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Daily news - 18th February 2025

UK news

A heroin overdose laboratory model: How do escalating doses of diamorphine alter respiratory function in a diamorphine-treated population?

[Open access] Globally, more than 100 000 people die annually from opioid overdose. Although strongly implicated in heroin overdose deaths, acute opioid-induced respiratory depression is poorly understood, and few laboratory studies have been completed in human subjects. Using a human laboratory overdose model, our research question was: what is the strength of the association between increasing dose of diamorphine and degree of respiratory depression in people prescribed injectable diamorphine for heroin use disorder? | Addiction, UK

Portman Group audit to increase scrutiny of UK alcohol marketing practices

UK alcohol industry regulator the Portman Group has announced it is commissioning a large-scale audit to assess responsible marketing practices across the alcoholic drinks market. The new audit will be implemented on a bi-annual basis, and the results for the first audit are expected in autumn 2025 | Lexology, UK

Scottish Drugs Forum and treatment time guarantee correspondence: FOI release

Information request and response by the Scottish Government under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 | Scottish Government, UK

Substance addiction walk-in service introduced

A new service aims to provide faster support for people seeking help over substance addiction issues in South Yorkshire. The walk-in facility on Thorne Road in Doncaster is being offered by the Aspire drug and alcohol charity in partnership with the NHS | BBC, UK

NHS APA IPD Network Statement on the Potential Closure of the Bristol Acer Unit

The APA’s Inpatient Detox Network is extremely concerned by reports of the potential closure of the Acer IP unit in Bristol. We understand there has been a temporary reprieve for the unit after reports that it would be closed, but the uncertainty about its future is damaging the unit’s ability to plan for the future and to provide its vital services in the South West region | NHS APA, UK

Alex Stevens: Drug Policy Constellations

Wed 26 Feb 2025 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM. Liberty Building, LS3 1DB. Calls are often made for evidence-based policy. Alex Stevens' research on drug policy suggests that there is no such thing. Rather, policies are based on clashing and overlapping moralities, converging material interests, the deployment of political and social forms of power, and moving affective narratives. In his 2024 book on Drug Policy Constellations, Stevens presented a theoretical approach and an empirical method for analysing these complex processes | University of Leeds, UK

Webinar: Alcohol Assertive Outreach Treatment

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:00 - 17:00 GMT. The implementation and evaluation of alcohol assertive outreach treatment (AAOT) in England: Evidence, sustainability and empowerment | NIHR, UK

Metro vapers face up to £1,000 fine

Operator Nexus wants to change its byelaws to ban the use of vapes and electronic cigarettes on all of its trains and in its stations. If the rules are changed, the publicly owned body would be able to prosecute anyone caught vaping on the network, which covers Tyne and Wear | BBC, UK

Jamaican drug dealer avoids deportation after pledging to only smoke cannabis - not sell it

Shawn Rickford McLeod, 40, came to Britain in 2000 and was issued with a deportation order after being jailed for three years and four months for three counts of supplying class A drugs | Independent, UK

International news

Efficacy of cannabidiol alone or in combination with Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for the management of substance use disorders: An umbrella review of the evidence

Substance use disorders (SUD) lead to a high burden of disease, yet treatment options are limited. Cannabidiol (CBD) is being investigated as a potential therapeutic target due to its pharmacological properties and mode of action in the endocannabinoid system. Recent systematic reviews (SR) on CBD and SUDs have shown inconsistent results. The objective of this umbrella review was to determine whether CBD alone or in combination with Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is effective for managing and treating SUDs | Addiction, UK

Scaling up hepatitis C testing and linkage-to-care among people who use drugs: lessons learned from a pilot project implemented at a supervised consumption site

[Open access] Working with the multiply deprived and socially isolated injectors of Downtown Eastside in Vancouver, a centre where they could safely inject successfully engaged them in convenient and rapid on-site screening tests for hepatitis C infection, but many did not go on to confirmatory testing involving the drawing of blood at a clinic, demonstrating the importance of on-site convenience | BMC Health Service Research, UK

Early findings on home delivery of buprenorphine and retention in treatment for opioid use disorder

[Open access] How a US clinic allowed patients being treated via ‘telemedicine’ consultations over the internet also to opt for home delivery of their prescribed buprenorphine from a pharmacy. Few took up the offer, but those who did were far more likely to stay in treatment, presumably partly because the treatment burden on them had been minimised | Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, UK

Switzerland puts forward plans to legalise cannabis

A committee has put forward a preliminary proposal for adults to be able to grow cannabis at home, while all sales will be tightly controlled by the government | Leafie, UK

Mexican army seizes tonnes of crystal meth

The Mexican army says it has seized more than four tonnes of methamphetamine in raids conducted in the violence-wracked state of Sinaloa over the weekend | BBC, UK

Report examines non-fatal overdoses over ten years in Dublin’s North Inner City

A new report entitled: 'Non-Fatal Overdose: A Decade-Long Analysis of Inner City Hospitals and Nationwide Trends Across Ireland (2011-2021)’ integrates data from national and Dublin-specific sources to identify key trends, high-risk populations, and service gaps. It offers evidence-based recommendations to enhance prevention, treatment, and recovery outcomes across diverse populations, from older patients facing polypharmacy-related risks to younger individuals with hidden or shifting substance use patterns | Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Frequent cannabis use can lead to cavities, severe tooth loss, study finds

It’s long been known that smoking cannabis can lead to problems in the lungs, heart and brain. Ellyce Clonan, a researcher in the School of Dental Medicine, has identified another health problem linked to frequent recreational cannabis (FRC) use: tooth decay and severe tooth loss | UBNow, USA

Surgeons detail challenges in treating 'tranq' wounds amid Philadelphia's Xylazine crisis

A new study examining the treatment of xylazine-associated wounds in Philadelphia sheds light on the severe medical complications and health care challenges caused by the widespread presence of the drug in the city's illicit supply | Medical Xpress, USA

[Open access] During the intended 24 weeks of treatment, US patients randomly allocated to daily sublingual buprenorphine were 39 % less likely to use cannabis than those allocated to a long-acting opioid-blocking injection. However, after another 12 weeks no significant difference remained, and the analysis might have capitalised on a chance finding | DAD, USA

[Open access] South Korea tightened its ban on sales of alcohol to young people aged under 19 in three stages: prohibiting adults from purchasing for underage drinkers, requiring prominent notices in shops about the ban on underage sales, and increasing penalties on non-complaint retailers. The first two stages were associated with significant reductions in the adolescent suicide rate | DAD, USA

Making long-acting treatment work: Tracing connections with extended-release buprenorphine depot through time

[Open access] How people connect with opioid agonist treatment is an ongoing concern. Extended-release buprenorphine depot (BUP-XR) has been designed with ‘retention’ in mind. It is important to consider what makes a difference to clients in helping them to stay connected to treatment over time | DAR, USA

Authentic communication reduces risky teen drinking

While fear-based messaging around alcohol aimed towards teens is common practice, new research suggests a key to curbing adolescents’ risky drinking behaviour is through authentic and open communication that acknowledges some of the positive aspects while warning of the negative consequences of drinking | University of Adelaide, Australia

Blogs, comment and opinion

Relapse and burnout among recovering addiction professionals

This paper explores the issue of relapse among recovering counselors in addiction treatment programs. He interviewed 20 people who relapsed while working in the field, identifying organizational factors that may have contributed to their relapse. The paper includes 3 case studies to help illustrate the organizational factors and role stressors | Recovery Review blog, USA

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