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Weekly news - 2nd September 2022

In date order, Monday to Friday

Vaping reaches record levels in Great Britain, report reveals

Estimated 4.3 million people using e-cigarettes, up from about 800,000 a decade ago in ‘vaping revolution’ | Guardian, UK [see also ASH Briefing (PDF)]

Doctors warn of rise in nerve damage linked to nitrous oxide

Medics have described increase in neurological injuries resulting from laughing gas as an epidemic | Guardian, UK

Public call for tougher restrictions on buying tobacco in Britain

People in Britain strongly support restricting the sale of tobacco near schools and raising the legal age of sale to 21, finds a new UCL-led study | UCL, UK

Free medicinal cannabis to be given to epileptic children on NHS waitlist as private firms back mother’s plea

Charlotte Caldwell, whose epileptic son Billy helped change the law on medical cannabis, has secured free-to-access care for severely epileptic children which could save families private prescription costs of up to £6,000 | i news, UK

How to protect yourself from super-strength ecstasy

With reports of dangerously high strength ecstasy being sold at clubs and festivals, Mixmag has compiled a guide to help you stay safe when taking MDMA | MixMag, UK

[Open access] The UK Government's recent 10-year Drug Strategy, From Harm to Hope (the Strategy), presents an ambition to “achieve a generational shift in the country's relationship with drugs and to reduce overall drug use towards a historic 30-year low” through “bold steps to change attitudes in society around the perceived acceptability of illegal drug use” . In this commentary, I focus on the potential impacts of drug prevention activity outlined in the Strategy and consider the feasibility of achieving this headline outcome considering constraints on UK prevention systems | IJDP, UK

The socioeconomic gradient of alcohol use: an analysis of nationally representative survey data from 55 low-income and middle-income countries

Alcohol is a leading risk factor for over 200 conditions and an important contributor to socioeconomic health inequalities. However, little is known about the associations between individuals’ socioeconomic circumstances and alcohol consumption, especially heavy episodic drinking (HED; ≥5 drinks on one occasion) in low-income or middle-income countries. We investigated the association between individual and household level socioeconomic status, and alcohol drinking habits in these settings | Lancet, UK

Americans and the Future of Cigarettes, Marijuana, Alcohol

Gallup has been asking Americans about their attitudes toward cigarettes and alcohol since the 1930s and 1940s, and, in more recent decades, has added similar questions about marijuana. One purpose of these continuing surveys is to update estimates of these substances' frequency of use | GALLUP, USA

Biggest ever independent study into cannabis use launched by King's College London

A £2.5 million study into the effects of cannabis on the brain has been launched by a London university. The Cannabis & Me study will research environmental and biological factors behind the different effects people experience when using cannabis. King's College London want 6,000 people to take part in the investigation, which would be the largest independent study of its kind | BBC, UK

Is it too easy for under-18s to get vapes through TikTok?

TikTok is being urged by a public health charity to take a "responsible approach" towards content relating to vapes and e-cigarettes on the platform. It comes as ITV News found pages on the platform dedicated to demonstrating how vapes are made, and accounts that link to websites to buy the cigarette alternatives in bulk | ITV, UK

International Overdose Awareness Day 2022

In recognition of the International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) campaign, celebrated every year on 31 August, Release staff have come together to honour the memory of all those that we have lost to drug overdoses, and that do not have the conditions to seek the help they require | Release, UK

Australia's Annual Overdose Report

The report draws on the most up-to-date data from diverse, verifiable sources. We apply the most rigorous standards of research and analysis to identify current and emerging trends and create a snapshot of the overdose crisis in the Australian context | Penington Institute, Australia

Police Scotland roll-out of Naloxone begins

Around 150 pouches are being distributed in Renfrewshire & Inverclyde and Highland & Islands Divisions, following a decision earlier this year to train and equip all operational officers up to and including the rank of Police Inspector | Police Scotland, UK

HERE4U SCOTLAND

Here4U Scotland is a remote mobile application which is uniquely placed to help those who use drugs alone to provide them with support from private, anonymous non-judgmental people who are experienced in preventing DRD. Here4U Scotland connects people who are consuming drugs alone to volunteer supporters who remain present and on the line with them at the period when there is potential for overdose | DRNS, UK

Scottish Drug Checking Project

We’re delighted to support and host the new Scottish Drug Checking Project website and community of practice in partnership with the University of Stirling. Sharing the results of this research will raise awareness and understanding of the potential for drug checking to help Scotland respond better to emerging drug trends and prevent drug-related harms more effectively. It will also help provide evidence to ensure services and budgets are developed to meet changing needs | CREW, UK

Less than human: dehumanisation of people who use heroin

[Now open access] Stigma reduction is an important public health challenge because of the large morbidity and mortality associated with some forms of substance use. Extreme stigma can lead to dehumanisation of target groups, who are ascribed with lesser humanity. The authors examined whether there was blatant and subtle dehumanisation of people who use heroin, and if these were associated with levels of support for non-discriminatory drug policy | Health Policy, UK

Cannabis researchers say it’s high time to drop ‘lazy stoner’ stereotype

Regular users no more likely to lack drive than non-users – but motivation may wane while under the influence | Guardian, UK [see also Anhedonia, apathy, pleasure, and effort-based decision-making in adult and adolescent cannabis users and controls]

September - Recovery Month

Each September, Recovery Month works to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible | FAVOR, UK

September is FASD Awareness Month

The 9th day of the 9th month is International FASD Day. This is to draw attention to the importance of going alcohol-free for the 9 months of pregnancy. In the UK we celebrate September FASD Awareness Month | National FASD, UK