National Documentation Centre on Drug Use
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Recent advances in the science of cannabis-impaired driving.
No full textPURPOSE OF REVIEW: To examine cannabis-induced effects on driving performance. Prior systematic reviews consistently reveal that Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) impairs driving performance. The present narrative review summarized evidence on the acute and residual effects of cannabis on driving performance from controlled experimental research completed in the past five years. Expanding on prior research, recent studies examine individual and combined effects of THC and cannabidiol (CBD), combined effects of cannabis and alcohol, and a variety of cannabis administration modes.
RECENT FINDINGS: Cannabis with THC acutely impairs driving without significant residual deficits. CBD does not acutely impair driving performance, although relatively low doses (< 300 mg) were used in most studies. The combination of alcohol and THC results in additive effects that amplifies impairment. In line with prior research findings, cannabis-induced driving impairment is consistently observed within the first hour after use and impairment remains detectable for ~ 4-5 h post-inhalation; studies testing oral and sublingual cannabis administrations were sparse. Participants were willing and ready to drive shortly after using cannabis while their driving skills were objectively impaired.
SUMMARY: Despite clear evidence of cannabis-induced driving impairment, a consistent impairment standard that can be used outside the laboratory is lacking. More research focused on sensitive biomarkers combined with technologically-advanced behavioral methods is needed to improve the precision and accuracy in determining cannabis-induced driving impairment. Future studies should focus on novel oral and oromucosal formulations emerging on the legal cannabis market
Policing and drug market-related violence: competitive, internal and enforcement-related violence in UK County Lines.
No full textBACKGROUND: The link between drugs and violence has been widely studied across a range of academic disciplines, including criminology, sociology, psychology, and social policy. However, much of this scholarship has focused specifically on the United States, and the specific form of competitive violence between rival groups.
OBJECTIVES: This paper adds to the literature by focusing on County Lines drug markets in the United Kingdom (UK), which have been linked to increases in violence and the exploitation of young people and vulnerable adults for selling, storing or transporting illicit drugs. We utilise this case, as well as recent literature on harm reduction policing, to expand frameworks for thinking about drug market-related violence.
METHODS: The analysis is based on the first national study of the policing of County Lines, which consisted of interviews with senior officers across 44 of the 45 territorial police forces in the UK, as well as additional interviews and observations in three case study areas with front-line officers, partner agencies and people with lived experiences (n=117).
RESULTS: Our findings illustrate how the exploitation of young people and vulnerable adults could be conceptualised as an internal form of violence in County Lines in the UK. Furthermore, we highlight the need to acknowledge enforcement-related violence associated with the policing of drug markets.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on our empirical findings, we argue for a conceptual broadening of current understandings of drug market-related violence, as well as further developing harm reduction policing thinking and responses to effectively counteract all forms of violence associated with drug markets and their control
Joint Committee on Drugs Use debate - Treatment, recovery and rehabilitation: discussion (resumed).
No full textJoint Committee on Drugs Use debate - Treatment, recovery and rehabilitation: discussion (resumed).
No full textCommunity perspectives on health needs and assets in underserved Dublin areas: a participatory qualitative study.
No full textHealth inequalities, deeply connected to broader social determinants such as unemployment, inadequate housing, and limited access to healthcare and essential services, remain a global concern. These factors disproportionately impact socioeconomically underserved communities, even in high-income countries. In Ireland, similar disparities are evident within urban areas. Although policy and practice increasingly promote community participation, there is limited evidence on how communities perceive and articulate their challenges and priorities. This study, conducted in collaboration with Healthy Communities Local Development Officers across three underserved Dublin communities, employed an interpretive qualitative approach grounded in a community-based participatory research framework. Data collection involved guided interactive walks with residents and workers, structured group activities to define and prioritize needs, and focus group discussions. Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis method was used, followed by relevant parties' engagement workshop to review findings and discuss next steps. Six interrelated themes were generated: challenging environmental conditions, substance use and drug-related harm, gaps in healthcare access, social isolation and inadequate amenities, diminished safety and support, and fragmented family structures. These were underpinned by recurring latent themes of community disempowerment, lack of involvement in decision-making, misaligned interventions, and mistrust in statutory bodies. The findings highlight the importance of amplifying community voices to better understand local needs and priorities. Addressing these issues requires integrated, multi-sectoral approaches that combine local government action on place-based determinants with systemic and national-level policy reforms. This study lays the foundation for more meaningful community engagement and co-creation of locally tailored, community-led solutions to tackle entrenched inequities
Cannabis dispensary exposure and smoked, vaped and edible cannabis use among young adults: Comparison of web-scraped and government-maintained registries.
No full textBACKGROUND AND AIMS: The impact of exposure to cannabis dispensaries on young adult cannabis use may depend on how exposures and outcomes are defined. We estimated associations of dispensary exposure with young adult cannabis use across: (a) a government-maintained licensed dispensaries registry versus a web-scraped list of licensed and unlicensed dispensaries; and (b) varying modes of cannabis modes (i.e. smoked, edible, vaped).
METHODS: This study used three waves of data (2021-2023) from a prospective cohort of n = 2277 young adults (mean baseline age = 22 years) from California, USA. Generalized linear models estimated the contemporaneous association of number of dispensaries within 1 mile of participants' homes with repeated measures of past 6-month, past 30-day frequency and past 30-day daily/near-daily (≥ 20 days/month) smoked, edible and vaped cannabis use (separate models for each product type). We compared associations for dispensary exposure derived from a government-maintained registry versus a validated web-scraped dispensary list.
RESULTS: For each additional dispensary located within 1 mile of home, young adults had 5-6% increased risk of past 6-month use of smoked, edible and vaped cannabis use using registry data and 3-4% increased risk using web-scraped dispensary data. Dispensary exposure was positively associated with past 30-day frequency of smoked [incidence rate ratio (IRR)(registry list) = 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01-1.15; IRR(web-scraped) = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.00-1.08] and edible [IRR(registry list) = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.99-1.15; IRR(web-scraped) = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.99-1.08] cannabis use, but was not consistently associated with cannabis vaping frequency or daily/near-daily use of any product. Magnitude of associations was generally smaller when using dispensary data derived through web-scraping than the government-maintained registry of dispensary licenses, though conclusions were mostly similar between the two lists and confidence intervals consistently overlapped.
CONCLUSIONS: Living near a greater number of cannabis dispensaries within 1 mile of home appears to be associated with an increased risk of cannabis use. Web-scraped dispensary sources and United States government-maintained registry lists produce similar conclusions regarding the association of living near a greater number of dispensaries with young adult cannabis use
Perspectives on recreational substance use and harm reduction among music festival workers in the United Kingdom: a qualitative study.
No full textCost of acute hospital treatment and initial aftercare for hospital-presenting self-harm in Ireland: national registry study.
No full textBACKGROUND: Understanding the economic cost of self-harm is essential for evaluating intervention cost-effectiveness and guiding funding allocation and service planning.
AIMS: To estimate the cost associated with self-harm presentations to hospital emergency departments and investigate key predictors of cost.
METHOD: Data on presentations to hospital for self-harm in all Irish emergency departments were analysed for 2018 and 2019. Costs of hospital treatment following self-harm were identified (in 2019 euros) using top-down and bottom-up approaches. The perspective taken was that of the health service. Factors associated with costs were investigated using generalised linear models.
RESULTS: There were 25 053 self-harm presentations from 2018 to 2019. The average annual cost of self-harm was approximately €26.5 million; almost half of the total cost was due to repeat self-harm presentations (47.3%). The mean cost per presentation was €2117 (s.d. €1845), which incorporates acute hospital costs (mean €2067, s.d. €2127) and those of initial aftercare (mean €50, s.d. €69). Psychiatric and medical admissions were associated with highest costs, three times that of presentations resulting in emergency department discharge (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 3.01, 95% CI 2.72-3.36 and IRR 2.88, 95% CI 2.72-3.36, respectively). Other factors associated with higher costs included older age, emergency department medical assessment unit admission, receiving a psychosocial assessment and self-harm involving a firearm. Demographic and clinical predictors of cost varied according to care pathway.
CONCLUSIONS: Significant costs associated with repeat attendances and hospital admission provide evidence for investment in emergency department services providing comprehensive care for those presenting with self-harm, as well as in community-based mental health services
