A drug test is the scientific analysis of biological samples to determine whether narcotic drugs, psychoactive substances, or their metabolites are present in the body. Samples may include...
Understanding Psychoactive Substances and Substance Use
What Are Psychoactive Substances?
Psychoactive substances are substances that affect the way the brain and body function, influencing thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and behaviour...
Some people are going California sober, meaning they are cutting back on or quitting alcohol or other addictive substances in favor of using marijuana. In theory, the lifestyle choice aims to replace more harmful substances with something...
The UNODC Early Warning Advisory highlights a continued global expansion of new psychoactive substances (NPS), with nearly 1,400 substances reported worldwide. In 2024 alone, a record number of substances were identified, including over 100...
This report highlights a growing concern around stimulant use and related harms in Canada, particularly involving cocaine and methamphetamine. Data from multiple national sources show that stimulant-related deaths have significantly...
This work emerges from clinical observation in addiction treatment settings regarding a frequent yet systematically overlooked phenomenon: the convergence of cocaine use and sexual activity as a specific relapse mechanism. It is proposed...
Este trabajo surge de la observación clínica en dispositivos de tratamiento de adicciones sobre un fenómeno frecuente y sistemáticamente ignorado: la convergencia entre el consumo de cocaína y la actividad sexual como mecanismo específico...
The 2026 National Drug Control Strategy outlines a comprehensive roadmap to reduce illicit drug use and protect communities across the United States. It prioritizes stopping the flow of drugs and precursor chemicals at all borders through...
This issue is the second of a special two-part series. Part 2 examines key factors driving stimulant use, what these trends mean for different groups of people and the responses being implemented to reduce harms.
Three key points of...
This issue is a special two-part series. The first part features a regional breakdown of reports from seven Canadian Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (CCENDU) nodes and five drug checking services from across the country. It...
Background:
Experiencing stigma/discrimination is common in individuals who use substances. However, those with caring responsibilities for individuals who use substances may also be stigmatised and discriminated against (known as...
One of the most innovative and impactful strategies of ROFI Cameroon is the use of music as a tool for social intervention, grassroots sensitization campaigns, conducted directly within local communities.
THE NO ADDICTION CONCERT
The...
We’re really pleased to launch our first report on stigma and language, which you can read on this page or download here.
We hope it will be a useful guide for organisations that are less familiar with the drug and alcohol treatment sector...
Phoenix Futures provide a wide range of harm reduction, treatment and advocacy services. We have a keen interest, and long history, in addressing stigma and on behalf of the Anti-Stigma Network we seek to broader anti-stigma movement. In...
