Epidemiology and Etiology
Opioid Use May Increase Risk of Dangerous Heart Rhythm Disorder
Abuse of opioids can lead to many adverse consequences including addiction and heightened risk of overdose, however it is being increasingly suggested that even controlled use of prescription opioids may be linked with serious and enduring...
Examining the Links between Adolescent Brain Development, Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder
Adolescence is a time where young people go through dramatic changes in body and behaviour. It is an age where young people are most likely to take risks, partake in reward-seeking activities and experience the first symptoms of mental ill...
Society for Prevention Research - 27th Annual Meeting
The Society for Prevention Research’s 27th annual meeting will be held May 28 – May 31, 2018, in San Francisco.
The theme for the event is “Prevention Science in a Big Data World”. It is hoped that the event will open up a discussion about ways in which the prevention science community can make use of data and innovative technologies to develop new opportunities in prevention research.

Dying for a Drink
Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) has published its latest report, ‘Dying for a drink’. Scottish people tend to consume more alcohol than people in England and Wales. Alcohol is a harmful substance and, consumed in excess...

How Alcohol Can Change How Memories Are Formed
Consuming alcohol often comes with negative side effects, such as nausea or headaches, however we have a tendency to remember the positive experience of drinking rather than the negative consequences. Understanding how alcohol influences...
Sex Differences in Cannabis Use
Cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide and, with the rise of decriminalisation and legalization of marijuana for medical and recreational use, it is expected this will increase even further. There are, however...
Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2018: Preventing Problematic Substance Use in Youth
The Public Health Agency of Canada has released its latest report on the state of public health, with a spotlight on the prevention of problematic substance use among youth. Results from the analysis found that almost 80% of Canadians aged...

The Mechanism Behind Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol is known to affect a region in our brain called the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), otherwise known as the “pleasure centre”. By activating specific neurones that then go on to release the neurochemical dopamine within this particular...