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Daily news - 13th February 2023 |
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UK news
Press release: Addiction crackdown sees huge rise in prisoners getting clean
Thousands of prisoners are getting clean thanks to a doubling of drug-free wings in jails as the government’s war on addiction steps up a gear | Ministry of Justice, HM Prison and Probation Service, and The Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, UK
UK campaigners call for tighter regulations on vapes to match tobacco
To tackle their popularity with children, campaigners and councils want vapes to be taxed and sold in plain packaging behind counter | Guardian, UK
COA Week 2023 | Children of Alcoholics Week
12-18 February 2023. International COA Week 2023 is a campaign to raise awareness of children affected by parental alcohol problems, celebrated internationally each year during the week in which Valentine’s Day falls. In the UK, COA Week is led by the charity Nacoa UK who provide year-round support. Please join us in our 14th year in the UK. Together we can increase awareness of this hidden problem and the support available. Find out how you can help children of all ages know they are not alone | NACOA, UK
Half of children of alcoholic parents keep it secret
[Possible paywall] Research to mark International Children of Alcoholics Week shows a quarter of children talked to no-one about their parent’s drinking | Telegraph, UK
Scientists identify how repeated cocaine use increases addictiveness
Scientists have identified the brain structures responsible for compulsive drug-seeking behaviours due to repeated use of cocaine. The findings, published in Biomedicines, identifies the structures involved and neural pathways activated with repeated exposure to the drug. Researchers hope the study could help inform treatment for drug addiction | University of Bristol, UK
Trends in Public Awareness and Knowledge of Drinking Guidelines: a Representative Population Survey in England, 2016–2022
The majority of adult drinkers in the UK are aware of low-risk drinking guidelines. However, 6 years since their announcement, knowledge of the revised drinking guidelines remains poor. Less than a quarter know the recommended weekly limit and only around half think it is 14 units or less. Inequalities have persisted over time, such that disadvantaged groups remain less likely to know the guidelines | Alcohol and Alcoholism, UK
Informing the development of diagnostic criteria for differential diagnosis of alcohol-related cognitive impairment (ARCI) among heavy drinkers: A systematic scoping review
Early detection and diagnosis of alcohol-related cognitive impairment (ARCI) among heavy drinkers is crucial to facilitating appropriate referral and treatment. However, there is lack of consensus in defining diagnostic criteria for ARCI. A systematic scoping review approach was taken to (i) summarise evidence relating to screening or diagnostic criteria used in clinical studies to detect ARCI; and (ii) to determine the extent of the research available about cognitive assessment tools used in ‘point-of-care’ screening or assessment of patients with suspected non-Korsakoff Syndrome forms of ARCI | PLOS One, UK
ASH resources on youth vaping
Smokefree Sheffield, with support from ASH and local authorities across Yorkshire and Humber, have produced a comprehensive set of resources for schools to use | ASH, UK
£1.5m government fund ‘targets’ Croydon in drugs strategy trial
Croydon is to receive £1,490,858 from the government’s drug strategy housing support fund, it was announced today. Croydon is one of only two London boroughs (the other is Westminster) included among 28 local authorities receiving the money, allocated from a £53million fund | Inside Croydon, UK
The apprentices shining at Humankind
National Apprenticeship Week 2023 takes place from Monday 6 February to Sunday 12 February. With both Dame Carol Black’s Independent Review and the national drug strategy, ‘From Harm to Hope’, singling out workforce development as a national priority and essential criteria for success, we are taking the opportunity to highlight the achievements and aspirations of the 45 apprentices at our charity | Humankind, UK
Forward Leeds has contract renewed
Following a Leeds City Council procurement process, Forward Leeds has been successful in winning the contract to provide the city’s alcohol and drug support service for at least another five years | Forward Leeds, UK
With You IAPT Careers Open Event
Tue, 7 March 2023, 17:30 – 19:00 GMT. If you want to progress your career within NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT), come along to our online open event to find out more about opportunities in our Surrey and Kent With You IAPT services | We are With You, UK
Sex, Drugs and Pieminister
Wed, February 15, 2023, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM GMT. The Station Silver Street Bristol BS1 2AG. For too long, the topics of sex, sex work and drugs have shared a common problem: stigma. Join us over a Pieminister pie as we talk about these things head on. We’re cutting through the sensationalist headlines and hearing from the real experts including those most affected. What are the parallels between drugs and sex work policy? Why do we need to talk about chemsex? And, how are you impacted? | Transform Drug Policy Foundation, UK
Psychededelics & Cannabis: The Full Story - at University of Leeds
Thu, 2 March 2023, 18:30 – 21:00 GMT. Michael Sadler Building - The Rupert Beckett Lecture Theatre Michael Sadler Building University of Leeds, Woodhouse Leeds LS2 9JT. Dr Callie Seaman and Dr Mourad Wahba will present the full story - that is the good, the bad and the ugly - of cannabis and psychedelics | Drug Science, UK
Hippy daze: a survey of the UK drugs scene, 1973
A drug-by-drug guide talked beginners through marijuana, heroin, barbs and speed which was prescribed for weight loss | Guardian, UK
Convicted Essex drug gang boss arrested in Thailand
A drug gang boss who has been on the run for five years has been arrested in Thailand, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has said | BBC, UK
Police flush out drugs from toilet u-bend
A bag full of suspected Class A drugs was found dumped down a toilet during a police raid on a house | BBC, UK
International news
Hong Kong’s crackdown on cannabis oil leads to first arrest under new law
[Free registration required] CBD classified alongside cocaine and heroin in Hong Kong under new legislation | Independent, UK
How Psychedelics Became the New Club Drug
With psychedelic drugs becoming more socially acceptable, taking them in the club also feels less dangerous. “People used to be very careful because they were scared of tripping,” says Nabben. “But now they’re experimenting with smaller doses... | VICE, UK
Narcocorridos: Mexico's bloody drug ballads have American ears tingling
Set to the tune of accordions and trumpets, the ballad "In Preparation" by California native Gerardo Ortiz could be mistaken for a jaunty polka | BBC, UK
A new start after 60: at 63 I finally paid off my debts – and ditched the credit card
After overcoming her addiction to drinks and drugs, Suzy Morrison realised she also had an unhealthy relationship with money. Two years later she was solvent – for the first time in her life | Guardian, UK
ASAM Releases Final of Three Public Policy Statements Addressing US’ Broader Structural Issues at the Intersection of Racism, Drug Use, and Addiction
ASAM releases recommendations to help advance racial justice and shift the nation’s response to personal substance use toward health and wellness and away from assumptions of criminality | ASAM, USA
Clean Slates Promised Under New York Marijuana Law Prove Complicated
[Free registration required] The omission of a single Roman numeral in the text of a state law has made it difficult for those with certain convictions to clear their names | NYTimes, USA
We Need Harm Reduction Built for and Led by Youth Who Use Drugs
Young people use drugs. We need to accept this reality, and give them what they need to survive and thrive. We need to do this in the context of a deadly illicit drug supply and deepening poverty and inequality, plus other forms of structural oppression along axes of race, gender, sexuality and ability. Why are youth often denied the things that would help them, even more than is the case with older populations? | Filter Magazine, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Three questions on drugs
As part of a new series of blog posts Crest Advisory is posing some of the big policy questions around crime and justice. The first blog, by Crest Chief Executive Harvey Redgrave, set out the key challenges facing the criminal justice system. Here, Beth Mooney considers three pressing issues connected to ‘county lines’ drug gangs | Crest Advisory blog, UK
Queensland’s beer garden culture seemed wonderful to me … then I went to Munich
We couldn’t think of a single family-friendly Brisbane location to enjoy a drink surrounded by trees | Guardian opinion, UK