Best practice portal – evidence database

This database gives you access to the latest evidence on drug-related interventions. The information is based on systematic searches is updated regularly. To get started use the search boxes below. Click here for more information about the Evidence database (including methods).

List of Evidence Summaries
Title Area Substance Target group(s) or setting(s) Evidence rating
Integrated treatment for anxiety and opioid disorders Treatment co-morbidity, opioids dual-diagnosis patients Likely to be beneficial
Heroin maintenance treatment (HAT) for chronic heroin users Treatment opioids Likely to be beneficial
Provision of condoms and lubricant in prison to reduce sexual risk behaviours Harm reduction not-drug specific prison Likely to be beneficial
Psychosocial interventions for amphetamine-type stimulants use disorder to reduce risk behaviours Treatment amphetamines Likely to be beneficial
Interactive programmes targeting vulnerable youth Prevention alcohol, cannabis, tobacco young people Likely to be beneficial
School-based programmes to reduce bullying and victimisation Prevention not-drug specific school Likely to be beneficial
Therapeutic communities in prison and aftercare to reduce re-incarceration rates of drug-using offenders with co-occurring mental illness Treatment co-morbidity dual-diagnosis patients, prison Likely to be beneficial
Opioid substitution treatment to improve mental health outcomes in the short-term Treatment opioids dual-diagnosis patients Likely to be beneficial
Police interventions in uniform in nightlife settings to reduce public disorders Prevention alcohol communities, law enforcement, partygoers/nightlife Likely to be beneficial
Psychosocial interventions to improve outcomes in families with parental substance misuse Treatment alcohol, not-drug specific families Likely to be beneficial
Culturally sensitive prevention programs for substance use Treatment school, young people Likely to be beneficial
Psycho-social treatment to retain crack-cocaine users in treatment and reduce use Treatment cocaine Likely to be beneficial
Multi-component prevention programs for alcohol misuse in young people Prevention alcohol communities, families, school, young people Likely to be beneficial
Cognitive behavioural therapy plus tapered doses versus tapered doses only to reduce benzodiazepine use in the short-term Treatment prescription medicines Likely to be beneficial
HCV treatment for patients in opioid substitution treatment Harm reduction opioids PWID – people who inject drugs Likely to be beneficial
Standalone parental training to reduce risk behaviours Prevention not-drug specific families Likely to be beneficial
Standalone life skill-based interventions to reduce cannabis use Prevention cannabis school Likely to be beneficial
Psychosocial interventions with substitution treatment to retain patients in treatment Treatment opioids Likely to be beneficial
Police interventions in nightlife settings to reduce crime Prevention not-drug specific communities, law enforcement, partygoers/nightlife Likely to be beneficial
Pre- and post -exposure prophylaxis of HIV in prison to reduce HIV acquisition Harm reduction not-drug specific prison Likely to be beneficial
Technology-based interventions to reduce substance use in women Treatment pregnant women, women Likely to be beneficial
Pharmacological treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome Treatment opioids Likely to be beneficial
Support groups combined with peer mentor training delivered to young people with parents or other family members who are substance users Prevention not-drug specific families, young people Likely to be beneficial
Emergency department-based opioid substitution treatment (OST) initiation Treatment opioids emergency department Likely to be beneficial
Pharmacological treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use disorders Treatment co-morbidity dual-diagnosis patients Likely to be beneficial
Opioid substitution treatment (OST) for people dependent on pharmaceutical opioids Treatment opioids Likely to be beneficial
Police and law enforcement measures to increase responsible serving behaviours Prevention alcohol law enforcement, partygoers/nightlife Likely to be beneficial
Naloxone training and prescription to reduce opioid overdose mortality after release from prison Harm reduction opioids prison Likely to be beneficial
Interventions to increase knowledge and reduce risk of drugs-and-driving Prevention alcohol, cannabis young people Likely to be beneficial
mHealth (mobile/wearable device) to reduce craving and use in substance use disorders Treatment not-drug specific Likely to be beneficial
Integrated approaches to improve engagement and adherence to HCV treatment among PWID Treatment opioids PWID – people who inject drugs Likely to be beneficial
Naloxone to revert synthetic opioids overdose Harm reduction new psychoactive substances (NPS), opioids, prescription medicines emergency department, PWID – people who inject drugs Likely to be beneficial
Interventions that lead to the highest treatment retention for young adults Treatment alcohol, cannabis, opioids young people Likely to be beneficial
Naltrexone to retain people in treatment Treatment opioids Likely to be beneficial
Combined enforcement checks and management training to reduce under-age serving Prevention alcohol law enforcement, partygoers/nightlife Likely to be beneficial
Computer-based treatment programs to improve mental health and treatment outcomes Treatment co-morbidity dual-diagnosis patients Likely to be beneficial
Drug court programmes to reduce recidivism Social reintegration not-drug specific prison Likely to be beneficial
Psychostimulants to reduce stimulant use Treatment amphetamines, cocaine Likely to be beneficial
Standalone mass-media campaigns for alcohol consumption Prevention alcohol partygoers/nightlife Evidence of ineffectiveness
Opioid withdrawal with antagonists under heavy sedation to retain patients and reduce use Treatment opioids Evidence of ineffectiveness
Compulsory drug treatment to reduce recidivism Treatment not-drug specific Evidence of ineffectiveness
Standalone mass-media campaign for tobacco consumption Prevention tobacco Evidence of ineffectiveness
Availability of take-home naloxone (THN) to increase opioid use Harm reduction opioids PWID – people who inject drugs Evidence of ineffectiveness
Drink-driving programmes to reduce alcohol-related injury in car crashes Prevention alcohol partygoers/nightlife Evidence of ineffectiveness
Farmacoterapia para mujeres embarazadas Treatment cannabis pregnant women Evidence of ineffectiveness
Opioid withdrawal with antagonists under heavy sedation to reduce adverse effects Treatment opioids Evidence of ineffectiveness
Information provision to prevent drug- and alcohol-related problems Prevention alcohol partygoers/nightlife Evidence of ineffectiveness
Educational interventions in recreational settings to influence attitudes and drinking behaviour Prevention alcohol partygoers/nightlife Evidence of ineffectiveness
Replacement of glassware in recreational settings aimed at preventing injuries among servers Prevention alcohol partygoers/nightlife Evidence of ineffectiveness
Electronic Age Verification (EAV) devices to increase the frequency of age verification at recreational premises Prevention alcohol partygoers/nightlife Evidence of ineffectiveness
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