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Daily news - 18th January 2023

UK news

Wolverhampton sees drug-related deaths halve, figures show

More use of a treatment for drug overdoses and better therapy are some of the reasons a city's recorded drug deaths have halved, a council said | BBC, UK

Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs: Addictions

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of classifying (a) drug and (b) alcohol addiction under the Mental Health Act 1983 for the treatment of people who suffer from addiction to those substances | They work for you, UK

Should I Stay or Should I Go? A Qualitative Exploration of Stigma and Other Factors Influencing Opioid Agonist Treatment Journeys

[Open access] The harm-reduction benefits of opioid agonist treatment (OAT) are well-established; however, the UK government’s emphasis on “recovery” may be contributing to a high proportion of people leaving treatment and low retention rates. We wanted to develop a rich and nuanced understanding of the factors that might influence the treatment journeys of people who use OAT | IJERPH, UK

Role Models, 'Road Models' and Supporters - podcast

This episode continues More Than My Past's legacy of exploring the inspiring transformative experiences of everyday people which have led them into a new life of opportunity and productivity. This week, Jason and Julie discuss the importance of role models, and how they can appear at any time in life, and bring about the most unexpected changes. From miracles behind prison bars to teachers who made a lasting impact, this podcast will work wonders for anyone looking for a fresh start this New Year | More Than My Past, UK

Best practice in open science

Tue, 24 January 2023, 14:00 – 15:00 GMT. What is open science and how do I use it in addictions research? A webinar for early career researchers | SSA, UK

Snapchat drug dealer who killed teenager has sentence cut

A teenage drug dealer who killed a 14-year-old schoolgirl after supplying her with potentially lethal ecstasy has had his jail sentence cut by appeal judges | BBC, UK

Police discover 20 bags of cocaine in coffee cup

A "suspected drug dealer" has been charged with drugs offences after police found 20 bags of cocaine in a coffee cup he was pretending to buy, a force said | BBC, UK

Jailed heroin gang spread misery in east Lancashire, police say

The gang, headed by Adeel Khan and Javed Miah, targeted some of the most vulnerable people in the region, police said | BBC, UK

International news

What's behind Canada's drastic new alcohol guidance

In Canada, it should be Dry January all year round, according to new national recommendations that say zero alcohol is the only risk-free approach | BBC, UK

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV remain prevalent among people who inject drugs (PWID) and transmission is usually associated with injecting risk behaviour (IRB). We update a 2011 review of reviews (RoR) to assess the latest evidence on the effectiveness of harm reduction interventions – drug treatment (including opioid agonist therapy [OAT]), needle and syringe programmes (NSP) and other interventions – in the prevention of HCV and HIV transmission, and related measures of infection risk (IRB and injecting frequency [IF]), among PWID | IJDP, UK

[Open access] Similar associations between mental health problems and cannabis use were observed in both data sources. The direction, magnitude, and precision of the estimates for restless sleep, loneliness, poor wellbeing, and cannabis use were highly comparable across both studies. Worse mental health was consistently associated with current and lifetime cannabis use among youth | IJDP, UK

Why drinking more than once a week could mean you are more prone to internet addiction

[Possible paywall] Scientists in Hungary have now found genes with links to multiple forms of addictive behaviour | Telegraph, UK

Italy to ban vaping indoors

Health Minister Orazio Schillaci announced new measures against traditional cigarettes and novel tobacco and nicotine products in a hearing before the Social Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday | EurActiv, Belgium

Sri Lanka: Reject the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill: Open letter to Members of Parliament in Sri Lanka

Harm Reduction International, the International Drug Policy Consortium, and Amnesty International urge Members of Parliament in Sri Lanka to take a strong stance against the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill, which the government is scheduled to present again with amendments in Parliament this Wednesday 18th January | Amnesty International, UK

STASH, Vol. 19(1) – Pandemic-related stressors and substance use disorder risk among various racial/ethnic groups in the U.S.

This week, STASH reviews a study by Xiangyu Tao and colleagues that examined the associations between pandemic-related stressors and substance use disorder (SUD) risk among adults of various racial/ethnic backgrounds in the United States | BASIS, USA

Heroin Nasal Spray Increases Harm Reduction Options in Switzerland

Back in the 1990s, Switzerland pioneered heroin-assisted treatment—successfully addressing HIV and overdose crises by offering an early form of safe supply, along with other social and medical supports | Filter Magazine, USA

Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health

CCSA proudly led the initiative to update Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines (LRDGs). The project, funded by Health Canada, began in July 2020. The two-and-a-half-year process culminated in the creation of Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health, which replaces the LRDGs | CCSA, Canada

Heart Foundation recommendations to TGA consultation on proposed reforms to the regulation of nicotine vaping products

The Heart Foundation welcomes the Australian Government’s renewed focus on tobacco control and the decision to undertake a TGA consultation on the regulation of vaping and e-cigarette products. There is increasing evidence that e-cigarette use by young people can be a gateway to smoking and nicotine addiction | Heart Foundation, Australia

Convenience store lobby’s push to sell vapes like tobacco gains steam

Vapes should be sold in shops from behind the counter under the same strict adults-only regulations as cigarettes, according to a submission from the country’s convenience stores, who argue it is the only way to counter a thriving black market in e-cigarettes | SMH, Australia

Australian avoids death penalty for smuggling drugs into Bali

Singapore: An Australian man who was facing a possible death sentence in Indonesia for bringing heroin into Bali will instead spend eight months in a rehabilitation facility after a judge on the island accepted that he was an addict and not a drug trafficker | SMH, Australia

Drug Foundation warns some LSD circulating is more dangerous drug

The Drug Foundation is urging caution after drug checking services at Rhythm and Vines (RnV) found paper tabs sold as LSD were in fact the potent psychedelic and stimulant, 25B-NBOH | NZDF, New Zealand

Blogs, comment and opinion

Hot topics in addiction and recovery

What were the hot topics, burning themes and searing subjects in addiction recovery in 2022? I thought it might be interesting to take a look at the talking points on Recovery Review in 2022 | Recovery Review Blog, UK

Alcohol in the workplace: A guide for employers

Despite employers playing an undisputed role in staff wellbeing, attitudes to alcohol and problem drinking in the workplace vary greatly. In our post-pandemic world, and with the cost-of-living crisis looming large over many people’s lives, it has never been more important for employers to address the support that they offer. In this blog, Susan Laurie provides some useful tips | AHA UK blog, UK

Right Wing Protest “Closes” Drug Consumption Room in Paris

A far-right French youth group protested at one of the only drug consumption rooms in France in early December, condemning its support for self-destructive activities, and proclaiming their vision of a zero-tolerance for drugs in France | Talking Drugs, UK

“The Inimitable Outdone:” Selling Punch in Eighteenth-Century London

One of my favourite images of eighteenth-century sociability is William Hogarth’s infamous depiction of punch drinking, in A Midnight Modern Conversation. First produced in 1732, it is a scene of revelry and debauchery. We see politicians, parsons, lawyers, and doctors all whittling away the small hours with copious amounts of liquor and tobacco | Points blog, USA

Supervised consumption sites reduce drug overdoses and disease transmission — and deserve government support

Since 2016, more than 32,000 Canadians have died from drug overdoses. In response to this overdose epidemic, several provinces have established Supervised Consumption Sites (SCS), which provide people who use drugs with a safe space to administer drugs under the supervision of trained staff | Conversation, Canada

Australian Medical Association gets vaping completely wrong…again

The Australian Medical Association's submission to the TGA Consultation on vaping nicotine is an evidence-free zone. It is based on denial of the scientific evidence and the huge benefits that vaping offers to public health. Their proposal for regulation will lead to increased criminal supplies and more smoking deaths in Australia | Colin Mendlesohn, Australia

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