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Daily news - 11th January 2023 |
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UK news
Press release: New cutting edge bag scanners to halt illegal items at prison gates
Dozens of new cutting edge bag scanners are being fitted at prison gates across 44 prisons to further strengthen the crackdown on drugs and phones behind bars, the Deputy Prime Minister has announced | Ministry of Justice and The Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, UK
Ministry of Justice: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is his Department's policy that government procurement cards should not be used for purchases (a) of alcohol and (b) that could be made via an alternative compliant purchasing route | They work for you, UK
Does Dry January Really Make People Healthier?
Abstaining from alcohol can have immediate benefits. But lasting gains require lasting change | WIRED, UK
WDP to provide IPS Into Work employment support to Islington residents
We are delighted to announce WDP has been successful in its bid to deliver an Individual and Placement (IPS) service in Islington for residents with substance misuse needs. This is in addition to WDP’s existing West London Alliance contract in nine West London boroughs | WDP, UK
Prince Harry: Psychedelic drugs can be medicine for people suffering grief
[Possible paywall] Duke of Sussex says drugs helped him deal with trauma - and he is not the only one for whom substances have helped ease mental health issues | Telegraph, UK
New laws proposed to clamp down on under-18s vaping on Isle of Man
Police on the Isle of Man could be given the powers to seize vaping devices and products being used by under-18s | BBC, UK
Dundee climate activist collects 55 disposable vapes in one-hour walk through city
A Dundee student calling for a ban on disposable vapes says she is “shocked” after collecting 55 of the colourful plastic tubes during a one-hour walk in the city | Courier, UK
Open consultation: Late night levy
We need to fulfil a public commitment to consult on the level of charge to be applied to late night refreshment premises. This is in order to commence legislative changes made to the late night levy. The consultation seeks views on the level of the levy to be applied to late night refreshment providers | Home Office, UK
Cynon Valley: Take Drugs Seriously
Thu, 26 January 2023, 18:30 – 21:00 GMT. As drug deaths hit record levels in Wales, come along to learn, and talk about the impact of drugs in the Aberdare area, and how we can better protect our community. Join the discussion about what a new approach to drugs could mean for Wales, Aberdare, your family and your community with a powerful panel of affected families, ex-police, treatment groups and politicians | J Slater, UK
Dry January, Drinking and Me
Wed, 11 January 2023, 10:00 – 11:00 GMT. Delivered by one of the founders of Dry January, Lauren Booker, this webinar is an essential, non-judgemental exploration of our relationship with alcohol and tackling Dry January. Using tried and tested techniques developed in over twenty years of helping drinkers re-evaluate their relationship with booze, Lauren will guide you through tips and tricks to help you to drink more mindfully | Alcohol Change UK, UK
Man jailed over Birmingham New Street suitcase drugs
A man has been jailed after being caught wheeling a suitcase of cannabis through Birmingham New Street Station on his way to Scotland | BBC, UK
International news
Albanian Government Official Arrested At Border With 58kg of Weed
Police said 28-year old government IT boss and active TikTok user Erisa Fero used her government ID to smuggle drugs through checkpoints | VICE, UK
Outrage over girl’s ‘drug war’ death as Belgium’s cocaine haul breaks records
Girl, 11, shot dead in Antwerp believed to be victim of rival drug gangs as cocaine seizures hit record high | Guardian, UK
Consuming cannabis in Thailand: what tourists need to know about marijuana rules
After easing the ban on the recreational drug, Thailand has created a ‘weed Wild West’ with confusing rules. So what are tourists allowed to do? | Guardian, UK
ASHES, Vol. 19(1) – Stress, opportunities to smoke, and smoking relapse among youth experiencing homelessness
This week, ASHES reviews a study by Joanne G. Patterson and colleagues that examined how stress and opportunities to smoke contribute to smoking relapse in youth experiencing homelessness | BASIS, USA
As CT Erases Cannabis Convictions, Will People Fall Through the Cracks?
On January 1, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (D) announced on Twitter that his administration “has marked 42,964 cannabis convictions erased.” This move was scheduled: According to the cannabis legalization bill he signed in June 2021, the state must ensure a process to erase all marijuana convictions for things that are no longer a crime. On January 9, Lamont updated his figure to “43,754 low-level cannabis convictions” erased | Filter Magazine, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Drugs & university: zero tolerance makes zero sense…
Matt Rees spoke with current and former students to understand more about the drug culture at university, and discovered a failing zero-tolerance approach in need for reform | Volteface, UK
Vaping transformed me into a nicotine fiend. Quitting has been a year-long project
Three years in, the long-term consequences of my habit started to show. But my health wasn’t the main reason for stopping | Guardian, UK
How does methadone work as a heroin-replacement therapy? And what about the longer-acting buprenorphine?
Around 1% of Australian adults have tried heroin in their lifetime and 2.7% have used pharmaceutical opioids for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months. These drugs attach to the opioid receptors in the brain, creating feelings of relaxation, wellbeing and reduced pain | Conversation, Australia