Home | Archive | Weekly | Reports

Daily news - 8th December 2023

UK news

Greater Manchester: Drug-driving is a 'massive problem', police chief says

There were more drug-driving arrests in a region than drink-driving last year, data has shown | BBC, UK

ScotRail consults customers on ending alcohol ban

ScotRail is asking customers if they support ending the blanket ban on drinking alcohol on its services, amid a claim it is "unworkable" | BBC, UK

Naloxone

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress her Department has made on implementing recommendation (a) five, (b) six and (c) seven in the report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs entitled Review of the UK Naloxone Implementation: Availability and Use of Naloxone to Prevent Opioid-Related Deaths, published on 17 June 2022 | They work for you, UK

County Lines (Prevention)

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with Police Scotland and criminal justice stakeholders to prevent criminal gangs from using so-called county lines for illegal business activities | They work for you, UK

Humankind and Richmond Fellowship to merge to better support people facing multiple disadvantage

Richmond Fellowship and Humankind have announced that they are merging to form a single charity to better support even more people facing multiple disadvantage | Humankind, UK

Music Support announces Joe Hastings as new CEO

7th December 2023 – Music Support, the charity that helps those who work in music and live events affected by mental ill-health and/or addiction, is delighted to announce the appointment of Joe Hastings as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 2 January 2024 | Music Support, UK

Cannabis hub could create 100 jobs in Guernsey

Two Guernsey companies, 4C Labs and Pura Health, have formed an "exclusive partnership" to "serve patients top quality imported products" | BBC, UK

Dereham vape shop accused of selling to children gets closure order

Norfolk Constabulary said The Green Shop in Dereham was selling vapes containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), illicit tobacco and also nitrous oxide canisters | BBC, UK

Gambling treatment need and support: prevalence estimates

Estimates of the number and rates of adults who gamble who might benefit from treatment or support in each local authority in England | OHID, UK

International news

Tobacco giant sees sunset for US cigarette business

The maker of Lucky Strike and Pall Mall cigarettes says its smoking business in the US is dying out | BBC, UK

Millions of young people exposed to vape posts online, charity says

Report claims posts promoting smoking alternatives have been viewed more than 3.4bn times across social media | Guardian, UK

HSE monitoring emerging overdose situation in Cork City region

The HSE is issuing a risk communication to people who use heroin in the Cork City Region, following a number of non-fatal overdoses yesterday and today. It has been confirmed through analysis conducted by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) that a trace amount of a Nitazene type substance has been identified in a light brown powder associated with Cork city overdoses. Ongoing analysis is being conducted on the sample to identify the exact composition of the substance | HSE, Ireland

Synthetic Opiod more deadly than heroin - audio

Discussion with Professor Eamon Keenan, HSE’s National Clinical Lead on Addiction Services regarding the overdoses with Nitazene synthetic opioids that have been recently seen amongst heroin users in Ireland and about how they got the inofrmation out to users | RTe, Ireland

Support, inform, share and act

We were very glad to welcome the Correlation European Harm Reduction Network’s Expert Meeting in Budapest, on the 4-6 of December 2023. We produced a short summary video of the network’s 2023 activities, and live streamed several sessions, that you can watch now! | Drug Reporter, Hungary

New study on vapes challenges belief that adolescents experience less severe withdrawal symptoms

Vapes or e-cigarettes were introduced as a potentially safer alternative to traditional smoking to curb tobacco use. However, the popularity of vapes has risen among an age group they weren't intended for: adolescents | Medical Xpress, USA

In this retrospective cohort study we compiled and merged state agency data on accidental and undetermined opioid overdose deaths in 2017 and exposures to OUD treatment in the prior six months to determine incidence rates following exposure to different treatment modalities. These rates were compared to the estimated incidence among those exposed to no treatment to determine relative risk of death for each treatment exposure | DAD, USA

Surgery patients now less likely to get opioids—but decline has slowed, study shows

Post-surgery pain relief has shifted away from opioid-containing medications over the past seven years, but the downward trend has slowed since 2020, a new study shows | Medical Xpress, USA

Cops Denied Immunity Over Suspect Who Died From Eating Cocaine

Harrisburg, Pa., law enforcement officers aren’t entitled to qualified immunity from a failure to render medical care claim brought against them by the estate of a suspect who died after ingesting cocaine to hide it from them, the Third Circuit said | Bloomberg Law, USA

Managing Seized and Confiscated Assets: A Guide for Practitioners

Asset recovery seeks to deprive corrupt individuals from benefiting from their crimes, deter future corruption, and return stolen assets to their rightful owners or compensate victims of corruption, including the state | STAR, USA

Pregnancy in Withdrawal: Methadone Clinic Tore My Family Apart

In the endless hallway of the NICU, nurses shuffled from door to door. Yellow-toned ceiling lights flickered. My grandmother kept her eyes glued to the tiled floor | Filter Magazine, USA

With Xylazine, Congress Must Abandon Long-Failed Drug Policies

Xylazine, a widely-used veterinary anesthetic, has become increasingly common in unregulated drug supplies in the United States. When combined with opioids, xylazine makes their effects last longer and extends feelings of euphoria. It may also increase a person’s risk of overdose, and can cause severe skin wounds and respiratory issues, among other harms | Filter Magazine, USA

Japan to legalize cannabis-based medicines

Japan has passed a bill to legalize cannabis-based medicines in a landmark revision of its stringent drug laws, while toughening its ban on recreational use of marijuana | Medical Xpress, USA

Blogs, comment and opinion

The Women’s Treatment Working Group: the Chair’s reflections two years in

“Women make up 52% of the population but only 33% of our treatment services. Is this because they are not using substances, or is it that their use is different – often hidden – a need that perhaps goes unmet?” | Collective Voice, UK

Extend Studio