(1) Background: The treatment of substance addiction is challenging and has persisted for decades, with only a few therapeutic options. Although there are some recommendations for specific treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), there is no specific medication used to treat alcohol cravings, which could benefit millions of patients that are suffering from alcoholism. Cravings, or the urge to use drugs, refer to the desire to experience the effects of a previously experienced psychoactive substance. (2) Methods: We included original studies of alcohol abuse or dependence extracted from a controlled, blind, pharmacological treatment study which presented measures and outcomes related to alcohol cravings. (3) Results: Specific drugs used for the treatment of alcoholism, such as Naltrexone and Acamprosate, have had the best results in relieving craving symptoms, as well as promoting abstinence. Baclofen and anticonvulsants such as Gabapentin and Topiramate have shown good results in promoting abstinence and the cessation of cravings. (4) Conclusions: Specific drugs used for the treatment of alcoholism to obtain the best results can be considered the gold standard for promoting abstinence and relieving cravings. Anticonvulsants and Baclofen also had good results, with these medications being considered as second-line ones. Varenicline is an option for alcohol dependents who also concomitantly ingest tobacco.

(1) Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is typically treated with stimulant medications, which may lead to several adverse effects. Recent animal studies have shown that caffeine can improve the symptoms of ADHD. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to evaluate the effect of caffeine on ADHD symptoms in children. (2) Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing caffeine with placebo in children, comparing overall symptoms of ADHD, inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. (3) Results: We included seven RCTs in the systematic review for qualitative assessment, with 104 patients aged 5 to 15 years. Four of these studies (n = 76) were included in the meta-analysis. After qualitative analysis, four studies indicated no improvement in any of the ADHD symptoms compared with placebo. One study showed improvement in ADHD symptoms based on 1 of 5 scales applied. One study indicated significant improvement in general symptoms, inattention, and hyperactivity. One study indicated improvement in sustained attention but a worsening of impulsivity. In contrast, when using a quantitative analysis of the general symptoms of ADHD, the data showed no significant difference when comparing placebo with caffeine (standardized mean difference −0.12; 95% CI −0.44 to 0.20; p = 0.45; I² = 0%). (4) Conclusion: overall, the totality of the evidence suggests no significant benefit of caffeine over placebo in the treatment of children with ADHD.

Adolescence is a critical period of biopsychosocial development often marked by engagement in risk behaviors, including psychoactive substance use and early sexual initiation. Emerging evidence suggests a robust association between these behaviors, particularly early sexual debut (i.e. before age 15). This cross-sectional analytical study draws on data from the 2019 National School Health Survey (PeNSE) to examine the relationship between recent psychoactive substance use and early sexual initiation among Brazilian adolescents aged 15-17 years (n = 72,679). Substance use in the past 30 days was assessed for nine substances: alcohol, conventional cigarettes, hookah, electronic cigarettes, clove cigarettes, hand-rolled cigarettes, marijuana, crack and other illicit drugs. Early sexual initiation was reported by 33.3% of participants. Use of all substances was significantly associated with early sexual debut, with the strongest associations observed for crack (adjusted OR = 1.91; 95% CI = 1.56-2.33), marijuana (OR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.43-1.75), other illicit drugs (OR = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.37-1.64) and alcohol (OR = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.35-1.59). These findings highlight a strong association between recent substance use and early sexual initiation in Brazilian adolescents, underscoring the need for comprehensive, multisectoral public policies that integrate substance use prevention and sexual health education within school, family and healthcare contexts.

Background: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a major contributor to global morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic burden. Cravings, defined as intense urges to consume alcohol, play a central role in relapse and are recognized as a diagnostic criterion in DSM-5. Pharmacological strategies targeting cravings may offer immediate or short-term relief, complementing existing long-term approaches. However, evidence on short-term (up to approximately three months) anti-craving interventions remains fragmented. Objective: To systematically review randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the short-term effects of pharmacological treatments on cue-induced alcohol cravings. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and PsycINFO using terms related to alcohol, craving, and randomized controlled designs. Eligibility included clinical trials on alcohol-dependent participants that evaluated craving as an outcome. Exclusion criteria encompassed non-clinical studies, non-pharmacological interventions, animal studies, single-blind trials, and studies with psychiatric comorbidities. Study quality was appraised using Cochrane and Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Results: From 442 studies screened, 26 RCTs fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In total, 1097 participants were enrolled across the trials (range = 16–125 per study; mean = 44), predominantly male outpatients aged 15–65 years. Craving was assessed primarily with the Visual Analog Scale and Alcohol Urge Questionnaire. Intervention duration ranged from 1 to 98 days. Naltrexone consistently reduced cue-induced craving across four trials, with additional benefit observed when combined with ondansetron. Varenicline and acamprosate also demonstrated reductions in craving and drinking. Memantine showed efficacy in craving reduction but was not assessed for abstinence. Topiramate was effective, whereas gabapentin showed limited short-term benefit. Other agents (e.g., citalopram, oxytocin, ondansetron, quetiapine) yielded mixed findings, often limited to single studies. Overall, 58% of trials reported positive anti-craving effects, 23% no difference, and 8% increased craving versus placebo. However, these findings should be interpreted in light of important methodological limitations, including small sample sizes and heterogeneous experimental paradigms. Conclusions: This review suggests that naltrexone and varenicline appear to be the most consistently supported short-term pharmacotherapies for alcohol craving within the available evidence, with promising but less consistent findings for memantine, acamprosate, and topiramate. These results highlight potential candidates for immediate craving management in AUD, while underscoring the need for larger and longer-term trials to confirm their efficacy and safety.

Introdução: A população de mulheres presas tem aumentado nas últimas décadas em todo o mundo, o Brasil ocupa a 4ª posição em número de mulheres presas e as taxas de depressão e risco de suicídio são elevadas. Objetivo: Avaliar o perfil sociodemográfico da população de uma prisão feminina, bem como fatores que influenciam o nível de qualidade de vida e aspectos da saúde mental. Método: Foram utilizados dois questionários. Um instrumento com questões demográficas e psicopatológicas gerais e a escala WHOQOL-bref para avaliar o nível de qualidade de vida. Resultados: A amostra estudada foi de 214 presas. Na escala WHOQOL-bref, os escores de qualidade de vida foram baixos: "precisa melhorar" e "regular". Comportamento suicida, quando comparado a outros estudos, foi elevado nessa população e suporte psicológico ou psiquiátrico era raros. As visitas tiveram impacto no escore do domínio psicológico do WHOQOL-bref e promoveram um efeito protetor para comportamento suicida. Conclusão: É precário o suporte em saúde mental e o risco do isolamento compromete a saúde mental das presas. É fundamental o contato com o exterior, entretanto, ainda existem várias barreiras e limitações.

Background: Bullying and the use of psychoactive substances are prevalent conditions among adolescents that appear to have some connection. However, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the association between being a victim of bullying and using psychoactive substances. Moreover, most analyses of this correlation have taken place in developed countries, possibly not reflecting the reality in Latin America. Objective: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between the use of psychoactive substances and involvement in bullying situations in a representative sample of Brazilian adolescents. Methods: We used data from the 2019 National School Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar), analyzing 123,261 questionnaires from youths aged 13 to 17. Questions about experiencing or engaging in bullying, lifetime use, and recent use (in the last 30 days) of tobacco, hookah, e-cigarettes, other tobacco products, alcohol, and illicit drugs were considered. Responses on the recent use (in the last 30 days) of the following substances were also analyzed: clove cigarettes, straw cigarettes, marijuana, and crack. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine correlations, and odds ratios (OR) were calculated. Results: Participation in bullying situations, whether as a victim or perpetrator, increases the likelihood of using tobacco cigarette, hookah, e-cigarettes, clove cigarettes, straw cigarettes, alcohol, illicit drugs, marijuana, and crack. The non-involved-in-bullying group has a lower chance of using any analyzed substance, followed by the group that is only a victim. Those with the highest likelihood of use are individuals who engage in bullying exclusively, followed by those who experience both situations. Conclusion: In Brazil, being a victim of bullying is associated with the use of various psychoactive substances. Our results align with findings from Latin America, partially differing from studies in developed countries, highlighting the influence of location in understanding these risk associations.