Knowledge Bank
This page highlights and shared publications from third parties that are highly relevant within the field.
White Guide on Cannabis – by WFAD
During the Nordic Summit on Cannabis, a White Guide was published, serving the purpose of bringing forward essential information on the topic. The speakers involved in the forum raised questions, provided discussions, and summarised their presentations in the booklet. The Guide can be used in advocacy efforts against Cannabis.
Access the White Guide here!
Wording and Terms – Words Matter – by NIH
When talking about addiction, the choice of words is extremely important to reduce [unconscious] stigma and negative bias. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has summarised words and terms to use and to avoid by providers and others.
Access the website here
Parental Substance Use: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals – By Child Welfare Information Gateway and Children’s Bureau
A factsheet reviewing what SUDs are, how parental substance use affects families, and how child welfare professionals can support these families It also considers how collaboration between child welfare professionals and SUD treatment providers, as well as others, is an essential component to assisting families.
Access the factsheet here
NPC Analysis: UN system on drug decriminalisation – By Dag Endal (FORUT), published by Narkotika Politiskt Center
This document concisely elaborates on the United Nations. It explains the different UN bodies, the levels of authority, various conventions and other documents, etc. It showcases that the UN recommendations are of great value but it should also be taken into account that each recommendation needs to be customised to the regional and local situation and should be used in the correct context.
Access the report here
Breaking Stigma Down: Lived Experience Report – By Working with Everyone, NHS, and Addiction Provider Alliance
Addiction is a highly stigmatised condition, largely due to ingrained perceptions and misconceptions in society, its complex effects on the behaviour of individuals and the fact that it is frequently seen as a ‘choice’. However, it can affect anyone regardless of their background, and the stigma that comes with it is even more widespread, impacting families and communities as well as individuals. This report showcases the stigma people experience and the impact of that stigma on accessing services, and ultimately on recovery.
Access the report here
The Effectiveness of Services and Interventions for People Experiencing Homelessness in the Western Cape during COVID-19 Pandemic – by Leon Holtzhausen – prepared for Open Society Foundation and STAND
This study systematically evaluates the effectiveness and impact of services and interventions utilised in the support, and treatment of people experiencing homelessness in the Western Cape, South Africa, during the COVID-19 Pandemic. It also elaborated on the concept of homelessness and how it is a complex social problem with a variety of underlying economic and social factors. It was found that social forces such as loss of meaningful relationships, substance use disorders, interpersonal violence, physical and sexual abuse, past trauma, and community and family breakdown are compounded by structural forces such as a lack of available low-cost housing, poor economic conditions, and insufficient services and programmes.
Access the study here
Understanding Gender-Differences in Substance use to Develop Appropriate Prevention Interventions – by The WFAD Gender Working Group.
Gender-sensitive research on treatment has started to develop, yet prevention seems to lack gender- and regional specific research and evaluation. The gender differences within substance use showcases the urgent need for further research in and development of gender-sensitive prevention programmes. This paper aims to create a global understanding of the different needs for, incentives for, and effects on girls and women who use substances. It highlights that prevention is an essential part of the continuum of care framework while promoting health and wellbeing.
Position Paper: Gender-Specific Treatment & Recovery – By the WFAD Gender Working Group
The position paper is an exhaustive document elaborating on women and addiction, the stigma they face, the risks, the concept of recovery, crosscutting issues, and ways forward to allow women with substance use disorders to receive the necessary services while reducing barriers to their treatment and recovery.
Children whose parents use drugs – by the Pompidou Group
In 2021, the Pompidou Group introduced a subject that so far has not received enough attention: children whose parents use drugs. The impact of parental substance use is reflected in the children’s development outcomes and in their daily lives. In order to protect children, it is necessary to address their needs as holders of human rights and make sure they grow up in a healthy and protected environment. This project addresses both the children and parents affected by substance use while focusing on the programmes, services and practices in place in the different states to address the issue.
Find the report and proposal here
Building resilience in survivors of sexual exploitation: the role of children in activities implemented by NGOs in Uganda – by Rogers Kasirye, Paul Bukuluki, and Eddy J. Walakira
Children are increasingly affected by sexual exploitation (SEC), and the subsequent hardships arising out threaten their lives. Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of trauma or other significant sources of stress. Past literature discusses various child participatory methods but has not explored the voices and role of children as agents of change among their peers to yield adaptation and resilience. The study aimed to examine the role children play in their successful recovery and that of other child survivors. This study adopted a descriptive research design, using qualitative methods to collect data from NGO staff and child survivors. NGOs adopted different levels of survivor participation from various NGO rehabilitation centres. There was evidence of survivors’ involvement and strength. Survivors’ participation as a complementary strategy in building resilience among survivors should be promoted by NGOs. Staff need to be trained to work with survivors to improve the resilience of survivors of SEC.
Access the article here
Handbook on Youth Participation in Drug Prevention Work – By UNODC, Youth Initative
The goal of the present handbook is to offer encouragement, examples, rationales and concrete advice on how to increase youth participation in substance use prevention, harnessing the insights of young people on the most important target group in prevention efforts: their peers. It is designed to enable all decision makers to capitalize on the power of youth participation, exploring the full potential of young people as a force for change. The guidance is aimed at leaders in charge of substance use prevention and health promotion efforts at the local, regional, national and international levels.
The handbook provides an overview of youth participation and what role it might play in prevention. It seeks to convey the value of evidence-based prevention in building healthy and prosperous communities and societies, and the value of young people as important contributors to prevention efforts. By so doing, it seeks to contribute to the normalization of youth participation in prevention.
Access the Handbook here
Report on Challenges Adolescent Girls Face – by SCAD
The African Child Day sought to appraise progress made, and reflect on lost and missed policy-related opportunities to effectively eliminate harmful practices affecting Kenyan Children; the World Drug Day called on different actors to enhance access to controlled medicines, evidence-based care, treatment and services; and support to prevent negative coping behaviours.
These events are critical, and underscore the need to involve and amplify the voices of young people in recognizing and taking action to address harmful practices that impede their well being; and ability to thrive and reach their full potential.
In lieu of these events, Students Campaign Against Drugs (SCAD) organized consultations with adolescents drawn from different schools in Kiambu and Nairobi Counties, to understand their perspectives on drug use, as well as other challenges they face in health and humanitarian crises.
Access the Report here
Marijuana and the Risks to Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Marijuana contains almost 500 components that can pass through the placenta to the baby during pregnancy, causing harm to the fetus.
Marijuana use by a breastfeeding mother can expose the newborn to toxins stored in the mother’s fat tissues and slowly released to baby, even after the mother has stopped using.
For more information, visit the following website for more resources (In English and Spanish)
International Standards on Drug Prevention – By UNODC
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) share the second edition of the International Standards on Drug Prevention. Like the first edition, the updated second edition of the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention summarises the currently available scientific evidence by providing an overview of recent systematic reviews, and describes interventions and policies found to improve drug use prevention outcomes. In addition, the International Standards identify the major components and features of an effective national prevention system.
They hope that the International Standards will continue to guide policymakers and other national stakeholders worldwide to develop programmes, policies and systems that are a truly effective investment in the future of children, youth, families and communities.
Access the Report here