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Daily news - 8th October 2024 |
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UK news
DDN October 2024 - out now
Maff Potts walked into our conference with a sofa over his shoulder. He went back to his van for another, then comfy chairs, standard lamps, beanbags, occasional tables… When he said he would create a living room we didn’t realise the scale of his vision – the social movement behind Camerados, the brave, brilliant, yet simple idea of enabling social cohesion by providing space to talk and connect. Having somewhere to call home; looking after our mental health and wellbeing – it’s about joining up the dots. Our coverage from Cranstoun’s social justice conference reflects things we spend our lives trying to fix | DDN, UK
UK campaigners call for tobacco windfall tax and yearly levy on ‘lethal trade’
Rachel Reeves urged to levy ‘double whammy’ on firms’ £1bn annual profits to fund measures to end smoking | Guardian, UK
SPFL criticised after Carling unveiled as official beer of Scottish football
The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has faced criticism after Carling was unveiled as Scottish football’s official beer. The lager giant signed a partnership with the SPFL set to run until at least the end of the 2026/27 season and will see Carling represented at league matches and every round of the Premier Sports Cup | STV News, UK
Town's smoking rates halve, figures suggest
The number of people smoking in a town may have more than halved in a year, according to official estimates | BBC, UK
Shops ordered to close after selling illegal vapes
Three shops in Lincolnshire have been issued with closure orders after they were found selling illegal cigarettes and vapes | BBC, UK
International news
Drug-related killings shake French city of Marseille
Two grisly killings involving teenagers have shaken the French city of Marseille, which has long battled organised crime and drug-related violence | BBC, UK
Does Singapore’s death penalty really deter drug crimes?
On Friday morning, Azwan bin Bohari was marched to the gallows. The 47-year-old Singaporean, himself an addict, was convicted of trafficking 26.5 grams of heroin in 2019. Despite pleas for the Singaporean authorities to halt it, and the fact Azwan was waiting on the outcome of a legal appeal, the execution controversially went ahead | Spectator, UK
Assignment: Singapore – drugs, rehab, execution Part 1 - video
Singapore’s drug laws are severe. The penalties for trafficking illegal narcotics include the death penalty. The government argues its zero-tolerance policy is effective, and a deterrent to those tempted to traffic or consume drugs. If you’re caught using any illicit narcotic in Singapore, including cannabis, you may find yourself in compulsory rehab. In the first of a two-part series, Linda Pressly’s given access to the state’s austere Drug Rehabilitation Centre where drug users spend months before being released back into the community under surveillance | BBC Sounds, UK
Philippines: Duterte to run as mayor despite inquiry into his drugs crackdown
Former president to run in his home city of Davao despite ICC’s investigation into possible crime against humanity | Guardian, UK
Alcohol: A commercial driver of crime (PDF)
Alcohol and crime have a closely interconnected relationship, with alcohol consumption being a contributing factor to crime and antisocial behaviour. Alcohol plays a key role in crimes such as public order offences, domestic violence, assault and murder, as well as rape and sexual assault | Alcohol Action Ireland, Ireland
Tax, smoke-free legislation and anti-smoking campaigns linked to smoking reduction
A wide range of strategies has been developed to combat smoking and promote public health, including taxation, mass media campaigns, health warnings on packaging, marketing restrictions, smoke-free legislation, youth access policies, flavor bans, and free or discounted nicotine replacement therapies (NRT). The research team conducted a comprehensive review of real-world, population-level tobacco control strategies to assess their effects on smoking behavior | Medical Xpress, USA
Research unpacks impact of cannabis legalization on medical sales
With Oct. 17 marking the sixth anniversary of Canada's legalization of recreational cannabis, a Brock researcher says it's time to examine how the process has impacted the medical cannabis market | Medical Xpress, USA
Study links teen marijuana use to poor academic performance
Generations of parental warnings may not be wrong: A massive study of available data finds that teens who use marijuana have significantly worse outcomes at school | Medical Xpress, USA
Banning Prison Visitors From Vaping Is Unjustified and Harmful
Washington State is one of only four in the nation to allow what are commonly called conjugal visits. These Extended Family Visits (EFV), typically held in trailers, are available for immediate family members if approved, while regular visitation in the visits room can be accessed by anyone who fills out the paperwork and meets the criteria | Filter Magazine, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Guidelines for publicly sharing addiction recovery stories: protecting, paternalism, or gatekeeping?
Several months ago, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing (NCMW) posted their Protecting Individuals with Lived Experience in Public Disclosure Guide. They describe it as a tool for self-evaluation allowing individuals and organizations to assess the risks to people publicly sharing addiction and recovery stories | Recovery Review blog, USA