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Weekly news - 19th April 2024 |
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In date order, Monday to Friday
Tobacco firms lobbying MPs to derail smoking phase-out, charity warns
Exclusive: Tactics include proposals to raise smoking age to avoid outright ban, and exemptions for cigars, says Cancer Research UK chief | Guardian, UK
Vapes containing hallucinogenic toad venom and ‘spice’ sold on social media
Vapes containing dangerous illegal substances – including synthetic cannabinoids and potent psychedelics based on toad venom – are being used by drug gangs to attract new customers, including young people, i has been told | i news, UK
Spice drug use 'all too common' in NI - PHA
The use of 'Spice', which mimics the effect of cannabis, is all too common in Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency (PHA) has warned | BBC, UK
Addressing the leading risk factors for ill health – supporting local government to do more
This briefing outlines five proposals for national policy that would allow local government in England to do more to reduce harm from tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food | The Health Foundation, UK
The Alcohol (Minimum Pricing)(Scotland) Act 2012 (Continuation) Order 2024 (PDF)
The legislation that introduced minimum unit pricing for alcohol contained a 'sunset clause'. This means the policy will expire on 30 April 2024 unless the Scottish Parliament votes for it to continue. This briefing examines the background to the policy, key areas of debate, the findings of the evaluation and the response of stakeholders | Scottish Parliament, UK
MPs vote for smoking ban despite Tories’ division over policy
Rishi Sunak suffers blow to his authority as 57 of his own MPs vote against his plan and over 100 abstain | Guardian, UK
What is the UK smoking ban, how will it work and when will it start?
The restrictions will apply to the sale of cigarettes in the UK rather than the act of smoking itself. Under the new law, each year the legal age for cigarette sales - currently 18 - will increase by one year | BBC, UK
Drug-related hospital statistics: Scotland 2022 to 2023
This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents information on hospital activity relating to illicit drug use in Scotland during the period 1996/97 to 2022/23. The topics covered include: the number of hospital stays, the number and characteristics of patients, substances used and geographical variations. These data are published in a full report and dashboard | PHS, UK
Warning over heroin use after near-fatal cases
Drug users who have recently used heroin should seek urgent medical advice, the Isle of Man Constabulary has said. It follows two incidents of “near-fatal overdoses” that were attended to by police and ambulance crews on Monday evening | BBC, UK
Cheap booze prices to rise as MSPs vote to increase minimum cost
MSPs have voted to increase the minimum price at which alcohol can be sold by 30%. Scotland was the first country in the world to set a minimum price for alcohol - a move that came into force in May 2018. For the past six years, the price per unit of alcohol has been 50p but MSPs have voted to put it up to 65p from the end of September – a move designed to reflect rises in inflation | BBC, UK
Opioid dependence remains high but stable in Scotland, new surveillance report finds
Opioid dependence in Scotland remains high but largely stable, according to a new University of Bristol-led analysis published in Addiction today [18 April] and by Public Health Scotland. The study is the first to estimate the number of people dependent on opioid drugs (such as heroin), and who are in or could benefit from drug treatment, among Scotland’s population since 2015/2016 estimates were published | University of Bristol, UK
Characterising smoking and nicotine use behaviours among women of reproductive age: a 10-year population study in England
Tobacco smoking affects women’s fertility and is associated with substantial risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study found that among women of reproductive age, there appears to have been a rise in smoking prevalence in the more advantaged social grades over the past decade. Across social grades, there have been substantial increases in the proportion of women of reproductive age who vape and shifts from use of manufactured to hand-rolled cigarettes among those who smoke | BMC Public Health, UK [See also Smoking among middle-class women in England up by 25% in 10 years – study | Guardian]
Smoking-related deaths could be reduced if people attending lung cancer screening are offered stop-smoking support
A new study has found that by offering stop-smoking support as part of the national lung cancer screening program, there is potential to save lives, and dedicated funding must be considered by policymakers | Medical Express, UK
E-cigarettes and harm reduction: An evidence review
This new RCP report looks at several themes, including how e-cigarettes can be used to support more people to make quit attempts while discouraging young people and never-smokers from taking up e-cigarette use. It also examines trends in tobacco and vaping use, the effectiveness of e-cigarettes to treat tobacco addiction, and the differences in health effects of vaping in people who smoke, vape or do neither, the role of the tobacco industry in the rising use of e-cigarettes, and the ethical dilemmas presented by e-cigarettes | RCP, UK
Ketamine bladder: Special clinics as young addiction 'explodes'
Chronic ketamine usage affects the lining of the bladder, and can shrink it. As a result, some urology departments have set up specialist clinics to help the increasing number of young people with bladder issues. Southmead Hospital in Bristol is currently helping around 60 patients from across the West - some as young as 19 | BBC, UK