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Daily news - 19th July 2024 |
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UK news
“Above and beyond” The key role families play in recovery (PDF)
In this study we ran a survey completed by over 100 people who had previously experienced problems with their drinking and/or drug use and over three quarters said that their families played a key role in their recovery, helping in multiple ways, going above and beyond | Adfam, UK
Interim monitoring report on statutory-funded residential rehabilitation placements
Overall, between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2024, 2,290 statutory-funded placements (including ADP approved placements, National Mission funded placements and Ward 5 data) for residential rehabilitation were approved in Scotland. The total estimated cost over this timeframe was £21,647,768 | Public Health Scotland, UK
Avoidable deaths: EDM (Early Day Motion)26: tabled on 17 July 2024
This motion has been signed by 4 Members. It has not yet had any amendments submitted. Motion text: That this House is alarmed by Office for National Statistics data on avoidable mortality released on 18 June 2024 showing that the Avoidable Age-Standardised Mortality Rate (ASMR) for alcohol-related and drug-related deaths has continued to increase in England and Wales... | UK Parliament, UK
Totally wired: why are so many young people addicted to video games?
Locked in their bedrooms, playing video games into the small hours, children as young as 10 years old are now addicted to their consoles. Tim Lewis hears how the compulsive games can be impossible to resist – and meets the experts tackling the issue | Guardian, UK
The 'intimidating' town with masked bikers and drug deals
"I’ve managed nightclubs. I've been up against some nasty people in my time... but this is very intimidating." | BBC, UK
International news
Opioids, cancer and mortality with Aleksi Hamina - podcast
In this episode Ben Scher talks to Dr Aleksi Hamina from the Norwegian centre for addiction research at the University of Oslo and the Niuvanniemi Hospital in Finland. They discuss a recent paper co-authored by Dr Hamina in which the team matched large national datasets to identify excess mortality among people who use drugs that can be attributed to cancers. They found increases in incidences and mortality according to liver, lung, larynx and pancreas cancers | SSA, UK
Japan gymnast 'set to miss Olympics for smoking'
Japan women's artistic gymnastics captain Shoko Miyata is set to be sent home from the Olympic Games after allegedly breaking a smoking ban, the country's Kyodo news agency has reported | BBC, UK
Minister Burke announces funding of €830,000 for drug treatment services under the Women’s Health Action Plan
Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Colm Burke has today announced over €830,000 in funding to drug services for women with complex needs in efforts to reduce drug-related harms and premature deaths among this group | Gov.ie, Ireland
Health ministry initiates law banning smoking on bar and restaurant terraces in Spain
The legal reform, still in draft form, will extend the smoke-free public spaces and also restrict the sale and advertising of e-cigarettes | Sur in English, Spain
Physician Reluctance to Intervene in AddictionA Systematic Review
Across 183 relevant studies, lack of institutional support was the reason most commonly cited by doctors for their reluctance to treat substance use addictions | JAMA Network Open, USA
Relationships of State Alcohol Policy Environments With Homicides and Suicides
[Open access] Compared to other states, US states which implemented alcohol policies thought to reduce ‘binge’ drinking among adults experienced significantly fewer murders, and specifically fewer involving guns. Extensive adjustment for other factors suggest this a causal relationship | AJPM, USA
'Brain health' mushroom gummies found to contain illegal hallucinogens after five sickened
Mushroom gummies being sold to promote brain function may contain the illegal hallucinogen psilocybin and other harmful ingredients not listed on the label, UVA Health experts are warning after five people—including a 3-year-old child—were sickened | Medical Xpress, USA
Experts Slam “Ridiculous” WHO Tobacco Cessation Guidelines
The World Health Organization has released its first-ever guide for tobacco cessation in adults. Its stated aim is “helping the more than 750 million tobacco users who want to quit all forms of tobacco.” | Filter Magazine, USA
Concerns raised over Poilievre's promise to close supervised consumption sites
Conservative leader described sites as 'drug dens' while speaking to reporters last week | CBC News, Canada
Why, Where, and with Whom? Understanding the set and setting influencing the consumption of NoLo beverages
[Open access] Production and use of no- and low-alcohol (NoLo) beverages has increased globally in recent years. Using data from a large international sample of people who drink alcohol, this study aimed to investigate patterns of NoLo drink consumption | DEPP, Australia
Australian teenagers say zero alcohol products are appealing and could act as a gateway to alcohol use
New research commissioned by Cancer Council, led by The George Institute for Global Health, and published today in Appetite, found that over half (56%) of Australian teenagers aged 15–17 surveyed agreed zero alcohol products looked appealing, and said the packaging was attractive (54%) | George Institute, Australia
Health warning over deadly synthetic opioid mimicking prescription drug in Adelaide
SA Health says a man suffered a near-fatal drug overdose after he consumed a single street-bought oxycodone pill containing a deadly synthetic opioid. A toxicologist says it is the first time protonitazene has been found in a drug that is designed to mimic a prescribed medication in South Australia | abc.net.au, Australia
Cannabis advocate warns roadside drug test plan could harm mentally ill drivers and Māori
The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis party warns the Government’s plans to introduce random roadside drug testing will have a disproportionate effect on Māori drivers, as well as drivers with mental illness | NZHerald, New Zealand
Blogs, comment and opinion
How do economic crises impact levels of alcohol harm, and who is most affected?
The current cost-of-living crisis in the UK has hit many people hard, with households facing the biggest squeeze in living standards since the 1950s. Recent polling has found that more than half of British people (55%) feel their health has been negatively affected by the rising cost of living, including a significant impact on mental health | IAS blog, UK
Making employability count – a review of the ‘Evaluation of Restart Scheme Report’
This month, Forward launched Restart Extension and our new IPS Employment Service in Medway. Our existing employability scheme, The Restart Scheme, has already supported 2400 participants, working very closely with our existing Adult Skills and Multiply offer, along with other Forward Trust Substance Misuse, Housing and Recovery Support services in East Kent | Forward Trust, UK
Nitrous oxide is no longer funny – it’s an environmental villain
Prof Pete Ford and Dr Hemal Bosamia respond to a long read on laughing gas, pointing out that it contributes significantly to climate change | Guardian letters