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Daily news - 30th January 2025

UK news

1 in 4 drug-related deaths involve cocaine

Latest figures from Public Health Wales show that cocaine was involved in 65 deaths in 2023, accounting for a quarter of all drug misuse fatalities and ranking as the third most common substance, following opioids and benzodiazepines | Public Health Wales, UK

Government response to the ACMD on fifth addendum on nitazenes and related opioids (PDF)

Letter from Dame Diana Johnson, Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention, responding to the ACMD's recent advice | ACMD, UK

Cocaine most used drug in Glasgow consumption room

Most people who are using Glasgow's new safe drug consumption room are using cocaine, according to health bosses | BBC, UK

Sheffield research shows Drink Less app could save lives and millions for the NHS

A new study led by Professor Colin Angus of the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) has revealed the significant potential of the Drink Less app in reducing alcohol-related harm and saving the NHS millions of pounds | University of Sheffield, UK

Young people support the idea of a smokefree generation, according to a new study

Young people broadly welcome the idea of the Government’s smokefree generation policy and see it as a chance to free their generation from harmful addiction, according to a study led by the University of Nottingham | University of Nottingham, UK

Tobacco company accused of absorbing tax rises on cheaper cigarettes

Tobacco giant Philip Morris International has been accused by health campaigners of undermining public health policy - a claim it dismisses | The i Paper, UK

DDN 2025 Conference consultation

Planning for the 2025 #ddnconf is underway and we’d love to hear from you – let us know who and what you’d like to see at this year’s event, tell us the things you’ve loved about our past conferences and if there’s anything we should do differently | DDN, UK

122. Street Drugs Discussions with Dr James Morgan, Prof Chris Chandler and Prof Jo Neill

Tune in to the latest episode of the drug science podcast where we meet the founders of Street Drugs Discussions (SDD). They discuss the process which led to them founding SDD, a series of webinars featuring experts on drug policy and drugs featuring topics surrounding overdose prevention centres, trafficking, specific substances and more | Drug Science, UK

GPs asked to identify potential gambling addicts

GPs and other healthcare professionals in England should help identify potential problem gambling, in the same way they look for alcohol and smoking addiction, new guidance says | BBC, UK

International news

Government appoints Ministers of State

The new appointments include: Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD - Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy | Gov.ie, Ireland

[Open access] In response to the recent and growing shift from injecting heroin to smoking fentanyl, an increasing number of syringe services programs (SSPs) in the United States are distributing safer smoking supplies. There is a lack of research on whether safer smoking supply distribution is associated with increased SSP engagement and naloxone distribution from SSPs | DADR, USA

Flavored e-cigarettes pose dire threat to youth and public health

The facts are clear: Tobacco products cause cancer. Overwhelming evidence demonstrates that multiple types of cancer are linked to tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, and that the longer someone uses these products the greater their health risks become. That’s why it is critically important that we prevent candy- and fruit-flavored flavored e-liquids and e-cigarettes from being marketed to young people | AMA, USA

Medicaid patients struggle with telehealth access for opioid treatment post-pandemic

Patients with opioid use disorder enrolled in Medicaid were less likely to receive telehealth care after the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to patients with private insurance, according to a recent Northwestern Medicine study published in Health Services Research | Medical Xpress, USA

Chiropractic care associated with reduction in opioid-related adverse drug events

A new study led by researchers at University Hospitals Connor Whole Health found that adults with newly diagnosed sciatica who initially received chiropractic spinal manipulation (CSM) were significantly less likely to experience opioid-related adverse drug events (ORADEs) such as overdose and poisoning over a one-year follow-up compared to those receiving usual medical care | Medical Xpress, USA

Does recovery coaching after an opioid-related emergency department visit help prevent overdose?

Peer recovery support service providers like recovery coaches are increasingly employed in hospital emergency departments (ED) to support people presenting with substance-related medical and psychiatric problems. This randomized trial compared recovery coaching during and after an ED visit with standard clinical support provided only during the ED stay for individuals experiencing opioid overdose | Recovery Research Institute, USA

New lessons learned: School-based ADHD intervention during adolescence does not improve substance use during young adulthood

Young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have increased risk of earlier, risky substance use and for later developing substance use disorder compared to their peers without ADHD. Yet, timely ADHD treatment can help reduce risk for later substance use problems. This study examined whether a school-based ADHD intervention for adolescents improved alcohol and other drug use outcomes as these individuals entered young adulthood | Recovery Research Institute, USA

CBD reduces alcohol cravings in people suffering from alcoholism, clinical trial finds

A new study shows that cannabidiol (CBD) can reduce the craving for alcohol in people suffering from alcoholism. CBD is a natural component of the cannabis plant and has no intoxicating effects | Medical Xpress, USA

Pill testing to be introduced at Victorian music festivals where overdoses occurred

The government will roll out pill testing at four more Victorian festivals, including festivals where drug overdoses occurred in 2024. Hardmission Festival, Pitch Music and Arts Festival, Ultra Music Festival and The Warehouse Project will host a free pill-testing service this year. It comes following a trial at the Beyond the Valley festival in January, which the government has lauded as "highly successful" | ABC.net.au, Australia

Drug Trends output: Drug-related encounters which did not result in arrest, among two national samples of people who regularly use drugs in Australia, 2023-2024

The purpose of this bulletin is to examine characteristics of drug-related encounters with police that did not result in arrest among two national samples of people who used drugs in Australia in 2024 compared to 2023 | NDARC, Australia

Blogs, comment and opinion

What does the Tobacco and Vapes Bill actually do?

The new Tobacco and Vapes Bill passed its first vote in the Commons with a stonking majority of 383 ayes versus 67 noes (that’s yes and no to the rest of us!). Currently, a committee of 17 MPs is going through it line by line before it heads to the House of Lords. As the Bill makes its way through Parliament, it’s important to look at the detail and explore what the Bill does, and doesn’t, do | ASH blog, UK

“More Than a Clinic”: Views of People Injecting Drugs on DCRs in the UK

Often, the discussion of whether drug consumption rooms (DCRs) should open or not are left to policymakers, leading to political resistance and delays in implementation. And while these facilities are proven to reduce drug related deaths and promote safer use and injecting, those that would benefit the most from DCRs – people who use or inject drugs – are often left out of discussions on their purposes, values, and uses | Talking Drugs, UK

JUSTICE SERIES: Glasgow's Alcohol Problem Solving Court

In this blog, Sheriff Iain Fleming gives an overview of the Glasgow Alcohol Problem Solving Court, which aims to assist those who have regularly offended while under the influence of alcohol, to control their alcohol consumption such that they no longer offend | SHAAP blog, UK

It’s just a matter of time: drone-delivered alcohol in your neighbourhood

Primary drivers of alcohol use are availability, affordability, and convenience. Drone delivery of alcohol ticks all three of these boxes. Drones can bypass traffic congestion, reduce costs by eradicating the need for a driver, and provide fast access to alcohol at the click of a button. Drone delivery trials for food products are already in place in jurisdictions such as the United States and Australia | IAS blog, UK

Is no amount of alcohol safe? Understanding risks and public health guidelines

The United States surgeon general recently called for a warning of cancer risk on alcohol labels. And I agree. But the discourse that has come out in the media, by health professionals and health influencers, has been alarmist and a disservice to informing the public on the real cancer risks associated with alcohol | Conversation, Canada

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