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Daily news - 10th April 2025 |
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UK news
A wake-up call: our new research into alcohol harm across the drinking spectrum
Dr Richard Piper, Chief Executive of Alcohol Change UK, shares his thoughts on the recent report 'Alcohol Harm Across the Drinking Spectrum', which examined the drinking habits of more than 4,000 UK adults and the wide range of health harms associated with different levels of alcohol consumption | Alcohol Change UK, UK
Council to protect legally prescribed medical cannabis users for first time in Wales
Councillors overwhelmingly backed a motion to protect council tenants and employees who are legally prescribed cannabis for medical purposes | Wales Online, UK
Poppy seed addiction: A brewing crisis? A novel case series examining patterns, perceptions and potential risks associated with excessive poppy seed use
The increasing incidence of opioid dependence linked to the consumption of unwashed poppy seeds (UPSs) is an emerging public health concern. Our study aimed to explore the prevalence and patterns of problematic poppy seed use amongst patients with opioid dependence | Drug Science, UK
BBC radio bulletins massively overstate Britain’s cocaine consumption
On Wednesday morning a BBC Radio 2 newsreader [1:59:55] stated that, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA), Britain consumes “117 million tonnes of cocaine each year”. The same claim was also made in a news bulletin on 6 Music [2:01:10], which said: “The NCA says Britain consumes 117 million tonnes of cocaine every year.” | Full Fact, UK
Ankur Desai - Drug & alcohol addiction, actress Maimuna Menon & Neza Bazi - audio
Mosques are trying to deal with drug & alcohol addiction. Our reporter Maimuna Kazi has been given special access to Spinney Hills Drugs & Alcohol Service and hears from service users and providers about this | BBC Sounds, UK
Ambulance told to wait before drug death - inquest
A private ambulance crew was told to "wait" by hospital staff after transporting a teenager who had overdosed on drugs at an amusement park event, an inquest has heard | BBC, UK
Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs: Young People
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help safeguard young people from drug and alcohol addiction in (a) England and (b) Bournemouth West constituency | They work for you, UK
Alcoholism: Health Services
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding his Department provides to support services for the children of alcoholics | They work for you, UK
Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs: Custodial Treatment
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much NHS England has spent on (a) drug and (b) alcohol treatment in (i) prisons, (ii) young offender institutions, (iii) immigration removal centres and (iv) other secure settings in the last three financial years.More than 80 people were found with drugs at an amusement park event where a teenager was believed to have overdosed, an inquest heard | They work for you, UK
Have your say! Family support: what does ‘good’ look like?
For the past 40 years Adfam has been advocating for and supporting people that are negatively affected by a family member or loved one’s substance use. Over that time we’ve learnt that no two families are the same and that no one approach suits everyone. However, we’ve also found that there are guiding principles that many families value, along with ways of working that great services share | DDN, UK
The War on Drugs - A Failed Story - video
Ben Scher recently completed a PhD in Harm Reduction Interventions (Oxford University) to combat the dire consequences of the war on drugs. From Overdose Prevention Centres to Needle Exchange programs, there is a lot to be learned from the likes of Portugal | Human Condition, UK
International news
Women should avoid all alcohol to reduce risk of breast cancer, charity says
World Cancer Research Fund goes further than UK and WHO advice on alcohol after review of evidence | Guardian, UK
18th annual report of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture
The present report follows the structure adopted by the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment at its fifty-fourth sessiona and contains a description of the work that the Subcommittee undertook in 2024 | IDPC, UK
Revealed: drug tests in California prisons yielded false positives, affecting thousands of people
Records suggest Quest Diagnostics erroneously detected opiates. Lawyers say parole requests were jeopardized in the process | Guardian, UK
Dublin flight halted after pilot found to be ‘considerably above’ alcohol limits
The pilot, caught during a random inspection at Dublin Airport, and has since had their license revoked | Independent, UK
Sharing the Vision: implementation plan 2025 - 2027
Sharing the Vision (2020 - 2030) is Ireland’s ambitious, national mental health policy to enhance the provision of mental health services and supports from mental health promotion, prevention, early intervention and specialist mental health service delivery during the period 2020 - 2030. It builds on the achievements of the previous policy A Vision for Change, with a focus on a wider, cross-sectoral service provision and aimed at the mental health needs of the whole population | HSE, Ireland
Launch: EU Drug Markets – MDMA (EUDA-Europol webinar)
Recording of the online launch EU Drug Markets – MDMA (EUDA-Europol webinar) on 27 March 2025 | EUDA, Portugal
UK Govt. Publishes Report Indicating Drug Policing Boosts Violence
Drug-related law enforcement is more likely to increase violence than reduce it, indicates a report commissioned by the government of the United Kingdom. Whether the government will revise its drug policies accordingly remains to be seen | Filter Magazine, USA
Convergence of Cannabis and Psychosis on the Dopamine System
In this cohort study including 61 individuals, participants with cannabis use disorder exhibited increased neuromelanin–magnetic resonance imaging signals in specific voxels of the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area (SN/VTA). This subregion has previously shown elevated signals associated with untreated psychotic symptoms | JAMA Psychiatry, USA
In utero opioid use associated with smaller brain regions in newborns
Children's National Hospital and partnering academic centers have found that newborns exposed to opioids in utero exhibited smaller brain volumes in multiple regions compared to unexposed infants | Medical Xpress, USA
New hospital program helps opioid patients stay in treatment after discharge
Offering hospitalized patients who are struggling with opioid use disorder a medication to treat their addiction makes it more likely that they will continue with follow-up care after they are discharged, a new study finds | News Medical, USA
NPS Trend Reports - Q1 2025
Latest data on NPS Benzodiazepines, NPS Opioids, NPS Stimulants & Hallucinogens, and Synthetic Cannabinoids in the U.S. These trend reports are intended to provide near real-time information regarding NPS prevalence, positivity, and turnover. Testing was performed using toxicology samples and drug materials | CFSRE, USA
Here's why researchers are making new psychedelic-like drugs — without the trip
This week on NPR's Short Wave podcast, we're diving into the science behind drugs like psychedelics and ketamine | npr, USA
Nitazines found in black market vapes as criminals make new variations to evade detection
A new type of nitazene called Protodesnitazene has been detected in Australia for the first time after Queensland police seized the substance several weeks ago | abc.net.au, Australia
Blogs, comment and opinion
The 2025 Disposable Vapes Ban: What You Need to Know
The upcoming ban on disposable vapes will prohibit the sale and supply of single-use vapes in England, Scotland, and Wales. Taking effect on 1 June 2025, this ban aims to remove disposable vapes from Britain’s streets. But what impact will it have and what does this mean for retailers, health professionals, and people who vape? | ASH blog, UK
Wake in Fright understood the horrors of Australian booze culture. 50 years on, nothing’s changed
As a sober Australian man, I’ve battled the bottle and I’ve battled the boys. As Ted Kotcheff’s 1971 film knows, there’s no victory in either | Guardian, UK
Understanding the Trump Administration’s Drug Policy Changes
What’s in the White House Statement of Drug Policy Priorities? It’s not a long document — just a few pages, and it identifies 6 priorities listed below. I’ve also called out specific references to treatment, prevention, harm reduction, and research | Recovery Review blog, USA