Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse

About: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse is a nonprofit organization based out in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Poison control & Population. The organization has 37 authors who have published 65 publications receiving 2341 citations.

Sport participation and its association with social and psychological factors known to predict substance use and abuse among youth: A scoping review of the literature

Abstract: This article presents the results of a scoping review of the sport literature (2000–2014) on psychological and social outcomes relevant to youth alcohol and illicit drug use. Prior reviews report that sport is related to increased alcohol use and reduced illicit drug use among youth, yet provide little guidance regarding the mechanisms that can explain this relationship. We reviewed the literature on sport participation and psychological and social outcomes to identify factors that could help explain this link. Psychological and social factors were selected as they play a paramount role in understanding youth alcohol and drug use. Fifty-nine articles were identified and included in the review. The literature generally supported connections between sport and positive psychological and social outcomes, including self-esteem, self-regulation, general life skills, and pro-social behaviour. Yet limitations in the methods and measures limit the ability to draw conclusions from the literature. In addition, the diversity of youth and sport was generally ignored in the literature. This article suggests a number of directions for future research that might improve our understanding of how sport impacts psychological and social outcomes along with alcohol and illicit drug use.

Honoring Indigenous culture-as-intervention: Development and validity of the Native Wellness AssessmentTM

Abstract: There is a need for Indigenous-centered research to appraise culture's role in wellness. Researchers described the development and validity of the Native Wellness Assessment (NWATM). The NWA has culture-as-intervention at its apex. Wellness, culture, and cultural intervention practices (CIPs) are explored from an Indigenous perspective. Indigenous clients completed matching self-report and observer versions of the NWA at three time points during addictions treatment. Statistically and psychometrically, the NWA content and structure performed well, demonstrating that culture is an effective and fair intervention for Indigenous peoples with addictions. The NWA can inform Indigenous health and community-based programs and policy.

Harm Reduction as an Alcohol-Prevention Strategy.

Abstract: Harm-reduction programs, first developed in an attempt to mitigate the adverse consequences of illicit drug use, can be applied to alcohol-prevention programs as well. In fact, the movement toward harm reduction in illicit drug prevention may be closely paralleled by a similar trend in the alcohol-prevention field. Harm-reduction approaches to alcohol aim to diminish the negative consequences of intoxication (e.g., by using special glassware that breaks into fine particles instead of sharp pieces, thus reducing the chance of injury during pub fights). Such measures may receive increased attention as public support declines for restrictions on alcohol availability and new evidence emerges on the potential benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. In addition, analyses suggest that harm reduction may be an efficient approach, because it often focuses on minimizing heavy-drinking occasions, which predict drinking problems more strongly than level of consumption.