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Daily news - 7th August 2024 |
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UK news
Health trends in England
This report presents trends in data on the health of people in England. Data on smoking and alcohol use are covered | DHSC, UK
Using genetics to help smokers quit
Researchers have identified variants in a gene that influences the likelihood of smokers developing abnormal dreams while taking a medication to help them quit | Lancaster University, UK
Number of prisoners released into homelessness rises by a third in a year, despite new government scheme
The number of people released from prison into homelessness has risen 30 per cent in a year despite a major new scheme to house departing offenders, The Independent can reveal | Independent, UK
Digital as a Human Right
Thursday, August 8 · 10am - 12pm GMT+1. Does Digital Connection Improve Health Outcomes for People Who Use Drugs? | DRNS, UK
Jersey Budget: Fuel and alcohol duty frozen, tobacco tax up, more health funding and Government cuts
The Government of Jersey has set out its Budget for the next four years which includes some key changes, including a freeze on fuel and alcohol duty, extra funding for health and cost-saving measures across the Civil Service | ITV, UK
‘I went straight to whisky at 14’: David Ireland on tackling booze on stage
His charged dark comedies tackling the extremities of religious conflict have occasionally led to walk-outs. Will his new play – about men, alcoholism and masturbation – be just as provocative? | Guardian, UK
Crime group leader jailed over drugs supply charges
Mark Malone, 36, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug and to possession of a firearm and ammunition when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday | BBC, UK
Illegal cigarettes found behind fake walls
Illegal vapes, untaxed cigarettes, nicotine pouches and tobacco have been found in eight shops, Kent Police says | BBC, UK
International news
Social workers should be promoting tobacco harm reduction
Social workers should be given the tools to promote tobacco harm reduction as they’re often the ‘initial, and in some cases, only’ point of contact with a range of marginalised communities, says a new briefing paper from the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR) | DDN, UK
Overdose prevention centres as spaces of safety, trust and inclusion: A causal pathway based on a realist review
[Open access] OPCs can enable people who live with structural violence and vulnerability to develop feelings of safety and trust that help them stay alive and to build longer term trajectories of social inclusion, with potential to improve other aspects of their health and living conditions | DAR, UK
The end-of-life patients finding solace in magic mushrooms: ‘What life after life could be like’
Some with terminal cancer have said psilocybin helped them confront death. But how that happens is still unclear | Guardian, UK
Addiction Consultation Services for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Initiation and Engagement
[Open access] In this stepped-wedge cluster randomized clinical trial of 2315 adults with opioid use disorder with hospitalizations in 6 New York, New York, public hospitals, rates of postdischarge MOUD were compared for patients admitted to hospitals providing an addiction consultation intervention vs usual care. Patients hospitalized during the intervention period had significantly higher odds of MOUD initiation (7.96 times higher) and 30-day MOUD treatment engagement (6.90 times higher) | JAMA Internal Medicine, USA
What happens to your brain when you drink with friends?
Grab a drink with friends at happy hour and you're likely to feel chatty, friendly and upbeat. But grab a drink alone and you may experience feelings of depression. Researchers think they now know why this happens | Medical Xpress, USA
Social Media Bill Passed by Senate Threatens Harm Reduction and More
Senate Democrats and Republicans came together to decisively approve the “Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act.” Proponents describe it as a necessary measure to protect children from drug- or gambling-related advertising on social media. But there’s widespread fear among advocates that the bill will effectively censor both harm reduction content meant to keep people safe and advocacy for drug policy reform | Filter Magazine, USA
The Headlines Doing Fentanyl Math Will Always Be Wrong
On August 1, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the largest fentanyl seizure in agency history—an estimated 4 million pressed pills, totaling over 1,000 lbs in seized material altogether... Newsweek covered the seizure the same day, under a headline claiming that CBP had seized “Enough Fentanyl to Kill 250 Million People.” | Filter Magazine, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Crack Cocaine Users
Crack cocaine first appeared in England in 1983, with its initial identification on All Saints Road in West London. At this point, the drug seemed mysterious and dangerous, shaped by the alarming US media reports reaching the UK. This potent, smokable form of cocaine quickly became notorious for its addictive properties and rapid, intense high. The drug's initial proliferation was closely monitored and heavily criminalised, setting the tone for its future in the UK | Tony D'Agostino, UK
Incarceration in the Name of Rehabilitation in Rwanda’s Detention Centres
“My child has been imprisoned illegally, he was not a drug user or a dealer. He was a good, kind, well behaved kid.” | Talking Drugs, UK