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Daily news - 18th July 2024 |
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UK news
ASH Comment on King’s Speech announcement about the Tobacco and Vapes Bill
In today’s King’s Speech the Government announced that reintroduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill was an early priority for the Government in the forthcoming session | ASH, UK
Health leaders hail Labour’s plans to phase out smoking as ‘gamechanging’
Modernisation of mental health laws also among raft of bills experts say will improve health of future generations | Guardian, UK
Trends in long term vaping among adults in England, 2013-23: population based study
[Open access] The prevalence of long term vaping increased substantially among adults in England during 2013-23. Much of this increase occurred from 2021, coinciding with the rise in popularity of disposable e-cigarettes. Half of long term vapers now mainly or exclusively use disposable devices. The growth was concentrated among people with a history of regular smoking, but an increase also occurred among people who never regularly smoked, especially young adults | BMJ, UK
Inequalities in distance from tobacconists, off-licences and betting shops
People living in more deprived areas, minority ethnic groups and younger people are more likely to live near tobacconists, off-licences and betting shops | The Health Foundation, UK
Call for action on UK men’s health as 133,000 die early every year
Movember says British men have worse health than comparable countries and suffer stark regional inequalities. The report highlighted how men are less likely to have healthy lifestyles than women, and are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, take drugs, have high cholesterol and high blood pressure | Guardian, UK
DSM Foundation’s work in Scotland garners positive feedback and outcomes, says academic evaluation
The 2023-24 academic year has seen the DSM Foundation piloting a comprehensive programme of drugs education in a number of schools in the Grampian region of Scotland. An interim report from the University of Aberdeen, which is conducting an evaluation of the pilot, has shown overwhelmingly positive outcomes and feedback, ahead of the full report being published by the university in the autumn | DSM Foundation, UK
Podcast 108. Psychedelic Education in the UK with Dr Duncan Still
In this episode, David Nutt meets with Dr Duncan Stills, a GP with significant interest in integrative medicine. He highlights the importance of adopting a holistic approach when providing support for patients and connecting traditional medicine with modern medicine as opposed to discounting it. Duncan explains how this holistic and integrative approach led to him becoming involved in psychedelic retreats and explains the process participants will undergo | Drug Science, UK
Two arrested as part of drugs deaths investigation
Det Insp Martin said: "We are exploring the possibility that all three deaths are linked to drugs and possibly the same batch which has led to fatal medical episodes." | BBC, UK
International news
Psilocybin in magic mushrooms can influence brain for weeks, study finds
Researchers shed light on how the psychedelic compound in the drug can distort our sense of space, time and self during a trip | Guardian, UK
South Korean airport authorities crack down on Trader Joe’s bagel seasoning
Travellers say the popular seasoning mix by the US brand has been the subject of increased confiscation by authorities, because it contains poppy seeds | Guardian, UK
What is FASD, and why do so many children with it end up in Australia’s justice system?
Vulnerable young people and communities concerned about crime would both benefit from better screening and support for foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, experts say | Guardian, UK
Effectiveness of residential versus outpatient therapy for smoking cessation: The START randomized clinical trial
[Open access] Tobacco smoking represents a major cause for preventable death and morbidity. Results from non-randomized studies suggest that smoking cessation therapy in a residential setting might be a new viable way to facilitate smoking abstinence. We aimed to test the effects of residential multicomponent group therapy for smoking cessation compared with outpatient group therapy | Addiction, UK
Mother faces murder charges after twin toddlers died from fentanyl exposure
The 22-year-old mother also faces allegations of child abuse and child endangerment | Independent, UK
Crisis at Tres Fronteras: how criminal syndicates threaten Amazon’s future
At the lawless triple border between Brazil, Colombia and Peru, drug trafficking, illegal logging and gangs jeopardise the ecological and social fabric of the rainforest | Guardian, UK
Operation Sweetness: Four tonnes of cocaine found stashed in sugar
More than four tonnes of cocaine have been found stashed inside a shipment of sugar bound for Belgium in the biggest ever drugs bust in Paraguay’s history | Irish Examiner, Ireland
Reduction in substance use stigma following a peer-recovery specialist behavioral activation intervention
[Open access] Patients’ perceptions and experiences of stigma related to substance use and methadone treatment are barriers to successful treatment of opioid use disorder, particularly among low-income and medically underserved populations. Interventions led by peer recovery specialists (PRSs) may shift stigma-related barriers. This study sought to evaluate shifts in substance use and methadone treatment stigma in the context of an evidence-based behavioral intervention adapted for PRS delivery to support methadone treatment outcomes | IJDP, USA
Doctors reluctant to treat addiction most commonly report 'lack of institutional support' as barrier
A new study has identified the top reasons why some physicians may be reluctant to intervene in addiction. The comprehensive review, pulling 283 studies published on this topic within the last 61 years, showed that "institutional environment" was the reason most frequently reported in these studies | Medical Xpress, USA
Where Trump’s Vice Presidential Running Mate J.D. Vance Stands On Marijuana
Former President Donald Trump has selected Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) as his running mate in the 2024 presidential election—a choice that could have implications for marijuana policy if the ticket is ultimately elected given Trump’s mixed record and Vance’s opposition to certain modest cannabis reform proposals in the Senate | Marijuanna Moment, USA
New analgesic could replace opioids over the long term
"A natural product called aniquinazolin B that is isolated from the marine fungus Aspergillus nidulans stimulates the opioid receptors and could possibly thus be used instead of opioids in future," explained Roxana Damiescu, a member of the research team headed by Professor Thomas Efferth | Medical Xpress, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
WithYou responds to the King’s Speech
Sonya Jones MBE, Young Person’s Service Manager and Safeguarding Lead at WithYou in Shropshire said: “We welcome today’s announcement that the UK will strengthen legislation to protect children exploited for criminal purposes | WithYou, UK
It’s been six years since Ben died
It has been 6 years since my son Ben died from a heroin overdose. I would like to say things have got better, but the truth is the sadness is always there, the grief ready to pounce at any moment. The only thing time has given me is acceptance, and ways to deal with the many emotions grief brings with it | Anyone's Child blog, UK
Psychedelic drugs have great therapeutic benefit – if understood on their own terms
The FDA’s recent rejection of MDMA isn’t surprising. Too many advocates are trying to frame psychedelics as a miracle drug | Guardian opinion, UK
New research suggests estrogen and progesterone could play role in opioid addiction and relapse
Because estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate naturally across the menstrual cycle in women – as well as during different stages of life such as pregnancy and menopause – we are examining whether opioid use and cravings vary as levels of these hormones change | Conversation, USA