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Daily news - 10th June 2024 |
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UK news
Health Survey for England, 2022 Part 1
This report includes results from the 2022 Health Survey for England describing cigarette smoking, e-cigarette use, physical activity, and fruit and vegetable consumption | NHS Digital, UK
Alcohol trends and the rise of zebra striping
A quarter of UK drinkers are alternating between alcoholic and alcohol-free drinks when they visit pubs and bars, according to a new industry report produced by research consultancy KAM and alcohol-free beer brand Lucky Saint | Beer Today, UK
Charity launches drug education for primary schools
A charity said it was running the second year of drug education for primary school children to help them make "responsible choices". Hope UK, based in Kettering, Northamptonshire, introduced the junior scheme last year | BBC, UK
Gateshead needs to break 'bizarre' relationship with alcohol, says council leader
Gateshead Council's leader has said there needs to be a culture change around alcohol following a report which found alcohol-related harm costs the region £1.5bn a year | Chronicle Live, UK
'I was a drug addict eating out of bins until six words of wisdom changed my life'
Scott Stevenson, from Castle Vale in the West Midlands, first took drugs at the age of 13 before spiralling into addiction. He is now five years sober and hoping to 'make up for lost time' with his two-year-old daughter | Mirror, UK
Patterns of addictive behaviours and Novel Psychoactive Substances use, experience and risk awareness - survey
The purpose of this survey is to determine how the consumption, subjective experience and risk awareness of alcohol, tobacco, e-vaping, OTCs and Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) has altered as a result of the post Covid-19 pandemic era. The information being collected will enable the Research Unit to design interventions and information to enhance education on reducing harms from psychoactive substances in consumers in the future. The survey is completed anonymously, can be saved partway through and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete | University of Hertfordshire, UK
Stigma Shorts Series with SFAD
Friday 21st of June 2024. Our first short is with Austin Smith, SDF’s Head of Policy, Practice and Communication. SFAD have always enjoyed a great working relationship with SDF and when we work with families and communities, we often refer to ‘Moving Beyond People first language’ which Austin worked on | SFAD, UK
Recovery Walk Scotland Glasgow 2024
Saturday, September 7 · 11am - 4pm GMT+1. Glasgow Green, Greendyke Street Saltmarket G1 5DB. Recovery Walk Scotland is the largest recovery event in Scotland and has been held in different locations across our beautiful country since 2013. The event is comprised of three parts: Roses in the River Memorial, Recovery Walk Scotland procession through the town and a Recovery Festival and Village in Glasgow Green | Recovery Walk Scotland, UK
Police more than six times more likely to strip-search black children
Exclusive: New study also shows forces in England and Wales 10 times more likely to search black people | Guardian, UK
Call for specialist drug search of prison
Management at HMP Parc in Bridgend should have been quicker to act after the first drug-related death, a former prison boss said | BBC, UK
Thousands of cannabis sweets found in drugs factory
Police discovered a factory making them in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, and warned parents about the "gummies" or "bites" that could be appealing to young people and teenagers | BBC, UK
International news
The DEA plans to reclassify cannabis. What does that mean for local dispensaries?
Classifying marijuana as a schedule III drug would put it on par with Tylenol 3 – marking a ‘significant’ step towards federal legalization | Guardian, UK
Germany’s Financial Capital Battles a Downtown Drug Scene
Frankfurt’s train station area combines major banks and drugs | Bloomberg UK, UK
Press release: ‘Reduce Drug Harm’ at events and festivals this weekend
The HSE is reminding people attending festivals, gigs and events this weekend to stay safe and well, and is encouraging people to ‘be in the know and reduce the harms’ | HSE, Ireland
Do exercise interventions work for people in homelessness and addiction?
Researchers say that people experiencing homelessness and addiction should not be excluded from lifestyle interventions as the benefits can be life-changing and wide reaching | Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Launch event: European Drug Report 2024
TOMORROW. 11 JUN 2024. How is Europe's opioid market evolving? What substances are causing the most concern today? How are countries responding to cannabis use? Find out more when the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) launches its European Drug Report 2024: Trends and Developments in a live online press conference on 11 June | EMCDDA, Portugal
Germany: Cannabis limit set for drivers
Germany has set a limit of 3.5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood for drivers. Among other restrictions, there is to be a complete ban on the simultaneous use of cannabis and alcohol for road users | DW, Germany
Alert on Philip Morris-funded Foundation name change to Global Action to End Smoking
WHO is alerting Member States and the public health community that the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, funded by tobacco company Philip Morris, and which WHO previously advised against partnering with in 2017, has changed its name to Global Action to End Smoking | WHO, Switzerland
New Danish report claims improvements in counseling for young people may dispel myth that opioids are harmless
A wide range of measures, including anonymous and targeted counseling, are needed to reduce the use of illegal opioids and benzodiazepines among young people. This is the conclusion of the Criminological Observatory at the University of Copenhagen in a new report with seven specific recommendations | Medical Xpress, USA
New York State Department of Health Issues Public Health Alert for Carfentanil Detected In Drug Samples From Central New York
The New York State Department of Health has issued a Public Health Alert after the Department's Drug Checking Program community partner, ACR Health, detected a dangerous mix of substances identified in the Central New York area. Two samples were tested from bags labeled "Super Mario" and were found to have a combination of fentanyl, xylazine, and trace amounts of heroin and carfentanil | NY.gov, USA
Performance and Image Enhancing Drug Use Among Australian Women: The Role of Interpersonal Relationships in Facilitating Use
[Open access] Women comprise a minority of performance and image-enhancing drug (PIED) consumers, with use linked to undesirable side effects. Preliminary work suggests that many women have little knowledge of what substances they are using, with males close to them involved in their use. This study aimed to explore women's motivations for PIED use; to examine the negative health experiences related to use; and to understand how interpersonal relationships facilitate their use | CDP, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Functional alternatives to alcohol: desirable effects, but without the harm?
The harmful effects of excessive alcohol consumption are well-established, and it is important to support drinkers to reduce their alcohol consumption (Global Burden of Disease 2020 Alcohol Collaborators, 2022). One way to achieve this is to develop alternatives to alcohol that are “functional” in the sense that they produce the same or similar psychoactive effects as those produced by alcohol, but without the harm | Mental Elf blog, UK
The myth that antidepressants are addictive has been debunked – they are a vital tool in psychiatry
New research shows that severe withdrawal symptoms are far less common than thought. Depression needs treating | Guardian opinion, UK
Study claiming antidepressant withdrawal is less common than thought fails to account for risks in long-term users
A new review of research about antidepressant withdrawal has confirmed it does exist, but also reports that it’s less common and severe than previously found. These findings feed into a growing debate about how common and severe withdrawal effects are. But we argue the researchers probably underestimate the incidence in long-term users who are most at risk of withdrawal effects | Conversation, UK
Beyond the Bar: Gladly queer, proudly sober
When Scott came out at the age of 16, he quickly found himself enamoured with the party and hedonistic culture of London's Soho nightlife. But five years ago, he chose to become proudly sober | Alcohol Change UK blog, UK
Under a Rock by Chris Stein review – sex, squalor and superstardom
The Blondie guitarist charts his drug-fuelled journey from young punk to pop pioneer with charming nonchalance | Guardian, UK
America holds back MDMA therapy
“Welcome to the Psychedelic Twenties!” announced Rick Doblin, dressed in an all-white suit. He was speaking last June at the Psychedelic Science conference in Denver, sponsored by the organisation he founded, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). That was nearly a year ago. Now, he finds himself fighting for his life’s work | UnHerd, UK
Multiple pathways as a disruptor: from what to what?
“Multiple pathways to recovery” has been popularized by the new recovery advocacy movement (NRAM) and Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC), but the concept has been around since at least 1944 | Recovery Review blog, USA