Maternal smoking during pregnancy, and the lasting effects on both developing foetuses and adults, remain a major concern for global health. Research into the genetics and epidemiology of maternal smoking effects is uncovering just how deep these impacts go. This article brings together insights from human foetal studies and large-scale analyses of ageing adults, focusing...
London has seen the sharpest increase in ADHD prescriptions since the pandemic began, with experts and campaigners keenly observing this new medication trend. If you’ve noticed more conversations about ADHD or ADHD medication trends on social media, you’re certainly not alone. Recent research shines a spotlight on what’s happening in the capital and across the...
A compassionate, community-centred approach is transforming efforts to address drug and alcohol harm in Leeds. Local recovery stories and lived experience are at the heart of a major new five-year strategy, aiming to create healthier futures for all who call the city home. This blog explores the challenges, achievements, and the next steps for drug...
Opioid use disorder (OUD) and its effective treatment continue to be urgent topics in both medicine and public health. Recent research on mindfulness and opioid use disorder has generated discussion about whether mindfulness practices can offer meaningful benefits for those seeking recovery. This post unpacks a new large-scale clinical trial, explores what mindfulness can do,...
A Scottish Christian charity is making a significant impact in addiction recovery with its groundbreaking rock climbing recovery programme. East Ayrshire Churches Homelessness Action (EACHa), based in Kilmarnock, has partnered with Above Adventure to create the New Heights initiative. This addiction recovery climbing initiative combines outdoor activities with community support to help individuals build resilience...
At Cork Prison, over 100 people are waiting for addiction counselling, but there are only two addiction counsellors available to help them. This highlights a larger problem across Ireland, where addiction counselling and treatment services struggle to keep up with demand. At the start of this year, there were just 18 counsellors working nationally and...
A new study on substance use in US jails has revealed eye-opening statistics about drug use among people arrested in 2023. Analysed urine drug screens from 25 jails across the United States show a high rate of drug use, particularly among young people. If you’re trying to understand substance use trends or the US jail...
The cannabis market collapse is grabbing headlines across Colorado and California, places once heralded as pioneers of the “green rush.” Legal pot failure, along with the persistent California pot black market, has left communities grappling with broken promises and tough realities. This blog takes a closer look at what went wrong, focusing on the story...
For Professor Adam Leventhal, the study of addiction isn’t just academic. It’s personal. Today, the USC addiction research expert is at the forefront of a world-class network, but his passion stems from his own experiences in the smoky haze of 1990s San Diego. Leventhal, now a University Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences and...
Illicit marijuana disguised as hemp is making its way onto the shelves of convenience stores and gas stations across New Mexico. Despite laws intended to ensure that only licensed dispensaries can sell cannabis, black market cannabis is finding new ways to bypass the system. These illicit sales put public safety and youth at risk and...