Nouvelles acquisitions

Addiction et accès aux soins : une enquête qualitative auprès de femmes consommatrices de substances

EL GUENDI S.
Drogues, santé et société, Décembre 2025 , Vol.23, n°2, p. 9-35

FRANÇAIS :
Cet article tente de comprendre les dynamiques de genre qui influencent l'accès aux soins et aux services de réduction des risques chez les femmes consommatrices de substances en quête de traitement en Belgique. Alors que les recherches antérieures tendent à se centrer sur les expériences masculines ou à adopter des approches standardisées, cette recherche propose une lecture située en mobilisant la théorisation ancrée comme cadre méthodologique. L'objectif est de mettre en lumière les expériences subjectives des femmes, leurs représentations de leur consommation, ainsi que les freins spécifiques auxquels elles sont confrontées dans leur parcours d'accès aux services de santé et de réduction des risques.
L'article repose sur une enquête qualitative menée auprès de quinze femmes, âgées de 19 à 55 ans, recrutées dans trois villes belges (Liège, Charleroi et Bruxelles). Les données ont été recueillies à partir d'entretiens semi-structurés, puis analysées à l'aide de la méthode par théorisation ancrée.
Les résultats révèlent d'une part la diversité des rapports que ces femmes entretiennent à leur consommation, marqués par des enjeux identitaires, et d'autre part les significations qu'elles attribuent aux obstacles rencontrés dans les services : jugements moraux, attentes genrées, expériences de rejet. L'analyse met en évidence la convergence de plusieurs problématiques intersectionnelles qui renforcent la stigmatisation et complexifient l'accès des femmes aux services de réduction des risques.
En conclusion, la présente contribution souligne l'importance de repenser les politiques et les pratiques d'intervention en tenant compte des trajectoires spécifiques des femmes et de l'imbrication de facteurs de vulnérabilité (précarité, troubles psychiques, errance, appartenance minoritaire ou origine ethnique) qui renforce les inégalités d'accès. [Résumé d'auteur]

ENGLISH:
This article looks at how gender affects access to healthcare and harm reduction services for women who use drugs and are seeking treatment in Belgium. Unlike many earlier studies, which tend to focus on men's experiences or rely on standard approaches, this research takes a more grounded and context-based perspective. Using grounded theory, the aim is to better understand how women experience addiction, how they make sense of it, and what specific barriers they face when trying to access appropriate support.
The article is based on qualitative research involving fifteen women aged between 19 and 55, interviewed in three Belgian cities: Liège, Charleroi, and Brussels. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using an approach inspired by grounded theory.
The results reveal, on the one hand, the diversity of these women's relationships with their consumption, marked by identity issues, and, on the other hand, the meanings they attribute to the obstacles they encounter in services: moral judgements, gendered expectations, experiences of rejection. The analysis highlights the convergence of several intersectional issues that reinforce stigma and complicate women's access to harm reduction services.
In conclusion, this paper highlights the need to rethink policies and practices by considering women's specific paths and the overlapping vulnerabilities (poverty, mental health problems, homelessness, minority status, or ethnic background) that make access more unequal. [Author's abstract]

Addictive disorders and correlates in the context of chemsex practices: A French online survey

PAVIRANI L., JAKUBIEC L., DAVELUY A., CAZANAVE C., DESNAVAILLES P., FATSEAS M.
Addictive Behaviors Reports, June 2026 , Vol.23, p. art. 100679

BACKGROUND: Existing evidence shows that chemsex practice can contribute to adverse health outcomes. However, the presence of addictive disorders based on DSM-5 criteria remains underexplored in this population. The present study aimed to assess the overall prevalence and associated factors of substance use disorders (SUDs) and chemsex addiction among individuals engaged in chemsex, using an online self-report questionnaire.
METHODS: The sample included 132 French adults having engaged in chemsex within the previous 12 months. Sociodemographic characteristics, substance use patterns, DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorders and DSM-5 criteria adapted to assess chemsex addiction, associated consequences, and sexual practices were collected. Univariate analyses and logistic regression models were conducted to explore factors associated with substance and chemsex-related addictions.
RESULTS: The most frequently used substances were synthetic cathinones, followed by GHB/GBL and stimulants. Addictive disorders were highly prevalent, particularly cathinone use disorder and addiction to chemsex practice, which were associated with increased negative consequences, notably mental health problems and suicidal ideation. The presence of cathinone use disorder was associated with GHB/GBL use disorder, loss of control over sexual behavior, craving for sex, and chemsex addiction. Both cathinone use disorder and craving for sex significantly predicted chemsex addiction.
DISCUSSION: This study highlights the importance of assessing addictive disorders in the context of chemsex by integrating both substance and behavioral addictions, given the strong interconnection between substance use and sexuality. Multidimensional and integrated treatment approaches are needed to adequately prevent and manage specific addictive patterns and associated risk-taking behaviors among individuals engaged in chemsex. [Author's abstract]

Highlights:
Substance and no-substance addictions are underexplored in the context of chemsex.
Cathinone use disorder (CUD) is highly prevalent and correlated to chemsex addiction.
Individuals with CUD experienced unregulated sexual behavior and craving for sex.
Addiction criteria are linked to increased mental health symptoms.
Findings highlight the specific addictive pattern associated to chemsex addiction.

Addressing the silent epidemic of recreational nitrous oxide use: a position, call to action and recommendations by the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Committee on Biological Markers of Nitrous Oxide Abuse

GRZYCH G., LEE G. R., ALPDEMIR M., GERNEZ E., ANSEEUW K., BJORKE-MONSEN A. L., CROES K., EL-KHOURY J. M., HAMZIC J., NOYCE A. J., STANKOVIC S., ROLLAND B., BRAMNESS J., VERMEERSCH P., CAVALIER E.
Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 2026 , Vol.64, n°4, p. 813-820

Recreational nitrous oxide (N2O) use has emerged as a growing public health concern, with increasing reports of neurological, psychiatric, and thrombotic complications. This position paper from the EFLM Committee on Biological Markers of Nitrous Oxide Abuse highlights the urgent need for clinical and laboratory awareness, alongside coordinated action from healthcare systems and the scientific community. Short-term recommendations focus on early clinical recognition, prompt biological testing, and structured patient management. Key clinical symptoms include unexplained sensory disturbances, gait instability, bladder and bowel complaints, sexual dysfunction, mood disorders, and thromboembolic events in young individuals. Plasma homocysteine (HCY) and plasma methylmalonic acid (MMA) are central to the diagnostic approach, with HCY serving as a sensitive marker of recent exposure and MMA indicating clinical severity. Vitamin B12 and folate measurements are also essential, though B12 levels may be falsely reassuring (often in the low-normal range). Given the rapid normalization of biomarkers, testing should be performed on admission, and vitamin B12 supplementation should begin without delay, with caution regarding biomarker kinetics and possible self-supplementation by patients. In addition, this paper outlines long-term goals, including the harmonization of biomarker assays, creation of international patient registries, and development of interdisciplinary expert networks. Notably, the international network PROTOSIDE (www.protoside.com) plays a key role in facilitating case discussion, expert collaboration, and dissemination of best practices in the management of N2O-related complications. A continuous bibliographic watch and support for translational research are necessary to improve biomarker discovery and understanding of the underlying mechanisms of toxicity. By combining immediate clinical action with long-term scientific and policy development, this document lays the foundation for an international strategy to address the silent but expanding epidemic of nitrous oxide misuse. [Author's abstract]

Agence de gestion et de recouvrement des avoirs saisis et confisqués (Agrasc) - Rapport d'activité 2025

AGRASC Agence de gestion et de recouvrement des avoirs saisis et confisqués
Agence de gestion et de recouvrement des avoirs saisis et confisqués (Agrasc) - Rapport d'activité 2025
, 2026, 28 + 38 p.

L'Agence de gestion et de recouvrement des avoirs saisis et confisqués (Agrasc) est un établissement public administratif placé sous la double tutelle des ministères de la justice et du budget dont la création a été prévue par la loi du 9 juillet 2010 visant à faciliter la saisie et la confiscation en matière pénale. Créée en 2010, l'Agence de gestion et de recouvrement des avoirs saisis et confisqués (AGRASC) vise à améliorer la gestion des avoirs saisis et confisqués par la justice et, par son rôle d'assistance aux magistrats, à favoriser les saisies et confiscations malgré la technicité de la matière.
Le montant des saisies (1,4 milliard) se maintient à un niveau très élevé pour la troisième année consécutive :
- Le montant des confiscations exécutées (212 millions) est en retrait de 13 % par rapport à 2024, mais demeure très supérieur aux années précédentes (+ 21 % par rapport à 2023), grâce à l'organisation mise en place au sein de l'agence, notamment les antennes régionales (le niveau de 2024 s'expliquait notamment par un immeuble d'exception de 32 millions) ;
- Le montant total des versements effectués est globalement stable, avec une contribution toujours considérable de l'Agrasc au budget général de l'État (145 millions d'€), à la Mission interministérielle de lutte contre les drogues et les conduites addictives (MILDECA) (47 millions d'€) et un doublement du montant des indemnisations des victimes (30 millions d'€ contre 15 en moyenne), en raison vraisemblablement de l'allongement, par le législateur, depuis 2024, du délai de deux à six mois pour saisir l'Agrasc ;
- La mission d'exécution est maîtrisée par l'agence, mais les délais de traitement des affaires pénales conduisent à l'augmentation mécanique du solde du compte Caisse des dépôts et consignations (CDC) évalué à plus de 3 milliards d'€, soit une hausse de près de 20 % (doublement par rapport à 2022) ;
- Hors biens exceptionnels, le montant des ventes immobilières reste stable (l'année 2024 n'était pas démonstrative car deux immeubles à 66 et 25 millions d'€ avaient été vendus). [Résumé d'éditeur]

Chemsex and digital relationships: Virtual pleasure, real danger

MALANDAIN L., THIBAUT F.
Current Addiction Reports, December 2025 , Vol.12, n°1, p. art. 4

Purpose of Review: Chemsex, which means the use of psychoactive substances in a sexual context, is reported in Men who have Sex with Men (MSM). This sexual behavior seems closely associated with virtual relationships, digital tools and dating applications. We carried out a narrative literature review on the links between these behaviors.
Recent Findings: A majority of papers have described an association between sexually-transmitted infectious diseases, and the use of dating applications, with a greater number of sexual partners, infectious diseases whereas contradictory results concerning sex without condoms were reported. The use of geolocalized dating applications was associated with a higher frequency of substance use disorder and chemsex behavior. The use of social networks, videoconference tools and cyberpornography were also associated with chemsex.
Summary: The development of chemsex was partly linked to the availability of virtual sexual encounters via dating applications and took advantage of all forms of virtual relationships to disseminate. These virtual tools do not solely have harmful consequences on sexual behavior but can also be used for education and prevention. [Author's abstract]

Cinquante ans de politique des drogues aux Pays-Bas

KOOLS J. P., MARTINELLI T., BRAUNE C.
Esprit, Mars 2026 , n°531, p. 77-84

Les Pays-Bas sont reconnus pour leur politique des drogues pragmatique, centrée sur la santé publique, la réduction des risques et l'accompagnement des consommateurs. Depuis plus de cinquante ans, elle combine dépénalisation, soutien social et médical, et répression ciblée du trafic. Face à la mondialisation des marchés et à la criminalité organisée, cette approche doit aujourd'hui s'adapter sans renoncer à ses acquis. [Résumé d'éditeur]

n°531 - Mars 2026 - Dossier : Les nouveaux territoires des drogues (Bulletin de Esprit)

Mars 2026 , n°531, p.

Engagement de personnes utilisatrices de drogues dans une recherche participative

FRADET L., DUPERE S.
Drogues, santé et société, Décembre 2025 , Vol.23, n°2, p. 118-147

FRANÇAIS :
Introduction. La stigmatisation des personnes utilisatrices de drogue (UD) est un obstacle majeur à la réduction des méfaits associés à leur consommation. Pour la contrer, une participation significative aux décisions les concernant est préconisée. Particulièrement, ces personnes réclament leur participation à la recherche pour réellement bénéficier des résultats. Or, les quelques études sur leur engagement dans la recherche participative (RP) rapportent qu'elles y jouent souvent des rôles limités. Afin de voir comment un comité formé majoritairement de personnes UD participe à une RP, cet article documente leur contribution et leur expérience lors des processus de recherche, de création artistique et de mobilisation des connaissances.
Méthodologie. L'article repose sur l'étude qualitative longitudinale d'un corpus comprenant des enregistrements de rencontres d'un comité de RP et des entretiens individuels avec ses six membres UD. Une analyse interactionnelle est effectuée sur ce corpus d'après un bricolage conceptuel organisé selon le modèle The Rubicon Model of Action Phases et en fonction de critères de scientificité propres à la recherche participative et artistique.
Résultats. Cette étude révèle que les personnes UD participent activement à la réalisation du projet dans les processus étudiés. Elles appliquent plusieurs critères de scientificité participative et artistique. Elles se dotent de visées scientifiques, artistiques et persuasives pour atteindre les objectifs du projet. Elles réfléchissent aux meilleures stratégies pour y arriver, les exécutent avec rigueur et rétroagissent sur leurs réalisations.
Conclusion. L'étude montre que la participation à la réalisation de la RP est substantielle dans les domaines qui leur sont alloués dans ce contexte. Cette étude montre que les personnes UD peuvent être fiables, avoir la capacité intellectuelle de faire de la RP avec rigueur et l'aptitude pour agir en mode collectif malgré les préjugés souvent véhiculés à leur encontre. [Résumé d'auteur]

ENGLISH:
Introduction. The stigmatization of people who use drugs (DU) is a major barrier to reducing the harm associated with drug use. To counter this, meaningful participation in decisions affecting them is recommended. In particular, DU people advocate for their involvement in research to ensure they truly benefit from the findings. Yet the few studies on their involvement in participatory research (PR) report that they often play limited roles. To examine how a committee composed mostly of DU people participates in PR, this article documents their contributions and experiences in research, artistic creation and knowledge mobilization processes.
Methodology. The article is based on a longitudinal qualitative study of a corpus comprising recordings of PR committee meetings and individual interviews with its six DU members. An interactional analysis is conducted using a conceptual bricolage structured according to The Rubicon Model of Action Phases and participatory and artistic research-specific scientificity criteria.
Results. This study reveals that DU members are active participants in the project's implementation across the studied processes. They apply several participatory and artistic scientific criteria. They adopt a scientific, artistic and persuasive objectives to achieve the project's goals. They reflect on the best strategies to reach these goals, execute them rigorously, and provide feedback on their achievements.
Conclusion. The study shows that participation in the realization of PR is substantial in the areas allocated to them in this context. This study shows that DU people can be reliable, have the intellectual capacity to carry out PR with rigor and the ability to act in a collective mode despite the prejudices often conveyed against them. [Author's abstract]

Gambling progression in young adults following online casino-gambling legalization in Switzerland

TOMEI A., BIERI M., PORCHET C., SIMON O.
Journal of Gambling Studies, March 2026 , Vol.42, n°1, p. 249-263

This study investigates gambling behaviors among young Swiss males four years after the legalization of online casino gambling in Switzerland. A total of 2,349 conscripts aged 18 to 24 years, residing in the French-speaking region of the country, completed a paper-and-pencil questionnaire assessing their participation in land-based and online gambling, as well as problem gambling. Overall, 70.6% reported having gambled at least once in their lifetime, and 49.8% had gambled in the past 12 months. Among past-year gamblers, 58.3% engaged exclusively in land-based gambling, 34.4% were mixed (land-based and online) gamblers, and 7.3% gambled exclusively online. The majority (74.7%) accessed online gambling via smartphone or tablet. Among past-year gamblers, 4.4% met the criteria for problem gambling, representing 2.1% of the total sample. Problem gambling was associated with more frequent gambling, engagement across both online and land-based platforms, participation in a greater variety of games, and involvement in online casino gambling. In conclusion, four years post-legalization, we observe increased gambling participation, a shift from land-based to online gambling, and a slight, non-significant increase in problem gambling. Continued monitoring of gambling behaviors in this population is essential to detect and respond promptly to potential increases in problem gambling. v[Author's abstract]

Health risks associated with non-medical use of ketamine in France: National surveillance insights from the French Addictovigilance Network, 2019-2023

RAINGEARD T., SOEIRO T., VICTORRI-VIGNEAU C., LE BOISSELIER R., BOUCHER A., FOUILHE SAM-LAI N., MEZAACHE S., MICALLEF J.
Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2026 , Onlne first 23/02, p. doi: 10.1177/02698811261420018

BACKGROUND: While ketamine is widely used in anesthesia and pain management, its non-medical use is increasing worldwide. In France, surveillance data indicate a sharp rise in ketamine-related disorders, but comprehensive characterization of affected patients and associated complications remains limited.
AIMS: To examine trends on ketamine in France from 2019 to 2023, and describe severe associated complications, with a focus on urinary, biliary, and ketamine use-related disorders, using data from the French Addictovigilance Network.
METHODS: Two authors reviewed all ketamine-related cases reported to the French Addictovigilance Network between 2019 and 2023 and recorded in the French National Pharmacovigilance Database. In this retrospective descriptive analysis of national surveillance data, we included cases involving clinical complications related to ketamine use or abuse. Data were extracted on patient sociodemographic, use patterns, co-substance, and clinical features related to ketamine use (complications, seriousness, medical care).
RESULTS: We included 411 cases with 497 clinical manifestations, representing a 16-fold increase over 5 years. The median age was 23 years, and 59.1% of cases were classified as serious, with emergency or intensive care admissions frequently required. The main complications included ketamine use disorders (137 cases), psychiatric symptoms (124 cases), and neurological disorders (93 cases). Urinary tract toxicity was reported in 36 cases, with several requiring cystectomy and bladder reconstruction, and 8 cases involved cholangitis or cholestasis. Daily or regular use, often via the intranasal route, and polydrug use were common.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate a marked increase in ketamine-related complications in France, particularly among young users. Severe urinary and biliary complications, alongside rising reports of ketamine use disorder, highlight an urgent need for awareness among clinicians, systematic screening, and targeted harm reduction and clinical screening strategies. [Author's abstract]

Hepatitis C virus elimination: So close, so far?

PAWLOTSKY J. M.
Antiviral Research, March 2026 , Vol.247, p. art. 106360

The advent of highly effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has transformed hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection into a curable disease, with cure rates exceeding 95% across viral genotypes and clinical settings. Along with simplified, short-course treatment regimens and significant advancements in diagnostic technologies, these therapeutic breakthroughs have made eliminating HCV as a public health concern, as defined by the World Health Organization, a realistic goal. However, despite this progress, global advances toward elimination have fallen short of expectations. This review examines why HCV elimination appears to be within reach yet remains elusive. First, the molecular virology of HCV and the pharmacological rationale underlying modern DAA combination therapies are summarized to highlight how complementary antiviral mechanisms and high genetic barriers to resistance enable definitive virological cure. Then, the key factors limiting the translation of individual-level cures into population-level impact are analyzed. Persistent transmission in high-risk and marginalized populations, including people who inject drugs, incarcerated individuals, and men who have sex with men, continues to drive new infections. Incomplete case identification, losses along the care cascade, reinfection in the absence of protective immunity, and the lack of a prophylactic vaccine further constrain treatment-based prevention strategies. Structural and systemic barriers, including stigma, criminalization, inequitable access to diagnostics and treatment, fragile health systems, and uneven political commitment, exacerbate these challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Eliminating HCV will require sustained political commitment, equitable scaling up of testing and treatment, integration of care into primary and community-based services, robust harm reduction interventions, and coordination. [Author's abstract]

How can we maximise the benefits of smoke-free prisons? Decision analytic model to predict potential impacts on public health

MCMEEKIN N., BROWN A., BEST C., DEMOU E., LEYLAND A. H., BAULD L., LOUCKS N., PELL J. P., SEMPLE S., TWEED E. J., WOODS-BROWN C., HUNT K., BOYD K. A.
BMC Public Health, 2026 , Vol.26, p. art. 994

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco smoking prevalence remains high in disadvantaged populations such as people in prison. Smokefree prisons protect health, however around 90% of people who smoke pre-prison, relapse to smoking shortly after release. If people released from smokefree prisons maintain smoking abstinence this could benefit their health and finances. Knock-on effects of smoking relapse on families could also be avoided. Offering an intervention to reduce relapse to smoking on release has the potential to benefit released people and their families. This study assesses potential costs and outcomes for released people and their families, of introducing a smokefree prison policy and an intervention to reduce post-release smoking relapse.
METHODS: Based on the smoking/vaping status of released people we modelled the impact, on costs and outcomes, of four scenarios. We modelled scenarios which varied across two dimensions: (1) whether people were/were not permitted to vape in smokefree prisons, and (2) whether a smoking cessation intervention was offered/was not offered in smokefree prisons. The scenarios reflect different combinations of these factors. We estimated costs and outcomes (benefits) for released people, their partners and children over a lifetime. We included personal costs (vaping and smoking), healthcare and intervention costs, and outcomes included quality of life.
RESULTS: For released people, results indicated that not permitting vaping in prison was less costly and more beneficial than when vaping was permitted. Offering a smoking cessation intervention to released people was less costly than not offering a smoking cessation intervention, irrespective of whether vaping was permitted or not. However, whilst offering a smoking cessation intervention was beneficial when vaping was permitted in prison, results are uncertain for the benefits of offering a smoking cessation intervention when vaping is not permitted in prison. Sensitivity analyses indicate uncertainty and show that changing the values for vaping prevalence and smoking relapse rates would change these results. For both partner and child (ren), costs were higher and quality of life lower for those living with released people who relapse to smoking compared to those who vape or neither smoke nor vape.
INTERPRETATION: Targeted support for smoking cessation interventions to improve health outcomes for people released from smokefree prison and their families can ultimately contribute to broader public health improvements and improve health in a priority group. There is a need for greater evidence in this area to inform future modelling, particularly on relapse to smoking on release and the long-term effects of vaping. Results indicate uncertainty about the overall value of permitting vaping in smokefree prisons; wider factors associated with not allowing vaping in prisons would need to be assessed in future work. Study findings enhance understanding of the potential cost-effectiveness of smokefree prison policy, highlight uncertainty in some model inputs, and can inform decisions about how value could be maximised.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-026-26714-9. [Author's abstract]

Le modèle portugais de décriminalisation des drogues

FUERTES R., JAUFFRET-ROUSTIDE M.
Esprit, Mars 2026 , n°531, p. 67-75

Depuis 2001, le Portugal incarne une alternative assumée à la prohibition en décriminalisant l'usage des drogues et en replaçant la santé publique au cœur de l'action. Plus qu'un simple changement de loi, cette réforme a engagé un processus collectif fondé sur la science, l'écoute des professionnels, des usagers et de leurs familles, ainsi que sur le respect des droits humains. En réorientant les ressources de la répression vers le soin, le pays a démontré qu'une autre voie était possible. [Résumé d'éditeur]

Nouveaux propduits du tabac et de la nicotine 2026. Un phénomène publicitaire d'ampleur sur les lieux de vente et sur Internet

Comité national contre le tabagisme CNCT
Nouveaux propduits du tabac et de la nicotine 2026. Un phénomène publicitaire d'ampleur sur les lieux de vente et sur Internet
Paris : CNCT, 2026, 42 p.

Le Comité national contre le tabagisme (CNCT) publie les résultats de ses études sur la publicité actuelle en faveur des produits du tabac, du vapotage et autres produits illicites de la nicotine, sur les lieux de vente, les réseaux sociaux et les sites internet des fabricants. Menée avec le soutien du Fonds de lutte contre les addictions, ces travaux reposent notamment sur une enquête client mystère nationale réalisée par l'institut Audirep auprès d'un échantillon représentatif de 400 buralistes et de 200 magasins spécialisés de vapotage.
Les résultats confirment l'ampleur des infractions : dans les magasins, plus d'un point de vente sur deux est en infraction avec la réglementation en vigueur. Si le phénomène publicitaire en ligne montre une tendance à la baisse au cours des trois dernières années, il demeure néanmoins significatif, en particulier pour les produits du vapotage, qui concentrent l'essentiel des infractions observées. [Extrait du communiqué]

Parental influence on adolescent gambling: The role of communication, rules, and social support

BOSON K., ANDERSSON M., GURDAL S., CLAESDOTTER-KNUTSSON E., KAPETANOVIC S.
Journal of Gambling Studies, March 2026 , Vol.42, n°1, p. 321-338

Adolescent gambling has reached unprecedented levels in recent years, warranting research attention due to its links with other risk behaviors and mental health issues. This study focuses on the risk and protective factors in parent-adolescent relationships affecting gambling behaviors in Swedish adolescents. We investigated the role of parenting practices, parental gambling issues, and parental attitudes toward gambling. Participants included 553 upper secondary school students who completed an online survey about gambling, parental behaviors and attitudes, and parent-child communication. The analytical sample consisted of 57.8% boys with a mean age of 16.8 years (SD = 0.9). Logistic regression models assessed the relationship between these variables, problem gambling, and gambling initiation. Despite legal restrictions against gambling under 18 in Sweden, 49% of adolescents in our sample reported gambling at some point, 25% reported gambling in the past month, and 10% endorsed problem gambling behavior. Our results indicate that parental acceptance and their own gambling behavior are significantly associated with adolescent gambling initiation, suggesting children mimic parental behaviors. Furthermore, parent–child communication and disclosure were associated with both gambling initiation and problems. Enhancing parental awareness is essential to prevent underage gambling initiation and curb future problematic gambling behaviors, given the influential role of parent–child communication, attitudes, and behaviors on adolescents’ gambling habits.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10899-025-10471-2. [Author's abstract]

Playing sports, placing sports bets? Sports club membership, gambling norms and sports gambling behavior among Flemish youth

KASEMI A., GROSEMANS E., AMANDA R., ZAMAN B., DE COCK R.
Journal of Gambling Studies, March 2026 , Vol.42, n°1, p. 265-278

In recent years, gambling has become increasingly embedded in sports culture, a phenomenon known as "gamblification", raising concerns about youth exposure to sports betting. This study explores the role of descriptive norms (perceived peer gambling behavior) and injunctive norms (perceived peer approval) within Flemish sports clubs, assessing their impact on youths' (18-25 year old) online sports betting frequency. Using a quantitative cross-sectional survey (N = 1,290), results indicated that sports club membership is significantly positively correlated with online sports betting frequency, a relation mediated specifically by descriptive norms. However, injunctive norms did not mediate this relationship. The results of this study suggest a need for targeted prevention strategies within sports clubs. [Author's abstract]

Le pragmatisme suisse face aux drogues

MEYER F., BRAUNE C.
Esprit, Mars 2026 , n°531, p. 103-109

Depuis près de quarante ans, la Suisse mise sur les haltes soins addictions pour accompagner les personnes usagères des drogues, tout en limitant les nuisances dans l'espace public. Face à l'augmentation du crack et à l'évolution du profil des usagers, ce modèle de réduction des risques illustre l'importance d'une approche pragmatique et coordonnée entre santé publique et sécurité. [Résumé d'éditeur]

Le prétexte des drogues dans l'impérialisme étatsunien

RIVERA-VELEZ L.
Esprit, Mars 2026 , n°531, p. 85-92

En janvier 2025, Nicolás Maduro est capturé lors d'une opération militaire américaine, justifiée par sa désignation comme « narco-terroriste ». Cet enlèvement illustre comment la rhétorique antidrogue peut légitimer l'ingérence politique, masquer des intérêts impérialistes et servir de levier pour des opérations de pouvoir extracontinentales. [Résumé d'éditeur]

A prospective study of mental health in relation to online gambling one-year later in a large cohort of adolescents in Canada

PILKINGTON M. L., GOHARI M. R., COLE A. G., FERRO M. A., ELTON-MARSHALL T., LAXER R., LEATHERDALE S. T., PATTE K. A.
Journal of Gambling Studies, March 2026 , Vol.42, n°1, p. 235-247

PURPOSE: Concerns have increased about online gambling among adolescents. Poor mental health may place adolescents at increased risk of engagement in online gambling, however, longitudinal evidence is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine how mental health relates to engagement in online gambling one-year later in a large cohort of adolescents.
METHODS: We used 2-year prospective survey data from 26,818 students in Grades 9 to 11 (secondary III-IV in Quebec) attending 121 secondary schools in four Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec) who participated in the COMPASS study during the 2017/18, 2018/19, and/or 2019/20 school years. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the likelihood of online gambling one-year later by baseline mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, psychosocial well-being, emotional dysregulation), controlling for student sex, grade, race, weekly spending money, and baseline online gambling.
RESULTS: Online gambling in the past 30-days was reported by 2.1%, 2.3%, and 2.5% of students in study years 2017/18, 2018/19, and 2019/20, respectively. In the combined model, students reporting high depressive symptoms were significantly more likely to report online gambling one-year later (OR = 1.58, 95%CI = 1.19, 2.09) relative to those reporting low symptoms, controlling for baseline online gambling, the other mental health measures, and sociodemographic characteristics.
CONCLUSION: This study provides prospective evidence that high depressive symptoms may place adolescents at an elevated risk of future engagement in online gambling. It may be worthwhile targeting students with high depressive symptoms in preventative efforts. [Author's abstract]

Recourir aux institutions médicosociales de l'addiction : une enquête sur les publics féminins en France hexagonale et en Guyane

FILIPE E. Auteur, JAUFFRET-ROUSTIDE M. Directeur de thèse

Thèse de sociologie, École doctorale de l'EHESS, Centre d'Étude des Mouvements Sociaux (CEMS)

, 2025, 427 p.

FRANÇAIS :
Les institutions du secteur médicosocial de l'addiction qui incluent principalement les centres d'accueil et d'accompagnement à la réduction des risques pour usager.es de drogues (CAARUD) et les centres de soin d'accompagnement et de prévention en addictologie (CSAPA) accueillent en France un public majoritairement masculin. Depuis vingt ans, les femmes représentent seulement 20 à 25 % des bénéficiaires et demeurent, selon les professionnel.les de santé, largement invisibilisées au sein des institutions. Cette thèse appréhende ce phénomène comme un problème public qui articule non-recours aux soins et inégalités de genre. Ce problème a été formulé par des acteur.rices du champ de l'addiction, des responsabilités y ont été imputées (stigmatisation et violences subies par les usagères) et des organismes publics l'ont publicisé et inscrit à l'agenda politique. Le cadrage genré du problème public rend visible les difficultés rencontrées par les professionnel.les dans la prise en charge des femmes en addictologie. Toutefois, il tend à homogénéiser les expériences des usagères et à privilégier le point de vue des institutions et de leurs représentant.es. En déplaçant la focale de la « prise en charge » vers le « recours » et en adoptant une approche biographique centrée sur les expériences des bénéficiaires, cette recherche interroge les conditions de possibilité du recours, dans un contexte marqué par d'importants obstacles genrés. L'enquête « par le bas », fondée sur une méthodologie mixte (entretiens, observations, statistiques) en France hexagonale et en Guyane, articule plusieurs niveaux d'analyse. Dans un premier temps, une typologie statistique met en évidence la forte hétérogénéité des usagères de CAARUD et de CSAPA, réparties en quatre clusters aux profils distincts qui ne mobilisent pas les mêmes prestations institutionnelles : des femmes consommatrices d'alcool et de cannabis vivant dans des conditions stables et médicalement encadrées ; des femmes consommatrices de médicaments vulnérables, mais bien suivies ; des femmes consommatrices d'héroïne en situation de précarité et peu visibles ; des femmes consommatrices de crack en situation de grande précarité et de marginalité. Le type de consommation de drogues et les conditions de vie façonnent des formes variées de recours institutionnel, mais ne suffisent pas à les expliquer. La thèse examine ensuite les logiques institutionnelles et territoriales et les acteur.rices intermédiaires qui facilitent ou obstruent l'accès aux institutions. Les usagères franciliennes et guyanaises ne font pas face aux mêmes contraintes institutionnelles et territoriales dans leurs recours aux soins et à l'assistance sociale (systèmes et organisations médicosociales, normes bureaucratiques). Trois types d'intermédiaires structurent le recours : les administrateur.rices (médecin, justice), les aidant.es du recours (proche, travailleur.ses du social) et les acteur.rices qui le contraignent (homme usager, personne disqualifiant le recours, etc.). Enfin, la recherche analyse comment les dispositions, les représentations et les discours des usagères vis-à-vis du soin et de l'addiction peuvent favoriser ou freiner la mobilisation des institutions. Le recours des femmes en addictologie est le produit d'une rencontre située entre des parcours socialement différenciés, des normes institutionnelles, des territoires et des subjectivités. La thèse éclaire ainsi la manière dont les rapports sociaux, les rapports aux institutions et les parcours de vie travaillent les conditions d'accès aux soins en addictologie pour les femmes usagères, et propose un regard renouvelé sur le problème public de non-recours. [Résumé d'auteur]

ENGLISH:
Institutions in the medical and social sector dealing with addiction, which mainly include centres providing support and harm reduction services for drug users (CAARUD) and centres providing care, support and prevention services in the field of addiction (CSAPA), cater primarily to a male clientele in France. For the past twenty years, women have accounted for only 20 to 25% of beneficiaries and, according to health professionals, remain largely invisible within these institutions. This thesis tackles this phenomenon as a public problem that links non-use of healthcare and gender inequality. This problem has been identified by actors in the field of addiction, responsibilities have been attributed (stigmatisation and violence suffered by female users), and public institutions have publicised it and placed it on the political agenda. The gendered framing of the public problem highlights the difficulties encountered by professionals in treating women with addiction. However, it tends to homogenise the experiences of female users and to favour the point of view of institutions and their representatives. By shifting the focus from 'care' to 'recourse' and adopting a biographical approach centred on the experiences of beneficiaries, this research questions the conditions of possibility of recourse in a context marked by significant gendered obstacles. The 'bottom-up' research, based on a mixed methodology (interviews, observations, statistics) in mainland France and French Guiana, combines several levels of analysis. First, a statistical typology highlights the high degree of heterogeneity among CAARUD and CSAPA users, divided into four clusters with distinct profiles that do not mobilise the same institutional services: women who consume alcohol and cannabis, living in stable conditions and under medical supervision; vulnerable women who consume drugs but are well monitored; women who use heroin, who are in precarious situations and not very visible; women who use crack cocaine, who are in very precarious situations and marginalised. The type of drug use and living conditions shape various forms of institutional recourse, but are not sufficient to explain them. The thesis then examines the institutional and territorial logics and the intermediary actors who facilitate or obstruct access to institutions. Female users in the Paris region and French Guiana do not face the same institutional and territorial constraints in their access to healthcare and social assistance (medical-social systems and organisations, bureaucratic norms). Three types of intermediaries are conditioning the recourse: administrators (doctors, the justice system), recourse assistants (relatives, social workers) and actors who constrain it (male users, people who disqualify recourse, etc.). Finally, the research analyses how users' attitudes, representations and discourse regarding care and addiction can promote or hinder the mobilisation of institutions. Women's recourse to addiction treatment is the product of an encounter between socially differentiated trajectories, institutional norms, territories and subjectivities. The thesis thus sheds light on how social relations, relationships with institutions and life trajectories influence the conditions of access to addiction treatment for female users, and offers a fresh perspective on the public problem of non-use. [Author's abstract]

Restaurer la confiance dans l'action publique européenne

JOHNSTON E.
Esprit, Mars 2026 , n°531, p. 61-66

Face à l'intensification des trafics et l'expansion des usages, l'Europe semble prise dans une impasse répressive qui fragilise la confiance dans l'action publique. Du constat sévère dressé par l'Agence de l'Union européenne sur les drogues, à la montée des violences locales, la crise dépasse le seul enjeu sécuritaire. Partout, les villes expérimentent des réponses pragmatiques, articulant santé, prévention et régulation. Et si l'échelon municipal devenait le moteur d'une refondation européenne des politiques des drogues ? [Résumé d'éditeur]

The rising wave of cathinone use in people attending harm reduction facilities: a French repeated cross-sectional study (2019-2023)

DE TERNAY J., PLASSE A., ROLLAND B.
Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, 2026 , Vol.21, p. art. 31

Background: In Europe, cocaine use has recently been on the rise among people who use drugs (PWUD). In parallel, cathinones, another type of psychostimulant that were once associated within the unique context of chemsex, are now spreading to broader patterns of use. Here, we examined trends in reported drug use, including cathinones, among PWUD attending the main harm reduction center in Lyon, France, between 2019 and 2023.
Methods: We conducted a year-by-year comparison of standardized assessments completed at entry and updated annually for all PWUD attending the harm reduction center. These assessments collected sociodemographic characteristics (i.e., age, sex, nationality, family, housing, and occupational status), and the types of drugs reported as used. We performed logistic regression models to compare the prevalence of each substance, used as the dependent variable, with year and sociodemographic characteristics of PWUD as independent variables. Adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals (aOR [95% CI]) were reported.
Results: A total of 1,652 PWUD were analyzed. Between 2019 and 2023, the proportion of PWUD reporting cathinone use increased from 1.1% to 10.9%, and from 53.2% to 73.2% for cocaine (p < 0.001 for both). In parallel, the proportion of PWUD reporting alcohol use decreased from 29.5% to 12.8%, and from 72.1% to 39.9% for opioids (p < 0.001 for both). After adjusting for age, sex, and socioeconomic factors, and using 2019 as the reference year, we found significant increases in reported cathinone use in 2022 (aOR [95% CI] = 4.84 [1.35-31.05]) and 2023 (aOR [95% CI] = 4.90 [1.40-31.06]), along with significant decreases in opioid use in 2022 (aOR [95% CI] = 0.50 [0.28-0.88]) and 2023 (aOR [95%CI] = 0.39 [0.22-0.66]). The changes observed for alcohol and cocaine were no longer significant.
Conclusions: We observed a significant increase in the proportion of PWUD reporting cathinone use at harm reduction centers. This trend highlights the need for improved training for caregivers and adaptations in the services provided for these substances within these facilities. Further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the profiles of more vulnerable cathinone users and their motivations for use. [Author's abstract]

La zone de crack

HUBRECHT J.
Esprit, Mars 2026 , n°531, p. 93-97

Dans le Nord-Est parisien, le crack transforme le quotidien des riverains et des usagers. Entre nuisances visibles et vies fragilisées, ce trafic à ciel ouvert révèle un malaise social profond. Face à des dispositifs sanitaires insuffisants, riverains et usagers des drogues partagent un même territoire, confrontés à la nécessité de reconstruire un monde commun. [Résumé d'éditeur]