summarises the discussion that took place at the #WomenAndDrugs conference in York on 2nd June 2017, which brought together a group of experts representing research, treatment and policy.

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Women in prison have significantly more drug problems than men #WomenAndDrugs

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Geoff Page publishes his debut elf blog on a new systematic review of alcohol and drug use disorders in recently incarcerated men and women.

We’re publishing this blog to coincide with the #WomenAndDrugs event taking place in York today, which you can follow on Twitter and via our live podcast.

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Women, addiction and crime: what works? #WomenAndDrugs

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Some of the country’s leading experts on mental health and substance abuse will gather at the University of York tomorrow to “end the silence” surrounding women and addiction. We’ll be taking this #WomenAndDrugs event #BeyondTheRoom and I’m delighted to be publishing two relevant blogs, one today and the other tomorrow.

Here’s the first from regular elf blogger Ian Hamilton, who explores a recent narrative literature review on effective interventions for drug using women offenders.

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Tobacco smoking, cognition and first episode psychosis: time for a rethink?

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Marcus Munafo appraises a recent cross sectional study of tobacco smoking and its association with cognition in first episode psychosis patients.

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Personality disorders and alcohol treatment: is there any hope?

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Ian Hamilton and Kelly Davies provide some optimism after reading a new systematic review about personality disorders and alcohol treatment outcomes.

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Cannabis and psychosis: it’s high time for a review

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Joe Barnby considers the findings of a recent meta-analysis of cannabis use and symptoms severity in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis.

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Nicotine reverses hypofrontality in animal models of addiction and schizophrenia

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Marcus Munafo looks at a complex and sophisticated series of experiments that provide further insight into the relationships between genetic risk, cigarette smoking and schizophrenia.

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Novel Psychoactive Substances: important information for health professionals

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Harry Sumnall, Ian Hamilton and Mark Monaghan provide an overview of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) aimed at health professionals and others who work with people who use these new psychoactive substances.

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New NICE guidance on dual diagnosis: sterile or infectious?

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Ian Hamilton and Mark Holland appraise new NICE guidance on dual diagnosis. Their blog highlights the ongoing inequity in service provision for people with serious mental illness and comorbid substance misuse.

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NICE one? Is NHS guidance on substance misuse fit for purpose?

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Ian Hamilton explains why the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have missed a trick by not updating their 2007 guidance on psychosocial interventions for substance misuse.

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