Smoke-free policy in psychiatric hospitals associated with reduction in physical violence

smoking-2369203_1280

Olivia Maynard reports on a new study in The Lancet Psychiatry that explores the effect of implementing a smoke-free policy on physical violence in a psychiatric inpatient setting, which has some surprising findings.

[read the full story...]

Tobacco smoking, cognition and first episode psychosis: time for a rethink?

42633638_21844f3143_b

Marcus Munafo appraises a recent cross sectional study of tobacco smoking and its association with cognition in first episode psychosis patients.

[read the full story...]

Cannabis and psychosis: it’s high time for a review

cannabis

Joe Barnby considers the findings of a recent meta-analysis of cannabis use and symptoms severity in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis.

[read the full story...]

Nicotine reverses hypofrontality in animal models of addiction and schizophrenia

Screen Shot 2017-03-06 at 17.02.56

Marcus Munafo looks at a complex and sophisticated series of experiments that provide further insight into the relationships between genetic risk, cigarette smoking and schizophrenia.

[read the full story...]

NICE one? Is NHS guidance on substance misuse fit for purpose?

4182510875_ea2905d0bf_o

Ian Hamilton explains why the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have missed a trick by not updating their 2007 guidance on psychosocial interventions for substance misuse.

[read the full story...]

Marijuana use and head and neck cancer risk #CannabisMatters

Cannabis

9 case-controlled studies were included in this review of the effect of marijuana use on head and neck cancer. The findings suggest no association marijuana use and head and neck cancer but other reviews suggest that this may differ by tumour site

[read the full story...]

Nicotine without smoke: new RCP report on e-cigarettes and tobacco harm reduction

24982617554_1a47da8ea4_k

Debutant blogger and vaping activist Lorien Jollye presents a new tobacco harm reduction report from the Tobacco Advisory Group of the Royal College of Physicians.

[read the full story...]

Tobacco use and alcohol intake key risk factors for head and neck cancer

shutterstock_60202486 teenager smoking and drinking alcohol

The International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology (INHANCE) consortium is a collaboration of research groups leading large epidemiology studies to improve the understanding of the causes and mechanisms of head and neck cancer. This overview paper provides a summary their findings over the past decade.

[read the full story...]

Should we stigmatise smokers?

17174003592_365bef1db6_k

Andrew Jones on a recent systematic review that brings together quantitative and qualitative research about the positive and negative impact of tobacco cessation campaigns and measures. The review concludes that stigmatising of smoking can lead to unintended consequences, such as increased stress, social isolation and smoking relapse.

[read the full story...]

Alcohol and tobacco in YouTube music videos: young female teenagers most exposed

Screen Shot 2016-02-18 at 21.54.45

Sally Adams charts the presence of tobacco and alcohol in YouTube music videos and considers the impact that this content has on adults and young people in Britain.

[read the full story...]