背景:低风险物质使用指南(LRSUG)是一种基于证据的减少危害策略,用于向使用药物的人提供信息,以便他们减少与物质使用相关的危害。
目的:本研究旨在确定青少年可接触的LRSUG,并描述这些指南中的建议。总体目标是确定当前LRSUG中的差距,并告知研究人员和政策制定者青年可以获得的健康信息。
方法:我们使用Google搜索引擎进行了一项数字评估,以识别年轻人在搜索与常用物质相关的官方信息来源时可以识别的LRSUG,包括大麻,咖啡因,酒精,致幻剂,处方阿片类药物,尼古丁,和/或处方兴奋剂。对LRSUG进行编码,并从中提取数据以识别差距。
结果:确定了一百三十份LRSUG;最集中于酒精(n=40,31%),大麻(n=30,23%),和咖啡因(n=21,16%)。LRSUG提供了关于给药的建议(n=108,83%),使用频率(n=72,55%),以及何时使用(n=86,66%)。大多数LRSUG由卫生组织(n=51,39%)和第三部门组织(n=41,32%)发布,其次是省/州(n=18,14%),政府(n=14,11%),市政(n=4,3%),和学术来源(n=2,2%)。只有16%(n=21)的LRSUG是针对青年的,而四分之一(n=32,25%)的LRSUG提供了针对性别的建议。大多数指南都包含有关物质的短期(n=76,58%)和长期(n=69,53%)负面影响和正面影响的信息(n=56,43%)。不到一半(n=50,38%)的LRSUG引用了支持他们提供的信息的证据。
结论:我们确定了当前青年LRSUG中需要解决的几个领域。差距包括缺乏专门为青年开发的LRSUG,青年缺乏参与制定围绕他们的减少伤害战略,缺乏基于证据的LRSUG。面向青年,需要基于证据的LRSUG来更好地支持使用物质的年轻人,并帮助他们管理物质使用的负面影响。
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.