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Daily news - 5th September 2023 |
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UK news
DDN Magazine - September 2023
Our collective efforts on harm reduction will make the world a safer place – from collaborative commissioning (p18) to distributing naloxone (p14 and 24). This issue’s articles remind us of the struggles, but demonstrate how much impact we can have. The conference coverage – and pics! – are not just a souvenir of a grand day out in Birmingham, although it was wonderful to see everyone. The level of engagement and participation was extraordinary, even with such exceptional speakers. The Big Conversation (p20) not only gave us a snapshot of experiences across the country but also many thoughtful and constructive ideas | DDN, UK
Reappointments to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
The Home Secretary has today announced the reappointment of Professor Owen Bowden-Jones as the chair of the ACMD | ACMD, UK
Media statement regarding the departure of tobacco companies from the UKVIA
The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has today (1st September) announced that the membership of British American Tobacco, Imperial Brands, Japan Tobacco International and Philip Morris International has come to an end | UKVIA, UK
Oxfordshire and Slough Achieve Micro-Elimination
Oxfordshire Roads to Recovery and Slough Treatment, Advice & Recovery Team (START), both of which are part of the social enterprise Turning Point, announced that they had achieved micro-elimination | Turning Point, UK
Teenage vaping: ‘I’ll have puffs as I’m falling asleep’
Vaping has become a way of life for Leia, 17, alongside a growing number of children across the UK. She spoke to BBC Panorama about the hold vaping has over her life - and her determination to quit | BBC, UK
Alcoholic sucked spilled pint from filthy pub carpet
Gene Davies, from Cwmaman, Rhondda Cynon Taf, said he was at his lowest ebb after developing a drink problem in his early teens | BBC, UK
Off-trade alcohol availability & violence: the impact of on-trade closures
Mon, 18 Sep 2023 15:00 - 16:00 BST. How did alcohol-related violence change during on-trade closures in pandemic restrictions? | IAS, UK
Real recovery stories
Tue, 19 Sep 2023 12:00 - 13:00 BST. Hear stories from those who have been in treatment or volunteered with Turning Point's Drug and Alcohol Wellbeing Service in London | DAWS Learning, UK
Brighton county lines drug gang jailed for total of 46 years
Seven men have been jailed for a total of 46 years as part of a crackdown on county lines drug trafficking. The gang arranged for crack cocaine and heroin to be moved into Brighton from Essex in 2020. All of the defendants were convicted of modern slavery offences against four children, who were made to deal drugs after being transported to Brighton and Hove | BBC, UK
International news
Drug cartels: How cocaine and bananas fuel violence in once-peaceful Ecuador
Ecuador's location is increasingly putting it at the confluence of two global trades: bananas and cocaine | Independent, UK
Victorian man arrested at Melbourne airport after five years on the run from drugs charges
Omer Tok was on bail facing charges of importing 186kg of cocaine in 2018 when he allegedly fled Australia using someone else’s passport | Guardian, UK
High quantities of Fentanyl arriving into Ireland - audio
A warning was sounded this weekend by the Gardai about the possibility of higher quantities of the deadly drug Fentanyl arriving in Ireland. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used as an anesthetic in controlled circumstances. But it has proved popular with criminal organisations as well as it is much stronger than heroin by weight. Drug and alcohol researcher and CEO of the Anna Liffey Drug Project Tony Duffin joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show | Newstalk, Ireland
Second European Prevention Curriculum training course in Spanish for Latin America and Caribbean countries
Today, 35 experts from nine Latin American and Caribbean countries (Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela) are embarking on a five-day online European Prevention Curriculum (EUPC) basic training course in Spanish | EMCDDA, Portugal
Visualizing fentanyl's swift, dangerous effects on the brain and body
The highly addictive opioid is the deadliest drug threat in American history. It's linked to more fatalities under age 50 in the country than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer and suicide | Medical Xpress, USA
Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder
In a randomized, placebo-controlled, 6-week trial in 104 adults, a 25-mg dose of psilocybin administered with psychological support was associated with a rapid and sustained antidepressant effect, measured as change in depressive symptom scores, compared with active placebo. No serious treatment-emergent adverse events occurred | JAMA Network Open, USA
Ministry of Health admits incorrectly threatening vape retailers
In October 2022, in response to an inquiry from Fair Go, the ministry took the position that the smokefree regulations prescribed a maximum nicotine salt strength of 50mg/mL (28.5mg/mL nicotine strength) and threatened to cancel all products that did not comply | RNZ, New Zealand
Blogs, comment and opinion
The impact of punitive drug policy on young people and their drug use
Will increased police powers help tackle drug use amongst youth, or continue to lose the trust of ethnic minorities in the justice system?
Defining Recovery Beyond Sobriety
A note before I begin: recovery is a personal and loaded concept. This essay isn’t intended to be a definite decision or the end of the conversation. You’re welcome to define recovery as you please, and I won’t hold it against you if you disagree with me. I simply feel that my own understanding of this matter is worth sharing because it might help someone else | Talking Drugs, UK
As many states weigh legalising cannabis, here’s what they can learn from the struggles of growers in Canberra
The haze of cannabis is everywhere right now. Germany has recently become the latest country to move towards legalising recreational cannabis, following in the footsteps of Uruguay, Malta, Canada and parts of the United States. Even Thailand has begun distributing one million cannabis plants to households after dropping it from the official list of prohibited substances | Conversation, Australia
My teen is addicted to vaping. How can I help them quit and manage their withdrawal symptoms?
The Australian government is cracking down on vaping. Recreational vapes of any type – whether they contain nicotine or not – will be banned from retail sale across Australia after legislation is introduced (though the date is yet to be set) | Conversation, Australia