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Daily news - 24th August 2023 |
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UK news
How to make the best of a bad psychedelic trip
“Psychedelics have the potential to be a legitimate psychotherapeutic tool,” explains Harry Shapiro, director of evidence-based information platform Drugwise. “The potential there is quite significant, particularly when antidepressants don’t work or do damage.” | Dazed Digital, UK
Charity welcomes call for more guidance on drug-testing at festivals
As this year's Leeds Festival officially gets underway, a charity says expanding drug-testing at festivals would help save lives. The Loop have spoken to us after the inquest into the death of David Celino, 16, who took a fatal dose of MDMA at last year’s event | Planet Radio, UK
Newscast - Scotland's drug problem - podcast
[Listen from 3.18 minutes in] Drugs deaths are falling in Scotland, but it continues to have the worst drug death rate in Europe. Scotland editor James Cook has been to Portugal, where they’ve decriminalised drugs for personal use. He’s on to talk about whether its working, and what the UK could learn, with Professor Fiona Measham, chair in criminology at the University of Liverpool | BBC Sounds, UK
Did a dose of LSD spawn some of cinema’s greatest films?
A new study has shown acid’s mind-altering effects on filmmaker Federico Fellini, who arguably produced some of the most important features of the 20th century and influenced many future directors in the process | The Face, UK
2023 Recovery Street Film Festival Shortlist - videos
Fifteen videos have been short-listed in this year's festival. See them all here | RSFF, UK
The Rev Professor Peter Brunt, expert in liver disease who campaigned passionately against alcohol abuse – obituary
[Possible paywall] Radiating a confidence that inspired trust in patients and colleagues, he spent 31 years in Aberdeen as a consultant in gastroenterology | Telegraph, UK
John Chadwick took his own life when he was separated from his pets. His friend is campaigning for change
John Chadwick’s pets were his life, but when he became homeless he was forced to give them up. His best friend Dee Bonett channelled her grief into fighting for a change in the law | Big Issue, UK
Creamfields North: Police issue drugs and weapons warning
About 70,000 music fans are expected to descend on the festival in Daresbury, Cheshire, from Thursday to Monday. Amnesty bins will be put in place at entrance points around the site for prohibited items. Supt Sarah Heath said those who do not use these bins and are found to be in possession of drugs or weapons would be dealt with | BBC, UK
Complaint against Camden Town Brewery ad upheld
A complaint against a Camden Town Brewery TV advert has been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) | Morning Advertiser, UK
International news
Comparing trends in mid-life ‘deaths of despair’ in the USA, Canada and UK, 2001–2019: is the USA an anomaly?
In recent years, ‘deaths of despair’ due to drugs, alcohol and suicide have contributed to rising mid-life mortality in the USA. We examine whether despair-related deaths and mid-life mortality trends are also changing in peer countries, the UK and Canada | BMJ Open, UK
Watch: More than half a tonne of cocaine seized by Spanish police
Spanish law enforcement officers have intercepted a boat carrying 1,543 pounds (700kg) of cocaine off the coast of the Canary Islands, police said on Tuesday (22 August) | Independent, UK
Ecuador is hooked on dangerous drugs – and these are the victims
The murder of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio earlier this month focused attention on the growing violence associated with drugs trafficking. Flanked by Colombia and Peru, the world’s largest cocaine producers, Ecuador has become a hub for the global drug trade. The country’s poor, desperate and addicted are paying the price | Guardian, UK
A drug harms ranking study for Aotearoa New Zealand
Drug harm is a significant public health burden in Aotearoa New Zealand; though harms are not evenly distributed across the population. Māori are the indigenous population of Aotearoa New Zealand, making up approximately 17% of the total population, and have a notably younger age demographic. Māori are overrepresented in drug harm, including adverse events associated with synthetic cannabinoids, an elevated likelihood of arrest and conviction for cannabis-related offences, and disproportionate alcohol-related harm | Drug Science, UK
Minister Naughton announces additional annual funding of €3.5 million for drugs and inclusion health services
Minister for State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton, has today announced €3.5 million in annual funding to maintain existing level of drugs and inclusion health services provided by community and voluntary organisations | Gov.ie, Ireland
Party's over: New calls to ditch 6am nightclub closing time plans amid emergency services and ‘alcohol burden’ alert
The government should ditch plans for 6am closing in nightclubs and increased pub opening hours until it sorts out Ireland’s drink problem, it’s claimed | Irish Sun, Ireland
Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $64 Million in Grants to Fund Mental Health Services and Awareness Training Across United States and Territories
[Yesterday], the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it has awarded, more than $64 million in funding to address the nation’s mental health crisis through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration | SAMHSA, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Exploring the Decline in Drug-Related Deaths in Scotland: Unveiling Complex Factors Amidst Incomplete Data
The recent decline in drug-related deaths in Scotland prompts a thorough examination of multifaceted factors. Delving into this landscape, however, is far from straightforward, as a closer look at the situation reveals. Amidst these complexities, several potential contributors stand out, shedding light on the challenging journey towards reducing drug-related fatalities | FAVOR, UK
Brain Boosters Unleashed: Cognitive Enhancer Use Among University Students
In today’s highly competitive academic landscape, an increasing number of Western university students turn to cognitive enhancers such as Ritalin (methylphenidate) and Modafinil to boost their cognitive abilities and hopefully improve their grades. While their use in clinical settings is well understood, it is worth delving into the motivations behind their non-medical cognitive enhancing use, and what are some of the potential dangers involved in their use, as well as how to minimise them | Talking Drugs, UK
Exploring sex and psychedelics
Much of the focus on psychedelics has centred around addressing treatment-resistant mental illnesses but could they have applications that expand beyond this? Let’s look at the emerging world of sex and psychedelics and how this has the potential to revolutionise couples therapy | Volteface, UK