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Daily news - 17th January 2023 |
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A very big thank you to ESH Community for kindly renewing their sponsorship to DrugWise Daily for another year. Very much appreciated.
UK news
MUP Evaluation stakeholder engagement report
This report captures the views expressed by participants at an online workshop that took place on 6 October 2022. The workshop aimed to draw on the knowledge and experience of a range of stakeholders who were asked for their feedback on the way the MUP evaluation had been completed. The PHS evaluation team will use these responses to inform final decisions on how they bring together the evidence collected through the MUP evaluation studies | PHS, UK
The extraordinary wait for treatment in Wales' worst hotspot for drug deaths
Getting help with addiction is a courageous and difficult step. But in a Welsh city hit hard by drug deaths the wait for support can take many months | Wales Online, UK
Brits back ban on smoking: 52% want an 'immediate' end to cigarette sales – and over 70% say UK should follow New Zealand's example and phase them out
Research for MailOnline found that 52 per cent would support an 'outright' block on buying them - with 31 per cent backing it 'strongly' | Mail Online, UK
Cost of living: The young people saving money by going sober
With the cost of living crisis, the price of alcohol has increased along with so many other products. It's prompted some to turn their backs on boozy weekends and nights out, opting for sobriety over spending | BBC, UK
Antidepressants exit must happen in stages, says medical watchdog
Reducing an antidepressant dose should be done in stages, with help from a medical professional, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). It says this helps manage withdrawal symptoms that can occur from the drugs | BBC, UK
WithYou appoints Anne Chapman as new Chair of Trustees
WithYou is delighted to announce the appointment of our new Chair of Trustees, Anne Chapman. Anne, who has been a Trustee of WithYou’s Board since 2015, had also held the role of Vice-Chair of Trustees from 2018. Anne succeeds in this role Lord Alex Carlile, former Chair of the Board, who stepped down in October 2022 after completing two three-year terms in office which, in his address in the last Annual Report and Accounts of the charity, he referred to as “six demanding, stimulating and inspiring years”. | WithYou, UK
Drug Science’s medical cannabis patient registry (T21) to continue for a fourth year
Today (16 January 2023) Drug Science announces that its medicinal cannabis patient registry ‘T21’ is continuing for a fourth year — and for the foreseeable future | Drug Science, UK
Survey: Cost of living and substance use
Adfam is running a new online survey to understand the experiences and challenges faced by families affected by substance use during the cost of living crisis in the UK | Adfam, UK
Street Drugs Discussions: Deep Dive into Environmental Impacts
Fri, 27 January 2023, 14:00 – 16:00 GMT. This webinar looks at how drugs and their production impact the environment, how big an issue this is and what we might do about it | Drug Science, UK
Oldham trio who imported cannabis from the USA jailed
Three men who imported cannabis by posting packages to their own homes from the USA have been jailed | BBC, UK
Bradford brothers jailed over heroin haul found at house
Two brothers have been jailed after a man walked into a police station and told officers they were storing drugs at his home | BBC, UK
Rayleigh mother and son stored £800k in cocaine and ketamine
A mother and son have been jailed for conspiring to supply class A drugs estimated to be worth £800,000 | BBC, UK
International news
Visiting green spaces deters mental health drug use, researchers find
Positive effects were stronger among those reporting the lowest annual household income, says Finnish study | Guardian, UK
The impact of alcohol taxation increase on all-cause mortality inequalities in Lithuania: an interrupted time series analysis
A marked increase in alcohol excise taxation was associated with a decrease in mortality inequalities among Lithuanian men. More pronounced reductions in deaths from injuries and infectious diseases among lower as compared to higher educated groups could be the result of differential changes in alcohol use in these populations | BMC Medicine, UK
Australia is ‘losing the public health battle’ against vaping, AMA says
Peak body for doctors wants nicotine products used only as last-resort tool to quit smoking | Guardian, UK
Victoria to end public drunkenness laws with no new arrest powers for police
Indigenous representatives celebrate decision not to replace law with police move-on powers | Guardian, UK
Police find elaborate underground bunker in Adelaide allegedly used to grow cannabis
Two men charged with drug and money laundering offences, as well as theft of electricity, after officers raid Coromandel East property | Guardian, UK
More than 40 Cork pharmacies registered with opioid substitution programme
HSE Head of Drugs And Alcohol Services in Cork and Kerry David Lane said there have been significant developments in Cork’s war against heroin | Echo Live, Ireland
IRFU opt against Aviva alcohol ban for Six Nations
The IRFU has opted against imposing restrictions on supporters buying alcohol during games ahead of this year's Six Nations after a survey found that almost seven in 10 supporters would oppose the measure | RTe, Ireland
Push for over-the-counter naloxone may not help most vulnerable
The Biden administration’s push to make some forms of opioid overdose reversal drugs available over the counter will likely have little impact on the people that need it most, public health advocates warn | The Hill, USA
Pills bought through Snapchat caused deaths of 8 teens and young adults from West and Midwest, lawsuit alleges
Pills bought through Snapchat caused the deaths of eight young people age 15 through 22, and now their families are suing the platform | Medical Xpress, USA
Party Drugs for PTSD: Study Moves Therapeutic Use of MDMA Toward Approval
The drug scored positive results in a clinical trial designed to meet FDA standards | The Intercept, USA
Reports of Brazil's PCC Taking Over Portugal Cocaine Trade Remain Unfounded
Portugal has a problem. In 2022, its cocaine seizures reached 16.3 tons, the highest level in 16 years, cementing its place in the top five European Union countries with the greatest drug seizures | Insight Crime, Colombia
35 countries with vaping laws and restrictions which could land you in jail
Vapers can be heavily fined or face jail in some holiday hot spots around the world, with one Asian country having some of the strictest laws | News.com.au, Australia
Stronger, strictly enforced regulation needed on vaping
The Australian Medical Association has called for stronger, strictly enforced regulations on vaping, telling the federal government Australia is at risk of losing the public health battle on vaping if strong action isn’t taken | AMA, Australia
Blogs, comment and opinion
The truth about cannabis
Ruby Deevoy tackles some of the most common arguments against cannabis use | Volteface, UK
Looking backwards, looking forwards: a review of SHAAP activities in 2022 and plans for 2023
In this blog, Dr MacGilchrist looks back at SHAAP’s work in 2022, including report launches, Parliamentary events and SHAAP’s first public-facing campaign, calling time on alcohol sponsorship in sports. Dr MacGilchrist also discusses SHAAP’s plans for the year ahead, including our continued work to support Minimum Unit Pricing in Scotland | SHAAP blog, UK
Anti-smoking policies have strong public support
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death. In England, smoking killed 74,600 people in 2019 alone. England and Wales have committed to being ‘smoke-free’ by 2030, and Scotland is aiming for 2034 | Behavioural Insights Team, UK
Alcohol labelling is about letting consumers know the truth
Ireland’s plans for "alarmist" health warning labels on wine have brought howls of protest from those with vested interest who prefer to have marketing myths on the labels of their products | Irish Examiner opinion, Ireland