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Daily news - 16th April 2025 |
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UK news
Disposable vape use falling in UK ahead of ban
The percentage of people aged 16-24 who mainly use disposable vapes has dropped by nearly half in the last year from 63% to 35%, according to University College London (UCL) research | BBC, UK [See also first item in Blogs section below]
Drug-related hospital statistics [Scotland]
There were 11,136 drug-related hospital stays (2022/23: 9,654). The European Age-sex Standardised Rate (EASR) of drug-related hospital stays was 212 stays per 100,000 population. This rate was an increase from 2022/23 (186 stays per 100,000 population) but remained below the 2021/22 level (242 stays per 100,000 population). In relation to drug types, the highest stay rate (91 per 100,000 population) was for opioids (drugs similar to heroin). This rate was higher than in 2022/23 (83 stays per 100,000 population) but remained below the peak of 144 per 100,000 population in 2019/20 | Public Health Scotland, UK
Increasing shisha use 'concerning' - council
There are 26 shisha bars in the district and the practice had become more popular among young people, Bradford Council's health and social care scrutiny committee heard | BBC, UK
Internet: Drugs
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to restrict the online (a) advertising and (b) selling of (i) image and performance enhancing drugs and (ii) anabolic steroids to children and young people | They work for you, UK
Reduce intimate partner violence in the context of substance use
Learn about this innovative program for men with a history of substance use and domestic violence that can be offered locally as a virtual or hybrid intervention. Register for a virtual information session on May 15th at 12 p.m. about the ADVANCE-D Programme by contacting Professor Gail Gilchrist (gail.gilchrist@kcl.ac.uk) | Programme Advance, UK
Quit smoking support a hit with inpatients
A smoking cessation service offered to patients at a West Midlands NHS Trust has led to more than 40 per cent take on the challenge to quit | Express and Star, UK
Former police employee charged with drugs offence
A former call handler with West Midlands Police has been charged with drugs offences following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) | BBC, UK
International news
In the red: global wine sales fall to lowest levels since 1961
Consumption and production falls in almost every market as industry fears a ‘generational’ change in drinking habits | Guardian, UK
MEPs fear pro-industry drift of EU tobacco laws
“Before reopening the legislation, we need guarantees from the EPP on how they plan to approach the issue,” a Renew MEP told Euractiv | Euractiv, Belgium
15% of US cancer patients are active smokers at time of diagnosis, study finds
Nearly half of patients diagnosed with cancer in 2023 had a history of smoking, and 15% were smokers at the time of their diagnosis, according to new Yale Cancer Center-led research published in JAMA Oncology | Medical Xpress, USA
New analysis clarified the link between "exclusive" use of e-cigarettes and COPD
A Johns Hopkins Medicine-led analysis of medical information gathered on a diverse group of almost 250,000 people over four years has significantly clarified the link between the "exclusive" use of e-cigarettes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as high blood pressure in a sub-group of adults 30 to 70 years of age | News Medical, USA
Do harm reduction interventions for substance use lower or raise trust in government?
"Harm reduction" interventions for substance use—measures like needle exchange programs and methadone distribution that aim to reduce the adverse effects of substance use, rather than punish or prevent it—have been repeatedly shown to lower the risk of overdoses, mortality, and drug-related crime. But in many communities in rural America, there is a stigma attached to these approaches. Consequently, policymakers and health professionals in some communities have hesitated to implement or recommend harm-reduction measures, fearing backlash | Medical Xpress, USA
Texas Bill Could Expand Sterile Syringe Access—for a Fee
Aproposal advancing in the Texas legislature would authorize syringe service program (SSP) pilots in a total of seven counties, but potentially charge participants a fee per syringe. HB 3174 had a public hearing before a House subcommittee on April 14and has about one month left to cross over into the Senate | Filter Magazine, USA
All the “Opioid Alternatives” Are at Least Making Rehab More Bearable
Rehab can serve a lot of purposes other than abstinence. For some people the goal is a tolerance break, or short-term affordable housing, or compliance with the terms of their probation. During each of my many, many stints in rehab, abstinence was never my goal. If you’re detoxing from opioids, the way I see it that process calls for as many other drugs as possible | Filter Magazine, USA
Press Release | Drug adulteration from potent synthetic opioids remains a nationwide risk
These fatalities highlight the heightened risks associated with the adulteration of illicit substances like cocaine, with potent synthetic opioids, such as nitazenes | VAADA, Australia
Co-creation of harm reduction resources with young people who use nitrous oxide N2O - video
Concerns about the harmful effects of N2O on users’ physical and psychological health have grown, yet this growing concern is not matched by harm reduction support. This mismatch highlights not only the need to develop harm reduction resources for N2O but also the necessity for these resources to be adapted for use on social media platforms. This presentation will focus on research into the lived experiences of young people who used N2O, aiming to develop harm reduction resources for dissemination on social media | NDARC, Australia
The Jude Byrne Emerging Female Leader Award
The Jude Byrne Emerging Female Leader Award was established in 2022 to honour Jude Byrne, a tireless advocate whose legacy has profoundly shaped the global movement for the health, rights, and dignity of people who use drugs. In partnership with INPUD (International Network of People Who Use Drugs), this award offers a transformative professional development opportunity for emerging female leaders within the global drug user community. Applications close 23.59 CET 5 May 2025 | INHSU, Australia
Blogs, comment and opinion
Expert reaction to study looking at vaping rates in Britain
Prof Caitlin Notley, Professor of Addiction Sciences, Norwich Medical School, UEA, said:“The study suggests that the forthcoming disposable vape ban may have already had an impact and any additional impact once it comes in may be limited, as people appear to have pre-emptively changed the products they are using knowing the ban was coming. There is a need for ongoing research to evaluate how the policy change, once fully enforced, influences behaviour.” | Science Media Centre, UK
Implementing public health policy to tackle alcohol-related harms
The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 identifies alcohol consumption as one of the top ten leading risk factors for disability. The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially affected public health, including shifts in alcohol-related mortality trends. Melissa Oldham and colleagues critically examine alcohol-specific deaths in England over the past two decades, revealing a sharp increase since 2020. The most pronounced absolute rises were seen among men (absolute rate increase, 3·87; relative increase, 25·9%) and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas (absolute rate increase, 4·72; relative increase, 22·5%), exacerbating existing health inequalities and underscoring the need for targeted policy responses | Lancet Comment, UK
From Despair to Hope: Addiction Recovery in Iran
Recovery Review seeks to celebrate the varieties of recovery experiences. In that vein, we’re pleased to share this guest post from Ehsan Ranjbar describing his addiction and recovery experience in Iran | Recovery Review blog, USA
3 in 4 meth users relapse – outcomes could improve if treatments considered the drug’s effect on impulsive behaviour
Our new research investigates how methamphetamine affects impulsivity in rats. We argue that our findings are applicable to people and could improve treatments to reduce the high relapse rate of about 77% of methamphetamine users | Conversation, Australia