Addiction

Animal Assisted Interventions in the Treatment of Addictions & Mental Health

 - 
Ottawa
, 
Canada

Animal Assisted Interventions (AAIs) are increasingly being offered in the primary health care field in Canada, including in addictions and mental health, and range from therapy dogs in counseling sessions to non-riding therapeutic programmes with horses. However, there is little awareness and sharing amongst programmes and limited documented evidence about AAI effectiveness.

Bullying and Substance Abuse

Scientific article
 - 
New research investigates the complex relationship between bullying and substance use among adolescents. The study, published in the journal Addictive Behaviors, identifies a number of processes involved with bullying that take into account...

Weaker Bones Linked to Cannabis Use

Scientific article
 - 
Research conducted at the University of Edinburgh has found a link between cannabis use and bone mass density. More specifically, the findings, recently published in the American Journal of Medicine, report that frequent cannabis users are...

Smoking and Depression: What's the Relationship?

Scientific article
 - 
Almost 20% of American adults smoke cigarettes. Those diagnosed as having a moderate mental health problem are approximately twice as likely to smoke, whereas for those diagnosed as severely ill the risks are roughly three times greater...

Health Benefits from Stopping Smoking

News
Within as little as twenty minutes after your last cigarette your body begins to feel the effects of quitting. Health benefits from stopping smoking include, amongst other things, a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, better...

Expanding Drug Markets in Australia

News
Recently sixteen people were hospitalised on the Gold Coast, Australia, after taking a new synthetic drug known as Flakka. One of those taken ill is said to be in a critical condition. Flakka takes the form of a white/pink crystal-like...

Improving Services and Systems for Transition-Age Youth

 - 
Sudbury
, 
Canada

The transition to adulthood is a critical developmental stage. Youth experiencing mental health and substance use concerns at this time may also face challenges related to housing, justice involvement, education, and employment. And individuals from vulnerable populations experience these challenges more acutely.