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Daily news - 31st October 2022

UK news

No one chooses to become an addict, says Catherine

The Princess of Wales has given her personal support to people struggling with addictions, telling them shame should not stop them getting help. Launching the Taking Action on Addiction campaign, the princess called for a more compassionate public attitude towards addicts | BBC, UK

Addiction Awareness Week: The Princess of Wales sends message of support for the Taking Action on Addiction campaign

The Princess of Wales has sent a message of support for the Taking Action on Addiction campaign which launches for the second year on the first day of Addiction Awareness Week | Forward Trust, UK

Call to ban nicotine pouch sale to under-18s

Health campaigners are calling for a loophole to be closed that allows a nicotine product to be sold over the counter and online to under-18s | BBC, UK

Wales' drinking habits: how much has changed since minimum pricing for alcohol?

Wales’ legislation on minimum pricing for alcohol came into effect in March 2020, just a few weeks before lockdown. It sets a baseline price for the sale and supply of alcohol in Wales, and makes it an offence for alcohol to be sold below that price | Welsh Parliament, UK

Diamorphine: Middlesbrough

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effect on patients of the closure of the Diamorphine Assisted Treatment (DAT) clinic in Middlesbrough given that Project ADDER, in part, covers enhanced treatment and recovery services | They work for you, UK

Northumberland sees rise in cocaine use during pregnancy

There has been a significant rise in the number of women in Northumberland using cocaine in pregnancy | ITV, UK

Glastonbury Festival may have to review drug testing policy

Glastonbury Festival might have to change its drug testing policy as part of a review of its licence | BBC, UK

Cutting the head off the snake: Addressing the role technology plays in the county lines model

The National Crime Agency published their first intelligence assessment of county lines in 2015. Ever since, there has been a growing interest in county lines from the media, public policy and the world of research. Crest Advisory has published research which has contributed to the body of evidence, among other things, on the socio-economic determinants of individual vulnerability to exploitation, shining light on ways to mitigate those risks. This project, however, takes a different approach, by honing in on the specific role played by technology in county lines | Crest Advisory, UK

Examining the gender dimension in the non-medical use of over the counter and prescription only medication

There is concern regarding gender differences in problematic non-medical over the counter (OTC) and/or prescription only medication (POM) use. This issue has traditionally been considered a predominantly male and/or younger persons’ problem, but more recent transnational evidence shows that women across their life-course are increasingly and often more severely affected | Drug Science, Policy and Law, UK

Medicinal cannabis dispensing on Isle of Man further delayed

The dispensing of medicinal cannabis products on the Isle of Man has been further delayed, the Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed | BBC, UK

How to be a flexi-drinker - and cut back without going teetotal

[Possible paywall] Like a drink, but concerned about your health? It’s time to join the not-quite-soberistas with one foot on the wagon | Telegraph, UK

Alcohol Alert - October 2022 - podcast

In this podcast: How alcohol companies use gendered norms to sell more product | IAS, UK

UK Patient Conference: Medical Cannabis Awareness Week 2022

Fri, 4 November 2022, 10:00 – 18:30 GMT. This daytime conference will be a chance for the medical cannabis patient and prescriber community to come together and be heard | Drug Science, UK

Report launch: Alcohol sponsorship of football

Tue, 29 November 2022, 11:00 – 12:00 GMT. SHAAP and the University of Stirling launch a new report on alcohol sponsorship in sport | SHAAP, UK

Prisoners letters photocopied to stop crooks soaking them in spice

HMP Liverpool has introduced the measure to try and stop psychoactive substances getting to inmates | Liverpool Echo, UK

International news

Royal Navy warship catches boat carrying £24m of cocaine in Caribbean

Dramatic images show the torching of a smugglers’ boat carrying cocaine with a street value of around £24 million following a tense chase with a naval warship in the Caribbean | ITV, UK

Wasim Akram: Pakistan great reveals he was addicted to cocaine after his playing career ended

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has revealed he was addicted to cocaine after his playing career ended but quit following the death of his first wife | BBC, UK

The Global State of Harm Reduction 2022: Report Launch

Nov 1, 2022 12:00 PM London. The Global State of Harm Reduction is the only report that provides an independent analysis of harm reduction in the world. Now in its the seventh edition, the Global State of Harm Reduction 2020 is the most comprehensive global mapping of harm reduction responses to drug use, HIV and viral hepatitis. Join Harm Reduction International and regional experts from Eurasia, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa and Eastern and Southern Africa for the launch of the latest edition of the report | HRI, UK

EMCDDA webinar: How wastewater monitoring can boost preparedness for new health threats

16 Nov 2022. This webinar will explore wastewater analysis as a methodology contributing to EU preparedness and response | EMCDDA, Portugal

DrugNet October

Latest monthly round-up of drug policy news from the EMCDDA | EMCDDA, Portugal

Promoting cigarette brands in tv shows yields unexpected results

New research in the INFORMS journal Marketing Science, conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago and University of Washington, finds a 10% increase in TV product placement for cigarettes increases sales by 2% for the tobacco brand shown on-screen. Furthermore, it has the same effect on its direct competitors’ sales as well | EurekAlert, USA

The ideological war at the heart of the psychedelic renaissance

Most psychedelic advocates picture a future where the drug war is over and people are free to responsibly use a number of currently illicit substances for healing, personal growth, or simple recreation. But exactly how we get to that utopian future is the source of great acrimony and division in a once-unified alternative community that is increasingly moving towards the mainstream | New Atlas, USA

Music festival organisers and drug-checking clinics set for unrestricted summer season

Events can now license drug-checking clinics on location after the government brought in legislation to allow for substances to be tested on-site to ensure they are not laced | RNZ, New Zealand

PM Jacinda Ardern expects further liquor law changes to be 'heavily contested'

On Sunday, Justice Minister Kiri Allan announced changes tilting the playing field towards communities in licensing decisions, and announcing alcohol sponsorship will be reviewed | Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand

Blogs, comment and opinion

Cannabis gummies are a bad idea – we need to get regulation right if we want to keep children safe

Legal regulation of non-medical cannabis is quickly becoming a reality across the world. As countries introduce different regulatory models with varying restrictions over how cannabis is produced, sold and consumed, there are valuable lessons to be gleaned about how cannabis can be regulated most effectively, as well as showing where policy design can potentially fall short | Anyone's Child blog, UK