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Daily news - 18th April 2023

UK news

Cost of living crisis has made it harder to be healthy, new study says

The impact of the cost of living has also led to 30 per cent saying they have less motivation to exercise, and 20 per cent using alcohol to deal with the stress of the situation | Independent, UK

State of the Family Support Sector 2023 - survey

The purpose of this survey is to look at drug and alcohol family support in terms of sustainability, funding, networks and partnerships. We intend to find out what has changed since our last report in 2019 so please base your responses on your experiences since then. This survey will run until Wednesday 10th May 2023 after which point the findings will be written up into a report and disseminated nationally. This survey should be completed by any employee of an organisation which provides support for families affected by substance use | Adfam, UK

Don’t get political like Gary Lineker, charities warned

[Possible paywall] Charity Commission head Orlando Fraser KC says ‘the law is the law’, and we need a balanced approach on charities and political campaigning | Telegraph, UK

International news

Sicily cocaine haul: Italian police seize two tonnes of cocaine floating in the sea

Italian police have seized around two tonnes (2,000kg) of cocaine that was found floating off the coast of Sicily, in one of the country's largest ever finds of illegal drugs | BBC, UK

Experts urge Victoria to provide promised CBD safe injecting room or risk further harm to vulnerable people

Andrews government bought a Flinders Street site for $40.3m in 2021 but it has sat empty since | Guardian, UK

Inside Ireland's widespread reliance on codeine medicines

Ireland has a "significant and widespread reliance on codeine containing medicines" and will consider moving from over-the-counter sales to prescription-only, according to internal Department of Health documents | RTe, Ireland

We report a pediatric case of ecstasy intoxication via an unusual route. A mother called the emergency services after her daughter had inserted an ecstasy pill into her nose. During transportation, the child developed hypertension, tachycardia, and tachypnea | Archives de Pédiatrie, France

Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and related substances

The markets for hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and related semi-synthetic cannabinoids (SSC) are rapidly evolving areas with relatively limited information currently available. The European situation presented in Section 1 can only provide an overview and will necessarily be incomplete, it also serves to highlight the need for close monitoring. During 2023, a number of developments, such as reports of important law enforcement seizures and changes in legal status, have already taken place in some countries and, where possible, updates have been included | EMCDDA, Portugal

Therapeutic can seek and destroy potent opioid to treat overdoses

A new therapeutic designed by Scripps Research chemists can alter the molecular structure of the potent opioid carfentanil, inactivating the opioid and reversing a carfentanil overdose | Medical Xpress, USA

Xylazine: The new overdose crisis

When she entered Cooper University Hospital's outpatient clinic in Camden, New Jersey, in October 2021, Ashley (last name withheld due to privacy concerns) could barely walk | Medical Xpress, USA

Psilocybin appears safe, effective for patients with cancer and major depression

Psilocybin treatment in a community setting appears safe and effective for patients with cancer and depression, according to a research letter published online April 13 in JAMA Oncology | Medical Xpress, USA

Medical dramas influence thoughts on dangers from vaping, new Twitter analysis reveals

After three popular primetime medical dramas included storylines about health harms from using e-cigarettes, hundreds of people took to Twitter to comment—including some who said they planned to quit vaping because of what they saw on the shows | Medical Xpress, USA

‘Human Beings Have Been Using Drugs for Thousands of Years’: Helen Clark Wants NZ to Decriminalise Drugs

“There’s no reason why you can’t take an alcohol or tobacco regulation model to [drugs].” | VICE, USA

Mexican Cartels Are Turning Once-Peaceful Ecuador Into a Narco War Zone

“We are fighting to contain this sickness that is threatening our country,” said an official of the violence created by Mexico's cartels in Ecuador | VICE, USA

Situation Looks “Dire,” Say Opponents of Oregon Vape Flavor Ban

Oregon lawmakers are attempting to ban sales of flavored vaping and tobacco products in the name of reducing youth nicotine use. But the move would outlaw popular smoking-cessation tools, shutter small businesses and send at least some consumers to the illicit market | Filter Magazine, USA

Maine Discusses “Syringe Litter,” But Not the Obvious Solutions

In Bangor, Maine, a familiar narrative is playing out: Local officials perpetuating complaints of “syringe litter” in public spaces, while safe disposal bins go underfunded and encampment sweeps leave many people who use drugs with no private spaces to do so | Filter Magazine, USA

Research on vaping during pregnancy limited as midwives call for answers and involvement in studies

Midwives are pushing for gaping holes in knowledge around e-cigarettes and maternal health to be filled, saying they are struggling to answer questions from their pregnant patients | abc.net.au, Australia

Heroin overdose data strengthens case for new Melbourne injecting room, peak body says

Over the past four decades, Sean (not his real name) has lost at least six people to heroin-involved overdoses | abc.net.au, Australia

Blogs, comment and opinion

Harry’s Blog 118: Thirteen ways of looking at a blackbird

The title of this blog is the title of a famous poem by the American poet, Wallace Stevens. It has been quoted since to symbolise that there are many different perspectives on any number of societal issues – anything from the Trump indictment and conflicts in the Middle East to arguments about nuclear power and re-wilding. So there can be any number of ‘truths’, but when it comes to providing accurate public health information, this must be founded on evidence – not convenient versions of the ‘truth’ to align with moral preferences or vested interests | NSP blog, UK

Is vaping better or worse than smoking for your health?

Vaping has seen a significant increase in the past few years, with survey data suggesting that prevalence in young people has risen from around 4% in 2021 to 8.6% in 2022. The act of vaping has traditionally been positioned as a safer alternative to smoking, owing to its lack of combustion m| Volteface, UK

No laughing matter: The nonsense plan for placing nitrous oxide in the MDAct 1971

In March 2023 the UK government minister Michael Gove announced plans to make the selling of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (MDAct1971). The justification for this planned change in the law is to stop the use in public places with the subsequent littering of the small metal canisters or whippits that the gas is sold in | Drug Science editorial, UK

Is it time for the Metropolitan Police to discontinue stop and search?

The Casey report has identified significant issues in the Metropolitan police and advocates for a reset of the stop and search system | City Monitor, UK

Independent Complaints Panel member review – Claire Fowler

I worked for 14 years in the drinks industry, for smaller producers rather than global establishments. During that time I was able to join the Portman Group Public Affairs Directors group and have a chance to input on the codes and guidance that help the industry to self-regulate and encourage the responsible marketing of alcohol. The managing director of our company had been involved in the establishment of the Portman Group right from the start, and that ethos had always been important to me | Portman Group blog, UK

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