2014
Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy (December 2014)
Fourth Annual Report (NHS Health Scotland)
Legal Highs, Legal Nightmares (December 2014)
So who?s responsibility is it to regulate, enforce, disrupt or cease the trade in Novel Psychoactive Substances in the UK? (Higher Learning Training Ltd)
New, free drug education resource for school communities (November 2014)
Every secondary school across Australia will this week receive a new, free and evidence-based drug education resource that aims to empower young people to make positive choices for their health and wellbeing (NDARC)
New psychoactive substances (November 2014)
A toolkit for substance misuse commissioners (Public Health England)
Illicit drug markets in Ireland (October 2014)
Through in-depth research with people involved in the illicit drug market in Ireland, as drug users or sellers, as professionals responding to it or as residents affected by it, this research fills a significant knowledge gap in this important area of Irish drug policy (NACDA)
Early Intervention and Prevention (September 2014)
This briefing paper is aimed at informing teachers and practitioners involved in the delivery of alcohol and drug education and prevention (Mentor-ADEPIS)
“Legal highs”: safe and legal “heavens”? (August 2014)
A study on the diffusion,knowledge and risk awareness of novel psychoactive drugs among students in the UK
Hepatitis C Virus Infection Epidemiology among People Who Inject Drugs in Europe (August 2014)
A Systematic Review of Datafor Scaling Up Treatment and Prevention (PLOS ONE)
Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations (July 2014)
Includes people who inject drugs (WHO)
The Workplace as an AOD-Related Harm Prevention and Intervention Setting (July 2014)
Research has demonstrated that workplaces both contribute to and are impacted by employees’ alcohol and other drug use (NCETA)
Responsibility deal pledge on alcohol unit reduction: 1st report (April 2014)
First report monitoring the Public Health Responsibility Deal pledge to reduce the number of units of alcohol sold each year by 1 billion (Government, UK)
Medication-Assisted Therapies – Tackling the Opioid-Overdose Epidemic (April 2014)
Essential steps for physicians will be to reduce unnecessary or excessive opioid prescribing, routinely check data from prescription-drug–monitoring programs to identify patients who may be misusing opioids, and take full advantage of effective MATs for people with opioid addiction (NEJM)
MEPs back rules to take harmful “legal highs” off the market faster (April 2014)
Draft rules to ensure that harmful psychoactive substances, known as “legal highs”, are withdrawn rapidly from the EU market were approved by Parliament on Thursday
Best practice portal (Feb 2014)
The Best practice portal is a resource for professionals, policymakers and researchers in the areas of drug-related prevention, treatment, harm reduction and social reintegration (EMCDDA)
Drug-related deaths and deaths among drug users in Ireland (Jan 2014)
This update presents figures from the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) on deaths due to poisoning by alcohol and/or other drugs, and deaths among drug users, in the period 2004–2011 (NDRDI)
2013
Drugs: new psychoactive substances and prescription drugs (Dec 2013)
Twelfth Report from the Home Affairs Committee PDF (UK Government)
NGO recommendations to the new EU Action Plan on Alcohol (Dec 2013)
As the international NGO that represents NGOs on Alcohol Policy across the European Union, Eurocare wishes to contribute initial ideas as the new EU Action Plan begins to be drafted (Eurocare)
European drug prevention quality standards: a quick guide (Oct 2013)
A condensed version of EMCDDA Manual 7, it includes a description of the eight stages involved in the drug prevention cycle, along with a self-reflection checklist that can be used when planning and implementing prevention activities (EMCDDA)
The Uncomfortable Truth Hepatitis C in England: The State of the Nation (Oct 2013)
A new report, published today by The Hepatitis C Trust has found that hepatitis C is grossly under-prioritised in England. Despite it being curable, only 3% of people receive treatment each year (Hepatitis C Trust)
Reducing truancy, moral disengagement and psychological distress (NDARC)
Prescription Drug Abuse: Strategies to Stop the Epidemic (Oct 2013)
According to the report, prescription drug abuse has quickly become a top public health concern, as the number of drug overdose deaths – a majority of which are from prescription drugs – doubled in 29 states since 1999. The rates quadrupled in four of these states and tripled in 10 more of these states (Trust for America’s Health)
2012
Guidelines for the evaluation of drug prevention July 2012
A manual for programme planners and evaluators (second edition). Dowload | EMCDDA
Guidance on prevention of viral Hepatitis B and C among people who inject drugs July 2012
People who inject drugs are a key population affected by HBV and HCV. There are approximately 16 million people who inject drugs in 148 countries. In 2011 it was estimated that 1,2 million people who inject drugs are infected with HBV and 10 million people who inject drugs are infected with HCV. Download | WHO
Responding to drug use and related problems in recreational settings July 2012
This paper summarises some of the approaches used today to prevent and reduce the health and social risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and alcohol in recreational settings. Download | EMCDDA
Prevention and control of infectious diseases among people who inject drugs July 2012
This joint guidance report explores good public health practices that can support effective policies to reduce infections. Common blood-borne viruses in this group include HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C | EMCDDA
Drug demand reduction: global evidence for local actions July 2012
This policy briefing considers the development of evidence-based drug demand reduction interventions | EMCDDA
Better access to naloxone, training could reduce opioid overdose deaths March 2012
The findings in this report suggest that distribution of naloxone and training in its administration might have prevented numerous deaths from opioid overdoses,” stated Eliza Wheeler, MPA, Drug Overdose Prevention and Education Project, Harm Reduction Coalition, Oakland, Calif., and colleagues | Formulary, USA
Community-Based Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs Providing Naloxone February 2012
To address the substantial increases in opioid-related drug overdose deaths, public health agencies could consider comprehensive measures that include teaching laypersons how to respond to overdoses and administer naloxone to those in need. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from | Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, USA
Interpersonal violence and illicit drugs February 2012
This briefing summarises the links between interpersonal violence and illicit drug use, identifies risk factors for involvement in drug-related violence, outlines prevention measures that address drug-related violence, and explores the role of public health in prevention | Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
Ending gang and youth violence – detailed report February 2012
The report looks into the scale of the problem of gang and youth violence, analyses its causes, and identifies what can be done by government and other agencies to stop the violence and to turn around the lives of those involved | Home Office, UK
Standards and guidelines for practices February 2012
This page contains a listing of national drug prevention guidelines and standards in Europe. The title, the methodological basis and the types of treatment covered by each guideline are provided, along with a download link where available | EMCDDA
Hepatitis C and HIV Co-infection January 2012
Approximately 9% of HIV positive people in the UK are co-infected with hepatitis C | NAT, UK
Drug advice for schools January 2012
Updated: 25 January 2012 | Department for Education and the Association of Chief Police Officers, UK
Drug Advice for Schools January 2012
Drugs and drug-related incidents – advice for local authorities, head teachers, school staff and governing bodies from the | Department for Education and the Association of Chief Police Officers, UK
HIV in injecting drug users in the EU/EEA January 2012
In response to a notified increase in HIV cases among injecting drug users (IDU) in Greece and Romania, the European Commission asked the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) in November 2011 to conduct a rapid inquiry among their network of HIV surveillance- and drug focal points to investigate whether such increases had occurred in other countries | EMCDDA
Drug policy and the public good: evidence for effective interventions January 2012
Evidence-based interventions are increasingly being identified that are capable of making drugs less available, reducing violence in drug markets, lessening misuse of legal pharmaceuticals, preventing drug use initiation in young people, and reducing drug use and its consequences in established drug users
2011
Responding to new psychoactive substances December 2011
This briefing paper describes some of the practical and legal obstacles facing Member States when responding to such new substances. It underlines the importance of national early-warning systems in detecting and identifying new substances as the first step towards assessing the risks of, and ultimately controlling, potentially dangerous new drugs. English download | EMCDDA
New practical guide for prevention professionals December 2011
EMCDDA launches first European quality standards to improve drug prevention in the EU | EMCDDA
Prevention profiles 2011 October 2011
What are countries in Europe doing to prevent illicit drug use? ‘Prevention profiles’ try to answer this question by providing information based on expert appraisal of the level of provision of different prevention measures in Europe | EMCDDA
DEA Moves to Emergency Control Synthetic Stimulants September 2011
Agency Will Study Whether To Permanently Control Three Substances | DEA, USA
National Prevention Strategy June 2011
America’s Plan for Better Health and Wellness | healthCare.gov, USA
Taking Drugs Seriously May 2011
A Demos and UK Drug Policy Commission report on legal highs. Full report and background paper | UKDPC
Delivering alcohol screening and alcohol brief interventions within general dental practice May 2011
Rationale and overview of the evidence | British Dental Journal
HIV Prevention Among Injection Drug Users In Kenya and Tanzaniar May 2011
New opportunities and progress | Center for Strategic and International Studies, USA
Health protection in prisons report 2009-2010 March 2011
The work programme for 2009-2010 covered three key areas: improving infectious disease surveillance, the hepatitis B vaccination monitoring programme, and information and communication. This report outlines the progress made in meeting the objectives of the work programme in these key areas [Health Protection Agency, UK]
Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study February 2011
Conclusion Cannabis use is a risk factor for the development of incident psychotic symptoms. Continued cannabis use might increase the risk for psychotic disorder by impacting on the persistence of symptoms [British Medical Journal]
2010
Final Connections Project Update: December 2010
T3E final research report – Ethnicity, drugs, HIV and prisons in Europe
Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) Report: Prison and Risks
Social Norms October 2010
A research paper on social norms written by John McAlaney, Bridgette Bewick and Clarissa Hughes sets out the international development of social norms in drug education and prevention [Drug Education Forum, UK]
Building on Our Strengths August 2010
Canadian Standards for School-based Youth Substance Abuse Prevention [CCSA, Canada]
State election 2010 – Responding to older AOD users July 2010
This paper was produced in June and utilised during meetings with Members of Parliament in Drug Action Week [VAADA, Australia]
Fighting Drug Trafficking With a Substance-Oriented Approach July 2010
This paper discusses the “substance-oriented approach” Dutch authorities implemented to to scare off potential small-scale cocaine smugglers. The focus was on the drugs, rather than the couriers, and on incapacitating the smuggling route, rather than deterrence by incarceration – Report PDF [Transnational Institute, Netherlands]
Drugs & diversity: the impact of drugs on different minority groups July 2010
These wide-ranging reports describe what is known about treatment and prevention within diverse communities, including LGBT groups, disabled people and BME communities [UKDPC]
Adolescent Drug Use and the Deterrent Effect of School-Imposed Penalties July 2010
An instrumental-variables approach to retrieving an estimate of the causal response of marijuana use to sanctions and thereby demonstrate the efficacy of school-imposed penalties as a deterrent to adolescent drug use [Institute for the Study of Labor, Germany]
Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities July 2010
The primary aim of this paper is to identify and evaluate primary prevention programs and initiatives aimed at preventing AOD harms in CLD communities [DrugInfo Clearinghouse, Australia]
The Effectiveness of Mandatory- Random Student Drug Testing July 2010
Consistent with the goals of the program, students subject to MRSDT reported less substance use than comparable students in high schools without MRSDT … had no effect on any group of students’ reported intentions to use substances in the future [Institute of Educational Sciences, USA]
Problem drug use and safeguarding children: a multi agency approach June 2010
This chapter explores the social context in which ‘problem drug users’ and ‘inadequate parents’ are constructed … key issues and difficulties involved in working with problem drug users whose children are considered to be at risk of abuse or neglect [Julian Buchanan, Glyndwr University, UK]
Protection from illicit drugs – a child rights issue June 2010
Protecting children from illicit drugs is not an option for State Parties to the Convention of the Rights of the Child. It is an obligation. This is the conclusion in a report that was presented at the World Forum Against Drugs in Stockholm [Alcohol Drugs and Development, Norway / Sweden]
Prevention and Evaluation Resources Kit (PERK) June 2010
This manual compiles basic but evidence-based prevention principles, planning rules and evaluation tips [EMCDDA]
Drug and Alcohol Workforce Development Initiatives May 2010
Including recordings from a seminar hosted at North Sydney on the 23rd of March 2010 [Health NSW, Australia]
Jar wars: the question of schools-based drug testing April 2010
This briefing paper examines the use of schools-based drug testing, analysing its underlying assumptions, its ethical dimensions and the research so far conducted into its practical application [IDPC]
Indigenous-specific alcohol and other drug interventions April 2010
Nationwide Review of Investment into Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Programs [ANCD, Australia]
Cannabis and mental health – schools resource March 2010
A new schools resource has been developed to assist teachers in discussing issues around cannabis use and mental health [Victorian State Government, Department of Health, Australia]
Take-homenaloxone January 2010
Welcome to take-homenaloxone.com. This is a website run by independent academics and healthcare professionals aimed at raising the awareness and profile of the use of take-home naloxone as a mechanism for reducing drug-related death, and to provide a forum for discussing innovation, training and practice developments [Take-homenaloxone]
A Process Evaluation of Celtic Against Drugs and Rangers Positive Choices January 2010
A report on the design and implementation of the Celtic Against Drugs and Rangers Positive Choices schemes and their suitability and value for money as vehicles for drugs education and prevention [Scottish Government, UK]
A Process Evaluation of Celtic Against Drugs and Rangers Positive Choices: Key findings January 2010
Key findings on the design and implementation of the Celtic Against Drugs and Rangers Positive Choices schemes and their suitability and value for money as vehicles for drugs education and prevention [Scottish Government, UK]
2009
Improving health, supporting justice November 2009
The national delivery plan of the Health and Criminal Justice Programme Board. 68-page PDF [DoH, UK]
Equality Impact Assessment of Improving Health, Supporting Justice November 2009
The findings from this EIA have been fed into the policy development stage and should be recognised as key areas for development to ensure equality of access for all. 86-page PDF [DoH, UK]
Combating HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighbouring countries, 2009 -2013 October 2009
A new Commission communciation was approved on 26 October 2009 which sets out priorities to tackle HIV/AIDS across Europe in the coming years [Europa]
Evidence of the efficacy of interventions October 2009
Evidence-based information on the effectiveness of interventions attempts to integrate available individual expertise (i.e. expert opinions) with the best available external evidence from systematic research [EMCDDA]
Director’s Report to the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse – September October 2009
Research findings, program activities, congressional affairs, international activities etc. [NIDA, USA]
The Dawn of a New Era: Transforming our Domestic Response to Hepatitis B & C. October 2009
This national forum focusing on viral hepatitis was held in in Washington, DC, on 10-11 September 2009. The multi-stakeholder forum aimed to develop a coordinated national response to chronic viral hepatitis through improved prevention, detection and patient care. 1MB PDF [Via Hep C org, Australia]
The Scottish Health Survey 2008 September 2009
Including alcohol consumption [Scottish Government, UK]
Welsh Health Survey 2008 September 2009
Including alcohol consumption [Welsh Assembly Government, UK]
Blueprint drugs education: the response of pupils and parents to the programme September 2009
This executive summary (which comes from the final report), focuses on the second stage of the Blueprint evaluation. It sets out to assess how pupils and parents responded to the programme, pupils’ awareness and knowledge of drug use, their perception of drug use and acceptability of drug use among same-age peers, and the quality and frequency of parent-child communication on drugs [Home Office, UK]
FEAD (Film Exchange on Alcohol and Drugs) August 2009
A resource that brings short video presentations from leading figures in the alcohol and drugs field direct to your screen. The contributors cover a range of topics honestly and directly – including: achievements, problem areas, and reflections on the field’s history. Many people have found the website useful in helping discussions and expanding on practice and theory. Please feel free to use the material to enrich your events, seminars, groups, teaching etc
A comprehensive review of international and national research and literature in order to: Identify and document best practice with regard to primary and secondary prevention of substance use (completed in part 1) – Identify and document the range and levels of current programmes, strategies, interventions and resources available for parents in this regard (completed in part 2). 50-page PDF [Crosscare, Ireland]
Provision of Injecting Equipment in Scotland, 2007/08 June 2009
This report presents the findings of a survey, carried out by Information Services Division (ISD), on injecting equipment provision (IEP) to injecting drug users in Scotland in 2007/08 72-page PDF [ISD, Scotland]
National Education and Prevention Action Plan on Illicit Drugs in Sport June 2009
The Australian Government’s $20.1 million Illicit Drugs in Sport – National Education and Prevention Action Plan to help tackle illicit drug use in sport and in the broader community. PDFs [Department of Health, Australia]
Guide to implementing family skills training programmes for drug abuse prevention May 2009
A review of family skills training programmes and the evidence of their effectiveness worldwide [UNODC]
To reduce health risks from Drinking Alcohol March 2009
Australian Guidelines. 179-page PDF [NHMRC, Australia]
Thematic paper on indicated prevention (full paper) March 2009
This review on indicated prevention adds to the current knowledge and understanding of risk factors in the development of later drug problems and dependence, focusing on the mental health and behavioural problems that develop during childhood. 88-page PDF [EMCDDA]
New EMCDDA thematic paper on indicated prevention February 2009
Preventing later substance use disorders in at-risk children and adolescents: a review of the theory and evidence base of indicated prevention. Word or PDF [EMCDDA]
Addressing the needs of children of substance using parents January 2009
An evaluation of Families First’s Intensive Intervention. 94-page PDF [Centre for Public Health, UK]
2008
Effective Dissemination report [September 2008]
A Systematic Review of Implementation Strategies for the AOD Field. 11MB [NCETA, Australia]
Effective Dissemination report [September 2008]
An Examination of the Costs of Implementation Strategies for the AOD Field. 4MB [NCETA, Australia]
Volatile Substance Misuse: A Review of Interventions [June 2008]
Examining literature about interventions designed to combat volatile substance misuse. 182-page PDF [Department of Health and Aging, Australia]
Focus on Gender [June 2008]
A National Survey of Canadians’ Use of Alcohol and Other Drugs [Health Canada]
The benzylpiperazine (BZP) / trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) and alcohol safety study [June 2008]
An estimated 20 million doses of these party pills have been sold legally in New Zealand over the past six years. 38-page PDF [National Drug Policy New Zealand]
ANCD research paper 16 – Drug testing in schools [March 2008]
Drug testing in schools: evidence, impacts and alternatives. 202-page PDF [ANCD, Australia]
Pre 2008
Prevention Education in America’s Schools [2006]
Findings and Recommendations from a Survey of Educators. 1.75MB PDF [Join Together, USA]
Annual review of Drug Prevention [2006]
Presents and grades the evidence in relation to drug prevention in young people across the four tiered model of services.. 60-page PDF [National Colaborating Centre Drug Prevention, UK]
Anti-Drug Advertising: Making the Message Matter [2006]
This past week the government issued a report that questioned the effectiveness of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign … Why might this one study produce a counter-intuitive finding? Perhaps because it attempts to prove something that isn’t provable – that advertising operates in a vacuum to shape our attitudes and behavior [Partnership for a Drug-Free America]
Monograph #7 School based drug prevention: A systematic review of the effectiveness of illicit drug use [December 2005]
This Monograph (No. 07) outlines a systematic review of school based drug education. Whilst the Griffith team started with the broad brief of prevention, it became clear that a focus on school based drug education would be most useful, particularly as a systematic review in relation to its impact on illicit drugs had not been previously conducted. The review identified 58 relevant studies, and both a qualitative (narrative) and quantitative (meta-analytic) review was undertaken. Those programs demonstrating most effectiveness were social influence and competency enhancement programs. Less promising and iatrogenic effects were found for affective education and knowledge dissemination. In contrast to previous research on school based drug education, this review found that professionals were less effective than teachers, that multifaceted programs did not demonstrate substantially greater efficacy; and involvement of peers or booster session had minimal impact. Programs with a greater number of sessions were more effective, and interactive programs were associated with greater effectiveness.
Random drug testing of schoolchildren: A shot in the arm or a shot in the foot for drug prevention? [February 2005]
The idea of randomly drug-testing UK schoolchildren to see if they have used illegal drugs has received supportive comments recently from both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. But is school-based random drug-testing a development we should welcome in the UK, or is it something we should seek to avoid?
JoesephRowntree Foundation 23 February 2005 ISBN 1 85935 282 0 (FREE PDF)
Drug testing in the workplace: The report of the Independent Inquiry into Drug Testing at Work [June 2004]
The report of an independent Inquiry examining what role, if any, drug testing should play in the workplace
JoesephRowntree Foundation 28 June 2004 ISBN 1 85935 211 1 (FREE PDF)
Estimating the Relative Efficiency of Various Forms of Prevention at Different Stages of a Drug Epidemic [July 2002]
Drug use and problems change dramatically over time in ways that are often described as reflecting an epidemic cycle. We use simulation of a model of drug epidemics to investigate how the relative effectiveness of different types of prevention varies over the course of such an epidemic. Doris A. Behrens, Jonathan P. Caulkins, GernotTragler, Doris Winkler Carnegie Mellon, Heinz School 2002-9, Jul 2002
Making Sense of Student Drug Testing: Why Educators Are Saying No
The authors of this booklet, the Drug Policy Alliance and the American Civil Liberties Union, have analyzed, researched and litigated issues related to student drug testing for many years. We have listened to the experts – from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association to hundreds of concerned educators, parents and students across the country. The experts agree, and the evidence is clear: random drug testing does not effectively reduce drug use among young people 36-page PDF [drugtestingfails.org]
Annual review of Drug Prevention
Presents and grades the evidence in relation to drug prevention in young people across the four tiered model of services.. 60-page PDF [National Colaborating Centre Drug Prevention, UK]
Preventing harm from psychoactive substance use
Recommendations fall under five key prevention priorities: reducing risk factors and increasing protective factors across the life course, community centred prevention, addressing impacts on communities, legislative and public policy change and regulated markets. 98-page PDF [City of Vancouver Drug Policy Program, Canada]
The Benefits and Costs of Drug Use Prevention
Clarifying a Cloudy Issue Research brief RB-6007, 1999 RAND