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Daily news - 23rd January 2025 |
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UK news
The political is personal: Exploring drinking cultures in Westminster and making the case for more alcohol support
We publish the findings of research with MPs, exploring attitudes to alcohol in Westminster and the impact on working culture across the Parliamentary estate | Alcohol Change UK, UK
AHA position on Alcohol-Free and Low-Alcohol Drinks
Alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks are becoming increasingly popular. From a low base in the UK, the growth has been rapid and alcohol companies are now increasingly recognising their commercial potential. This document sets out the full AHA policy position on alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks. It covers 8 key areas where we are calling for changes and/or new national policies | AHA, UK
Health inequalities and no/lo drinks the focus of upcoming webinar
Are no- and low-alcohol drinks truly a healthier alternative for everyone? PhD student Lucy Burke will explore this question in a free online session on Wednesday 5 February 2025. Lucy's research investigates the factors that influence alcohol consumption, examining the rise of alcohol-free and low-alcohol (no/lo) drinks and their potential impact on health inequalities | Sheffield Addictions Research Group, UK
Association of fully branded, standardized packaging and limited flavor and brand descriptors of e-liquids with interest in trying products among youths in Great Britain
[Open access] Many vaping products feature bright colors and novel brand names and flavor descriptors, which may appeal to youth. We measured the strength of the associations between e-liquid packaging design (branded, white standardized or white standardized limiting brand and flavor descriptors) and perceived peer interest in trying the e-liquids among youth | Addiction, UK
Drugs: Misuse
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of imposing civil rather than criminal penalties on people found in possession of drugs for personal use | They work for you, UK
Family Drug and Alcohol Courts
To ask What support does the Welsh Government provide for family drug and alcohol courts? And Will the Counsel General provide an update on the evaluation of the family dug and alcohol court pilot? | They work for you, UK
Portman Group to launch first proactive audit to assess responsible alcohol marketing across the market
Auditor Zenith Global will select 500 alcoholic drinks in the Great British market which will be assessed against the Naming and Packaging Code of Practice. The Code of Practice consists of 12 rules which ensure that alcohol is marketed in a socially responsible way, only to those aged 18 and over, and in a way that does not appeal particularly to those who are vulnerable | Portman Group, UK
Train operator warns ‘sly vapers’ could be kicked off
The train operator has sent out the message to “sly vapers” after it received dozens of complaints over the past year of “inconsiderate individuals vaping in busy carriages and on station platforms” | Independent, UK
Cheshire East to continue ‘pay to stop smoking’ scheme
Cheshire East is to continue a scheme which sees family members of pregnant women being paid in vouchers to stop smoking | Northwich and Winsford Guardian, UK
Gambling Harms in Glasgow City: A System Map and Supporting Text
A pilot of a whole system approach to tackling gambling harm in Glasgow took place between 2022 and 2023. A systems map was created through stakeholder engagement in support of this work; discussions with lived experience, academia, public and third sectors were undertaken in its development. Its purpose is to illustrate the complexity of the local system and how many factors touch on gambling harm | Public Health Scotland, UK
Cannabis factory found inside 'typical home'
Almost 300 cannabis plants were discovered during a raid on what police described as a "typical suburban home." | BBC, UK
International news
Eight in 10 vape sellers in Brussels ignore new rules
Up to eight in 10 of vape sellers in the Belgium capital of Brussels are violating strict new vape laws, according to a new government report | Clearing the Air, UK
First psilocybin therapy center applications roll in as Colorado prepares for industry launch this spring
Psychedelic therapy is set to launch in Colorado this spring, with the state considering licenses for healing centers, psilocybin mushroom cultivations, a product manufacturer and a testing lab | Medical Xpress, USA
Study reveals diverse perceptions of vaping dangers among students
From 2012 to 2021, the use of e-cigarettes by adults in the United States increased from 2.2% to 4.5%. During the same time frame, there was a stark increase in use among young adults, ages 18 to 24 years old, from 2.4% to 11%. To understand factors that led to the escalation, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham studied how college students perceived the health risks of e-cigarettes compared to traditional cigarettes | Medical Xpress, USA
FDA approves Johnson & Johnson’s ketamine-derived nasal spray for depression as standalone treatment
Major depressive disorder affects an estimated 8.3% of the adult population. And now there’s a new option for treatment: Spravato, a nasal spray that’s been shown to give rapid relief to depression symptoms, just approved as a standalone therapy by the Food and Drug Administration | Fortune, USA
Study focusses on nitrous oxide use
People know less about recreational nitrous oxide use than they think they do, new University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka research shows | University of Otago, New Zealand
Blogs, comment and opinion
UK needs national strategy to tackle alcohol related harms
Three responses raised to the above issue. Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor that enable our users to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com | BMJ editorial, UK
JUSTICE SERIES: The power of community in recovery: Strengthening alcohol support across Scotland’s criminal justice system
In our latest blog, Josh D shares his lived experience of alcoholism and recovery to highlight the importance of recognising Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a means of support for those with alcohol problems within the Justice System | SHAAP blog, UK
Sex, drugs, and total disinhibition: What is ‘chemsex’, and what are its risks?
What happened yesterday is a blur. The plate of drugs is still on the coffee table, but there’s not even a hint of a hangover. Inhibitions disappeared completely last night, and sexual pleasure seemed limitless. For many, this is the promise of chemsex, but behind the allure of freedom and fun there hides a reality of health risks, vulnerability, and addiction | Conversation, Spain