Key Findings
This is a quick summary of the main discovery for each research paper we have published, organized issue by issue. Each key finding is below the article title, with a link to the abstract.
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April 2020
HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID) and related factors in Iran: a systematic review, meta‐analysis and trend analysis
The prevalence of HIV among people who inject drugs in Iran decreased after 2006 which could in part be attributed to the development of extensive harm reduction programs in the country.
What do HIV‐positive drug users’ experiences tell us about their antiretroviral medication‐taking? An international integrated literature review
HIV‐positive drug users’ taking of medication is a dynamic social process that requires health professionals to assess adherence to treatment.
Documented brief intervention associated with reduced linkage to specialty addictions treatment in a national sample of VA patients with unhealthy alcohol use with and without alcohol use disorders
In a national sample of US Veterans Health Administration patients with unhealthy alcohol use, brief intervention for alcohol use was associated with lower likelihood of receiving specialty addictions treatment.
Alcohol control policy and changes in alcohol‐related traffic harm
Alcohol control policy measures in Lithuania between January 2004 and February 2019 were associated with a marked decrease in alcohol‐related traffic harm.
Washington's privatization of liquor: effects on household alcohol purchases from Initiative 1183
The 'Washington Initiative 1183' law appears to have been associated with an approximately 82% increase in monthly liquor purchases and 26% increase in monthly ethanol purchases by households in Washington (state), USA.
Detachable low dead space syringes for the prevention of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs in Bristol, UK: an economic evaluation
Replacing high dead space syringes with detachable low dead space syringes in needle and syringe programmes in the UK is likely to be a cost‐saving approach for reducing HCV transmission.
Valuing families’ preferences for drug treatment: a discrete choice experiment
Families affected by a relative’s drug use are willing to pay for drug treatment that reduces family discord, improves their own health, increases time in treatment and reduces contact with police.
New psychoactive substances (NPS) in the Netherlands: occurrence in forensic drug samples, consumer drug samples and poisons center exposures between 2013 and 2017
Analysis of drug samples and exposures reported to poison centers from 2013 to 2017 shows the constant presence of new psychoactive substances on the Dutch drug market and their use by the Dutch population.
Transitions across tobacco use profiles among adolescents: results from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study waves 1 and 2
US youth who previously tried e‐cigarettes and cigarettes had a 32% chance of transitioning to current use of two or more tobacco products within 1 year.
The role of personality functioning in drug misuse treatment engagement
In people attending substance use treatment services, more dysfunctional personality characteristic adaptations are strongly related to poorer treatment participation and counselling rapport and moderately related to treatment satisfaction.
Changes in smoker characteristics in England between 2008 and 2017
Between 2008 and 2017 in England, smokers appear to have become less dependent on cigarettes but less likely to try to quit or cut down.
Differences in nicotine intake and effects from electronic and combustible cigarettes among dual users
Compared with cigarettes, e‐cigarettes produced lower (on average) systemic nicotine exposure and were judged to be less satisfying, rewarding, and craving-reducing.
Substance use disorders and risk for treatment resistant depression: a population‐based, nested case–control study
Among patients initiating treatment for depression, there is a positive association between substance use disorders and treatment resistance.
Fentanyl is used in Mexico's northern border: current challenges for drug health policies
In a sample of 89 heroin users in Mexico, most white powder heroin users were unknowingly exposed to fentanyl, with fentanyl detected in 93% of white powder samples.
Vitamin E acetate is not present in licit e‐cigarette products available on the UK market
Licit vaping products available on the UK market do not contain tetrahydrocannabinol or vitamin E acetate.