substance misuse

A drug is a chemical substance that acts on the brain and nervous system, changing a person’s mood, emotion or state of consciousness. Drugs are often classified by the effect they have.
Stimulants, such as cocaine, make people feel full of energy. Depressants (or sedatives), such as heroin, make people feel relaxed. Hallucinogens, such as LSD, make people see, feel or hear things that are not real. Drug or substance misuse is when a person regularly takes one or more drugs to change their mood, emotion or state of consciousness.

Our substance misuse Blogs

Intimate partner violence among non-binary people who use drugs and alcohol: what do we know?

No Responses »
Profile photo of Vishal Bhavsar
Posted by
a multi coloured rainbow with two white stickers in the centre that say 'they' and 'them'

Vishal Bhavsar explores the largest ever study on experiences and perpetration of intimate partner violence and abuse in non-heterosexual relationships, with data from the Global Drug Survey, COVID Special Edition.

[read the full story...]

Mental disorder and homicide: are rates and sentencing patterns changing?

1 Response »
Profile photo of Danny Whiting
Posted by
featured

Danny Whiting reports on a study of mental health problems and long-term national trends in rates and court outcome for people convicted of homicide.

[read the full story...]

Ask about alcohol use in adults affected by divorce, bereavement or illness

No Responses »
Sally Adams
Posted by
sergio-alves-santos-PeDrafNlY2Y-unsplash

Sally Adams considers a recent Finnish longitudinal study, which examines heavy alcohol consumption before and after negative life events in late mid-life.

[read the full story...]

A human rights approach to integrating HIV and substance misuse services

No Responses »
Profile photo of Andie Ashdown
Posted by
>,
Business,Creative,Solution,Concept,-,Jigsaw,On,The,Blackboard

Andie Ashdown and Theophanis Kyriacou summarise a recent paper on integrating HIV and substance misuse services, which draws on a person-centred approach that is grounded in human rights.

[read the full story...]

Temptation can be strong: how can we resist alcohol?

1 Response »
Profile photo of Ian Hamilton
Posted by
Thinking Man

Ian Hamilton summarises a survey of British people, which focuses on the self-reported strategies we use to cut down drinking, reduce alcohol consumption, and usual drinking frequency.

[read the full story...]

What’s the link between neurodevelopmental or mental disorders and school absence or exclusion?

No Responses »
Profile photo of Chris Fielding
Posted by
tim-mossholder-WE_Kv_ZB1l0-unsplash

Chris Fielding summarises a Welsh cohort study which finds that neurodevelopmental and mental disorders are linked to school absenteeism and exclusion.

[read the full story...]

Cannabis use in college: genetic predispositions less influential than social environment

No Responses »
Profile photo of Sally Turner
Posted by
nick-harsell-7NpU3EdryP0-unsplash

Sally Turner reviews a recent study exploring cannabis use in college, which provides useful evidence relating to how universities could promote a sense of community, belonging and support to students who use cannabis.

[read the full story...]

#SmokingAndMentalHealth conversations: NIHR 3 schools webinar

No Responses »
Profile photo of Carolyn Chew-Graham
Posted by
Tom 01 Smoking and Mental Health cover

SmokingAndMentalHealth – Carolyn Chew-Graham summarises the conversations that took place at the Smoking and Mental Health webinar on 28th September 2022.

[read the full story...]

E-cigarettes vs nicotine patches: are either adequate to support pregnant smokers?

No Responses »
Profile photo of Tuba Saygın Avşar
Posted by
ruvim-noga-pazM9TQJ2Ck-unsplash

In her debut blog, Tuba Saygın Avşar summarises a recent RCT, which finds that “E-cigarettes might help women who are pregnant to stop smoking, and their safety for use in pregnancy is similar to that of nicotine patches.”

[read the full story...]

Schizophrenia and cannabis use: new evidence measures risk of relapse

2 Responses »
Profile photo of Sally Turner
Posted by
Over 20% of cannabis users experience a psychotic relapse within 24 months of treatment.

In her debut blog, Sally Turner considers a recent study on cannabis use and clinical outcomes in people with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders over 24 months of treatment.

[read the full story...]