Deaths caused by the drug fentanyl are on the rise in the UK, a recent report published by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) warns.

The report, which included a a literature review of the effects of fentanyl, details of misuse of the compound, and a summary of the associated harms as documented internationally and in the UK, found that deaths related to Fentanyl have risen from eight in 2008 to 135 in 2017.

Fentanyl is a powerful opioid drug used to treat severe pain. The drug works by mimicking the body's natural painkillers, called endorphins, which block pain messages to...

Following their 2019 conference, the Lisbon Addictions team have gathered posters and information about the presentations from the event.

The co-producers have built coherent packages of topical strands, sessions and guided poster tours.

Sessions and posters are grouped into the following categories:

• Behavioural Addictions
• FuturiZe
• Improving the data, methods and analysis used to inform drug policy
• Opioid-related deaths: current and emerging lessons from epidemiology, pharmacology and programmes for intervention.
• Progress in alcohol research and treatment.
• The future of hepatitus C...

The European Society for Prevention Research (EUSPR) promotes the development of prevention science, and its application to practice so as to promote human health and well-being through high quality research, evidence based interventions, policies and practices.

EUSPR are cordially inviting you to participate in the EUSPR ECF and the ECF Committee, in the following areas:

• ECF Communication (e.g., develop, design and disseminate EC communication for the EUSPR newsletter, prevention-related organisations in Europe)
• ECF Conference (e.g., develop, monitor, document and support EC events at...

Professionals, academics and experts from European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries will have the opportunity to participate in the 2020 National Institute on Drug Abuse International Forum, thanks to five bursaries being offered through the EU4Monitoring Drugs (EU4MD) project.

The three-year EU-funded project — launched by the EMCDDA in January 2019 — supports national and regional readiness in the ENP area to identify and respond to drug-related health and security threats.

The forum — organised by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) — will take place in Hollywood, Florida, USA...

The EU Drug Markets Report 2019 is the third comprehensive overview of illicit drug markets in the European Union by the EMCDDA and Europol. 

The analysis presented in the report examines topics such as the links between drugs and other crimes, the licit economy and society more generally as well as the processes and players involved in the trade, from production and trafficking to distribution.

Taking an evidence-based approach, the report reviews the markets for heroin, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA and new psychoactive substances.

It also provides action points to...

The aim of the ASAP training project is to build effective drug prevention results across Europe, based on prevention systems analysis and widespread professional training.

The ASAP training project will work to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the different EU countries prevention systems and the implementation of training interventions to spread the European Drug Prevention Quality Standards.

ASAP training programme have lunched their first newsletter!

Find out more about the activity of the ASAP training project and the opportunities and events taking place int the future.

The Health Research Board have updated their fact sheets relating to drug use and treatment in Ireland.

1. MDMA/ecstasy: the Irish situation
2. Alcohol: the Irish situation
3. Cannabis: the Irish situation.
4. Cocaine: the Irish situation
5. Opioids: the Irish situation
6. Sedatives and tranquillisers: the Irish situation
7. Smoking: the Irish situation
8. Young people, drugs and alcohol: the Irish situation.

Abstract

Background

Dependence to prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs represents an increasing public health and clinical problem both in England and internationally. However, relatively little is known about those affected, particularly in relation to their management at drug dependence treatment centres. This study aimed to explore the views and experiences of health care professionals (HCPs) working in formal drug treatment services in relation to supporting clients with prescription and OTC drug dependence.

Methods

An exploratory, qualitative design was used involving semi...

"Prevention methods using shock tactics are proven to be ineffective. Nevertheless, strategies based on predominantly providing information about the dangers of substance use are widespread in Europe. The European Society for Prevention Research (EUSPR) is concerned about those so-called prevention strategies. It calls on decisionmakers, influencers and policymakers to use scientific proof of effectiveness as a criterion for exposing our youth to prevention methods and not to spend public money on rather commercial offers, since there are better and less expensive alternatives."

In a recent p...

Social media is being used by the alcohol industry as a platform to promote their products.

This has raised concerns about adolescents’ exposure to alcohol advertising, as social media is extensively used by young people.

Through the Alcohol Act, Finland became the first country in the world to monitor and regulate social media for alcohol-related content.

The Finnish Alcohol Act restricts social media alcohol adverts in the following three ways:

1. the use of interactive games, competitions and lotteries is prohibited
2. the use of user-generated content may not be distributed through the...

Despite efforts to reduce concerning levels of alcohol consumption in Europe through adopting the WHO European Action Plan on Alcohol (EAPA), the region continues to have the highest prevalence of drinkers, heavy episodic drinking, alcohol consumption per capita, and the lowest proportion of abstainers, compared with other regions around the world.

Efforts to introduce policies that prevent and control non-communicable diseases are frequently hampered by trade agreements, conflicting economic interests, or the challenges of controlling online advertising and sales.

On examination of the WHO...

The National Health Service has been closely following the smoking, drinking and drug use trends amongst young people in England.

The series of surveys began in 1982. The most recent 2018 survey questioned 13,664 year 7 to 11 pupils, mostly aged 11 to 15, from 193 schools across England, between September 2018 and February 2019.

Data has been collected and analysed on:

• Smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption
• Young people who smoke
• Young people and smoking: the context
• Electronic cigarette use (vaping)
• Alcohol drinking prevalence and consumption
• Young people who drink alcohol
• Yo...