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Daily news - 28th September 2022

UK news

Vaping products - tightening rules on advertising and promoting: consultation analysis

EKOS was commissioned to undertake an independent analysis of responses to tightening rules on advertising and vaping products. The report presents the findings from the public consultation and explains the methodology that was used to analyse responses | Scottish Government, UK

National drug and alcohol treatment waiting times

During the quarter, 11,316 referrals were made to community-based specialist drug and alcohol treatment services: 6,330 (56%) were for problematic use of alcohol, 3,786 (33%) for problematic use of drugs, and 1,200 (11%) for both alcohol and drugs (co-dependency) | Public Health Scotland, UK

Interim monitoring report on statutory funded residential rehabilitation placements

This is the fourth report on Residential Rehabilitation within the Monitoring and Evaluation Programme led by Public Health Scotland. The report presents information on the number of Alcohol and Drug Partnership statutory funded placements into residential rehabilitation, with estimated costs, that were approved between 01 April 2021 and 30 June 2022 | Public Health Scotland, UK

‘It’s a crutch’: A qualitative exploration of UK police employees’ experiences of at-risk alcohol consumption or abstinence

One-third of UK police employees drink to at-risk levels, with both at-risk drinking and abstinence being associated with poor mental health. This research aimed to qualitatively explore police employees’ experiences of at-risk alcohol use or abstinence, their motivations for drinking/abstaining, and the organizational culture of drinking | Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, UK

Raising awareness: The implementation of medical cannabis and psychedelics used as an adjunct to standard therapy in the treatment of advanced metastatic breast cancer

Over the last 15 years there has been a considerable body of in-vitro and in-vivo evidence supporting the anti-neoplastic properties of cannabinoids and more recently psychedelics. Indeed, growing anecdotal and real-world evidence is reported of the therapeutic effect of cannabinoids and psychedelics in reducing both tumour proliferation and aiding as a palliative medicine to treat pain and psychological distress associated with cancer and chemotherapy | Drug Science, UK

What are the benefits of Sober October?

If you’re still drying out after a summer of swigging Aperol Spritz, Sober October is a great incentive to take a break from booze | Independent, UK

LGBTQ+ People: Alcoholic Drinks

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she plans to take to help tackle alcohol harm in LGBTQ+ communities | They work for you, UK

Celebrating Age Festival Concert

Mon, October 3, 2022, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM BST. Bristol. Join us for performances from Rising Voices Recovery Choir and Bristol Recovery Orchestra | BDP, UK

Forward’s new Dependency and Recovery Services launches in Humberside and London

On Monday 12th September Forward’s newest service, delivering dependency and recovery support to over 8,000 people on probation in Humberside and London, went live | Forward Trust, UK

ASA Ruling on Pernod Ricard UK Ltd

The CAP Code required that ads for alcoholic drinks should not show people who were, or appeared to be, under 25 years of age in a significant role | ASA, UK

Police raid on Bilsthorpe barn shuts down cannabis factory

Nottinghamshire Police said they carried out the raid after being alerted to the cannabis growing operation in Mickledale Lane in Bilsthorpe | BBC, UK

Doncaster police raids: Four arrested after £440,000 of cannabis seized

About 450 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of almost £440,000 have been seized as part of a crackdown on crime in Doncaster | BBC, UK

International news

Impact of the European Union’s menthol cigarette ban on smoking cessation outcomes: longitudinal findings from the 2020–2021 ITC Netherlands Surveys

[Open access] The EU menthol ban was effective in reducing menthol use and in increasing quit attempts and quitting among pre-ban menthol smokers. Impact could be maximised by closing gaps that allow post-ban menthol cigarette use | BMJ Tobacco Control, UK

Kellyanne Conway mocked for blaming overdose deaths on marijuana in attack on John Fetterman

Kellyanne Conway has been ridiculed on social media after seemingly linking the rise in overdose deaths to marijuana | Independent, UK

Medical Cannabis Patients Report Improvements in Health Functioning and Reductions in Opiate Use

[Open access] The research found that people reported being in less pain and could function better physically and socially, after using medical cannabis | Substance Use and Misuse, USA

Young women who reduce binge drinking could decrease risk of COVID-19 infection, study shows

Women in their mid 20s who reported frequent binge drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to become infected with COVID-19, according to Rutgers researchers who said physicians need to develop pandemic-related prevention methods to tackle substance use issues | Medical Xpress, USA

From 2019 to 2021, the proportion of patients with opioid and opioid-like drug overdoses increased in 42 states

In every year of the period 2016–2021, males accounted for 62 to 63% of the gender distribution of patients with a substance use disorder diagnosis, while females made up 37 to 38%, according to a new white paper from FAIR Health | Medical Xpress, USA

Over a Thousand Arrested Globally in Major Interpol-led Drug Bust

A major cross-border investigation coordinated by Interpol has resulted in the arrests of 1,333 suspects and seizure of chemicals and drugs worth US$717 million worldwide | OCCRP, USA

A State-by-State Guide to the Cruelty of the Methadone Clinic System

A chart book of blue national maps newly compiled by Pew Charitable Trusts is a powerful visual distillation of information about opioid treatment programs. Seventeen maps illustrate how hobbled methadone clinics are by a web of federal and state regulations that are not based in evidence, reinforce stigma and significantly limit access | Filter Magazine, USA

Blogs, comment and opinion

Psychedelic drugs: how to tell good research from bad

Research with psychedelic drugs has made a dramatic comeback amid a heady mix of softening societal attitudes, the lure of commercial opportunity, misgivings about the “war on drugs”, and the desire to develop new ways to treat mental health conditions | Conversation, UK