Daily news - 15th June 2021 |
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A BIG thank you to APCDLO - The Association of Police Controlled Drug Liaison Officers who have renewed their sponsorship to DrugWise Daily. The APCDLO have been loyal supporters for many years now. Thank you for helping to keep us going.
UK news
Busy clinicians to get new learning tool about the misuse of prescription drugs - web-based app
ATOMIC is a completely new, convenient and evidence-based learning intervention that improves the knowledge and confidence of front-line clinicians to identify, assess and manage acute and chronic harms caused by the non-medical use of prescription drugs. This app works on all types of phones and is free to use after simple registration. It is dedicated to the memory of Jody Lombardini-Coleman | Club Drug Clinic - Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, UK
‘It’s not 9 to 5 recovery’: the role of a recovery community in producing social bonds that support recovery
[Open access] The aim of this study was to understand how the social networks of a new recovery community can help sustain recovery, focusing on processes of social identity change, in the context of the wider UK recovery movement | DEPP, UK
Families long wait for drug help
Families affected by alcohol and drug addiction are waiting eight years for support according to a new survey | Glasgow Times, UK
Scots football club to turn part of stadium into rehab for drug, alcohol and gambling addicts
Hamilton Accies has outlined plans to home up to 40 people recovering from substance abuse at its Lanarkshire stadium | Daily Record, UK
Video support sessions for families affected by substance use
Peter Cartwright, in collaboration with Adfam, has produced a series of online support video sessions for families affected by a loved one's substance use | Adfam, UK
Addiction Audio: Cannabis, schizophrenia and genetics with Emma Johnson
Dr Emma Johnson talks to Rob Calder about shared genetic liabilities for cannabis use disorder and schizophrenia and the role of tobacco smoking. Dr Johnson talks about the implications of this research on the evidence for a causal relationship between cannabis and schizophrenia and for other genetic associations relating to substance use and psychiatric disorders | SSA, UK
Fag end: 21 unusual ways to quit smoking, from changing your teeth to taking more showers
If patches, hypnosis and self-help books don’t work, maybe it’s time to think laterally. Readers reveal the unlikely methods that encouraged them to kick the habit | Guardian, UK
Former heroin addict who did drugs aged 6 now a top uni graduate
Ginny Burton decided she wanted to turn her life around after being imprisoned and wanted to be placed on a Drug Diversion Court program | Daily Record, UK
Small Charity Week - Monday 14th June to Saturday 19th June 2021
Small Charity Week celebrates and raises awareness of the essential work of the UK’s small charity sector who make an invaluable contribution to the lives of millions of individuals, communities and causes across the UK and the rest of the world | The FSI, Small Charities Coalition et al, UK
Guernsey drugs crime sentencing excessive says Deputy Mark Helyar
One of Guernsey's senior politicians has called for a change to the way drug crime is sentenced | BBC, UK
International news
The Harms of Incarceration: The evidence base and human rights framework for decarceration and harm reduction in prisons
Over 11 million people are imprisoned worldwide today, the highest number ever recorded. Globally, the dominant response to drugs remains prohibition-based drug policies backed by criminal sanctions that have contributed to the increase in the prison population | HRI, UK
Supreme Court blocks cutting prison sentences for low-level crack offenders
After vicious war on drugs that disproportionately impacted Black Americans, people convicted of possessing only small amounts not eligible for reduced sentences despite retroactive law | Independent, UK
Enough fentanyl to kill San Francisco: the new wave of the opioid crisis sweeping California
Deaths from fentanyl overdoses have jumped by more than 2,100% in five years as the powerful drug has flooded the state | Guardian, UK
Philippines drugs war: ICC prosecutor seeks full investigation
The chief prosecutor of International Criminal Court (ICC) has called for a full investigation into suspected crimes against humanity during a deadly drugs crackdown directed by the government of the Philippines | BBC, UK
Smart on Drugs, Not War on Drugs – documentary screening and panel discussion - webinar
Jun 23, 2021 04:00 PM London. The documentary is part of Incarceration Nations: A Global Docuseries: a mixed-media series about global mass incarceration, narrated entirely by those who have lived incarceration around the world, from England to El Salvador, Argentina to the USA, Brazil and Lebanon to South Africa and Sierra Leone. The ten episodes expose an international crisis while also spotlighting solutions; showcasing the work of INN justice partners from one continent to another | Release in collaboration with Harm Reduction International, the International Drug Policy Consortium, and Transform Drug Policy Foundation, UK
Edwin Poots urged by Leo Varadkar to bring forward minimum alcohol pricing to align with Republic
The new DUP leader Edwin Poots is being urged to bring a policy on minimum alcohol pricing to the Executive, in order to closer align with the Republic of Ireland | Belfast Telegraph, Ireland
Supreme Court: First Step Act snubs some drug offenders
The unanimous ruling rejects the Biden administration's interpretation of the sentencing reform law | Politico, USA
'Ice' flavoured e-cig use may be linked to nicotine dependence among the young
Unclear how these 'hybrid' vape flavours fit into current and future regulatory frameworks | EurekAlert, USA
Research identifies potential pathways to treating alcohol use disorder, depression
A discovery from researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago may lead to new treatments for individuals who suffer from alcohol use disorder and depression | Medical Xpress, USA
The problem at the heart of modern psychedelic clinical research
How much of a problem is it if participants in psychedelic clinical trials can easily tell they have been given a placebo? New Zealand researcher Suresh Muthukumaraswamy suggests it is a big problem and many findings from recent psychedelic trials may be over-estimated | New Atlas, USA
The rise of illicit fentanyls, stimulants and the fourth wave of the opioid overdose crisis
This review provides an update on recently published literature on the rise of illicit fentanyls, risks for overdose, combinations with other substances, e.g. stimulants, consequences, and treatment | Current Opinons in Psychiatry, USA
How to Use Naloxone if Someone Is Overdosing on Opioids
What everyone should know about what this life-saving nasal spray is, where to get it, and what to do in case of an emergency | VICE, USA
Drug testing takes off in the Laurentians — even dealers are doing it
Most street drugs contain multiple substances, some more deadly than fentanyl, says doctor | Ricochet, USA
Atlantic City’s Flagship Syringe Program in Battle for Survival
In the past few months, the South Jersey AIDS Alliance (SJAA) has been planning to relocate outside of the tourism district in Atlantic City | Filter Magazine, USA
Cannabis Lounges Coming to Nevada—What Does This Mean for Social Equity?
On June 4, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) signed Assembly Bill 341, a bill allowing for cannabis consumption lounges throughout the state, into law | Filter Magazine, USA
University of Alberta study links increased supervised consumption site visits to decreased fentanyl overdose deaths
A new study out of the University of Alberta shows a correlation between increased visits to supervised consumption sites and decreased fentanyl overdose deaths | Edmonton Journal, Canada
Can cannabis help with arthritis? U of A team funded by Alberta Innovates to develop decision tool for patients and health-care providers
Self-medication and lack of solid evidence may lead to potential harm, say researchers leading one of three U of A projects assessing medical use of cannabis | University of Alberta, Canada
Alcohol has been banned at all sporting events – even though spectators aren’t allowed yet
South Africa will definitely be open to hosting foreign sporting teams, under coronavirus rules updated on Friday – but they won't be able to have champagne at the stadium if they win | Business Insider, South Africa
New heroin treatment option yielding positive results among patients at Melbourne injecting rooms
Summer's* fascination with heroin started when she was just a teenager, but she never thought she would become addicted | abc.net.au, Australia
NZ Should Move To Low Nicotine Cigarettes, BiotechNZ Says
The Ministry of Health’s move toward a smoke free Aotearoa by 2025, genetic engineering and genetic technologies for low nicotine cigarettes could play a major part in ensuring the success a leading biotech expert says | SCOOP, New Zealand
Blogs, comment and opinion
Men and Alcohol: Hiding in Plain Sight
Men continue to drink more and consequently face more alcohol-related harms than women. In this blog post, Colin Shevills discusses men and alcohol, covering male identity, sport, and positive signs that young men are turning away from alcohol. Colin discusses public health responses that will make it easier for men – and indeed for everyone – to make healthier decisions every day | SHAAP blog, UK
Why are teenagers stabbing each other?
It was a light, early evening in a quiet side street in east London. Just as I was about to sit down to start writing this, I caught sight of a group of boys wearing balaclavas hiding behind a van a couple of metres from my front door... | UnHerd, UK
I'm Ashley - and this is my story
"When I was in rehab at the St Thomas Fund I was told about Change Grow Live, and that there was a position for people to volunteer. But at that stage I didn’t want to talk about addiction, not so soon after going through rehab | Change Grow Live blog, UK
Lost cause: 50 years of the war on drugs in Latin America
June 17 marks 50 years since Richard M. Nixon declared drugs “America’s public enemy number one.” Perhaps no political decision has had a greater impact on Latin America’s recent past and present. Now journalists from the region are examining the failed policies of the war on drugs | Washington Post opinion, USA