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Daily news - 22nd May 2025 |
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UK news
Birkbeck study finds the availability of crack cocaine in marginalised areas is fuelling addiction and homelessness
Researchers are calling for a comprehensive approach that addresses not only addiction but also the underlying social and economic factors contributing to this crisis | Birkbeck University of London, UK
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee - Tuesday 13 May 2025 (PDF)
The official report of the evidence session given to the Health Committee on the 13th May 2025 on the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament, UK
Screen time, not health fears, behind drop in alcohol sales, says Asahi CEO
The global decline in alcohol consumption has more to do with digital distractions than health concerns, according to the boss of one of the world’s largest brewers | The Drinks Business, UK
Disposable vape ban about to start - here's everything you need to know
The popularity of vapes has skyrocketed in recent years - but the days of picking up a disposable vape from the corner shop are numbered as a ban comes into force on 1 June. Here's what you need to know | Sky News, UK
Plea for public help ahead of disposable vape ban
Trading Standards bosses are urging people to report retailers that flout the incoming disposable vape ban | BBC, UK
Community praised as addiction support hub rehomed
An addiction support hub which had to close due to a city development plan has relaunched following help from the community | BBC, UK
Driver charged by NCA after biggest class A drugs find in Northern Ireland
National Crime Agency officers have charged a Bulgarian national with drugs offences as part of an investigation into the seizure of 185 kilos of cocaine, discovered hidden in the trailer of an HGV at Belfast Port | NCA, UK
Professional footballer orchestrated £600k cannabis importation
A professional footballer has admitted orchestrating the smuggling of £600,000 worth of cannabis to the UK, following a National Crime Agency investigation | NCA, UK
International news
Thailand to crack down on cannabis after smuggling cases involving UK tourists
The Thai government is set to introduce stricter regulations on cannabis sales after a string of alleged smuggling cases involving tourists | ITV, UK
Drug Policy Prospects in Trump’s Second Term – An Interview with Ethan Nadelmann
At the 28th Harm Reduction International Conference, we had the chance to speak with Ethan Nadelmann, founder of the Drug Policy Alliance in the United States, about the present and future of drug policy during Donald Trump’s second term as president | Drug Reporter, Hungary
Alcohol taxation and pricing policies implementation toolkit: a practical guide for selecting, implementing and evaluating policies
This toolkit supports government officials in selecting, implementing, and evaluating alcohol taxation and pricing policies. It offers practical considerations and resources to navigate the complexities of policy formulation, empowering officials from various sectors like health, finance, social welfare, children’s services, trade and agriculture to initiate and lead cross-government discussions | WHO, Switzerland
Alcohol use during recovery: A 10-year follow-up of people treated for alcohol or other drug problems
From Sweden confirmation (see history of the abstinence v. moderation issue) that “long-term recovery does not necessarily require complete abstinence [from alcohol] and that it is important to focus not only on sobriety but also on other life domains such as health, social networks, and housing” | DEPP, USA
Cannabis use disorder is increasing rapidly, especially among older adults and people living with HIV
The new findings underscore the need for universal screening and treatment for the disorder, as well as concerted research to better understand the benefits and risks of cannabis among different populations | Medical Xpress, USA
Students often overestimate how much alcohol their peers drink—study shows how to reduce risk
Growing up in a close-knit community in Ghana, Joshua Awua saw firsthand how strong social bonds could also bring pressure to fit in—especially when it came to alcohol | Medical Xpress, USA
Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment Among Youth-Serving Clinicians
In this cross-sectional study of 1047 youth-serving clinicians from multiple primary care specialties, 57% reported that they routinely screen adolescents for substance use disorders at every well visit. Only 39% reported using a screening tool at every well visit | JAMA Network Open, USA
Study identifies populations at risk for high-dose opioid prescriptions
Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have shed light on what populations are more likely to be prescribed a high dose of opioid medication. This increases their risk of developing opioid use disorder | News Medical, USA
How marijuana legalization has affected traditional drug prescriptions
Approval of recreational and medical cannabis laws in most U.S. states has allowed individuals to legally obtain cannabis to treat certain medical ailments that had typically been treated with prescription drugs. New research reveals the impact that cannabis laws have had on such traditional prescriptions | Medical Xpress, USA
Sleep Better with New Drugs, Select Cannabinoids and Wearable Devices
Drugs that target wakefulness, molecules in cannabis and wearable devices that modulate brain activity could help people with insomnia | Scientific American, USA
Sports gambling and heavy drinking strongly linked
Sports gambling is legal in many US states and has become increasingly common. Because heavy drinking is part of sports gambling culture, this study examined whether changes in alcohol use are linked with sports gambling in a representative sample of US adults | Recovery Research Institute, USA
Teen use of alcohol and cannabis for sleep: Helpful or harmful?
When used as sleep aids, alcohol and cannabis use are associated with a range of health risks. For teens, however, the risks may be especially high. This study examined how commonly teens “self medicated” sleep difficulties with alcohol and cannabis, and how this related to later sleep difficulties and substance use problems | Recovery Research Institute, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Harm reduction as a rational response to irrational drinking
Reading an interesting piece in The Conversation last month on drinking and regret, I started thinking about how discussions of alcohol and public health policy often seem to misunderstand the nature and attractions of drinking and drunkenness. There’s a tendency to impose a particular view of the world as if it’s objectively ‘rational’ when in fact it’s just one set of personal preferences about what activities are fun, and what level of risk is acceptable | IAS blog, UK
James Bethell: Why a clear smoking ban is the Conservative and patriotic choice
My heart sinks at yet another squabble over smoking. Flavoured vapes, pub gardens, or the absurdity of teenagers being carded well into middle age, the endless tinkering with regulations is exhausting. Enough of the incrementalism, I say | Conservative Home blog, UK
FASD: Recognising the signs and the risks of pre-natal alcohol exposure
In our latest blog, new SHAAP Steering Group Member Dr Patricia D. Jackson highlights the risks of pre-natal alcohol exposure, describes some key signs of FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) in children and young adults and shares her hopes for more work to be done on this topic | SHAAP blog, UK