Daily news - 1st July 2020 |
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Coronavirus frequently updated resources
COVID-19 and addiction: webinars, podcasts and online discussions | SSA
Treatment and recovery services – and COVID-19 |Collective Voice
COVID-19 Information Hub | Scottish Drugs Forum
COVID-19 and smoking: resources, research and news | BMJ
Coronavirus: information and advice hub - alcohol | Alcohol Change UK
COVID-19 resources page for people who use drugs (PWUD) and drug service providers | EMCDDA
UK news
National drug and alcohol treatment waiting times
This release by Public Health Scotland reports on the waiting times for people accessing drug and alcohol treatment services between January and March 2020. It contains information on the number of people seen for treatment, types of treatment accessed, and length of time waited | Public Health Scotland, UK
WHO praises Scotland's 'promising' minimum alcohol pricing
The World Health Organisation has praised "robust evidence" for minimum unit pricing on alcohol, but said it must be tied to inflation for the benefits to last | Herald, UK [See WHO report in the International section below]
What is treatment for?
A fundamental question addressed in Row 2 of the Alcohol Treatment Matrix. Is it really to administer therapeutic technologies, or to offer a culturally endorsed route to the patient making themselves better? The practical implications are profound | Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK
Do we drink more? - podcast
On the show today Deputy Editor David Marley is joined by addiction expert Ian Hamilton to discuss our relationship with alcohol during coronavirus | Independent, UK
Launch of the Drug Science Medical Psychedelics Working Group
Tue, 14 July 2020, 14:00 – 16:00 BST. Drug Science is proud to be launching the 'Medical Psychedelics Working Group'. Please join us in celebrating its launch on the 14th of July | Drug Science, UK
How COVID-19 will Affect the Psychedelic Renaissance
Following the SARS virus outbreak in 2003, various studies detailed increased cases of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. As the outbreak of the current COVID-19 pandemic, a coronavirus similar to SARS, continues to wreak havoc across the planet, an opinion piece in The Sacramento Bee suggests psychedelic therapy as a means to treat emotional trauma caused | Volte Face, UK
Are psychedelic drugs headed for the mainstream?
Beckley Psytech has raised £3m to turn psychedelic compounds into depression treatments | Sifted, UK
Mystery after welder drank 'fatal' levels of caffeine
The Polish national had ingested a more than three times-fatal amount while making lengthy phone calls in the middle of the night, it was said | BBC, UK
The Rolling Stones drugs trial - audio
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards went on trial for drugs offences in June 1967. The case attracted attention around the world, and sealed their reputation as rebels | BBC, UK
The purchase of CBD (cannabidiol) for pets - survey
This survey aims to gain a better understanding about people's beliefs, purchases and use of CBD as a treatment or supplement for their pets. We wish to understand what people know about CBD, whether people have purchased CBD, and how they think it compares to other products they may obtain from their vet or pet shop | LJMU, UK
County lines gang jailed for Grimsby drug dealing
The group, based in Liverpool and Cheshire, sold crack cocaine and heroin in Grimsby | BBC, UK
Man charged over £10m of cocaine found in fish van in Newhaven
Jean-Pierre Labelle, 43, is accused of importing class A drugs at Newhaven, East Sussex, in November | BBC, UK
International news
COVID-19 Survey Report 1: Health & Rights of People who Use Drugs in a COVID-19 Environment
The data presented is a brief overview and summary of initial data from the first 3 weeks of the online survey, collected between the 8th May - 31st May 2020 across all six languages of the survey | INPUD, UK
Drug wars: Major busts in Italy, Albania, and Turkey show reach of global narcotics trade
Authorities unravel drug networks extending from Latin America to the Balkans to Western Europe | Independent, UK
How did Jordan end up with the highest smoking rate in the world? - podcast
When international correspondent Michael Safi began looking into why Jordan had become the country with the world’s highest smoking rates, he began to uncover what public health advocates have described as widespread interference in policymaking by multinational tobacco companies | Guardian, UK
'I'm high as a Georgia pine': Dock Ellis's no-hitter on LSD, 50 years on
Baseball’s great psychedelic myth took place five decades ago, but the man behind it was far more than an amusing sidenote in the sport’s history | Guardian, UK
Addiction Services in Northern Ireland
This report provides an overview of the scale of alcohol and drug addiction in Northern Ireland, the structures and systems in place within the health sector for tackling addiction, and the challenges faced by those accessing addiction services | Northern Ireland Audit Office, Ireland
Recorded Crime Q1 2020
The number of crime incidents recorded in the category Controlled drug offences rose by 3,003 (+15.7%) to 22,166 in the year to Q1 2020 compared with the previous year | CSO, Ireland
Alcohol pricing in the WHO European Region: update report on the evidence and recommended policy actions (2020)
This report summarizes the current evidence base for alcohol pricing policies and considers how this compares to current policies in place across the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. Intended as a resource for governments and implementers, the report highlights challenges to effective pricing policies and provides recommendations for policy actions on alcohol pricing in the WHO European Region | WHO, Denmark
New WHO report on alcohol pricing: Europe ignores cost-effective ways to lower health risks
According to the new WHO/Europe report, “Alcohol pricing in the WHO European Region”, increasing the prices that consumers pay for alcohol is one of the most cost-effective tools available for policy-makers looking to reduce alcohol consumption and associated harm | WHO, Denmark
Decline in use of alcohol and drugs among teens stagnates, targeted approach needed
The decline in the use of alcohol by Dutch teens has stagnated and a more targeted approach is needed, reports by health institutes Trimbos, RIVM and the national health board have warned | Dutch News, Netherlands
Weight gain from quitting smoking can be avoided— if paired with other healthy lifestyle changes
A fear of weight gain is a deterrent for many people who would otherwise quit smoking, particularly women | BASIS, USA
The Potential and Pitfalls of Providing Vapes to Incarcerated People
How much good can vaping do in a carceral setting? Smoking rates in prisons and jails across the United States and the world are extremely high, yet the question gets little attention | Filter Magazine, USA
Key findings from the ‘Australians’ Drug Use: Adapting to Pandemic Threats’ (ADAPT) Study
The Australians' Drug Use: Adapting to Pandemic Threats (ADAPT) Study is exploring the short and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the experiences of Australians who use illicit drugs. Findings will be used to ensure drug-related issues during COVID-19 are better understood and more accurately represented, so as to better inform drug treatment and harm reduction in Australia | NDARC, Australia
Australia needs a safe and regulated e-cigarette market
The government should work towards creating a safe and regulated market for vaping in Australia, General Practitioner Dr Joe Kosterich says | Sky News, Australia
ASA Ruling on New Zealand Drug Foundation Television, Print and Website advertisement: Summary of the Complaints Board Decision (PDF)
The Complaints Board upheld complaints received about two television advertisements for the New Zealand Drug Foundation, promoting a Yes vote in the upcoming Cannabis Control Referendum. The Board said the identity of the Advertiser was not sufficiently clear. ... The Complaints Board did not uphold complaints about a digital advertisement on the Stuff news website or two New Zealand Herald print advertisements on the same topic | ASA, New Zealand
New survey shows nearly three-quarters of Māori support legalising cannabis
With less than 12 weeks to go before the 2020 election and cannabis referendum, the Horizon Research poll found 84 percent believe prohibition has failed to limit cannabis access and use - and 72 percent of Māori say they will vote for legalising the personal use of cannabis | Newshub, New Zealand
Blogs, comment and opinion
Resources for LGBT+ people who moderate or don't drink
For this year’s Pride month, check out these articles and information about being alcohol free and LGBTQIA+, as well as some recommendations of Instagram accounts to follow | Alcohol Change UK blog, UK