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Daily news - 15th November 2023 |
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UK news
Drugs: Government Response to the Committee’s Third Report of Session 2022–23
This report outlines in detail the Government response to the Home Affairs Select Committee report on Drugs that was published in August and which set out recommendations for actions on the topics of: The Legislative framework for drugs, The ten year drug stratgey, County lines, Health and Criminal Justice led Harm Reduction, and more. The Government’s response to each of the Committee’s recommendations is set out, including whether or not they are accepted | UK Parliament, UK
'Massive' increase in young Scots vaping, MSPs told
A "massive" increase in the number of young Scots vaping is being driven by products marketed directly at children, a Holyrood committee has heard | BBC, UK
How to regulate psychedelics
Psychedelic drugs have been an enduring source of fascination in science and popular culture. While attention in recent years has mostly focused on the potential therapeutic uses of psychedelics, we look at how to shape policy and regulation for psychedelics outside the medical sphere | Transform, UK
Mum praises medical cannabis after son who had 1,000 fits a month now seizure free
Hannah Deacon, who's from Kenilworth, told ITV News Central the cannabis – which was legalised for medicinal use on in November 2018 – has made a huge difference to the 11-year-old’s life | ITV, UK
Alistair’s Hall story
In support of Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 13-19), our Enterprise Support team helped Alistair to set up his own business in the arts sector | Forward Trust, UK
Pete Doherty - video
Infamous for his tumultuous relationship with drugs as well as a high-profile relationship with Kate Moss, Doherty has been a figure both celebrated and scorned in the British media. In a candid encounter, Louis joins Doherty at a transformative juncture in his life. Having turned his back on crack and heroin, Pete is embracing a new chapter, immersing himself in a quieter life in a small French coastal town | BBC, UK
Bix crash: Men died in crash after driving at 'insane' speeds
During the inquest, Justine Morris, Mr Phillips' mother, read a statement to Oxford Coroner's Court. She said: "Boys like Sammy die on our roads every single day of the year, and the ingredients are too often the same: young men, fast cars and alcohol." | BBC, UK
Offenders: Rehabilitation
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Oral Statement of 16 October 2023 on Prison Capacity, Official Report, columns 58 to 69, what steps his Department is taking to support the rehabilitation of offenders | They work for you, UK
ProACTIVE Network
Fri, 24 Nov 2023 12:00 - 14:00 GMT. Online. Come and be part of the ProACTIVE Network, a new national platform to highlight and give voice to the needs of alcohol patients in hospitals.The network will be lived-experience led, and we are inviting you to come and give your views and shape this new national partnership forum | ProACTIVE Network, UK
Coventry shop ordered to close after selling alcohol to children
A shop that was selling or giving alcohol and cigarettes to children has been ordered to shut | BBC, UK
International news
Joe Biden to make controversial human rights trade-off as price for China’s help tackling fentanyl crisis
[Possible paywall] US president set to lift sanctions against police involved in crackdown on Uyghur Muslims in deal with Xi Jinping over opioid epidemic | Telegraph, UK
Watch: £30 million of cocaine hidden in frozen chicken found by police - video
The cocaine had been brought into the country between 23 March 2022 and 15 December 2022 hidden within pallets of frozen chicken imported to the UK. A total of 318 pallets of chicken were imported, inside which it is estimated there was 15.9 tons of cocaine. A gang involved in the importation have now been jailed for a total of 58 years | Independent, UK
Crüed shock: Tommy Lee left fuming by Australian cigarette prices
According to data collected by the Cancer Council of Victoria, the cost of a pack of 25 to 30 cigarettes (which used to be a few dollars in the early 1990s) has increased to well over $40 | Guardian, UK
Dying for change: Ireland’s stalled plan to open a safe injecting facility for drug users
The country was reported as having the third-highest overdose death rate in Europe by the European Union’s drug agency in 2020, with 409 deaths that year, 70% of which involved opioids | Euronews, France
2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Releases
Conducted annually, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) provides nationally representative data on the use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs; substance use disorders; mental health issues; and receipt of substance use and mental health treatment among the civilian, noninstitutionalized population aged 12 or older in the United States. NSDUH estimates allow researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the general public to better understand and improve the nation’s behavioral health. These reports and detailed tables present estimates from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health | SAMHSA, USA
FAU study reduces ‘vivid imagery’ that fuels addiction cravings
A new Florida Atlantic University pilot study is showing promise in treating addiction cravings by combining eye movements and guided instructions to process memories | Florida Atlantic University, USA
Study finds increasingly popular oral nicotine pouches do little to curb smokers' cravings
Lead author Brittney Keller-Hamilton, Ph.D., says these products are appealing to current smokers because they contain fewer known carcinogens and toxins than other tobacco products and can be used indoors where smoking is banned. Researchers are concerned, however, that if not formulated and regulated very intentionally, these products could result in an increase of nicotine product use among young people rather than reducing cancer risk among smokers | Medical Xpress, USA
Does cannabis use impact the risk of glaucoma? New study investigates
In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers investigate the association between cannabis use and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), a severe non-communicable eye disease | News Medical, USA
Cannabis shows promise in easing endometriosis pain, new research suggests
In a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, researchers reviewed available literature on cannabis as a self-management strategy in the treatment of pain arising due to endometriosis. They further investigated the mechanisms by which cannabis interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the interactions of gut microbiota and ECS in treating the condition. Their findings reveal that cannabis-derived endocannabinoids have a protective effect on the gut, decrease gut inflammation, and improve its permeability | News Medical, USA
Creating mental space from alcohol triggers could help college students drink less frequently
New research from the Communication Neuroscience Lab at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania—in collaboration with researchers from McGill University, Temple University, Brigham Young University, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, and others within Penn—has found that encouraging college students to create psychological distance between themselves and triggers to drink alcohol can reduce how often they drink | Medical Xpress, USA
Workplace fun, after-work socializing can lead to employee substance use
Fun in the workplace can yield positive benefits to employees and employers alike, but it may also lead to an increase in after-work employee substance use, according to new research from the Penn State School of Hospitality Management | Medical Xpress, USA
App That Helps Cannabis Users Find Smoking Buddies Wins Innovate@BU Start-Up Competition
An app that helps marijuana users find a new friend to smoke with took home the top prize in last week’s seventh annual Cannabis Start-Up Competition. The popular event consists of student- and alum-led teams pitching their ideas, Shark Tank–style, to a panel of judges for a chance to win $10,000 and free consulting services from industry leaders | BU Today, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Seeking ‘honest’ conversations online: how is alcohol and pregnancy talked about on Mumsnet?
We are two researchers from different disciplines (public health and medical law and ethics) with one common interest – the communication of risk related to exposures to teratogens (substances that can impact the development of a foetus if used during pregnancy). As there has to date been limited qualitative research seeking to understand how the CMO guidelines and subsequent policies are interpreted in relation to pregnancy, we set out to explore this topic on an online parenting forum | IAS blog, UK
Pandemic Aftermath: The Surge in Drug and Alcohol Use
The COVID-19 pandemic, while first and foremost a health crisis, spawned a multitude of secondary issues, not least of which is the marked surge in drug and alcohol consumption across many countries. As nations grappled with the immediate viral threat, a quieter, more insidious battle began brewing in homes, revealing the profound psychological and societal impacts of prolonged isolation, economic uncertainty, and constant anxiety | Tony D'Agostino, UK
Review: ‘How to Regulate Psychedelics: A Practical Guide’
The psychedelic renaissance has been propelled forward by its newfound compatibility with mainstream market forces in the West: self-driven improvements (often to improve productivity or creativity), exploring alternatives to Western pharmaceutical-based medicine, and a consumer culture that turns novel fashions into marketable products. This defines the psychedelic renaissance of the 21st Century, which has, in a reptile-like fashion, shed its past underground/anti-establishment and has rebranded itself as the next “big thing”. Psychedelics are no longer counter-culture, they’re increasingly ‘over the counter culture’ | Talking Drugs, UK
Medical Cannabis Clinics Should Create a Code of Practice
Professor Trevor Jones makes the case for medical cannabis clinics collaborating on industry best practice | Medical Cannabis Journal, UK