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Daily news - 20th January 2025

UK news

Problem drinkers turn from cider to vodka

A change in alcohol pricing in Wales has pushed problem drinkers away from cheap cider and towards strong spirits, a study suggests | BBC, UK

Scientists show for the first time that risk of psychotic disorder appears to decline with time following cannabis use cessation

New research reports that cannabis users' risk of developing psychotic disorders appears to decrease with time once they stop using the drug | KCL, UK

[Open access] Recent media reporting around the use of synthetic drugs such as xylazine makes frequent use of non-human metaphors, including reference to the effects of ‘zombie drugs’. We investigated whether presentation of news stories which included such dehumanising frames were associated with i) increased stigmatising attitudes towards people who use drugs; and ii) lower support for relevant harm reduction programmes | IJDP, UK

Research into alcohol use among vets awarded grant

Oxford Brookes University's Dr Jennifer Seddon said it would help them understand how to support vets who wish to reduce alcohol consumption | BBC, UK

Psychedelic drug DMT to be trialled on UK volunteers to tackle alcohol misuse

Exclusive: Scientists at UCL hope one-off dose of powerful hallucinogenic could help drinkers reduce intake | Guardian, UK

Ten-year plan: what must the NHS prioritise/ - audio

Ten-year health plan priorities with Sarah Woolnough and Harry Quilter-Pinner. Hazel Cheeseman on the vaping bill and six questions for Simon Ashton | NHS Confederation, UK

Budget 2025-26 (Drug and Alcohol Services)

To ask the Scottish Government how its draft budget 2025-26 will support the delivery of drug and alcohol services across Scotland | They work for you, UK

Music helped me conquer alcohol and sexual abuse

For Ross Wilson, the release of his sixth album was cause for both celebration and reflection. The record was the best selling yet by the Scottish singer - who performs under the name Blue Rose Code - but it also featured him coming to terms with a troubled past | BBC, UK

'I break the law to buy my child's life-saving cannabis drug'

Until recently, Jane would have described her family as normal, law-abiding citizens. But that changed last summer, when the full-time mum started illegally buying cannabis oil online for her daughter, Annie | BBC, UK

Meaningful Engagement with Community Stakeholders in Research

Wednesday, January 29 · 12 - 3pm GMT. Join us for an event dedicated to exploring the best practices for involving individuals with living/lived experience in substance use research. Through networking, interactive stalls, presentations, and table discussions, we will discuss the value of co-design and co-research in creating impactful studies and how we can best achieve this. We’ll explore the role of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) groups in shaping research from the ground up and address the challenges and opportunities in fostering meaningful engagement | DRNS, UK

Drug Education Forum Event Spring 2025

Wednesday, March 5 · 3:30 - 5pm GMT. Keynote speaker is Dr. Karenza Moore presenting: ‘Why Ketamine? Emerging trends, motivations, and harm reduction challenges.’ The event programme will also feature three short spotlights featuring Emma Crawshaw, Dr. Cassie Ogden, Steve Duffy MBE & Dr Karen Corteen.' | Drug Education Forum, UK

How gen Z helped drink Guinness dry – and its stout rivals cashed in

Ireland’s best-selling brew has found new favour among women, the young, and celebrity drinkers. Now a shortage of supply in UK pubs has opened the door to competitors | Guardian, UK

Strangers’ bar in parliament to close after alleged spiking incident

House of Commons spokesperson says bar will shut while security and safety are reviewed | Guardian, UK

Child, 15, arrested in drink/drug-driving campaign

A 15-year-old was the youngest driver arrested during Sussex Police's winter drink/drug-driving campaign, while the oldest was 80, the force says | BBC, UK

International news

Calorie (energy) labelling for changing selection and consumption of food or alcohol

Calorie labelling is advocated as a means to reduce energy intake from food and alcoholic drinks. However, there is continued uncertainty about these potential impacts, with a 2018 Cochrane review identifying only a small body of low‐certainty evidence. This review updates and extends the 2018 Cochrane review to provide a timely reassessment of evidence for the effects of calorie labelling on people's selection and consumption of food or alcoholic drinks | Cochrane, UK

[Open access] Despite growing concerns about trends in cocaine use, there is a shortage of longitudinal research that prospectively examines risk and protective factors associated with cocaine initiation and use in general youth populations. This study addresses this gap | Journal of Adolescent Health, UK

US FDA officially authorises Zyn nicotine pouches for sale

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorised Zyn nicotine pouches to be sold to as a tool to quit smoking cigarettes. Thursday's decision allows 10 Zyn flavours, including mint, coffee, cinnamon and menthol, to remain on the market | BBC, UK

Biden commutes sentences of 2,500 non-violent drug offenders

US President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offences, three days before he leaves office | BBC, UK

‘A one-way trip to heaven’: cigarettes were David Lynch’s magic wand – and his undoing

‘A one-way trip to heaven’: cigarettes were David Lynch’s magic wand – and his undoing. He quit in 2022, but smoking was previously an integral part of the film-maker’s life and art | Guardian, UK

Will Trump plan to label Mexican cartels as terrorists bring US military strikes?

President-elect wants to ‘wage war’ on drug cartels; critics say he should stop US arms used in the drug war | Guardian, UK

Colombian drug gang violence kills 60 people

The death toll from attacks by a rebel group in Colombia's Catatumbo region has risen to 60, the country's human rights office has said | BBC, UK

Prevalence of Popular Smoking Cessation Aids in England and Associations With Quit Success

This survey study including 25 094 smokers aged at least 16 years found that e-cigarettes were both the most commonly used cessation aid (used in 40.2% of quit attempts in 2023-2024) and associated with the highest odds of successful cessation. By contrast, other aids found to be associated with increased odds of success in quitting smoking were used in less than 5% of quit attempts | JAMA Network Open, USA

Justice Department Sues Walgreens Over Unlawful Opioid Prescriptions

The Justice Department has filed a civil complaint against Walgreens which operates more than 8,000 pharmacies throughout the United States alleging that they dispensed millions of illegal prescriptions in violation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) | Forbes, USA

Can the public trust AI to answer their questions on treatment and recovery? Generally the answers seemed professional and convincing, but on closer inspection contained “inaccurate and potentially deadly medical advice” | Psychiatry Research, USA

Cigarette smoke alters immune cell function in the lungs

Cigarette smoking is widespread and deadly, yet our understanding of how cigarette smoke actually causes serious respiratory illnesses is incomplete, which has severely hampered the development of effective treatments. Today, Australian researchers reveal how multiple chemicals found in cigarette smoke and e-cigarettes alter the function of a key type of immune cell found in the lungs | News Medical, USA

Justin Trudeau’s “Mixed Bag” Legacy on Drug Policy

As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s nine years in power come to an end, many are reflecting on his legacy. His record on drug policy—in an era that saw the federal legalization of cannabis and the expansion of harm reduction programs, but far too little done to stem a devastating overdose crisis—forms an important part of that legacy | Filter Magazine, USA

Original quantitative research – Implementing a smoke-free generation policy for Canada: estimates of the long-term impacts

The implementation of an SFG policy will bring substantive health benefits to the population in Canada. Although health care cost savings are lower than the combination of lost tax revenues and the decline in the GDP from the Canadian tobacco industry, the value of the health benefits realized outweigh the negative offsets | Government of Canada, Canada

Blogs, comment and opinion

Hoping for a genuine drug policy debate worth winning

This week there has been lots of media coverage of the opening of The Thistle - the UK's first official drug consumption room. Some of this - particularly this piece in The Spectator - has made me feel frustrated and disappointed with public policy and media debates. I don't want to talk about the detail of the issue, but there are two key lines that reveal how disingenuous this kind of piece is | Thinking to some purpose blog, UK

Alcohol may help you fall asleep faster, but it leads to a worse night’s rest overall – here’s why

Alcohol is often used as a sleep aid – with some people crediting a “nightcap” with helping them fall asleep more easily. But while it might be nice to unwind after a long day with a glass of wine or a beer, alcohol may not be as beneficial for sleep as some think. In fact, it may actually lead to a worse night’s sleep overall | Conversation, UK

The Pill Report - January 2025

This report shares descriptions of ecstasy pills being seen in Europe | The Trip Report, UK

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