Youth mental health is a growing global crisis, with most mental health conditions beginning before the age of 25. Young people today face increasing stress from poverty, academic and social pressure, bullying (including online), climate anxiety, and uncertainty about the future, while mental health services struggle to keep up with demand. Although governments play a critical role, philanthropic investment can help strengthen the social determinants of youth mental health and support prevention at scale. Despite growing global attention, including commitments through the UN Sustainable...

Smokeless tobacco use is very common in South Asia, but there is limited evidence on effective ways to help users quit. This randomized study evaluated a face-to-face behavioural support program (BISCA) compared with self-help materials among adult smokeless tobacco users attending a dental hospital. One hundred participants who were motivated to quit were included. The BISCA group showed better outcomes for most tobacco withdrawal symptoms and slightly higher quit rates than the self-help group, though the difference was not statistically significant. Given the high prevalence of smokeless...

Opioid use during pregnancy and the postpartum period is increasing in the United States, yet many pregnant and parenting people face serious barriers to accessing effective treatment and supportive services. These barriers arise from fragmented systems such as healthcare, health insurance, child welfare, childcare, and the criminal justice system. This study uses in-depth interviews with healthcare providers, treatment leaders, local government officials, and pregnant and parenting people in a mid-Atlantic state to explore access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), key treatment...

Nivishe Foundation successfully launched “Understanding Emotions,” the first chapter in its groundbreaking Brainwaves Comic Book Series, one of Africa’s first comic books dedicated to mental health education.

The series uses relatable storytelling and vibrant illustrations to help young people understand emotions, break mental health stigma, and build resilience. It transforms complex psychological concepts into simple, accessible lessons that speak directly to the realities of adolescents and youth in Kenya’s informal settlements.

Since its launch in Nairobi, the comic has reached over 2...

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) transforms complex data into insights that reflect real human experiences. Every aspect of the Canadian Substance Use Cost and Harms (CSUCH) project represents individuals with lived or living experience of substance use, along with their families, workplaces, and communities.

A new resource highlights these journeys and the human cost of substance use through illustrated stories from people with lived experience and their families. The illustrations cover three key areas of the CSUCH project: healthcare, lost productivity, and...

In this reading list, we provide resources to help engage our members with the latest knowledge, tools, and case studies on quality standards in substance use disorder treatment. These materials highlight international frameworks, research-backed practices, and country-level initiatives designed to improve access, strengthen systems, and ensure safe, ethical, and effective care. 

Together, they offer a practical foundation for policy-makers, service providers, researchers, and healthcare professionals to reflect on what “quality” means in treatment and how to achieve it across diverse...

The 2025 Annual Report to the Parliament on Drug Addictions in Italy offers a comprehensive overview of the current drug addiction landscape. Despite a slight decline in youth drug use for the first time since 2018, the report highlights ongoing challenges, particularly with substances like cocaine, synthetic opioids, and high-potency cannabis derivatives. Law enforcement and judicial efforts remain strong, and Italy continues to be a key collaborator in global anti-drug initiatives, particularly with countries in South America and the Indo-Pacific region.

The report also emphasizes the...

A large U.S. study has found that some children and teens who start using alcohol, cannabis, or nicotine at an early age already show differences in their brains before they ever try any substance. This challenges the common belief that drug use causes brain changes—it suggests that some young people may already be more vulnerable due to personality traits like curiosity or risk-taking, or because of early life stress or genetics.

The good news is that these early traits can be addressed. A school-based program in Canada helped teens better understand and manage their personalities—and five...

The WHO Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders provides a comprehensive snapshot of global trends in alcohol consumption, related harms, and national policy responses, alongside the availability and quality of treatment services for alcohol and drug use disorders.

Key Highlights:

• Presents the latest data from WHO Member States, aligned with SDG Health Target 3.5: “Strengthen prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.”

• Offers updated insights on global alcohol consumption patterns...