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Daily news - 24th October 2024

UK news

Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2023 registrations

Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales from 1993 to 2023, by cause of death, sex, age and substances involved in the death. In England and Wales, 5,448 deaths related to drug poisoning were registered in 2023, the equivalent of 93.0 deaths per million people, and higher than the rate recorded in 2022 (84.4 deaths per million, 4,907 deaths); the age-standardised mortality rate for deaths related to drug poisoning has risen every year since 2012 | ONS, UK

Cocaine use fuels record high in drug deaths

Drug-poisoning deaths in England and Wales have hit the highest level in 30 years, fuelled by a 30% rise in fatalities involving cocaine | BBC, UK

Region has worst drug death rate for 11 years

The north-east of England has had the highest rate of drug-poisoning deaths for the past 11 years | BBC, UK

Nitazenes: Use of life-saving overdose drug surges by 50% amid synthetic opioid crisis

Ambulance crews’ use of naloxone – an emergency drug used to reverse opioid overdoses – rose by 50% in 18 months amid widespread concerns over synthetic drugs such as nitazenes on the UK’s streets, the Big Issue has found | Big Issue, UK

Disposable vapes to be banned from June, says government

Similar bans are expected to be introduced by the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland | BBC, UK

The effect of Sure Start on youth misbehaviour, crime and contacts with children’s social care

Access to a nearby Sure Start centre between ages 0 and 4 significantly reduced youth crime that resulted in convictions or custodial sentences. Living within 2.5 kilometres of a Sure Start centre reduced the share of 16-year-olds who had ever received a criminal conviction by 13%. Meanwhile, custodial sentences – the most severe sanction – fell by a fifth due to access to Sure Start. Reductions in youth offending were concentrated on convictions for theft, the most common category of offence (20% reduction), and for drug offences (20% reduction) | IFS, UK

Correspondence: ACMD advice on reform to hemp licensing fees

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs responds to the government on their proposal to amend the licensing regimen for industrial hemp | ACMD, UK

Scottish football booze ban: ‘Classist’ and ‘absurd’, or necessary? We hear from those for and against

With the prospect of removing the ban on drinking at Scottish football games making headlines again, we hear from both sides of the debate | Press and Journal, UK

Medical cannabis could save NHS £4 billion each year

Allowing medical cannabis to be prescribed on the NHS for chronic pain could save the state healthcare provider almost £4 billion annually, according to a new research study | Drug Science, UK

From Spice addict to athlete and charity founder

Connor Shannon was 15 years old when he became addicted to Spice, a form of synthetic cannabis, after experimenting with drugs known then as "legal highs" | BBC, UK

Vaping: Dangers to Children

I beg to move...That this Assembly recognises that the 2024 Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report, 'Tackling the Public Health Impacts of Smoking and Vaping', shows an increase in 11-16 year olds vaping; is concerned that children vaping in schools is detrimental to a child's health and educational outcomes; believes that greater awareness must be raised with children in schools about the risks of vaping; acknowledges that teachers and school staff must have the support and resources that they require to raise awareness of and inform children about the risks of vaping... | They work for you, UK

Cabinet Office: Smoking

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of 13 September 2024 to Questions 4350 and 4352 on Smoking, whether his Department plans to ban (a) smoking and (b) vaping in (i) public gardens and (ii) outdoor recreational spaces at (A) 10 Downing Street and (B) 70 Whitehall | They work for you, UK

Five arrested over £5m airport drugs seizure

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the drugs were discovered in August and the five were arrested at addresses in Luton and London | BBC, UK

Organised crime gang that sold cocaine 'dismantled'

The "key players" in an organised crime gang that sold cocaine on the streets of North Yorkshire have been jailed | BBC, UK

Police 'aggressive' before man ate bag of cocaine

A friend of a man who died after a bag of cocaine "exploded" in his mouth during a police arrest has told his inquest that officers who carried out the raid were “erratic” and "aggressive" | BBC, UK

International news

What Is “Pink Cocaine” The Drugs In The Spotlight After The Death Of Liam Payne?

PJ talks to Harry Shapiro of DrugWise who explains what “Pink Cocaine” really is | Cork96FM, Ireland

About 10% of chest pain admissions to hospitals are related to drug use, heath committee told

About 10% of heart patients admitted to one of the country's largest hospitals are suffering from illegal drug use with “one or two” cocaine-related heart patients weekly, the Oireachtas Health Committee has heard | Irish Examiner, Ireland

UB researchers show why cannabis policies should shift to a harm reduction, health promotion approach to safeguard public health

Millions of Americans use cannabis to treat a plethora of health conditions. They are rarely under a health care provider’s supervision and their access to quality information about the substances they are consuming and their potential risks is limited at best | University at Buffalo, USA

[Open access] The overdose crisis in the U.S. disproportionately impacts people experiencing homelessness. Permanent supportive housing (PSH) – permanent, affordable housing with voluntary support services – is an effective, evidence-based intervention to address homelessness. However, overdose risk remains high even after entering PSH for individual and structural reasons. In this study, we aimed to refine a set of evidence-based overdose prevention practices (EBPs) and an associated implementation support package for PSH settings using focus groups with PSH tenants, frontline staff, and leaders | JSAT, USA

Researchers discover promising treatment to counteract the effects of fentanyl for overdose cases

A team of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers has discovered a promising new treatment to counteract the effects of fentanyl and related opioids. The new treatment could, over time, be a boon to doctors and medical professionals dealing with the crisis of fentanyl, a drug whose lethal effects has killed more than 210,000 Americans during the past three years | Medical Xpress, USA

Implantable device may prevent death from opioid overdose

A team from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Northwestern University in Chicago has developed a device that may rescue people from overdose without bystander help | Medical Xpress, USA

Blogs, comment and opinion

Drug-related deaths have risen by record numbers in England and Wales – latest data

Deaths from drug use in England and Wales have risen by 11%, according to the latest annual data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In 2023, there were 5,448 fatalities (93 deaths per million people) – the highest number of drug-related deaths since records began in 1993 | Conversation, UK

Our response to deaths related to drug poisoning in 2023

Today’s statistics confirm there were 5,448 deaths related to drug-poisoning in England and Wales in 2023. This devastating loss of life is deeply saddening, unnecessary and unacceptable. These statistics are more than just numbers. Every death represents a life cut short, a loved one lost, a family torn apart, and these tragedies are felt across communities and impact society as a whole | Change Grow Live, UK