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Tag Archives: public-health

Findings brief interventions bulletins: screening is key; commissioners must lever implementation; A&E implementation challenges

Recent research from the drug and alcohol Bank : Inpatients often gain little more from alcohol advice than from screening Many with alcohol-related disorders, risky drinking hospital inpatients with time to reflect on their problems ought to be prime candidates for brief advice.

Intrauterine Exposure To Drugs Not Found To Affect Academic Achievement Test Scores

Researchers from Boston University Schools of Medicine (BUSM) and Public Health along with Boston Medical Center have found children’s academic achievement test scores not affected by intrauterine exposure to cocaine, tobacco or marijuana…

Findings bulletins review NICE alcohol guidance and quality standards

The drug and alcohol Bank has reviewed NICE alcohol guidance and standards : UK clinical guidance on treating dependent drinkers Assessment by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) of what evaluation research means for alcohol dependence treatment in Britain, distinguished by comprehensive reviews of the literature; in some cases these expose the inadequacies of the evidence base. UK clinical guidance on treating acute alcohol withdrawal Clinical guidance developed for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on the medical care of patients suffering acute alcohol withdrawal.

Link Between Prescription And Illicit Drug Misuse In High-Risk Populations

A new report from researchers at the Drexel University School of Public Health identifies patterns in the misuse of illicit drugs among young adults who also misuse prescription drugs.

Alcohol and Obesity: National Obesity Observatory report explores links

The National Obesity Observatory has published a report on the links between alcohol consumption and obesity: Download: Obesity and alcohol – an overview The report states that although there is no clear causal relationship between alcohol consumption and obesity, there are associations between the two which are heavily influenced by lifestyle, genetic and social factors. Many people are also not aware of the calories contained in alcoholic drinks which can contain “nutrient poor” calories, for instance there are up to 180 calories in a large glass of wine and 250 calories in a pint of strong lager.

Nicotine control: E-cigarettes, smoking and addiction

Abstract: Background: Over the past year or so, electronic cigarettes, more commonly known as ‘e-cigarettes’, have achieved widespread visibility and growing popularity. These products, which deliver nicotine via an inhaled mist, have caused no small amount of controversy in public health circles, and their rise has been accompanied by energetic debate about their potential harms and benefits.Methods: Interspersed with an analysis of current media coverage on e-cigarettes and the response of mainstream tobacco control and public health to these devices, this article examines the emergence of nicotine as both as an ‘addiction’ and a treatment for addiction.Results: We argue that by delivering nicotine in way that resembles the visual spectacle and bodily pleasures of smoking, but without the harms of combustible tobacco, e-cigarettes highlight the complex status of nicotine as both a poison and remedy in contemporary public health and tobacco control.Conclusion: In consequence, e-cigarettes jeopardize the carefully drawn distinctions between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ forms of nicotine.

Clinical Correlates of Co-Occurring Cannabis and Tobacco Use: A Systematic Review

Abstract Aims: Aims: A growing literature has documented the substantial prevalence of and putative mechanisms underlying co-occurring (i.e., concurrent or simultaneous) cannabis and tobacco use. Greater understanding of the clinical correlates of co-occurring cannabis and tobacco use may suggest how intervention strategies may be refined to improve cessation outcomes and decrease the public health burden associated with cannabis and tobacco use. Methods: A systematic review of the literature on clinical diagnoses, psychosocial problems, and outcomes associated with co-occurring cannabis and tobacco use.

Norway Has New Legal Limits In Traffic For Drugs Other Than Alcohol

Legal limits for twenty illegal drugs and medicines with an abuse potential have been introduced by the Norwegian government. Norway is the first country to define both impairment-based legislative limits and limits for graded sanctions for drugs other than alcohol

‘Tackling alcohol misuse: Should abstinence be our preferred approach?’ British Liver Trust call for public health action on alcohol

The British Liver Trust have released a new report outlining the need for a comprehensive approach to tackling alcohol misuse. It warns against a “one size fits all approach for treatment” for a range of problem drinkers “each of whom will need tailored approach with the interventions and appropriate treatment goals.” Download 'Reducing alcohol harm: recovery and informed choice for those with alcohol related health problems' A supporting commentary piece by Andrew Langford , Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust also appeared in the Guardian .

The Co-occurring Use and Misuse of Cannabis and Tobacco: A Review

Abstract Aims: Cannabis and tobacco use and misuse frequently co-occur. This review examines the epidemiological evidence supporting the lifetime co-occurrence of cannabis and tobacco use and outlines the mechanisms that link these drugs to each other. Mechanisms include (a) shared genetic factors; (b) shared environmental influences, including (c) route of administration (via smoking), (d) co-administration and (e) models of co-use