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Daily news - 7th November 2024

UK news

Guidance on the management of clusters of drug related harms

People who use drugs may do so in differing contexts. Sudden and unexpected increases in harm can occur when people are exposed to or at risk of being exposed to highly toxic potent substances with inadequate opportunities to reduce their risk of harm. NHS Boards can use public health incident management frameworks to reduce risk of immediate harm to individuals and communities. The purpose of this document is to offer a working definition and a framework to consider risk management and risk response in the context of an emergent incident within a local area. A secondary objective is to propose a means by which a cluster or incident can be identified and acted on prior to toxicological information becoming available | Public Health Scotland, UK

LJMU to trial pioneering drug prevention project

A ‘promising’ drug prevention scheme from Australia is being adapted to the UK under a LJMU project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The Illicit programme, pioneered in schools in Sydney, has significantly reduced substance use among 15-19-year-olds, including cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy) as well as alcohol and nicotine. Part of its success is arguably its focus on the broader mental health and attitudes of young people vulnerable to taking up with illegal substances | LJMU, UK

Debate on a Motion to approve the Draft Environmental Protection (Single-Use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024

A debate on a Motion to approve the Draft Environmental Protection (Single-Use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024 has been scheduled in the Commons Chamber for 13 November 2024 | House of Commons Library, UK

'I'm lucky to be here': Data reveals scale of overdoses in south Scotland as deaths remain high

Every day, of every month, for the past three years, an ambulance has been dispatched somewhere in largely rural southern Scotland to deal with a suspected overdose | ITV, UK

"I wanted to be part of this facility from the minute the Lord Advocate agreed to allow it" Staff at the Thistle share their thoughts on the service

As Glasgow's Safer Drug Consumption Facility, The Thistle, is preparing to open, we spoke to some of the staff who will be supporting people who use the service to hear their views | Glasgow City Council, UK

Herts addiction charity gets National Lottery funding

Resolve - which has sites Openshaw Way, Letchworth and Mill Green Road, Welwyn - received £488,500 to support its free drug and alcohol treatment work | Comet, UK

116. Reducing drug harms in the UK with Dr Gillian Shorter and Prof Alex Stevens - podcast

In this episode, Prof Nutt meets with Prof Alex Stevens, researcher in drug policy, treatment and harm reduction and Gillian Shorter, a researcher into the health and wellbeing of people who use alcohol and drugs. In this episode they discuss harm reduction strategies in the UK. They delve into the root causes of the stigma surrounding substance use disorders and explore the effectiveness of various harm reduction approaches, such as needle exchange programs and drug consumption rooms. The conversation also considers the politics surrounding these strategies and the limitations imposed by the Misuse of Drugs Act | Drug Science, UK

Complaint not upheld against Jam Shed wine point of sale material

A complaint against a Jam Shed wine point of sale display has not been upheld by the alcohol industry’s Independent Complaints Panel (ICP) | Portman Group, UK

International news

Comparative risk of mortality in new users of prescription opioids for non-cancer pain: results from the International Pharmacosurveillance Study

Although opioids continue to be used internationally for non-cancer pain, evidence to date on the comparative safety of different opioids is sparse and conflicting. The aim of this study was to examine the comparative risk of all-cause mortality in patients newly initiated on opioids for non-cancer pain, across three jurisdictions in the UK, US, and Canada | University of Manchester, UK

Public perceptions of opioid misuse recovery and related resources in a nationally representative sample of United States adults

[Open access] The purpose of this study was to understand how the US public defines recovery from opioid misuse and the recovery-related resources it views as most helpful, and to compare differences by opioid misuse history and demographic characteristics | Addiction, UK

Spanish police seize record cocaine in Ecuadorean banana shipment

Spanish police have made a record cocaine seizure after finding 13 metric tons of the drug hidden in a shipment of bananas in a container from Ecuador in the southern port of Algeciras | Reuters, UK

Australians’ appetite for ketamine hits record high as alcohol consumption drops

Latest wastewater monitoring reveals cannabis is most widely used illegal drug, with use in regional areas double that in cities | Guardian, UK

“Now I like to know what I smoke”—differentiated cannabis normalization in Polish online discussions

[Open access] This study explores how cannabis has been accommodated over the last 18 years in the social world of an online forum in Poland. It considers users who operate in the context of unhurried normalization and restrictive policy that has barely changed over the last two decades. Simultaneously, these users refer to global cannabis cultures and follow progressive policy developments worldwide | DEPP, USA

[Open access] Research has demonstrated positive associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and substance use behaviours in young adults. However, many of these are based on cross-sectional data. The pathway between ACEs and substance misuse among emerging adults is also not fully understood and few studies have investigated potential mediating factors | Addictive Behaviors, USA

Drowsy driving: Not taken as seriously as drunk driving, but it can kill

Folks are more likely to drive drowsy than drive drunk, even though both raise the risk of a fatal crash, a new survey shows | Medical Xpress, USA

Today's potent marijuana is spawning public health dangers and shouldn't be ignored, say experts

In 1964, Bob Dylan reportedly introduced the Beatles to cannabis, a seminal moment in the 60-year campaign to legalize marijuana. Before that, marijuana was hardly a part of mainstream American society, its use primarily associated with artists, bohemians and the so-called urban underclass | Medical Xpress, USA

Momentum for Cannabis Legalization Stalls as Three State Measures Fail

Three ballot initiatives to legalize cannabis for adult use failed to pass votes in Florida and the Dakotas on November 5. It was an abrupt check to momentum for state-level legalization in recent years—even if medical marijuana in Nebraska, city decriminalization initiatives in Texas and over 100 local medical marijuana ordinances in Kentucky all passed | Filter Magazine, USA

Healing, spiritual purposes found to drive many veterans' use of psychedelics

Most U.S. military veterans who have used psychedelics reported in a recent study that they pursued the substances for healing or spiritual exploration, and over 80% said they benefited from the experience—even those who had challenging outcomes | Medical Xpress, USA

Wastewater reveals ongoing high illicit stimulant use

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has released its latest wastewater report, revealing a mixed picture of national drug consumption. Report 23 of the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program is based on data collected in April (capital city and regional sites) and June 2024 (capital city sites only). The report provides a comprehensive picture of Australia’s illicit drug markets and drug consumption habits | ACIC, Australia

Blogs, comment and opinion

Why is alcohol so normalised in Europe?

Eight of the ten countries with the highest global alcohol consumption per-capita are located in the WHO European Region. Considering this level of consumption, it is not surprising that the Region has the highest number of alcohol-attributable deaths per 100,000 persons accounting for nearly one in 11 of all deaths | Lancet editorial, UK

A breath of fresh air - towards a smokefree nation

Blog post from Councillor David Fothergill as he looks back at the introduction of the smokefree workplaces and indoor public spaces legislation in 2007, local government’s successful role and how it continues to be seen as a watershed moment for public health | LGA blog, UK

Israeli Invasion Triggers Humanitarian Crisis in Lebanon’s Treatment Service

The Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon has destroyed many communities and displaced thousands, preventing the delivery of key health services for many including drug using populations. Skoun, a Lebanese drug treatment centre offering medication and harm reduction services, has put out an international emergency appeal to gather much needed funds to support their service users who were displaced by the invasion | Talking Drugs, UK

Ketamine use is at an all-time high. 5 things to know ahead of festival season

You’re gearing up for the music festival season and considering your options – which artists you’re keen to see, who’s going, what outfits you need, how you’ll get there and perhaps what substances you’re planning to take | Conversation, Australia

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