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Daily news - 12th February 2024 |
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UK news
Public health body ‘decimated’ in DHSC restructure
Ministers have “effectively dismantled” England’s national public health unit less than three years after creating it, sparking criticism from a former Tory health minister and sector leaders, HSJ has reported. The Department of Health and Social Care has made big staff reductions at the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) as part of an internal restructuring, including the loss of several senior and experienced officials, according to multiple sources | LGC, UK
Investing in the public health grant
The public health grant has been cut by 27% on a real-terms per person basis since 2015/16. Additional but time-limited funding for drug and alcohol treatment and smoking services and support has been allocated to local authorities. Taking account of this additional spend leaves broader public health funding 20% lower on a real-terms per person basis since 2015/16. We estimate that some of the largest reductions in spend over this period. will be for sexual health services (39%), public health advice (34%) and drug and alcohol services for young people (31%) | The Health Foundation, UK
Suicide by people in contact with drug and alcohol services: a national study 2021 to 2022
This report describes findings from a study linking national databases to examine the factors related to suicide by people under the care of drug and alcohol services. We linked mortality data on people who died by suicide (including probable suicide) to drug and alcohol treatment databases in England and Wales to establish the number of people who died by suicide within recent (12 month) contact with drug and alcohol services. We compared this group to people who had been in contact with drug and alcohol services in the previous year but did not die, to establish risk factors for suicide | University of Manchester, UK
Christina McKelvie has been announced as the Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy
Christina McKelvie has been announced as the Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy after the resignation of Elena Whitham | SDF, UK
Everything you need to know about nitazenes
Experts are warning that nitazenes — a type of synthetic opioid — could lead to an increase in drug-related deaths as they flood the UK market | Pharmaceutical Journal, UK
The UK's drug problem: How can we stop people dying from drugs?
Some think overdose prevention centres are the answer - but the UK government is strongly opposed and has funded a trial into delivering anti-overdose drug naloxone instead | Sky News, UK
Inside the tiny building in Wales where thousands of people send their illegal drugs
WEDINOS is the only lab in the UK where people can send their illegal drugs to be tested to see what's in them | Wales Online, UK
Bristol choir celebrates 10 years of bringing people together through the healing power of music
Rising Voices is for people affected by problematic drug or alcohol use - either those in recovery or their families | ITV, UK
Disposable vape ban 'too late', Bradford youth charity says
The most recent figures from the Action on Smoking and Health charity suggested 7.6% of 11 to 17 year olds now vaped regularly or occasionally, which was up from 4.1% in 2020 | BBC, UK
The vaping capital of the UK has been unveiled and it's not London - video
Lancashire town, Blackburn, has the most vape shops per number of residents | ITV, UK
Smoking: Health Services
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance her Department has issued to local authority smoking cessation services on whether they can offer disposable vapes through the Swap to Stop scheme; and whether her Department has received representations on the distribution of disposable vapes by local authorities from Yorkshire Cancer Research | They work for you, UK
Wonder drug: is the UK ready for the green rush of medicinal cannabis?
In the US, medical cannabis is a multi-billion dollar industry. We go behind the scenes at one of Britain’s top-secret growing facilities and meet the experts who believe it’s high time the drug’s potential was harnessed in the UK, too | Guardian, UK
Should Britain legalise cannabis? Virgin boss Richard Branson thinks so
Virgin boss Richard Branson has appealed to the UK government to legalise and regulate cannabis, claiming it would save lives and bring in more tax | City AM, UK
Mums on magic mushrooms: Why parents are 'microdosing' class A drug
The use of magic mushrooms has increased in the UK in the last few years, in part due to a trend for microdosing - tiny doses "below the perceptual threshold". Many users are parents, who say the drug helps with the stresses of modern day life | Sky News, UK
Nightclub closures: Cash-strapped clubbers make their nights out count
A hangover from a heady night out in a dark, sweaty club complete with cheap drinks and a sticky dancefloor was once the staple of a student weekend. But as the UK's largest nightclub operator becomes the latest casualty in the cost-of-living crisis, we look at how the night-time economy has changed | BBC, UK
Can a new shot prevent a hangover? I put it to the test
Safety Shot says it can combat symptoms of drunkenness and reduce blood alcohol so you ‘never lose a day’ | Guardian, UK
British boys more at risk of modern slavery than any other group in UK, says study
Almost half of the victims of criminal exploitation in the UK are British boys aged under 18, according to a report calling for new laws to acknowledge them as victims of modern slavery | Guardian, UK
Jersey vape shop prompts concern from residents
Aaron Want runs his vape business from a former shoe shop in St Peter's village and is hoping to set up a sweet and milkshake shop next door | BBC, UK
Harlow dealer Leon Finnegan who ran drugs line from jail gets more time
A prisoner who ran a drug line from his cell has been jailed for a further ten years and nine months | BBC, UK
Isle of Man heroin dealer jailed for 11 years
A drug dealer caught with "significant quantities" of heroin after a car chase through the streets of the Isle of Man's capital has been jailed for 11 years | BBC, UK
International news
James Magnussen to make swimming 'world record' attempt taking banned drugs
Ex-world champion James Magnussen says he will take banned drugs in an attempt to swim faster than a world record | BBC, UK
Charting a new course: EMCDDA work programme 2024–2026
I am delighted to announce today the publication of the latest EMCDDA work programme, which outlines our activities for 2024–2026. This programme represents a milestone in our history, being the very last to be launched by the agency in its current form. On 2 July, the EMCDDA will be replaced by the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). It is therefore a special moment for me to present our activities for what is, undoubtedly, the most transformative period in the life of the agency to date | EMCDDA, Portugal
Inside a drug consumption room in France as UK drug deaths hit record high - video
Drug deaths are at their highest-ever in England and Wales. Some think drug consumption rooms are the answer - but the UK government is strongly opposed. Sky's Marnie Gill goes inside a drug consumption room in Paris (Gaïa Paris) and meets those on the frontline here in the UK | Bernard Bertrand, France
Characteristics of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Other Drug Use Among Persons Aged 13–18 Years Being Assessed for Substance Use Disorder Treatment — United States, 2014–2022
Among adolescents being assessed for substance use disorder treatment, the most commonly reported reasons for substance use included seeking to feel mellow or calm, experimentation, and other stress-related motivations. Most reported using substances with friends; however, approximately one half of respondents who reported past–30-day prescription drug misuse reported using alone | CDC, USA
Former U.S. surgeons general urge Biden administration to act on menthol cigarettes
Former U.S. Surgeons General under Democratic and Republican administrations, Regina Benjamin, M.D., MBA, and Jerome Adams, M.D., MPH, are urging the Biden administration to prohibit the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, a move that would save lives in Black communities and others targeted by the tobacco industry | AHA, USA
Ketamine's promise for severe depression grows, but major questions remain
Using an old anesthesia drug to pull people out of the depths of severe depression has gone from fringe idea to widespread use in just a few years | Medical Xpress, USA
Prescribed safer opioid supply: A scoping review of the evidence
Safer opioid supply programs provide prescription pharmaceutical opioids, often with supportive services, to people at high risk of experiencing harms related to substance use. However, questions regarding the effectiveness and safety of this practice remain. We conducted a scoping review of literature describing client outcomes from formal opioid supply programs providing prescriptions for pharmaceutical opioids, and the perceptions of involved clients/providers | IJDP, Canada
‘This will save lives’: Vancouver Island city gets safe inhalation site
“A safe inhalation site is a place where substance users who inhale their drugs can be monitored, and provided with a clean supply, without fear of stigma or persecution,” said McLuckie. “(On top of that) we will be able to provide medical attention (and offer a place where) clients will be more likely to access (social) services or treatment.” | Ladysmith Chronicle, Canada
Blogs, comment and opinion
Change Grow Live back Public Accounts Committee recommendations
Change Grow Live today backed the Public Accounts Committee’s recommendations for a long-term, joined up approach from Government to reducing the harms from illegal drugs and achieving the aims of the national Drug Strategy | Change Grow Live, UK
The SNP’s war on booze is bound to fail
[Possible paywall] Alcohol-related deaths are up in Scotland since minimum pricing was introduced. They are now at a 14-year high | Telegraph, UK
How is cannabis reform progressing in ireland?
In this episode Paul North speaks to the excellent Natalie O’Regan. Natalie provides on the ground updates on the Decriminalisation Bill, Citizen’s Assembly and state of medical cannabis in Ireland | Volteface, UK
Irish Examiner view: Drug reformers may suffer buyers’ remorse
Many believe drug use should be regarded as a health issue rather than dragging users through the criminal justice system. But experience from abroad may prompt some second thoughts | Irish Examiner, Ireland
HILDA survey at a glance: 7 charts reveal we’re smoking less, taking more drugs and still binge drinking
Australians’ vices, including drinking, smoking and illicit drugs, have been revealed in the latest HILDA survey. The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey tracks the same 17,000 Australians each year, with participants followed over the course of their lifetime. The survey collects information on many facets of life and is the only study of its kind in Australia | Conversation, Australia