DrugWise Daily |
19th September 2024 |
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UK news
Potential impact of alcohol calorie labelling on the attitudes and drinking behaviour of hazardous and low-risk drinkers in England: a national survey
A sizeable proportion of hazardous drinkers indicated that they would change their consumption practices if mandatory calorie labelling was introduced. Promoting more positive attitudes to calorie labelling might lead to stronger intentions to reduce consumption. Mandatory calorie labelling of alcoholic beverages may make a modest contribution to energy intake and the maintenance of health weight, particularly among heavier drinkers | BMJ Open, UK
Unis need more drink-free events, urges student
As thousands of students plunge into the social whirl in reopened universities this month, one who says he felt pressure to drink is calling for more events without alcohol | BBC, UK
Alcohol tax levels ridiculous says nightclub boss [Jersey]
A Jersey nightclub owner and a business leader have called for taxes on alcohol to be cut amid ongoing claims the cost of a night out is affecting trade | BBC, UK
Addiction activist’s dying wish realised with cafe
A woman who dedicated 25 years to supporting people with drug and alcohol issues has been honoured with a new social enterprise cafe in Stoke-on-Trent | BBC, UK
Sussex homecoming for Mick Jagger drug trial play
A play based on the 1960s drug trial of the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger and Keith Richards will be performed in the town where the court hearing took place | BBC, UK
Petrol station granted 24-hour alcohol licence
A petrol station will be allowed to sell alcohol in a Devon town around the clock despite objections from local people | BBC, UK
Jail for lorry driver over £1.1m drugs bust
A County Down lorry driver has been jailed for 18 months for being in possession of £1.1m worth of cocaine and cannabis in February 2022 | BBC, UK
International news
Watch: €15m worth of cocaine seized in Ireland after global crime platform infiltrated
At a press conference in Dublin, Detective Chief Superintendent Seamus Boland said that the Kinahan crime gang was 'no longer the primary organised crime gang in this jurisdiction' | Irish Examiner, Ireland
NPR Exclusive: U.S. overdose deaths plummet, saving thousands of lives
National surveys compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention already show an unprecedented decline in drug deaths of roughly 10.6 percent. That's a huge reversal from recent years when fatal overdoses regularly increased by double-digit percentages | npr, USA
Study finds nonfatal opioid overdoses in youth spiked during pandemic: Majority occurred at home
Drug overdose mortality has risen faster among adolescents than the general population in recent years, largely due to fentanyl, a potent opioid pain medication. A study published in JAMA sheds light on trends in nonfatal opioid overdoses in youth—an area that was not as well characterized, but key to formulating prevention strategies to save lives | Medical Xpress, USA
Year-Long Cannabis Use for Medical Symptoms and Brain Activation During Cognitive Processes
In a cohort study of adults who newly obtained medical cannabis cards for symptoms of depression, anxiety, pain, or insomnia, functional magnetic resonance imaging measures during working memory, reward, and inhibitory control tasks did not differ statistically from baseline to 1 year and were not associated with changes in cannabis use frequency | JAMA Network Open, USA
Recovery Coach Program Implementation Across an Integrated Health System
[Open access] How and why paid ex-addict ‘peer recovery coaches’ became the mainstays of substance use treatment across a US local health care system, “providing hope and support” and helping patients navigate their recovery at a lower cost than clinical staff | Psychiatry Online, USA
Publication demonstrates appeal of menthol cigarettes to young people
While the overall rate of cigarette smoking has decreased in the United States, the use of menthol cigarettes has risen among young adult smokers. A University of Oklahoma researcher published a study showing that the addition of menthol flavoring to cigarettes makes them more appealing than non-menthol cigarettes, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities and the LGBTQ population, who have high rates of menthol cigarette use | Medical Xpress, USA
Nixon’s Tapes Reveal He Knew Marijuana Was ‘Not Particularly Dangerous’
A newly uncovered audio reveals that former President Richard Nixon launched the war on drugs even though he acknowledged marijuana “was not particularly dangerous.” | Forbes, USA
Why Tobacco Harm Reduction? A First Question of Many
When I first heard the words “tobacco harm reduction,” as recently as 2022, I was a little surprised. What is that? I wasn’t turned off. I just had no idea what it consisted of. Was it collecting cigarette butts from places, or passing out those old-fashioned filter tips? | Filter Magazine, USA
Indiana Youth Survey finds record lows in substance use among teens
The 2024 Indiana Youth Survey is conducted by Prevention Insights, part of the Department of Applied Health Science at the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington. This year, the survey reveals significant decreases in substance use over the past two years | Medical Xpress, USA
CheQpoint: Our first four months (PDF)
Our first drug checking service opened in Bowen Hills (Brisbane) in April 2024, and the second service opened in Burleigh Heads (Gold Coast) in July 2024. This report provides a snapshot of the first four months of service delivery. This includes service uptake and outcomes of chemical analysis, along with the outcomes of the health-focused brief intervention, which is offered to all people who use the service | Queensland Health and operated in partnership between QuIHN, QuIVAA, and The Loop Australia, Australia
Comparison of strength and adulteration between illicit drugs obtained from cryptomarkets versus off-line
[Open access] Drugs sold on cryptomarkets are thought to have lower levels of adulteration and higher strength compared with those sourced off-line. The present study aimed to determine whether cryptomarket and off-line-sourced 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine (MDMA), cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) differed in adulteration and strength | Addiction, Australia
Blogs, comment and opinion
Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: A Guide for Expecting Parents, Caregivers, and Families
September is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) Awareness Month, a meaningful time to raise awareness of FASD prevention and celebrate the strengths, skills, and successes of those living with FASDs. Did you know that approximately one in 20 school-aged children in the United States (or 5%) may have FASDs? FASDs refer to a range of disorders caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy that entail physical, cognitive, or behavioral issues in the affected individuals | SAMHSA blog, USA