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Daily news - 15th February 2024 |
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UK news
Correspondence: ACMD work programme 2024
Letter to the Home Secretary from the Chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), to provide reflections on some of the Council’s advice over the last year and to set out the ACMD’s current work programme for 2024 | ACMD, UK
'Lifeline' charity supporting female offenders closes after two decades
A lifeline service supporting female offenders to rebuild their lives after drug and alcohol use has closed after two decades due to budget cuts | STV, UK
Lancashire vape warning after child falls unconscious
A warning has been issued to parents in Lancashire about the dangers of unregulated vapes after two children fell ill - with one losing consciousness | BBC, UK
Tramadol: Rugby League's fight to kick 'dirty drug'
Following an inquest into the death of young rugby league player Archie Bruce, the BBC has been told a powerful prescription-only painkiller involved in his death was the "go-to" drug for many players. As a new Super League season gets ready to kick off, the BBC has been finding out just how deeply Tramadol had become part of the game around the time of the 20-year-old athlete's death | BBC, UK
The Alcohol 'Problem' Podcast
In this episode we talk to Millie Gooch, founder of Sober Girl Society. Millie talks about her journey to sobriety and how this led her to setting up alcohol free spaces and events for the sober curious. We discuss the current role of sobriety and possible reasons behind recent growth in sobriety movements, mindful drinking and other alcohol-free communities | Alcohol Problem podcast, UK
Anti-smoking charity chief and big tobacco adversary to retire
The CEO of anti-smoking charity ASH, Deborah Arnott, has announced she is to retire from the role after more than two decades | The Grocer, UK
Student Volunteering Week: the route to employment
While studying for a master's degree, Megan Wilson began volunteering for us in Leeds. Her experience put her in a great position to secure a full time position with us once her studies were finished. Read her volunteering story and advice | Humankind, UK
UK Supreme Court grants permission to appeal in homeless test case: GCC v. X
The UK Supreme Court has granted permission to appeal for the petitioner and appellant in Glasgow City Council v. X, a case that considered the extent of the statutory duty of councils to provide suitable temporary homeless accommodation that meets the assessed needs of homeless households | Govan Law Centre, UK
Hull drugs gang jailed for 20 years
Five men and a woman who ran an organised crime group supplying almost £30,000 of class A and B drugs in North Hull have been jailed for a total of 20 years | BBC, UK
International news
Judge asked to remove drug allegations from Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ shooting trial
A judge is to consider a request from “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez to block from trial prosecutors’ allegations her supposed drug use contributed to Alec Baldwin’s 2021 fatal on-set shooting of the film’s cinematographer | Independent, UK
Russia arrests German for carrying cannabis gummy bears
A 38-year-old German man was arrested at St Petersburg airport after Russian customs found gummy bear sweets containing cannabis in his luggage | BBC, UK
Oireachtas drug committee should be expedited due to impending elections
The upcoming Oireachtas committee to examine Ireland’s future drugs policy should be expedited to ensure a report is delivered before an expected general election later this year, opposition TDs have said | Irish Examiner, Ireland
Judge urges DPP to prioritise case against five men in connection with Ireland’s biggest drugs seizure
The court heard that the transnational nature of the case and a file of more than 3,000 pages meant that it was a complex matter | Irish Examiner, Ireland
Critical Partners: The Role of Civil Society in Drug Policies in Four EU Countries
Our focus group study, conducted by the Correlation European Harm Reduction Network in cooperation with the Rights Reporter Foundation in four countries (Finland, Hungary, Greece and Ireland), attempts to look behind the facade of official structures and mechanisms of civil society involvement. We assessed the perceptions of civil society actors and decision-makers about how meaningful they find their partnerships | Drug Reporter, Hungary
Suicidality among individuals with substance use disorders increased in 2020: Study
Individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) were significantly more likely to consider, plan and attempt suicide than those without SUDs in 2020, according to a new study by researchers at Penn State. Adolescents and women with SUDs were also more likely to experience suicidality—the term for ideating and planning suicide—than others. The findings, the researchers said, suggest improved remote and hybrid access to prevention interventions may be especially important in school settings | Medical Xpress, USA
Electronic Nicotine-Delivery Systems for Smoking Cessation
The addition of e-cigarettes to standard smoking-cessation counseling resulted in greater abstinence from tobacco use among smokers than smoking-cessation counseling alone. [See expert reaction in Blogs section below] | NEJM, USA
How Reducing Homelessness Would Reduce Drug-Related Deaths
New research has indicated the extent to which cutting rates of homelessness would save lives by preventing drug-related deaths. The findings are further strong evidence, the authors say, for why juridictions should take action to reduce evictions and promote housing first policies | Filter Magazine, USA
Funding vital for overdose reversal nasal spray
Drug harm experts say funding for a nasal spray that reverses opioid overdoses is critical in the face of an increasingly toxic drug supply and the emergence of powerful synthetic opioids | NZDF, New Zealand
Blogs, comment and opinion
Expert reaction to e-cigarettes to quit smoking
A study published in NEJM looks at e-cigarettes for quitting smoking. Here Experts give their view | Science Media Centre, UK
The Big Chat – Chris De Bank founder of Not Saints, the UK’s only sober not-for-profit record label
We love to share stigma-reducing initiatives that we can be inspired by and support. We recently spoke to Chris De Bank the founder of the UK’s only sober not-for-profit record label, Not Saints, about his recovery, the music business, his label, and his experience of stigma | Anti Stigma Network, UK
Valentine’s Day is all about love, not alcohol
Whether you’re seeing someone new, you’re in a long-term relationship, or just feel like celebrating with your friends. Valentine’s Day can feel like one of those days where we inevitably open a bottle of wine to celebrate | Alcohol Change UK blog, UK
Government propaganda and the BBC
The issue of fake “THC” vapes is not a new one. Back in 2019 UKCIA reported on this very issue (Fake vape juice containing SCRA), in truth this has been a known issue for at least the past five years. Strange then that the BBC should make a programme about this very thing as if it’s reporting on some new development in series two of “Drugs map of Britain” | UKCIA blog, UK
New Zealand expert advises Australian policymakers on vaping
During a week-long visit to Australia, Action for Smokefree 2025 (ASH) has been engaging with Australian policymakers to develop a best-practice vaping regulatory framework | Colin Mendelsohn, Australia