Lower-risk substance use guidelines accessible by youth
Abstract Background Lower-risk substance use guidelines (LRSUGs) are an evidence-based harm reduction strategy used to provide information to people who use drugs so they can reduce harms associated with substance use. Objectives This study aimed to identify LRSUGs accessible to youth and to charact...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-023-00516-3 |
| _version_ | 1797865527243177984 |
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| author | Zakkaery R. Moebes Kiffer G. Card Brett Koenig Cecilia Benoit |
| author_facet | Zakkaery R. Moebes Kiffer G. Card Brett Koenig Cecilia Benoit |
| author_sort | Zakkaery R. Moebes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Lower-risk substance use guidelines (LRSUGs) are an evidence-based harm reduction strategy used to provide information to people who use drugs so they can reduce harms associated with substance use. Objectives This study aimed to identify LRSUGs accessible to youth and to characterize the recommendations within these guidelines. The overall goal is to identify gaps in current LRSUGs and to inform researchers and policymakers of the kinds of health information youth can access. Methods We conducted a digital assessment using the Google search engine to identify LRSUGs that could be identified by youth when searching for official sources of information related to commonly used substances, including cannabis, caffeine, alcohol, hallucinogens, prescription opioids, nicotine, and/or prescription stimulants. LRSUGs were coded and data were extracted from them to identify gaps. Results One hundred thirty LRSUGs were identified; most focused on alcohol (n = 40, 31%), cannabis (n = 30, 23%), and caffeine (n = 21, 16%). LRSUGs provided recommendations about dosing (n = 108, 83%), frequency of use (n = 72, 55%), and when to use (n = 86, 66%). Most LRSUGs were published by health (n = 51, 39%) and third-sector organizations (n = 41, 32%), followed by provincial/state (n = 18, 14%), government (n = 14, 11%), municipal (n = 4, 3%), and academic (n = 2, 2%) sources. Only 16% (n = 21) of LRSUGs were youth-specific and one-quarter (n = 32, 25%) of LRSUGs provided gender-specific recommendations. Most guidelines featured information on short (n = 76, 58%) and long-term (n = 69, 53%) negative effectives and positive effects of substances (n = 56, 43%). Less than half (n = 50, 38%) of LRSUGs cited evidence in support of the information they provided. Conclusions We identified several areas in the current LRSUGs for youth that need to be addressed. Among the gaps are a lack of LRSUGs developed specifically for youth, a lack of youth engagement in developing harm reduction strategies centered around them, and a lack of evidence-based LRSUGs. Youth-oriented, evidence-based LRSUGs are needed to better support youth who use substances and help them manage the negative effects of substance use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:10:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3bcfc5c36c0340649e87b085c01eb76f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1747-597X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:10:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy |
| spelling | doaj.art-3bcfc5c36c0340649e87b085c01eb76f2023-03-22T10:26:24ZengBMCSubstance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy1747-597X2023-02-0118111210.1186/s13011-023-00516-3Lower-risk substance use guidelines accessible by youthZakkaery R. Moebes0Kiffer G. Card1Brett Koenig2Cecilia Benoit3Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of VictoriaCanadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of VictoriaCanadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of VictoriaCanadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of VictoriaAbstract Background Lower-risk substance use guidelines (LRSUGs) are an evidence-based harm reduction strategy used to provide information to people who use drugs so they can reduce harms associated with substance use. Objectives This study aimed to identify LRSUGs accessible to youth and to characterize the recommendations within these guidelines. The overall goal is to identify gaps in current LRSUGs and to inform researchers and policymakers of the kinds of health information youth can access. Methods We conducted a digital assessment using the Google search engine to identify LRSUGs that could be identified by youth when searching for official sources of information related to commonly used substances, including cannabis, caffeine, alcohol, hallucinogens, prescription opioids, nicotine, and/or prescription stimulants. LRSUGs were coded and data were extracted from them to identify gaps. Results One hundred thirty LRSUGs were identified; most focused on alcohol (n = 40, 31%), cannabis (n = 30, 23%), and caffeine (n = 21, 16%). LRSUGs provided recommendations about dosing (n = 108, 83%), frequency of use (n = 72, 55%), and when to use (n = 86, 66%). Most LRSUGs were published by health (n = 51, 39%) and third-sector organizations (n = 41, 32%), followed by provincial/state (n = 18, 14%), government (n = 14, 11%), municipal (n = 4, 3%), and academic (n = 2, 2%) sources. Only 16% (n = 21) of LRSUGs were youth-specific and one-quarter (n = 32, 25%) of LRSUGs provided gender-specific recommendations. Most guidelines featured information on short (n = 76, 58%) and long-term (n = 69, 53%) negative effectives and positive effects of substances (n = 56, 43%). Less than half (n = 50, 38%) of LRSUGs cited evidence in support of the information they provided. Conclusions We identified several areas in the current LRSUGs for youth that need to be addressed. Among the gaps are a lack of LRSUGs developed specifically for youth, a lack of youth engagement in developing harm reduction strategies centered around them, and a lack of evidence-based LRSUGs. Youth-oriented, evidence-based LRSUGs are needed to better support youth who use substances and help them manage the negative effects of substance use.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-023-00516-3Substance useYouthGuidelinesDigital assessmentHarm reduction |
| spellingShingle | Zakkaery R. Moebes Kiffer G. Card Brett Koenig Cecilia Benoit Lower-risk substance use guidelines accessible by youth Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy Substance use Youth Guidelines Digital assessment Harm reduction |
| title | Lower-risk substance use guidelines accessible by youth |
| title_full | Lower-risk substance use guidelines accessible by youth |
| title_fullStr | Lower-risk substance use guidelines accessible by youth |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lower-risk substance use guidelines accessible by youth |
| title_short | Lower-risk substance use guidelines accessible by youth |
| title_sort | lower risk substance use guidelines accessible by youth |
| topic | Substance use Youth Guidelines Digital assessment Harm reduction |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-023-00516-3 |
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