DrugWise Daily |
3rd October 2024 |
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UK news
UK’s biggest charity merger promises a Waythrough for people dealing with drug and alcohol, mental health and housing challenges
Waythrough, which launched on October 1st, combines the expertise and resources of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship, two national charities that share values, ambitions and decades of experience supporting people with substance use, mental health, housing and associated needs | Waythrough, UK
One million people in England vape despite never having smoked regularly, study finds
Researchers suggest stricter regulation as one in 10 people in Britain aged 16 or over now use e-cigarettes | Guardian, UK
‘Councils can help government eliminate smoking’ - LGA on ONS smoking figures
Council public health teams work hard to help reduce smoking rates and it is testament to their efforts that smoking rates continue to fall | Local Government, UK
MHRA e-cigarette and vape products regulator profile
Information on the other regulatory bodies responsible for e-cigarette and vape products | MHRA, UK
Cancer survivor hails falling number of smokers
Only 11% of adults living in north-east England smoked in 2023, according to the most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figure is the second lowest in the country and a huge decrease compared with 2004, when 29% of adults in the region smoked - the highest in England | BBC, UK
'Chilling' number of UK drivers caught drink-driving four times or more
"The rate of fatalities caused by people drinking and driving is now at a similar level to where it was in the late 1980s, so it's clear something needs to change," says the RAC | Sky News, UK
The Ban on Smoking on Hospital Grounds
What assessment has the First Minister made of the impact of the ban on smoking on hospital grounds? | They work for you, UK
The Family Drug and Alcohol Court
What discussions has the Counsel General had with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, and the Ministry of Justice following the family drug and alcohol court pilot in Cardiff? | They work for you, UK
‘Iceman’ crime boss jailed in Scotland over ‘industrial-scale’ drug trafficking
James Stevenson pleaded guilty mid-trial over plan to import 1kg blocks of cocaine into Glasgow in banana boxes | Guardian, UK
International news
Forecasting the effects of smoking prevalence scenarios on years of life lost and life expectancy from 2022 to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
The pace of decline in smoking prevalence has slowed in recent years for many countries, and although strategies have recently been proposed to achieve tobacco-free generations, none have been implemented to date. Assessing what could happen if current trends in smoking prevalence persist, and what could happen if additional smoking prevalence reductions occur, is important for communicating the effect of potential smoking policies | Lancet, UK
How Galaxy Gas Became the Defining High of the Brainrot Era
There’s nothing new about recreational nitrous oxide—you may know it as “whippets.” But a garish brand and a bunch of extremely viral videos have turned an old-fashioned drug into a terrifying new meme | GQ magazine, UK
Trip on psychedelics, save the planet: the offbeat solution to the climate crisis
Proponents say using hallucinogens can spark ‘consciousness shifts’ to inspire climate-friendly behaviors | Guardian, UK
One of two doctors charged in Matthew Perry’s death pleads guilty
Mark Chavez, 52, signed a plea agreement in which he admitted to obtaining ketamine from his former clinic | Guardian, UK
Illicit drug use in Limerick City: A stakeholder and policy analysis using multiple streams model
[Open access] The changing drug situation in Ireland has led to the development of various drug policies. This paper aims to use Limerick City as a case study to examine approaches to policy development | International Journal of Health Planning, Ireland
Voices of Recovery policy document. Alcohol harm: the recovery position (PDF)
Voices of Recovery is an initiative from Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) which launched in 2023. It is a person-led project driven by those in long-term recovery from alcohol dependency that seeks to: Harness the power of the lived experience of people in recovery from alcohol harm to drive progressive policy change Remove the stigma around getting treatment for alcohol problems | Alcohol Action Ireland, Ireland
Redefine alcohol for a healthier, safer, and happier Europe
“Redefine alcohol” is more than a campaign – it is a call to action inviting people to rethink their relationship with alcohol, learn more about alcohol and health risks, and consider the benefits of drinking less or not at all. Informed by the latest research and evidence from the field, expert consultations, and the involvement of people with lived experience, youth perspectives and communities, this initiative encourages people across Europe to reflect on what narratives and myths exist around alcohol and to rethink them | WHO, Switzerland
“Merci la Vape”—French Advocates Counter Relentless Anti-Vape Moves
Tobacco harm reduction has been under attack in France, despite the country’s high rates of smoking and smoking-related deaths | Filter Magazine, USA
Cocaine-induced destruction of the palate: a diagnostic and management challenge
[Open access] Cocaine usage is increasing at a rate faster than population growth worldwide. The habitual and chronic insufflation of pulverised cocaine is associated with the progressive destruction of the osseocartilaginous structures of the midface, termed cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions (CIMDLs). These entities present a challenging diagnostic picture, mimicking other infectious, malignant and inflammatory conditions associated with midface destruction | Nature, USA
California passes law allowing Dutch-style cannabis cafes
Starting next year, diners in the western US state of California can smoke cannabis at certain restaurants, thanks to a new law allowing for "cannabis cafes" akin to those popularized in the Netherlands | Medical Xpress, USA
Chronic pain patients are more supportive of cannabis access than doctors, researchers find
Adults with chronic pain are significantly more supportive of policies expanding cannabis access than the physicians who treat them, according to a study from Rutgers Health and other institutions | Medical Xpress, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Alcohol’s hidden calories: a missed opportunity in obesity policy
There is now significant attention paid to the various ways in which alcohol impacts on public health, from the effects on individual drinkers’ physical and mental health to the consequences for those in their vicinity via road traffic accidents, intimate partner violence and, from a global health perspective, as a structural driver of HIV infection. It is, therefore, somewhat anomalous that alcohol has not received greater attention as a risk factor for obesity, or been a more prominent focus of obesity policy debates | IAS blog, UK
We must not delay making alcohol-free childhoods a reality
Here, Amy Smith, Senior Coordinator (Policy) at Alcohol Focus Scotland, highlights why alarming statistics, children and young people’s views and the recent UNCRC incorporation all tell us that we need to act now | Children in Scotland, UK
Does psilocybin really provide long-term relief from depression, as new study suggests?
Psilocybin, the psychedelic substance found in magic mushrooms, is a promising new treatment for psychiatric disorders, especially depression. The beneficial effects on mood and anxiety of psilocybin are rapid and pronounced after just a single treatment. A small study even suggested that these benefits remain after a year | Conversation, UK
Kamala Harris’ Support for Cannabis Legalisation: What It Could Mean for the Future of US Drug Policy
Kamala Harris’ endorsement of cannabis legalisation, made during an appearance on All The Smoke, represents a pivotal shift in her campaign and positions her as one of the key figures advocating for cannabis reform in the United States. While Harris has supported decriminalisation in the past, her current stance is more assertive, calling for an end to cannabis criminalisation entirely. This significant statement signals that cannabis legalisation is no longer a peripheral issue but a central point in national political discourse, especially as both major-party candidates now support reform | Volteface, UK