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Weekly news - 19th May 2023

In date order, Monday to Friday

Education: Cannabis linked to increase in school exclusions

Cannabis related issues have led to an increase in exclusions from schools, a council report has found | BBC, UK

Hepatitis C home test kits available to most-at-risk in England

Home test kits for a virus which attacks the liver are now available to order online in England, as the NHS tries to reach those needing treatment | BBC, UK

Single-use vapes sparking surge in fires at UK waste plants

The 1.3m disposable e-cigarettes discarded every week often end up in general waste and their broken batteries are highly flammable | Guardian, UK

Addiction Mission: Innovation for Treatment and Recovery Awards

The Addiction Mission, led by the UK Office for Life Sciences (OLS), in collaboration with the National Institute of Health and Social Care Research (NIHR), will be inviting applications to the Addiction Mission: Innovation for Treatment and Recovery Awards (AMI) to develop valuable tools that support treatment and recovery for people dependent on opioids or cocaine. The application process is scheduled to open on May 31, with a webinar for prospective applicants taking place on the same day. The call will be open to all UK legal entities, regardless of size or sector, including commercial entities, NHS and third sector providers, charities, local government bodies, universities and research institutions | NIHR, UK

[Open access] The UK Government recently published a White Paper proposing a new system of sanctions for the possession of drugs. The proposals aim to reduce demand amongst a group referred to as ‘so-called recreational drug users’. They will not apply to people experiencing drug dependence, for whom the document suggests drug treatment is more appropriate; however, it is unclear how dependence will be differentiated in practice. The plans have attracted widespread criticism... Here, we consider whether the White Paper proposals are ethically justifiable, whilst reflecting on what a ‘public health approach’ should entail | IJDP, UK

Calls for rehab to be more than 'last resort' for addicts

On an anonymous road just outside Llantrisant is a place offering hope for addicts. When people come to Brynawel Rehab with an addiction - be it drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex - they are often at their lowest ebb, having exhausted all other options and reached rock bottom | ITV, UK

Isle of Man to grow cannabis business to diversify economy

British crown dependency hopes to license as many as 10 medicinal cannabis firms by end of 2025 | Guardian, UK

£14bn a year up in smoke – economic toll of smoking in England revealed

The £14bn annual toll of smoking on the nation’s economy is disclosed... amid growing calls for a levy on big tobacco companies | ASH, UK

Debate on access to psilocybin treatments

A debate has been scheduled for 18 May on access to psilocybin treatments. The subject for the debate has been chosen by the Backbench Business Committee, and the debate will be opened by Charlotte Nichols MP, Crispin Blunt MP and Ronnie Cowan MP. Download the Research Briefing for the debate | House of Commons Library, UK

NHS stop smoking services quarterly

This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents information on NHS Stop Smoking Services in Scotland and their progress towards their annual Local Delivery Plan (LDP) Standard. The LDP Standard for NHS Scotland in 2022/23 is to achieve at least 7,026 self-reported successful twelve-week quits through smoking cessation services in the 40% most deprived areas | Public Health Scotland, UK

What is monkey dust? The zombie drug causing users to eat glass – allegedly

When it comes to reporting on drugs such as the so-called “monkey dust”, the press twists the truth and harms vulnerable people. We spoke to a substance use expert to get the facts | The Face, UK

Recovery Street Film Festival 2023

The competition is open to anyone regardless of their skill in film making. We want people to tell their story and will not be judging based on the quality of the film making. Submissions for the 2023 festival are now open, and the submission window will close on the 1st August 2023 at 11:59pm. All entries must be received by then to be considered | Phoenix Futures, UK

Psilocybin: Calls to ease restrictions on magic mushroom drug

An MP has called on the government to ease restrictions on a drug found in magic mushrooms to allow it to be used to treat mental health conditions | BBC, UK

Experimental child vaping up significantly since 2022 but not current vaping

Surveys carried out by YouGov for ASH this Spring find that the proportion of children who have experimented with vaping has grown significantly since last year (up from 7.7% to 11.6%). In contrast there is no significant change since last year in the proportion of children currently smoking (4.8% in 2022 and 3.6% in 2023) or currently vaping (6.9% in 2022 and 7.6% in 2023) | ASH, UK

Vaping: Tighter rules calls amid rise in children using vapes

A doubling of children trying vaping within the past decade has prompted calls for tighter regulations | BBC, UK

Innovation Fund to Reduce Demand for Illicit Substances Call (RDIS) Phase 2 - webinar

Mon, 22 May 2023 12:00 - 13:00 BST. NIHR is launching phase 2 of a call as part of the Government’s 10 year drug strategy, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in partnership with the Joint Combating Drugs Unit (JCDU) (working across the Home Office, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities, Ministry of Justice, DHSC and the Department for Education). The call aims to fund projects that address demand for recreational drugs and are thereby likely to lead to reduced drug use and dependency | NIHR Research Design Service, UK

Naloxone (Police Officers)

To ask the Scottish Government how many front-line police officers have been trained to use, and equipped with, naloxone | They work for you, UK