Effects Of Drug Use Research Articles

Does #Tamojunto alter the dynamic between drug use and school violence among youth? Secondary analysis from a large cluster-randomized trial

The present study investigated how intervention might alter the relationship between perpetrating violence and later drug use. A cluster-randomized controlled trial design involving 72 schools (38 intervention, 34 control) and 6390 students attending grades 7 and 8 was employed in Brazil. Drug use and violence were assessed at three points. A random-intercept cross-lagged panel model examined the reciprocal association between drug use and school violence domains across the three data collection waves. For both groups, we found that the cross-lagged effect of perpetration on further drug use in adolescents was stronger than the reverse, but the interrelationship was not statistically significant between #Tamojunto and control schools. The carry-over effects of drug use and violence were also not significantly different between groups. There is a lack of evidence showing that #Tamojunto can modify the dynamics between drug use and school violence across the 21-month period. The direction of the causal effect (i.e., the more perpetration behavior, the more subsequent drug use behavior) is present, but weak in both groups. The trial registration protocol at the national Brazilian Register of Clinical Trials (REBEC) is #RBR-4mnv5g.

Brain multimodal co-alterations related to delay discounting: a multimodal MRI fusion analysis in persons with and without cocaine use disorder

BackgroundDelay discounting has been proposed as a behavioral marker of substance use disorders. Innovative analytic approaches that integrate information from multiple neuroimaging modalities can provide new insights into the complex effects of drug use on the brain. This study implemented a supervised multimodal fusion approach to reveal neural networks associated with delay discounting that distinguish persons with and without cocaine use disorder (CUD).MethodsAdults with (n = 35) and without (n = 37) CUD completed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to acquire high-resolution anatomical, resting-state functional, and diffusion-weighted images. Pre-computed features from each data modality included whole-brain voxel-wise maps for gray matter volume, fractional anisotropy, and regional homogeneity, respectively. With delay discounting as the reference, multimodal canonical component analysis plus joint independent component analysis was used to identify co-alterations in brain structure and function.ResultsThe sample was 58% male and 78% African–American. As expected, participants with CUD had higher delay discounting compared to those without CUD. One joint component was identified that correlated with delay discounting across all modalities, involving regions in the thalamus, dorsal striatum, frontopolar cortex, occipital lobe, and corpus callosum. The components were negatively correlated with delay discounting, such that weaker loadings were associated with higher discounting. The component loadings were lower in persons with CUD, meaning the component was expressed less strongly.ConclusionsOur findings reveal structural and functional co-alterations linked to delay discounting, particularly in brain regions involved in reward salience, executive control, and visual attention and connecting white matter tracts. Importantly, these multimodal networks were weaker in persons with CUD, indicating less cognitive control that may contribute to impulsive behaviors.

Korzystanie z substancji psychoaktywnych przed studentów w trakcie sesji egzaminacyjnej

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine whether students take psychoactive substances during exam time and whether it affects their academic performance. The assessment was a subjective evaluation by the student. The purpose of the work was also to determine which psychoactive substances are the most popular among students, and whether students feel under pressure, in their environment, to produce the best results. Method: An anonymous online survey about the use of psychoactive substances was conducted between November 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018. It was addressed to students of Polish universities. In total 610 students took part in the survey. More than half of the respondents were men. After adjustments were made to the questionnaires where e.g. not all the questions were answered, 536 surveys remained. Results: Students feel pressurised by their parents to obtain the best results and to take part in the so-called "rat race". The most popular psychoactive substance is marijuana. Students use psychoactive substances, but in a much smaller amount than expected by the authors. Conclusions: The problem of psychoactive substance use is not as big as was assumed at the beginning of the study, however, in order to completely eliminate the problem of using psychoactive substances, lectures should be held on the consequences of drug use.

Pharmacoepidemiological Safety of Drugs Used in Geriatrics: A Systematic Review in Madanapalle and Punganur Region of Andhra Pradesh

In this study, we were provided universal considerations for the setting up and carry out of pharmacoepidemiological studies of drug use for disorders like Osteoarthritis, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, Hypothyroidism, Depression, and Osteoporosis in geriatric patient. The study method was focused on monitored and categorized the prescriptions of geriatrics from 650 patient in Madapalle and Puganur region of Andhra Pradesh, Identified and prepare the list of drugs, which were inappropriately prescribed and used in geriatrics by using Revised Beers criteria and also assess the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) by using Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Identify any drug-drug interactions among the drugs used in geriatrics. We were reported the adverse drug reactions appeared in geriatrics and the various treatments that the patients are received with different co-morbidity disease with the assessment of drug exposure, and ascertainment of PIM, PPO STOPP, START criteria and MBI outcomes. Characteristic of statistics sources include evaluation of complete history of drug use in elderly patient with co-morbidity condition, allowing approximate of collective exposure. Result data from beers criteria with PIM, modified barthel index are preferable, but elderly patient treatment data from reliable sources, for example, patient or pathology registries, and medical records are also considered. We present report to showed poly-pharmacy effects of drug use on elderly patient improvement and converse the need for employing STOPP and START criteria of PIM and PPO to avoid undesirable drug reaction causation. We emphasize that a study design of beers criteria always be considered and result of Modified barthel index shows the dependency rate in elderly patient. We also underline the need for Comorbidity analyses in geriatric patient and drug usage, as drug utilization in geriatric are prone to dose and number of drugs in treatment dependent. In the main, studies of Prescription analyses like polypharmacy, PIM, PPO in prescription should explore risk Geriatric patient, the present study reveal the PIM and PPO of in prescription from six hundred and fifty geriatric patient. We conclude the pharmacoepidemiological studies of elderly patient are likely to develop significantly in the coming years, due to the rising mortality of long-term drug exposures and less awareness of poly-pharmacy result, the increasing perform of multinational studies, permiting studies of rare and common disease in elderly people, types of medication and procedural development specifically addressing geriatric treatment and long-term outcomes.

Adolescent exposure to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and ethanol heightens sensitivity to fear stimuli

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) has doubled in prevalence over the past decade as a nation-wide trend toward legalization allows for increased drug accessibility. As a result, marijuana has become the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States particularly among the adolescent population. This is especially concerning since there is greater risk for the harmful side effects of drug use during this developmental period due to ongoing brain maturation. Increasing evidence indicates that CUD often occurs along with other debilitating conditions including both alcohol use disorder (AUD) and anxiety disorders such post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, exposure to cannabis, alcohol, and stress can induce alterations in glutamate regulation and homeostasis in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) that may lead to impairments in neuronal functioning and cognition. Therefore, in order to study the relationship between drug exposure and the development of PTSD, these studies utilized rodent models to determine the impact of adolescent exposure to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and ethanol on responses to fear stimuli during fear conditioning and used calcium imaging to measure glutamate activity in the prelimbic cortex during this behavioral paradigm. The results from these experiments indicate that adolescent exposure to THC and ethanol leads to enhanced sensitivity to fear stimuli both behaviorally and neuronally. Additionally, these effects were attenuated when animals were treated with the glutamatergic modulator N-acetylcysteine (NAC). In summary, these studies support the hypothesis that adolescent exposure to THC and ethanol leads to alterations in fear stimuli processing through glutamatergic reliant modifications in PFC signaling.

Battling Over the Harm Reduction Logic in Addiction Services: The Role of Emotions

In this paper, we investigate how actors in the addictions field have been battling over the introduction of the harm reduction logic – principles of addiction services that aim to reduce the adverse effects of drug use while individuals with addictions continue to use drugs. In particular, we give attention to how emotions have played a role in this continuing battle. Through an inductive process, we identified highly emotional dimensions of the harm reduction logic, and focused our analysis on the emotion-based mechanisms employed by proponents and opponents of the harm reduction logic. We observed that during different time periods, principles of harm reduction were alternately strengthened or diminished. Our findings highlight the difficulties in introducing novel approaches to critical health concerns, such as addictions that have significant social implications. Theoretically, we contribute to the literature on institutional logics by focusing on the emotion-based aspect of certain logics, and by explaining how actors can strategically use emotions to strengthen or weaken particular approaches to healthcare concerns.

Value-based cognition and drug dependency

Value-based decision-making is thought to play an important role in drug dependency. Achieving elevated levels of euphoria or ameliorating dysphoria/pain may motivate goal-directed drug consumption in both drug-naïve and long-time users. In other words, drugs become viewed as the preferred means of attaining a desired internal state. The bias towards choosing drugs may affect one’s cognition. Observed biases in learning, attention and memory systems within the brain gradually focus one’s cognitive functions towards drugs and related cues to the exclusion of other stimuli. In this narrative review, the effects of drug use on learning, attention and memory are discussed with a particular focus on changes across brain-wide functional networks and the subsequent impact on behaviour. These cognitive changes are then incorporated into the cycle of addiction, an established model outlining the transition from casual drug use to chronic dependency. If drug use results in the elevated salience of drugs and their cues, the studies highlighted in this review strongly suggest that this salience biases cognitive systems towards the motivated pursuit of addictive drugs. This bias is observed throughout the cycle of addiction, possibly contributing to the persistent hold that addictive drugs have over the dependent. Taken together, the excessive valuation of drugs as the preferred means of achieving a desired internal state affects more than just decision-making, but also learning, attentional and mnemonic systems. This eventually narrows the focus of one’s thoughts towards the pursuit and consumption of addictive drugs.

Possessing Drugs, Possessing Rights: Harm Reduction and Drug Policy Reform in Argentina

Argentina’s national drug law, Law 23.737, has been in effect since 1989. Based on prohibitionist drug policy, this law was intended to severely punish drug traffickers and protect the public from drug use-related health concerns. However, it has failed to achieve these goals, and instead targets people who use drugs (PWUD) and brands them “criminals.” In response, the Argentine government announced its intent to reform Law 23.737 in 2008, sparking widespread debate among health, legal, and social service professionals. This article discusses this debate from the perspective of harm reductionists, those who work to reduce the negative effects of drug use rather than eliminate drug use or ensure abstinence. Drawing on archival research and 16 months of ethnographic fieldwork in Argentina, this article examines the positionality of harm reductionists in this drug policy reform, particularly the controversial proposal to decriminalize drug possession for personal use. Demonstrating their contention that Argentina’s legal apparatus is a major contributor to PWUD’s discrimination, stigmatization, and isolation from health and social services, I argue that challenging these problems through policy engagement allows Argentine harm reductionists to draw attention to the broader question of PWUD’s rights and to ultimately recast PWUD as rights-bearing citizens.

Animal Models of Drug Relapse and Craving after Voluntary Abstinence: A Review.

Relapse to drug use during abstinence is a defining feature of addiction. During the last several decades, this clinical scenario has been studied at the preclinical level using classic relapse/reinstatement models in which drug seeking is assessed after experimenter-imposed home-cage forced abstinence or extinction of the drug-reinforced responding in the self-administration chambers. To date, however, results from studies using rat relapse/reinstatement models have yet to result in Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for relapse prevention. The reasons for this state of affairs are complex and multifaceted, but one potential reason is that, in humans, abstinence is often self-imposed or voluntary and occurs either because the negative consequences of drug use outweigh the drug's rewarding effects or because of the availability of nondrug alternative rewards that are chosen over the drug. Based on these considerations, we and others have recently developed rat models of relapse after voluntary abstinence, achieved either by introducing adverse consequences to drug taking (punishment) or seeking (electric barrier) or by providing mutually exclusive choices between the self-administered drug and nondrug rewards (palatable food or social interaction). In this review, we provide an overview of these translationally relevant relapse models and discuss recent neuropharmacological findings from studies using these models. We also discuss sex as a biological variable, future directions, and clinical implications of results from relapse studies using voluntary abstinence models. Our main conclusion is that the neuropharmacological mechanisms controlling relapse to drug seeking after voluntary abstinence are often different from the mechanisms controlling relapse after home-cage forced abstinence or reinstatement after extinction. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This review describes recently developed rat models of relapse after voluntary abstinence, achieved either by introducing adverse consequences to drug taking or seeking or by providing mutually exclusive choices between the self-administered drug and nondrug rewards. This review discusses recent neuropharmacological findings from studies using these models and discusses future directions and clinical implications.

Mobile low-threshold buprenorphine integrated with infectious disease services

IntroductionIn 2018, the Baltimore City Health Department launched a mobile clinic called Healthcare on The Spot, which offers low-threshold buprenorphine services integrated with health care services to meet the needs of people who use drugs. In addition to buprenorphine management, The Spot offers testing and treatment for hepatitis C, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV, as well as pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, wound care, vaccinations, naloxone distribution, and case management. Methods and materialsThis cohort analysis includes clinical service data from the first 15 months of The Spot mobile clinic, from September 4, 2018, to November 23, 2019. The Spot co-located with the Baltimore syringe services program in five locations across the city. Descriptive data are provided for patient demographics and services provided, as well as percent of patients retained in buprenorphine treatment at one and three months. Logistic regression identified factors associated with retention at three months. ResultsThe Spot mobile clinic provided services to 569 individuals from September 4, 2018, to November 23, 2019, including prescribing buprenorphine to 73.8% and testing to more than 70% for at least one infectious disease. Patients receiving a prescription for buprenorphine were more likely to be tested for HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted infections, as well as receive treatment for hepatitis C and preventive services including vaccination and naloxone distribution. The Spot initiated HIV treatment for four patients and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis for twelve patients. More than 32% of patients had hepatitis C; nineteen of these patients initiated treatment for hepatitis C with eight having a documented cure. Buprenorphine treatment retention was 56.0% at one month and 26.2% at three months. Patients who were Black or receiving treatment for hepatitis C were more likely to be retained in buprenorphine treatment at three months. ConclusionsIncreasing access to integrated medical services and drug treatment through low-threshold, community-based models of care can be an effective tool for addressing the effects of drug use.

Kriminológia MA

The Criminology MA book has primarily been written for Master’s students at the Faculty of Law Enforcement of the University of Public Service as it covers some of the most current and important international and Hungarian research within the field of criminology. Its topics include, among other things, crime prevention strategies, crime prevention through environmental design, child-friendly justice practices and the consequences of drug use. The main question of the volume of studies edited by Andrea Tünde Barabás is which criminological topics can provide the students with the newest and hopefully the most useful knowledge. The volume consists of three chapters: Theory and practice of crime prevention; Criminology of children and the elderly; and Drug-related crimes and drug use.

The Prevalence, Causes And Effects Of Drug Use And Abuse On Performance Indicators Among Secondary School Students In Teso South Constituency, Kenya

The use of drugs has become more rampant today than at any other time. In learning institutions, especially secondary schools, the use of drugs has resulted in poor concentration in classwork, high rate of absenteeism and failure in exams leading to poor academic performance. The purpose of this study therefore was to: establish the prevalence of drug use among students in Teso South Constituency, establish the causes of drug use and identify the effects of drug use on academic performance indicators among secondary school students in Teso South Constituency. The constituency has a total of 25 public secondary schools with a total of 8023 students. Krejcie and Morgan’s formula was used to select 192 students and data was collected from the field using questionnaires and later analyzed using percentages. Results indicate that 54.7%, 22.4%, 6.7%, 4.7% 4.2%, 3.1% of the students use Tobacco, Miraa, Cocaine, Tranquilizers, Kuber and Marijuana respectively. Also, the most influential causes of drug abuse among them were Peer influence at 90.1%, family background at 57.1% and availability of drugs at 30.8%. Lastly, 89.6% of the students had poor grades due to drug abuse alongside 78.6% of them affected by low concentration span and lack of interest in studies. The study, therefore, inferred that there is a high of drug ab prevalence use amongst secondary school students with family, peers as well as availability contributing to the onset of drug abuse.The study concluded that drug abuse interferes with academic performance indicators of secondary school students in Teso South Constituency.

COVID-19 vaccines: A perspective from social pharmacology

Social pharmacology is a branch of clinical pharmacology, which depicts relationships between society and drugs and in particular factors, reasons, social consequences of drug use as well as representations of drugs in the society. Recent development and marketing of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines raises a number of questions of social pharmacology: are vaccines drugs like any other? What is their perception at the individual, population and societal levels? How do individuals perceive the risks and benefits of these vaccines? What is the perception at the societal level? What is the individual and societal acceptability of these vaccines during a pandemic? All these questions are discussed in the light of recent data. A number of proposals, both at the individual and at the collective or population level, are formulated to help solve these problems of social pharmacology.

Illicit Drug Use and Associated Problems in the Nightlife Scene: A Potential Setting for Prevention.

Illicit drug use is prevalent in the nightlife scene, especially at electronic dance music (EDM) events. The aim of the present study was to investigate illicit drug use patterns and consequences of drug use among frequent visitors of EDM events. Young adults (18–34 years old) who had visited at least six EDM events in Sweden during the past year participated in a web-based survey on drug use patterns and its consequences. Fifty-nine percent of participants had used illicit drugs during the past year, most often cannabis followed by ecstasy, cocaine, and amphetamine. Nightlife venues were identified as the main setting for the use of central stimulants, while cannabis was mostly used at home. Frequent alcohol and tobacco use was associated with illicit drug use. The most prevalent negative consequences of drug use were related to mental health, such as impairments in mood, sleep, and memory problems, but physical manifestations were also reported, such as palpitations and collapsing. These findings confirm that drug use is prevalent and associated with negative health effects among EDM nightlife attendees. The nightlife scene is a setting with promising potential to reach a high-risk target group with illicit drug use prevention interventions.

A "Drug-Dependent" Immune System Can Compromise Protection against Infection: The Relationships between Psychostimulants and HIV.

Psychostimulant use is a major comorbidity in people living with HIV, which was initially explained by them adopting risky behaviors that facilitate HIV transmission. However, the effects of drug use on the immune system might also influence this phenomenon. Psychostimulants act on peripheral immune cells even before they reach the central nervous system (CNS) and their effects on immunity are likely to influence HIV infection. Beyond their canonical activities, classic neurotransmitters and neuromodulators are expressed by peripheral immune cells (e.g., dopamine and enkephalins), which display immunomodulatory properties and could be influenced by psychostimulants. Immune receptors, like Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on microglia, are modulated by cocaine and amphetamine exposure. Since peripheral immunocytes also express TLRs, they may be similarly affected by psychostimulants. In this review, we will summarize how psychostimulants are currently thought to influence peripheral immunity, mainly focusing on catecholamines, enkephalins and TLR4, and shed light on how these drugs might affect HIV infection. We will try to shift from the classic CNS perspective and adopt a more holistic view, addressing the potential impact of psychostimulants on the peripheral immune system and how their systemic effects could influence HIV infection.

A STUDY ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF RELAPSE DRUG ADDICTS IN BALOCHISTAN

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this research is to investigate the socioeconomic and psychological variables, health conditions, social contacts, and living conditions of relapsed drug users. Methodology: A total of 100 participants were chosen for this study using purposive sampling and the snowball sampling approach of non-probability selection, and the data was collected using a standardized questionnaire. The study employs both qualitative and quantitative approaches. For frequency and percentage data analysis, the quantitative approach was utilized, and the data were analyzed using chi-square. Main Findings: According to the study, the majority of relapsed drug addicts face socioeconomic and psychological obstacles in their lives since becoming relapsed drug addicts, as well as mental illnesses such as stress. Their family members, friends, and neighbors have a negative attitude toward them. According to this study, the increased risk of drug addiction in society is caused by a lack of understanding about drug usage and its effects. Applications of the study: This study will assist governments in taking harsh actions against drug traffickers and allowing the rule of law to be enforced by expanding police work. Novelty/Originality of the study: The study suggestions will raise awareness of the dangers and psychological effects of drug use to understand and prevent the consequences of their use.

Фармакоэкономические особенности использования лекарственных препаратов применяемых в терапии аллергических ринитов

Rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa; today, according to the World Health Organization, the prevalence of the disease is 40% of the world's population. Allergic rhinitis is the most common type of chronic rhinitis, affecting 10–20% of the world's population, and the severity of the disease is associated with a significant deterioration in the quality of life, sleep and performance. Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa caused by exposure to an allergen, causing IgE-mediated inflammation. Clinically, the disease is characterized by the following main symptoms: rhinorrhea, sneezing, itching and nasal congestion. Despite the general symptoms of allergic rhinitis, its impact on the quality of life of patients and the significant cost of treatment, including pharmacotherapy, many patients do not adhere to drug treatment regimens due to their insufficient effectiveness in eliminating the emerging symptoms. Pharmacoeconomic research identifies, measures and compares the costs and effects of drug use. This framework includes research methods related to cost minimization, cost-effectiveness, decision analysis, cost of illness, and patient quality of life. This article will consider one of the four main methods for assessing pharmacoeconomics - cost minimization analysis. A cost-minimization analysis is a pharmacoeconomic assessment by comparing the costs of two or more drug alternatives regardless of outcome. Since the pharmaceutical market is represented by a wide range of original, reference and generic drugs for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, an important aspect of our research is the selection of effective and economically acceptable therapy for outpatients.

Ex-Drug Users' and Health Professionals' Perspectives About School-Based Drug Use Prevention Programs: A Qualitative Study.

Adolescents have become a prime target for drug dealers in various countries around the world, including in Indonesia. To reduce the high number of drug users amongst adolescents, effective drug prevention programs should be developed and implemented. The present study aimed to identify effective school-based drug prevention programs for adolescents from the perspectives of former drug users and health professionals. This qualitative research used Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to collect the data. The study participants consisted of eight Ex-Drug Users (EDUs) and eight Health Professionals (HPs) from health educational institutions and health service settings that were selected through purposive sampling. Data analysis was performed using the qualitative content analysis. Five themes were identified from both EDUs and HPs, including the negative effects of drugs, the socialization of drug abuse, the rehabilitation of drug addicts, the partner collaboration, and the obstacles in preventing drug use. All participants agreed that the drug prevention programs such as school-based drug prevention programs are necessary in order to minimize the adverse effects of drug use. While EDUs tended to focus on the social and psychological effects of drugs, the HPs were more inclined toward the risks of diseases, social impacts, and economic problems of the drugs as the reasons for program importance. In terms of the intervention programs, both EDUs and HPs proposed conducting socialization through the use of active methods and agreed that rehabilitation as an effective way for addict students. Also, both groups of participants agreed on the significance of internal and external support, as well as coordination and collaboration to produce an effective and quality program. While the EDUs cited external factors as the main obstacle to the success of program implementation, the HPs mentioned internal factors of the users. School-based drug prevention programs are an important and potentially effective strategy to reduce the use and the effects of drug use among adolescents. The support of various relevant stakeholders is needed to further increase the effectiveness of the programs and eliminate possible barriers to the implementation of the intervention programs.

Predictors of School Violence Perpetration and Victimization: Effects of Drug Use and Sociodemographic Characteristics

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 6391 7th- and 8th-grade students in 72 public schools in six Brazilian cities. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to create a unidimensional model for validity. Linear regression was used to evaluate how baseline past-month drug use, violence, and sociodemographic characteristics affected violence at follow-up. The results showed that previous involvement in violent episodes at school (β = 0.397, p < 0.001) as well as the use of inhalants at baseline (β = 0.358, p = 0.026) predicted higher levels of violence 9 months after baseline. Additionally, girls showed lower levels of involvement in violence than boys (β = −0.144, p < 0.001). School prevention programs and policies should simultaneously address drug use and violence. Inhalant use seems to act as a proxy of future involvement in school violence, independent of previous involvement in violent episodes. Trial registration: RebEC, RBR-4mnv5g. Registered 3 July 2014, http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-4mnv5g/ .

Rapid evidence review of harm reduction interventions and messaging for people who inject drugs during pandemic events: implications for the ongoing COVID-19 response

BackgroundPeople who inject drugs are at increased health risk in a pandemic due to their greater susceptibility to severe disease and as a consequence of the restrictions put in place to halt the spread of infection. Harm reduction (HR) services, which aim to reduce the negative effects of drug use on health, are likely to be diminished in a pandemic. However, innovative HR interventions and messaging may also develop in response to such a crisis. It is vital to understand the most effective ways to deliver HR in pandemic situations so that guidance can be provided for current and future disruptions to service provision.MethodsA rapid evidence review was conducted with the aim of exploring what HR interventions and messaging are most effective during a pandemic-type situation. Ten health databases were systematically searched using terms relevant to the research aim. A search was also made of grey literature, including a targeted search of HR messaging from key national and service provider websites.ResultsIn the initial search, 121 pieces of evidence were identified which, after screening and de-duplication, resulted in 60 for inclusion. The included evidence consists mainly of non-peer reviewed, pre-publication or expert opinion pieces. The rapid findings suggest that HR services should be deemed essential during a pandemic, with staff supported to work safely and social distancing adaptations implemented. Services should be encouraged to operate more flexibly; for instance, in deciding the amounts of take-home supplies of injecting equipment and medications. The evidence on HR communication was very limited but key messages on infection control, uncertain drug supply and accessing services were identified.ConclusionsThis rapid evidence review identifies implications for national policy makers, commissioners and HR service providers. A person-centred rather than disease-centred approach to HR delivered by collaborating partners, as well as prioritizing tailored HR messaging, is recommended. Further research evaluating the delivery of HR services and messaging, particularly focusing on health inequalities, is urgently needed.