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Daily news - 5th June 2023

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UK news

UK government endorsed e-cigarette firm accused of fuelling underage vaping

Juul has been portrayed by ministers as a leader in combating youth vaping, but has settled lawsuits in the US that claim it targeted teenagers | Guardian, UK

The association of alcohol dependence and consumption during adolescence with depression in young adulthood, in England: a prospective cohort study

[Open access] The role of alcohol use in the development of depression is unclear. We aimed to investigate whether alcohol dependence, but not high frequency or quantity of consumption, during adolescence increased the risk of depression in young adulthood | Lancet, UK

Critically explaining British policy responses to novel psychoactive substances using the policy constellations framework

[Open access] A growing number of researchers are trying to provide explanations for continuity and change in drug policy in different contexts. Such research predominantly falls in the pluralist realm of public policy where various actors compete to have their policy proposals accepted. The prohibitive nature of the policy used to counter NPS can be explained with the domination of actors whose values align with the conservative constellation | DEPP, UK

Record number of young in the UK ‘at risk of exploitation’ this summer

Barnardo’s fears the cost of living crisis will leave families unable to afford holiday activities, leaving children prey to sexual predators online and criminal gangs on the street | Guardian, UK

First-ever Phase 3 trial investigating psilocybin for depression launches

A study has been launched that is investigating COMP360 psilocybin therapy – an investigational new therapy – for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) | Psychedelic Health, UK

Louise Marwood: Addiction, Recovery and the Stage - podcast

Louise Marwood is an actress and comedian. In recent weeks she has bravely spoken out via the media about her own struggles with addiction, using her platform to help build the discussion around addiction and stigma... but Louise is now embarking on a new project! | Stop and Search, UK

‘The billionaires have won’: English pubs forced to close after owners demand full rent for lockdown

Publicans face bankruptcy and homelessness after losing their fight with Tory donors against Covid rent back-payments | Guardian, UK

Herbal cannabis worth £2m seized at Belfast Harbour

It was found hidden in the trailer of a heavy goods vehicle in the Dargan Road area of Belfast Harbour at about 22:30 BST on Thursday | BBC, UK

Birmingham drugs gang that amassed firearms convicted

Members of a drugs gang have been convicted over an operation that saw them amass firearms including a sub-machine gun for which ammunition was stored in a child's bedroom | BBC, UK

International news

Welsh billionaire Michael Moritz criticised over anti-drug posters

A Welsh billionaire has been criticised over a "misguided" poster campaign aimed at heavier enforcement of laws against drug users and dealers on the streets of San Francisco | BBC, UK

Richard Wakeling, crime boss extradited to UK from Thailand, starts jail sentence

Drug importer fled UK in 2018 before trial that led to 11-year prison term but was captured at a Bangkok garage in February | Guardian, UK

Australia’s teenage smoking rates rise for first time in 25 years, research reveals

Data also finds an increase in vaping among 14 to 17-year-olds in what researchers warn is a clear ‘gateway’ to smoking | Guardian, UK

Kashmir battles alarming drug addiction crisis

On a rainy morning in May, dozens of young men queued outside a drug drug rehabilitation centre in Srinagar city in Indian-administered Kashmir | BBC, UK

97 drug samples surrendered for testing at Life Festival

The HSE said today that of the samples tested, 42 were MDMA, 21 were ketamine, 17 were cocaine and nine were benzocaine. One sample was ‘3-CMC’, sold as blow cocaine, and one was a product sold as ‘tuci’, which is subject to further analysis | Journal, Ireland

'We now understand very clearly the harm that is caused': Call to decriminalise drug users

A call to decriminalise people who use drugs has been made by a national network working to combat the country’s drug problem | Irish Examiner, Ireland

WHO launches a single-source repository on drug dependence information

A new repository of all drug dependence technical reports and resources is launched allowing its audience to source information within a single webpage. The repository, from WHO’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD), is an important resource for health professionals, drug policy experts and policy-makers, as many of the substances reviewed by ECDD have otherwise limited information regarding their public health risk. It represents the only online, freely accessible collection of information and reports on new psychoactive substances and medicines, for medical and scientific use, comprising over 450 substances | WHO, Switzerland

Swiss capital city wants to test controlled sale of cocaine

Switzerland's capital city, Bern, has signalled its intent to conduct a scientific pilot trial of controlled cocaine sales | Swissinfo.ch, Switzerland

Quit smoking: methods and outcomes for Norwegian adults

[Open access] Tobacco smoking still represents one of the most significant preventable causes of death and poor health, and higher success rates for people trying to quit smoking would benefit both public and individual health. Achieving this requires better knowledge of factors that might improve the chances of successful quitting. This study aims to investigate cessation activities and explore associations between outcomes of smoking cessation attempts and use of cessation aids, previous cessation attempts, and attempt-planning | Discov Soc Sci Health, Norway

Overdoses and deaths related to substance use didn't increase after a large-scale prison release, shows study

The study, published in JAMA Health Forum, examined whether post-release overdose deaths and drug-related hospital and emergency department visits increased after more than 2,000 individuals were released from prison in late 2020 as the result of a pandemic-era policy | Medical Xpress, USA

Enhanced treatment helps fast nicotine metabolizers quit smoking

A study from Vanderbilt researchers has found that enhanced treatment support can help smokers who have more difficulty quitting because they are fast metabolizers of nicotine | EurekAlert, USA

Blogs, comment and opinion

Where are magic mushrooms legal across the world?

Magic mushrooms, scientifically known as psilocybin mushrooms, may be illegal in the UK, however, a number of countries and states afford them a legal status or have decriminalised them. Despite this, the style of legalisation in each jurisdiction differs depending on the specifics of the legislation, with some places only allowing their therapeutic use, and others extending to full recreational use. To make matters easier, we’ve broken down the legality of magic mushrooms across the world | Volteface, UK