Daily news - 27th April 2020 |
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Coronavirus frequently updated resources
COVID-19 resources page for people who use drugs (PWUD) and drug service providers - International | EMCDDA
Treatment and recovery services – and COVID-19 |Collective Voice
COVID-19 and smoking: resources, research and news | BMJ
Coronavirus: information and advice hub - alcohol | Alcohol Change UK
UK news
COVID-19: Testing available for substance misuse treatment organisations
The government has released guidance on the strategy for testing for COVID-19. The guidance makes clear that testing capacity is being built gradually in a phased approach. Nevertheless, the guidance states that testing is available for: … voluntary sector organisations providing substance misuse treatment and domestic abuse support” | Collective Voice, UK
COVID-19 Information Hub
SDF has carried out significant work since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim of supporting services who support people who use drugs. This includes the provision of information, guidance, resources, webinars and more. Please use this selection of links to access information and resources useful to service providers and for people who use drugs | SDF
Online tool shows COVID-19 service delivery updates for people in Scotland who use drugs
People across Scotland can stay up to date with local drug treatment and pharmacy service changes during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to a new online tool | SDF, UK
Latest Drugs Uncut podcast episode focuses on delivering services under ‘lockdown’
The latest episode of ‘Drugs Uncut’ – the Scottish Drugs Forum podcast – has been published and is available to listen to for free online or on your favourite podcast app | SDF, UK
Shoppers swap clothes for alcohol amid record sales drop
UK retail sales fell a record 5.1% in March as many stores shut up shop in the face of the coronavirus lockdown | BBC, UK
How to safely detox from alcohol at home
Normally, we'd recommend getting professional support before you try to cut down your drinking. But while the coronavirus situation continues, that might not be possible. That's why we have come up with this advice on safely detoxing from alcohol at home | We Are With You, UK
Alcohol and the Outbreak 2
This event was a unique chance to explore how different approaches to alcohol policy play out in reality, in real time | Phil Cain, UK
Recovery Games on hold until 2021
Organisers of the Recovery Games, one of the UK’s largest events that celebrate the achievements of people in recovery from an alcohol and/ or drug issue, have taken the decision not to hold the event this year due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak | Aspire, UK
The Final Fix
[Free with Amazon Prime] The Final Fix follows five chronic drug abusers through a trial of N.E.T. (Neuro Electric Therapy), a non-pharmaceutical treatment invented by Scottish surgeon Meg Patterson 45 yrs ago | Amazon Prime, UK
Police exploit lockdown to mount raids on wanted criminals
[Free registration may be required] Police forces across the country have taken advantage of the coronavirus lockdown to swoop on dozens of wanted criminals including drug dealers, gangsters and even brothel owners | Telegraph, UK
Arrests after police seize cocaine worth £3m at Dover
Police have found cocaine with a street value of about £3m in a lorry and arrested three men | BBC, UK
Scot wandering streets looking for drugs is first to be convicted under new coronavirus laws
The new laws were recently brought into force in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has seen the country placed on lockdown with people only allowed outside for limited purposes | Daily Record, UK
International news
Trans-European COVID-19 and drug use survey Phase 1: lockdown
Below is a short, anonymous survey with mostly tick box questions which will take about 10 minutes to complete.Your answers will inform drugs services across Europe, helping us to help people who take drugs by providing the most accurate and up to date information during this uncertain and difficult time | GT Research, UK
'On top of everything': coronavirus is making Australia's drug crisis a whole lot worse
Rising substance abuse and treatment restrictions are pushing an already over-burdened rehab system to breaking point | Guardian, UK
Calls to limit alcohol delivery services
Alcohol support services will get extra money to help Australians cut back on problem drinking during the coronavirus pandemic | Mail Online, UK
Incidence, types and acceptability of pharmaceutical interventions about drug related problems in a general hospital: an open prospective cohort
[Brazil] Drug-related problems detected by 100% medication order review by hospital pharmacists occur in a significant proportion of hospital episodes, the most frequent being related to treatment effectiveness and treatment costs. The medications mostly involved were cephalosporins, penicillins, antidyspeptics, analgesics, antipyretics, opioids and antiemetics. Pharmaceutical interventions had low acceptability by the medical staff | BMJ Open, UK
'Addiction doesn't stop during a pandemic, it gets worse': Methadone waiting lists virtually eliminated amid overdose fears
Drug users are at an increased risk of contracting Covid-19 – many suffer from underlying health conditions and don’t have a safe place to self-isolate if needed | Journal, Ireland
Helplines during Covid-19: ‘There is an awful lot more drinking going on at home’
Difficult domestic situations are now unbearable, say Childline, Samaritans and Women’s Aid | Irish Times, Ireland
Gardaí believe 'incredibly potent' cannabis on Irish streets due to shortages caused by Covid-19
The new cannabis is arriving through Dublin Port from the UK | Journal, Ireland
Major drug seizures since start of virus lockdown
Increased Covid-19 checkpoints allied to intelligence-led operations have resulted in gardaí seizing millions of euro in illegal drugs since the lockdown came into force on March 27 | Irish Examiner, Ireland
The Challenge of Treating 2 Epidemics at Once
As overdose deaths climb, advocates and activists fear the opioid crisis will run headlong into the Covid-19 crisis | Nation, USA
Why COVID-19 can be ‘toxic’ for people in alcohol recovery
For millions of people in recovery or looking for help for alcohol use, in-person group meetings can be a source of relief. But social distancing measures that were put in place to help curb the coronavirus have disrupted the support networks people rely upon for help | PBS, USA
Promoting advantages of product category, such as e-cigarettes, can backfire
Industries often position products to tout the benefits of one category over another—such as the higher-quality, traditional ingredients of a microbrew over mass-produced brewery beer | Medical Xpress, USA
Holistic approach best for tackling nonmedical drug use, study finds
Health practitioners are constantly developing new ways to help those with drug and alcohol addictions wean themselves from their substance of choice | EurekAlert, USA
Alcohol's financial toll on women—even when they don't drink
Many women are bearing a financial cost for alcohol consumption, even when they don't drink, according to new research led by La Trobe University's Centre for Alcohol Policy Research (CAPR) | Medical Xpress, Australia
A Standard Outcome Set for Substance Use and Addictive Behaviour Disorders
In this seminar, a new core outcome set for substance use and addictive behaviour disorders is presented, and the methodology for development described | NDARC, Australia
Drug Use During Lockdown and Social Isolation - survey
We have designed this survey to understand how lockdown and social distancing as a result of coronavirus are affecting the drug market and the people who are using drugs | Penington Institute, Australia
Blogs, comment and opinion
The tobacco industry is trying to get cigarettes classified as an ‘essential’ item during lockdown
Far from viewing the coronavirus pandemic as a problem, the tobacco industry thinks it is great opportunity – even offering to deliver to those in isolation | Independent voices, UK
Once again, the government is putting the alcohol industry’s health before ours
By continuing to push policies that are driven by commerce, not evidence, the Conservatives risk adding to the human cost of Covid-19 | Independent voices, UK
Martin Gavin: High hopes for drug policy after COVID-19?
This week, Martin Gavin, Homeless Network Scotland’s head of external relations, looks at the impact of COVID-19 on people who take drugs and what can be learned from what has been put in place so far | Scottish Housing News, UK
GDS Corona Conversations - with Jason Kew, senior police detective from UK - video
Jason Kew is a Violence Reduction Unit lead for Drugs, Exploitation and Harm Reduction with Thames Valley Police in the UK, and a trustee with DrugFAM. A champion for the most vulnerable in society and harm reduction advocate - he highlights how changes to drug policy and treatment are simply pragmatic and effective responses to many of society’s issues with drugs | Global Drug Survey, UK
Half a lifetime helping addiction recovery – Peter McCann celebrates 80th birthday
Almost 40 years ago, Peter McCann and his wife, Dr Margaret Ann McCann, began helping people with drug and alcohol addiction into a life of recovery. This eventually led to the founding of Castle Craig Hospital in 1988. As he celebrates his 80th birthday having spent half of his lifetime helping people overcome addiction, we asked Peter to look back on his own life, and the changing face of addiction treatment | Castle Craig blog, UK
Honey, I'm drunk because of the kids
Marcus Barnes shares his tips for parenting during lockdown without giving into the drinking memes | Alcohol Concern blog, UK