Reports: December |
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GDS 2021 Global Report (PDF)
GDS2021 launched at the end of an unusual year. Participation was lower than in previous years. However, data from 32,022 people from 22 countries were still used in the preparation of this report. The Executive Summary can be found here | GDS, UK
Women's Report
In February 2021, the Taskforce had a discussion about the particular issues facing women who use drugs and their families. It was decided to set up a short life working group to further explore the key themes and recommendations from the literature and consider their practical application. All members of the working group had a strong interest in this work, some with professional experience and others with lived experience | Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce, UK
Deaths of homeless people in England and Wales: 2020 registrations
Experimental Statistics of the number of deaths of homeless people in England and Wales. Figures are given for deaths registered in the years 2013 to 2020. Almost two in five deaths of homeless people were related to drug poisoning in 2020 (265 estimated deaths; 38.5% of the total number), consistent with previous years | ONS, UK
From harm to hope: A 10-year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives
The drug strategy sets out how the government and its partners will take action to tackle drug misuse and the harms it causes | Home Office, UK
Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK: registered in 2020
Deaths caused by diseases known to be a direct consequence of alcohol misuse by sex, age, region and deprivation | ONS, UK
Local Alcohol Profiles for England: short statistical commentary, December 2021
There were 6,985 alcohol-specific deaths in England in 2020, an increase in the rate to 13.0 per 100,000 population from 10.9 in 2019. The number of alcohol-specific deaths has increased by 20.0% between 2020 (6,985) and 2019 (5,820). This increase has been confirmed in previously published reports from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) (formerly as Public Health England) in the Alcohol consumption and harm during the COVID-19 pandemic report and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the Quarterly alcohol specific deaths report | OHID, UK
Local tobacco control profiles for England: short statistical commentary, December 2021
The current adult smoking prevalence in England for 2020 (April to December) was 12.1%. As explained in the ‘Background’ section below, due to a change in survey mode it is not appropriate to compare the 2020 prevalence figure to the previously published trend | OHID, UK
25 Years of Responsible Alcohol Regulation: A spotlight on 2021 (PDF)
This report highlights our work as a regulator for the past year and also reflects on the history of 25 years of the Code | Portman Group, UK
Summary of assessments, findings and recommendations of the 44th World Health Organization’s (WHO) Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD), 11–15 October 2021 (PDF)
Summary of assessments, findings and recommendations of the 44th ECDD, 11-15 October 2021 | UNODC, USA
WHO report on digital marketing of alcohol: control policies in the European Region are not enough
Only 14 Member States of the WHO European Region indicated that they have a ban on alcohol marketing on the Internet and social media, states a new WHO publication. The report, “Digital marketing of alcohol: Challenges and policy options for better health in the WHO European Region” describes the developing digital ecosystem that is used to promote alcohol consumption and the associated health risks | WHO, Denmark
Preventing underage alcohol purchasing online using payment card details (PDF)
With the increasing reliance on digital services for purchasing physical goods, there is a growing need to uphold the legislative requirements for age assurance online, in addition to a responsibility on businesses to only provide products to those who are of an appropriate age | IAS, UK
Helping people quit tobacco use is key to breaking the cycle of dependence
There are 1.3 billion tobacco users today globally, trapped by nicotine’s addictiveness and the manipulative influence of the tobacco industry. Helping people to quit is the key to breaking this dependence and ending the tobacco epidemic. The newly published ‘Global investment case for tobacco cessation’ presents the reasons from the perspectives of health and economy for why countries should do more in supporting people to quit | WHO, Denmark
New research: Exposure to childhood trauma associated with increased risk of opioid use disorder (OUD) among people prescribed opioids for chronic non-cancer pain
To reduce the likelihood of opioid use disorder (OUD) among people prescribed opioids for chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP), it is important to identify individual risk factors for OUD among this population. However, until now, little has been known about the relationship between a childhood trauma and OUD risk among people prescribed opioids for CNCP | NDARC, Australia
INPUD Summary Report: WHO Key Populations' Values & Preferences for HIV, Hepatitis and STIs services (PDF)
These Guidelines will be used to inform countries on the design and implementation of health packages for key populations, making it extremely important that they take into account the specific values and preferences of each key population included in the study (people who inject drugs, gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men, female, male and trans sex workers and trans people) | INPUD, UK
The Views and Experiences of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Professionals and People Seeking Recovery from Substance Dependency, that Influence Referral To, and Attendance at Twelve Step Groups in the UK: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies
There is a high level of drug related mortality and morbidity in the UK. Although treatment is effective in reducing harm, funding cuts combined with unmet demand present significant public health challenges. Twelve-step groups (TSGs) are an approach to treatment that can improve recovery outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. This review examined the factors that influence referral to and attendance at TSGs in the UK, through the views and experiences of drug and alcohol treatment professionals (DATPs) and people seeking recovery from substance dependency | PHI, UK
Publication on suspected drug deaths
A report on the number of suspected drug deaths during the first nine months of 2021 shows a small decrease (4%) on the same period last year | Scottish Government, UK
Overlooked: Why we should be doing more to support families and friends affected by someone else's drinking, drug use or gambling (PDF)
This latest research looks at the number of people negatively impacted by someone else's drinking, drug taking or gambling. In line with our 2019 research which looked at families affected by substance use, Adfam found that 5.5 million people are currently dealing with the negative impacts of a friend or family member's drinking, drug talking or gambling | Adfam, UK
Majority of motorists putting themselves at risk of drink driving
A survey commissioned by the UK’s leading independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, has revealed that the majority of motorists are unaware of the amount of alcohol that will tip them over the limit, while half admit they are prepared to drive the morning after festive drinks or their Christmas party | IAm RoadSmart, UK
Making UK drug policy a success: Reforming the policy making process
Bad practice in drug policymaking is the hidden driver of the UK’s current crisis, finds the CDPRG’s new report — with polling data showing the majority of MPs from all parties believe it needs an evidence-based update | CDPRG, UK
New EMCDDA miniguide on responding to opioid-related deaths highlights approaches and evidence that can help save lives
Health and social responses to opioid-related deaths are explored in a new EMCDDA miniguide launched today. The resource is the ninth in a series of miniguides, making up the agency’s latest overview of actions and interventions to respond to the consequences of illicit drug use | EMCDDA, Portugal
N,N-Dimethylpentylone
N,N-Dimethylpentylone is classified as a novel stimulant and substituted cathinone. Substituted cathinones are modified based on the structure of cathinone, an alkaloid found in the Khat plant. Novel stimulants have been reported to cause psychoactive effects similar to amphetamines | CFSRE, NPS Discovery, USA
Tobacco control works – new WHO report shows inspiring progress globally
The new WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use - WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2025 - shows that amid the global crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, countries are continuing to successfully tackle the tobacco epidemic. Countries have not been distracted, but instead have made strong headway in protecting their populations from the harms of tobacco. The report notes that 150 countries globally are seeing declining tobacco use rates | WHO, Denmark
ACMD annual report 2017 to 2019
Provides a summary of the main issues the ACMD considered between January 2017 and December 2019 | ACMD, UK
ACMD annual report 2013 to 2016
Provides a summary of the main issues the ACMD considered between April 2013 and December 2016 | ACMD, UK