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Daily news - 10th May 2023 |
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UK news
Launch of The Anti-Stigma Network
The Network has been created to improve understanding of the stigma and discrimination experienced by people harmed by drug and alcohol use. We recognise that many organisations and individuals are doing amazing, impactive and creative work to address stigma. We aim to build on this work by bringing individual people, families, communities, educational institutions, charities, businesses and policymakers together to share, learn and create. Lived experience and fundamental human rights drive us, we use evidenced based approaches and we aim to make real world change. We have no political allegiance, or prevailing agenda, other than an ambition for people affected by drug and alcohol use to be treated fairly, justly and with dignity | Phoenix Futures, UK
‘I’ve Lost Everything’: Inside the Hidden World of Britain’s Pakistani Heroin Users
British Pakistani heroin users tell VICE News they've been shunned by their families and are too afraid to get help | VICE, UK
Is there such a thing as an addictive personality?
During the 1990s, the term "addictive personality" was used by some pharmaceutical companies – and, perhaps ironically, to promote addictive painkiller drugs | BBC Future, UK
Prisoners spending more than £7,000,000 a year on vapes and e-cigs with refills now jail ‘currency’
Campaigners have sounded warnings over prison conditions after figures showed inmates are spending more than £7 million a year on vapes and e-cigarettes | Metro, UK
Watchdog bans TikTok vape ads for Elf Bar and HQD Tech
Two TikTok posts by influencers promoting vapes have been banned for breaking rules prohibiting e-cigarette advertising on social media | LBC, UK
Scotch Whisky is Made To Be Measured in New Responsible Drinking Campaign
A new campaign from the Scotch Whisky industry encourages drinkers in Scotland to learn more about units of alcohol in different drinks categories | Scotch Whiskey Association, UK
Swedish fact-finding tour of Aspire
A group of visitors from Gothenburg in Sweden recently toured Aspire Drug and Alcohol Services on May 2 to learn about the work being done in Doncaster to support the recovery of people from drug and alcohol addiction | RDaSH NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Clouds House Reunion 2023
Sat, 10 Jun 2023 11:00 - 16:00 BST. Salisbury. The Clouds House 2023 Reunion will feature inspirational speakers, shares, and live music. This is our 40th year celebration! | Forward Trust, UK
International news
Record linkage studies of drug-related deaths among adults who were released from prison to the community: a scoping review
There are public health concerns about an increased risk of mortality after release from prison. The objectives of this scoping review were to investigate, map and summarise evidence from record linkage studies about drug-related deaths among former adult prisoners | BMC Public Health, UK
The Sale of Alcohol Bill (2022): an analysis of costs and benefits
The General Scheme of the Sale of Alcohol Bill (2022) was published by the Irish Government’s Department of Justice on October 25th, 2022. Many provisions in the Sale of Alcohol bill have the potential to increase alcohol availability and facilitate access to drinking opportunities. Based on alcohol availability theory and the considerable amount of supporting research, it is highly likely that the bill could contribute to an upward trend in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm. Research generally indicates that when alcohol is more readily available, consumption and associated problems increase | Alcohol Forum Ireland, Ireland
Extending opening hours will lead to more alcohol-related harm, expert warns
The Government’s plan to ease access to alcohol to boost the night-time economy will lead to more drink-related disease, injuries, crime, public disorder, public safety and domestic violence, it is claimed today | Independent, Ireland
Prescribing drugs to patients with addiction ‘reckless’, medical inquiry hears
Dr Patricia Black accused of inappropriately prescribing benzodiazepines to three unidentified patients with a drug addiction | Irish Times, Ireland
Association between cannabis use disorder and schizophrenia stronger in young males than in females
[Open access] Previous research suggests an increase in schizophrenia population attributable risk fraction (PARF) for cannabis use disorder (CUD). However, sex and age variations in CUD and schizophrenia suggest the importance of examining differences in PARFs in sex and age subgroups | Psychological Medicine, Denmark
Why I’m Still Fiercely Optimistic About Tobacco Harm Reduction
Harm reduction is often misconceived as policies and practices introduced by governments and delivered by experts | Filter Magazine, USA
Fentanyl, heroin use found to substantially decline in patients receiving methadone treatment for opioid use disorder
A new study led by a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researcher found that the percent of patients treated for opioid use disorder with methadone significantly decreased their use of fentanyl during a year of treatment. The percent who tested positive for fentanyl declined on average from 21.8 percent in week one to 17.1 percent in week 52 | Medical Xpress, USA
Fentanyl Testing Strips Are Illegal in Many States — but That’s Changing
The potent opioid fentanyl is driving a dramatic increase in overdose deaths — and health experts agree that rapid testing strips can save lives. Still, access remains limited. Here's what's at stake | Everyday Health, USA
Fentanyl-Related Substances: Don’t Make Trump’s Policy Permanent
The vast majority (83 percent) of voters agree that the “War on Drugs” has been an abject failure. It has resulted in unconscionable harm to Black, Latinx, Indigenous and low-income communities. Yet despite that, Congress seems intent on ramping it up once again with increased criminalization of fentanyl-related substances (FRS) | Filter Magazine, USA
Assessment of Medical Cannabis and Health-Related Quality of Life
In this case series of 3148 patients, significant improvements were reported on all 8 domains of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey health-related quality of life assessment after commencing treatment with medical cannabis. Improvements were largely sustained over time | JAMA Network, USA
STASH, Vol. 19(5) – White male masculine ideals and their effect on Asian American males
Some Asian American males may feel pressure to conform to masculine norms and stereotypes created and perpetuated by White American males. Those who do not achieve this masculine ideal might experience gendered racism that can lead to a perceived negative body image and culturally reinforced shame, resulting in risky substance use to cope with these negative feelings and/or modify their bodies through the use of steroids and alcohol, respectively | BASIS, USA
Thailand’s cannabis sellers say US growers are eating their lunch
Local cannabis growers say their business is being undercut by cheaper illegal imports from overseas | Aljazeera, Qatar
Blogs, comment and opinion
Darknet Actively Supplying More Harm Reduction Advice in Sales
Darknet markets are increasingly adding dosage information, trip reports and other harm reduction advice at the point of drug purchase to reduce drug harms and inform consumers | Talking Drugs, UK