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Daily news - 8th September 2022 |
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UK news
Decriminalising cannabis in London: what do Londoners think the impact would be?
Londoners support decriminalisation by 50% to 33%, but are divided on the likely effects on crime, health and drug use | YouGov, UK
Pub and nightclub ads banned for encouraging binge drinking
One ad contained text that said: ‘Not only do I dance like nobody is watching, I also drink as if I don’t work in the morning’ | Independent, UK
Experts weigh in on the risk of laughing gas (nitrous oxide) – after woman becomes unable to walk
If you've been to a festival, party or even just outside of your house in recent years, it's likely you'll have come into contact with nitrous oxide in some capacity (even if it's just spotting the silver bullet-like canisters used to dispense it in the streets). Those who take the drug recreationally often do so by inhaling the gas from a balloon – but now, experts and users are speaking out about the potential dangers of it, saying that it can lead to nerve damage | Cosmopolitan, UK
Concern children are being ‘targeted’ by vape companies as figures show huge increase
Vape companies are ‘simply interested in ‘hooking’ children and young people to make a profit off them’, Dr Mike McKean | Independent, UK
Medical cannabis charity announces extra funding available to support access to “life changing” prescriptions in wake of cost-of-living crisis
From 31st August 2022, UK and Channel Island residents can apply for a grant to fully support medical cannabis prescription from the UK’s only medical cannabis charity, Sapphire Medical Foundation thanks to new funding | Wellbeing News, UK
Drug Deaths
To ask the Scottish Government how it is responding to the report, Drug-related Deaths in Scotland in 2021, which was published on 28 July 2022 | They work for you, UK
The Alcohol 'Problem' Podcast
In this episode we speak to Jon Ashworth MP about his experience and views of parental alcohol problems and affected others, as well as parliamentary drinking culture, alcohol policy and related issues | The Alcohol Problem podcast, UK
Exclusive: MPs rebuke Wise after it freezes not-for-profit’s account
Money transfer firm Wise has been rebuked by a group of MPs after it suddenly froze the account of a non-profit drug policy organisation and prevented its staff from being paid, City A.M. can reveal | City AM, UK
Recovery Walk, Newcastle 2022
17th September. UK Recovery Walk 2022 will be held this year in Newcastle. Starting point is 12.00 at Ceremonial Way (next to the Civic Centre) on 2022 | FAVOR UK, UK
An Exploration of Psychedelics & Creativity
Tue, 18 October 2022, 18:00 – 21:00 BST. Join our expert panel to learn about the links between psychedelics and creativity. Presented by Seed Talks & Drug Science | Seed Talks, UK
Danny Dyer told EastEnders bosses he was ‘going to die’ at height of drug addiction
Danny Dyer has recalled the time he told EastEnders bosses he “was going to die” if he didn’t quit the show amid his battle with drug addiction | Independent, UK
International news
The relationship between alcohol use and dementia in adults aged more than 60 years: a combined analysis of prospective, individual-participant data from 15 international studies [Australia]
[Open access] Abstinence from alcohol appears to be associated with an increased risk for all-cause dementia. Among current drinkers, there appears to be no consistent evidence to suggest that the amount of alcohol consumed in later life is associated with dementia risk | Addiction, UK
Qatar World Cup 2022: Alcohol to be served 'in select areas' of stadiums
Alcohol will be served "in select areas within stadiums" at this year's Qatar World Cup, organisers have confirmed | BBC, UK
EU strengthens cooperation with Georgia through the EMCDDA
EMCDDA4GE Project advisory committee takes stock of results after first year | EMCDDA, Portugal
Candy, cash, gifts: How rewards help recovery from addiction
Harold Lewis has been fighting drug addiction for years, but only recently started thinking recovery could be fun | Medical Xpress, USA
After Veto of CA Overdose Prevention Programs, It’s Down to Us to Resist
On August 22, California Governor Gavin Newsom overruled the will of the legislature and his constituents by vetoing Senate Bill 57. The bill would have pushed forward overdose prevention programs in Los Angeles, Oakland and San Francisco | Filter Magazine, USA
Move to ban psychedelic medicine branded inflexible and a backward step
Victorian health bureaucrats want to ban the use of psychedelic medicine in rare cases of mental illness, an approach the federal regulator has slapped down as inflexible and one advocate argues is reminiscent of the “war on drugs”. | Age, Australia
Top cop confirms health response is way out from methamphetamine
A new report from police shows those with methamphetamine convictions are five times more likely to commit other crimes, and be the victims of crimes, than those with non-meth offences | Newsroom, New Zealand
Blogs, comment and opinion
Drug use among young people in England is down 24%
Adolescence is the time of life when young people – but especially boys – are more prone to experiment and take risks. This can include trying alcohol and other drugs for the first time. A new report from NHS Digital reveals how many young people aged 11 to 15 used drugs in 2021, and which ones are popular | Conversation, UK
Nitrous oxide: neurologists report a worrying rise in young people with paralysis
Three and a half tonnes of nitrous oxide canisters were collected at Notting Hill carnival in London this year. According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, nitrous oxide (also known as nos, whippits and laughing gas) is the second most commonly used recreational drug after cannabis among 16- to 24-year-olds | Conversation, UK
Red Wall Voters Want Drug Law Reform – New Polling Shows
New research commissioned by the cross-party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform and conducted by accredited pollsters Redfield and Wilton, has found that the public clearly support harm reduction measures like overdose prevention centres and drug testing services | Volteface, UK
Smoking laws light up the path for a small government
A Johnson government, with its tendency to lean towards state intervention, and a pandemic, which lead to restrictions not seen for decades, has left the UK in an era where the big hand of Whitehall is the norm | City AM, UK
New PM Liz Truss blocks Bermuda cannabis reforms
Cannabis is rapidly becoming a foreign policy issue for the UK government, as crown dependencies and British Overseas Territories attempt to move away from the UK’s failed experiment at cannabis prohibition – towards legalised, controlled, regulated systems | Volteface, UK