Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy

ISSN 1747-597X

2 papers in the library · 5 citations · publishing 2024-2026

Papers

Initiation and/or re-initiation of drug use among people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada from 2021 to 2022: a prospective cohort study.

Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy September 10, 2024 Anjali Sergeant, Paxton Bach, Jingxin Lei et al. 5 citations

Among 1061 people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada, 17.2% reported starting a new drug or restarting a previous drug between June 2021 and May 2022. Unregulated stimulants were the most common class (re-)initiated (55.2%), followed by opioids (40.4%) and psychedelics (19.7%). Drug (re-)initiation was independently linked to recent injection drug use (2.6 times higher odds), incarceration (3.4 times higher odds), and inability to access addiction treatment (4.9 times higher odds). The findings highlight that nearly one in five participants engaged in drug (re-)initiation during the pandemic-era overdose crisis, with those affected facing riskier behaviors and treatment barriers.

DOI: 10.1186/s13011-024-00624-8 Full text Covid-19 Drug overdose Substance-related disorders Vulnerable populations

Kava (Piper methysticum) consumption patterns and conceptualizations: results from an online survey.

Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy May 5, 2026 Katherine Hill, Cianna Piercey, Hollis C Karoly et al.

Kava, a psychoactive plant from the Pacific Islands, is used for its anxiolytic and sedating effects. In a 2024 online survey of 368 adults who had used kratom, kava, tianeptine, or akuamma seed, 48.9% had used kava in their lifetime. Lifetime kava users were younger, more racially diverse, and more likely to be employed or in school. Kava was purchased online (40.6%) or in tea bars (31.7%). Users reported infrequent consumption (average 4.4 months per year, 9.1 days per month). Perceived effects included reduced general anxiety (33.7%), improved mood (32.9%), reduced social anxiety (25.5%), and sedation (23.4%). Only 11.7% viewed kava as habit-forming, and 51.7% saw it as an alcohol replacement. Kava use practices are diverse, and clinicians should be aware of its role in harm-reduction.

DOI: 10.1186/s13011-026-00728-3 Full text Piper methysticum Alcohol Harm-reduction Kava +1