Daily news - 8th October 2018


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UK news

Alcohol, drugs and tobacco: commissioning support pack

Updated with the 2019 to 2020 commissioning support pack principles and indicators for alcohol, drugs, tobacco and young people. Removed the previous year's documents | PHE, UK

Liver disease profiles: short statistical commentary, October 2018

New hospital admissions data for 2016 to 2017 has been added to the liver disease profiles | PHE, UK

Every Life Matters – Change Grow Live is campaigning to help reduce drug misuse deaths

Drug-related deaths are at record levels. This is a national public health crisis and urgent action is needed. Click here to tweet your support | Change Grow Live, UK

Cannabis-based products for medicinal use

In development [GID-NG10124] Expected publication date: 21 October 2019 | NICE, UK

Medical Cannabis To Be Available On Prescription ‘Within Weeks’

These changes come about following a long battle by campaigners | Huffington Post, UK

Precursor chemical import and export authorisation wallchart

This chart shows the regulation of precursor chemicals in the UK. Revised | PHE, UK

Decriminalise drugs, Plaid Cymru says

Party members called the war on drugs an "unmitigated failure" and said criminalising those with an addiction does "nothing to help them turn their lives around" | BBC, UK

Children Sold Vaping Products - BBC iPlayer radio

E-cigarettes and vaping liquids are being sold to children online and on the high street, 5 live Investigates has discovered. Trading Standards is investigating after researchers on the programme bought prohibited products online | BBC, UK

Researchers find that e-cigarette fluid becomes more toxic during vaping

On culturing lung immune cells with condensed e-cigarette vapour and unvapourised fluid, researchers found that the vapour was toxic at lower concentrations than the fluid and led to greater cell death | Pharmaceutical Journal, UK

Seven ways to cut back on alcohol

Many people are trying to drink less this October – but what do you do if your resolve is waning? Here are some ideas to keep you drinking in moderation all year round | Guardian, UK

Survey of Britain’s mental health reveals picture of an anxious nation

More than 23 million people in Great Britain have experienced anxiety or depression, according to new research by mental health, drug and alcohol charity Addaction | Addaction, UK

Northern Recovery College by Aspire Drug and Alcohol Service, Sheffield Hallam University and Spectrum

The Northern Recovery College concept originated from a conference held around Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) | Aspire, UK

West Lothian has worst waiting times in Scotland for drug and alcohol treatment

More than a third of patients are still awaiting treatment after three weeks | Daily Record, UK

Drug dealing gangs are using Zipcar to steer clear of police cameras

Highly organised criminal gangs are using car sharing scheme Zipcar to deal illegal drugs, avoiding detection by the police | Telegraph, UK

Crime: Greater London

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of crime in London in the last 12 months | They work for you, UK

Fenham Library drug rehab hub fight taken to MP

Angry residents have asked their MP to help halt plans for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in a library | BBC, UK

Cornwall 'beach-find' cocaine dealer jailed

An electrician who went on the run for 10 years after police raided his home and found drugs worth £90,000 has been jailed for four and a half years | BBC, UK

 

 

International news

Canada asks: can police officers smoke marijuana after legalization?

Vancouver, Ottawa, Regina and Montreal will let officers use it recreationally as Calgary introduced a zero-consumption policy | Guardian, UK

Mormon church backs deal to legalize medical marijuana in Utah

Ranking global leader Jack Gerard said they were ‘thrilled’ to be part of effort to ‘alleviate human pain and suffering’ | Guardian, UK

Spanish drug baron appears in music video to taunt police after two years on run

The most wanted drug trafficker in Spain has appeared in a reggaeton music video posted on YouTube two years after he went on the run | Independent, UK

Irish Rail ban alcohol on Galway and Westport services after multiple complaints

Irish Rail have announced they are banning alcohol on four services from Dublin | Extra, Ireland

Ireland will impose tobacco-style health warning labels on alcohol as part of a sweeping package of restrictions intended to tackle what a World Health Organization survey ranks as one of the world’s worst rates of binge drinking | NYTimes, USA

Demand for the Overdose-Reversal Drug Is Surging

Retail dispensing for naloxone rose 70 percent after an awareness campaign by the U.S. Surgeon General | Atlantic, USA

Medical Cannabis to Be Studied in Nursing Homes

Plans have been announced in Canada for a research study on the effectiveness of medical cannabis in treating pain and improving cognitive function in seniors. The 6-month pilot program will be one of the largest of its kind, enrolling up to 500 nursing home residents | Main News Network, USA

Nonaddictive drug compound could replace opioids for chronic pain sufferers

A new nonaddictive drug compound discovered by Purdue University researchers could lead to the treatment of chronic pain without the need to rely on opioids, just as a bipartisan package of bills moves through the U.S. House and Senate to battle the nation's opioid epidemic | Medical Xpress, USA

Health insurer policies may discourage use of non-opioid alternatives for lower back pain

Public and private health insurance policies in the U.S. are missing important opportunities to encourage the use of physical therapy, psychological counseling and other non-drug alternatives to opioid medication for treating lower back pain, a study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found | Medical Xpress, USA

Studies needed on impact of cannabis use on puberty

 McMaster University researchers say there is an urgent need for studies on the physical health effects of cannabis use, including its impact on puberty | EurekAlert, USA

A Cannabis Law Expert Explains Three Major Hurdles for the Industry

That can’t be right, marijuana is legal here.” It’s a common refrain from would-be cannabis entrepreneurs, initially filled with enthusiasm—only to run headlong into a brick wall of harsh reality. Or, rather, one of many brick walls facing cannabis businesses even in states that have legalized and regulated production and sale | Filter Magazine, USA

Study: Federal Agencies underestimate e-cigarette explosion and burn injuries

Electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) are devices commonly powered by a battery that aerosolize liquid and chemical flavorants. These products have become popular among people of all ages, especially youth | News Medical, USA

Legal Marijuana In Canada: Here's What To Know When Crossing The Border

Pro tip: never take it across the border. Ever | Huffington Post, Canada

Use of cocaine and higher purity forms of ecstasy and methamphetamine increases among people who use drugs

Useof cocaine and higher purity forms of ecstasy and methamphetamine is increasing among samples of people who use drugs, according to the 2018 Drug Trends Reports from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW Sydney | NDARC, Australia

Former ice addict says 'drugs are bad' messages miss the mark 

Greg is one of six former drug addicts who are to become the face of a new Queensland anti-ice drug awareness campaign | Age, Australia

Newtown cracks down on 'party buses' as support slips for lockout laws

The move comes amid renewed debate about Sydney's lockout laws as polling shows a collapse in support | Age, Australia

Drug fear on roads as one in four return positive drug tests

A Ballarat mum taking methamphetamine to deal with the pressures of work, family and housework is among an alarming number of drivers testing positive | Courier, Australia

 

 

Blogs, comment and opinion

Ian Hamilton: Are middle class drug users really to blame for the rise in violent crime?

Politicians can’t resist the getting “tough on drugs” message, even if it lacks evidence, says Ian Hamilton | BMJ blog, UK

Observations on Peer Support at Drink Wise, Age Well

Each of our Mutual Aid Partnership (MAP) meetings started with an empty room | DrinkWise AgeWell blog, UK

Behavioural and social sciences in public health: The first strategy of its kind

Many public health challenges – including preventable diseases, smoking, and mental ill-health – are more often behavioural and sociological than medical in nature. The reason behind this is that they often arise from behaviours that are underpinned by social and structural determinants | PHE blog, UK

Since the start of the century, Portugal has shown that decriminalisation of drug use is possible

Dr Nuno Capaz of the Lisbon Drug Addiction Dissuasion Commission gives his view on the drug policy debate | Journal opinion, Ireland

`An argument that made no sense at all’: Why Ed Rendell supported needle exchange during the AIDS epidemic and safe injection sites today | Perspective

On Tuesday, former Gov. Ed Rendell announced that he is incorporating a nonprofit, called Safehouse, that will work to open a safe injection site in the city | Philedelphia Enquirer opinion, USA

Cannabis should be legal, just as alcohol should be legal. But marijuana addiction exists, and it almost wrecked my life | NY Times opinion, USA

The Law and Penalties for Drug Possession in NSW

Drug related harm is a concerning issue all over the world, however, there is an increasing concern in the lethal ingredients and level of dosage mixed with methamphetamines in particular | Criminal Defence Lawyers of Australia blog, Australia