Home | Archive | Weekly | Reports

Weekly news - 5th April 2024

 

This week, Russell Newcombe, a pioneer of harm reduction, passed away. In his memory, we are posting a link to his landmark article from Druglink in 1987 - we believe the very first article to refer to harm reduction. - High Time for Harm Reduction (PDF)

 

 

In date order, Monday to Friday

Research and analysis: Uncontrolled novel benzodiazepines: 2024 update

This self-commissioned review follows an ACMD report published in 2020, which recommended 3 benzodiazepines for control under Class C of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Since then, the ACMD monitoring group has become aware of the detection and non-medical use of a further group of novel benzodiazepines in the UK and Europe. Evidence was therefore sought from stakeholders concerning 18 different compounds detected in international markets to establish their prevalence in the UK. Prompted by concerns of the abuse potential of these substances, the ACMD have conducted a review to assess the available evidence on prevalence and harms of these compounds, to identify those that warrant further legislative control | ACMD, UK

Official Statistics: Drug and alcohol treatment for victims and suspects of homicide

A Better Outcomes through Linked Data (BOLD) report looking at the use of substance misuse treatment services by victims and suspects of homicide in England. The findings will contribute to the evidence base for homicide prevention policy and will help us to better understand the relationship between homicide and substance misuse treatment | OHID and Home Office, UK

Nearly a quarter of teachers use alcohol to cope with stresses of the job, survey suggests

A teaching union calls for suicide prevention training for all school leaders as teachers reveal what they are doing to get through the day | Sky News, UK

Tobacco position statement

The UK, Scottish and Welsh governments and the Northern Ireland Executive have recently announced new measures to protect children and young people from the harm caused by smoking and vaping (Department of Health and Social Care, 2023). In addition, in 2023 the Scottish Government launched its ‘Tobacco and vaping framework: roadmap to 2034’ | Public Health Scotland, UK

£8M secured to improve population health at local level in the UK

A major research project led by the University of Bath has been funded to investigate the under-researched issue of how the commercial sector influences public health at the local level and what can be done to harness positive impacts and address the negative impacts. It brings together researchers, NGOs, public health professionals, local people and local government for the first time to do this | University of Bath, UK

CBD products don’t ease pain and are potentially harmful – new study finds

There is no evidence that CBD products reduce chronic pain, and taking them is a waste of money and potentially harmful to health, new research finds | University of Bath, UK

Bid for first Scottish drug-checking project in Grampian

A bid is being made to establish Scotland's first checking service for possible contamination of illegal drugs in Aberdeen, aimed at saving lives | BBC, UK

Cannabis partially decriminalised in Germany

Germany has, as of 1 April, partly decriminalised marijuana use. But police unions are warning of real-world harm. The law-change may have come on April Fool's Day but for them it is no joke | BBC, UK

Success or failure? Canada's drug decriminalisation test faces scrutiny

Last year, British Columbia (BC) became the first province in Canada to decriminalise the use of hard drugs as part of its efforts to tackle a deadly opioids crisis. But the policy is facing pushback, leaving its future uncertain | BBC, UK

DDN April 2024 - out now

In this issue we look at alternatives to custodial sentences, the opportunities for successful diversion schemes, and the positive impact of moving away from short sentences. Our contributors this month also provide vital knowledge – on the trauma suffered by many veterans who find themselves self-medicating with alcohol and drugs; on neurodivergent conditions; on safe spaces for women; and on ways to connect with peer support and recovery communities | DDN, UK

Council considers introducing minimum alcohol price

Sunderland City Council has launched a public consultation after being urged by its public health team to look at implementing a minimum price locally | BBC, UK

SDF undertakes innovative work in drug checking

Sunday 31 March was International Drug Checking Day but Scotland still lacks the drug checking services which would allow people who are going to use drugs to first check what the drugs they have been sold actually contain | SDF, UK

Oregon passes law recriminalising drug possession

The law rolls back an experimental policy - the most liberal drug measure in the US - that made possession for personal use a ticketed offense with a fine up to $100 (£76). The new legislation penalises those possessing small amounts of drugs with probation, and up to 180 days in jail | BBC, UK

Nearly 100,000 drug tests carried out to tackle root causes of drug driven crime

The expansion of testing on arrest across England and Wales has seen nearly 100,000 drug tests on suspects whose behaviour was believed to have been driven by their drug abuse | Home Office and The Rt Hon Chris Philp MP, UK

Social media use linked to increased risk of cigarette and e-cigarette use in teens

The study, led by researchers at the University of Glasgow, found that teens who were on social media for more than two hours a day, were more than two and half times more likely to smoke cigarettes and more than three times more likely to use e-cigarettes, when compared to those who used social media for 1 to less than 30 minutes a day | University of Glasgow, UK

Nitazenes move the needle for drug death distress -audio

Today we're investigating dangerous new drugs which have found their way onto the streets of the UK. Nitazenes are lab made opioids with similar effects for the user as heroin. Their relative strength, however, means it is much more difficult to take them safely and much more likely to result in a fatal overdose. With drug deaths in this country already at a record high, and devestation being wrought by similar substances in the US, we look at a range of solutions for preventing as much harm as possible... | The Naked Scientist, UK

Official Statistics: Liver disease profile, April 2024 update

New mortality data for the calendar year 2022 and hospital admission data for the financial year ending 2023 has been added to the liver disease profile, trend data has also been made available. In the past 20 years, the number of premature deaths from alcoholic liver disease has increased by 61.3% in England | OHID, UK

Exploring experiences of accessing support for alcohol issues and suicidal ideation (PDF)

This report has been created as we know the need to improve access to services is currently a priority issue. Around 4 out of 5 people experiencing alcohol dependence are not in treatment, and around two thirds of people who die by suicide are not in touch with mental health services a year before they die. So we wanted to identify in more detail what the barriers are stopping people from accessing mental health and alcohol services, how they appear to those experiencing them, when they are experienced, and how they can be overcome | With You, UK

Vaping – Youth perceptions and attitudes: evidence briefing

This briefing presents our understanding of youth perceptions of and attitudes towards vaping based on a review of the existing literature | Scottish Government, UK