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Weekly news - 17th March 2023 |
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In date order, Monday to Friday
SDF Publish Report on Peer Naloxone Supply Project
A new report published by SDF shows the evaluation of the peer-to-peer naloxone programme within three pilot areas: one prison, one rural, one urban.
The project aimed to establish, embed, and support high quality peer supply of naloxone as a core service across Scotland and ensure those involved in peer supply have an active voice in delivery of naloxone and other harm reduction interventions, including the sharing and promotion of good practice | SDF, UK
Optimizing online learning resources for substance use professionals in England: lessons from user-centered design
[Open access] The aim of this study was to identify ways of improving online learning for people working in substance use treatment services in England | DEPP, UK
Sensors reduce student vaping, Kidderminster school says
A headteacher says sensors have reduced the number of students vaping. Matthew Carpenter, from Baxter College, Kidderminster, had the sensors and also CCTV installed to tackle the use of e-cigarettes | BBC, UK
Reducing drug Deaths Innovation Challenge - applications reminder
Organisations can apply for a share of £5 million inclusive of VAT. This is to deliver innovations addressing key drug related overdose priorities across two competitions. Competition closes: Friday 21 April 2023 11:00am. A recording of the launch event is available to view on demand here | Department for Science, Innovation and Technology & Department of Health and Social Care, UK
Ben Nelson-Roux death: Coroner's fears over hostel shortage for young drug users
A coroner has criticised the lack of accommodation for young people with substance abuse problems after the death of a teenager in an adult hostel. Ben Nelson-Roux, 16, who was a drug user, was found dead by his mother at a hostel in Harrogate in April 2020 | BBC, UK
Caroline Lucas calls for safe drugs van in Brighton
An MP is calling for a safe space for drug users where they can go without fear of arrest | Brighton and Hove Argus, UK
Vapes: How easy is it to buy an illegal one?
Illegal vapes are being seized at an unprecedented level, and shops selling them have been described by trading standards officers as the biggest threat on the UK's high streets. But how easy are they to get hold of and what is being done to prevent them from reaching the shelves? | BBC, UK
Sixty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)
The Sixty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) takes place in Vienna, Austria,13-17 March 2023. The CND meets every year to discuss the global state of drug control and to adopt resolutions to guide the way forward. The EMCDDA attends the event to provide technical support to the European Commission and the EU Member States | EMCDDA, Portugal
Public health ring-fenced grant 2023 to 2024: local authority circular
Loal authorities must have regard to the need to improve the take up of, and outcomes from, its drug and alcohol misuse treatment services, based on an assessment of local need and a plan which has been developed with local health and criminal justice partners | DHSC, UK
Local Authority Public Health Update
The allocations I am announcing today [See above] are part of a wider package of investment in public health services. This includes additional targeted investment up to 2025 of £516 million going to local authorities to improve drug and alcohol addiction treatment | UK Parliament, UK
Humankind joins call to reinstate funding to support children affected by parental alcohol use
Humankind has signed a joint letter to the the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling to reinstate funding to support children affected by parental alcohol use | DDN, UK
Evaluating the impact of alcohol minimum unit pricing (MUP) on alcohol-attributable deaths and hospital admissions in Scotland
We used a natural experimental study design to look at the impact of MUP on deaths and hospital admissions caused wholly or partially by alcohol consumption in Scotland. We used data for England as the main geographical control group. Data for English regions was used in sensitivity analyses | PHS, UK
Suspected drug deaths in Scotland at worst level for 18 months
Suspected drugs deaths jumped by a quarter at the end of last year, bringing the total for all of 2022 to more than 1,000, according to new official figures | Herald, UK
SDF appoints new CEO
Kirsten Horsburgh has been appointed CEO of Scottish Drugs Forum. Kirsten has worked at SDF for eleven years, having previously worked in drug treatment services. Kirsten has held various positions within SDF most recently serving as Director of Operations | SDF, UK
Substance use, risk behaviours and well-being after admission to a quasi-residential abstinence-based rehabilitation programme: 4-year follow-up
[Open access] The aims of this study were to analyse and report outcomes up to 4 years after attendance at a substance misuse residential rehabilitation programme (Lothians and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme) | BJPsych Open, UK
Association of Fully Branded and Standardized e-Cigarette Packaging With Interest in Trying Products Among Youths and Adults in Great Britain
In this study comprising 2 surveys conducted among 2469 youths (aged 11-18 years) and 12 046 adults (aged ≥18 years) from Great Britain, youths had higher odds of reporting no interest in trying e-cigarettes in standardized green packaging than e-cigarettes in branded packaging, but adults had lower odds of reporting no interest in trying e-cigarettes in standardized green packaging than e-cigarettes in branded packaging | JAMA Network Open, USA
Cigarette prices rise but draught beer duty is frozen
The price of a packet of cigarettes rose hours after the Budget while drinkers will see tax on alcohol go up by 10.1% in August, in line with inflation | BBC, UK
Official Statistics - Substance misuse treatment in secure settings: 2021 to 2022
Statistics for alcohol and drug misuse treatment in prisons and other secure settings from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) | OHID, UK
Drug consumption rooms considered in Earl's Court
Kensington and Chelsea Council is looking at introducing "safe-use rooms" in Earl's Court. They would allow people with "severe" addictions to consume drugs inside and under medical supervision as opposed to on the street. Earl's Court councillor Linda Wade said: "You have to look at a fresh way of addressing [the drug use issue]." | BBC, UK
The man behind Glasgow’s ‘drug consumption van’
In 2020, Peter Krykant started an unsanctioned overdose prevention site (or drug consumption room) out of a minibus and later a converted ambulance in Glasgow’s city centre. He talked to the Society for the Study of Addiction at Lisbon Addictions 2022 about some of the most important outcomes from drug consumption rooms, the benefits of a medical versus peer-led model, and having the opportunity to challenge news editors to use non-stigmatising language | BBC, UK