Posted 12 May 2009 - 11:25 by root
Have you seen the report from European Centre for Monitoring Drugs and Drug Addiction "EMCDDA INSIGHTS Internet-based drug treatment interventions Best practice and applications in EU Member States" prepared by Dr Hans-Peter Tossmann and Fabian Leuschner.
The Executive Summary states, "The Internet needs no introduction. Its use has increased steadily in Europe over the past decade, to become ubiquitous. Its user base now embraces all generations -children, adolescents and adults. And Europeans increasingly use the Internet for obtaining information, for conducting business, for shopping and banking, or just for pure entertainment.
More recently, the Internet has established itself as a key medium for communicating information in the field of public health. In addition to basic sites for information provision on health, a number of clinical applications have been found for the web, featuring more complex and interactive health interventions and treatment programmes. Applications include, for instance, the treatment of mental health and motivational problems, panic disorders, depression, smoking cessation and problem alcohol use.
In the drugs field, professionals have recognised the potential of Internet-based programmes to deliver drug treatment programmes. There is a significant target audience for such interventions. Drug treatment demand has risen in the EU, particularly among young cannabis users and socially-integrated drug users. These people may feel ill-at-ease with ‘traditional' treatment centres which target injecting drug users."
The review endeavours to provide insights into the state-of-the-art of Internet- based drug treatment interventions with a focus on Internet-based interventions developed in the EU for treating cannabis use disorders.
To view the previous news issues visit http://www.comorbidity.org.au/taxonomy/term/22