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Weekly news - 14th June 2024

In date order, Monday to Friday

Health Survey for England, 2022 Part 1

This report includes results from the 2022 Health Survey for England describing cigarette smoking, e-cigarette use, physical activity, and fruit and vegetable consumption | NHS Digital, UK

Charity launches drug education for primary schools

A charity said it was running the second year of drug education for primary school children to help them make "responsible choices". Hope UK, based in Kettering, Northamptonshire, introduced the junior scheme last year | BBC, UK

Press release: ‘Reduce Drug Harm’ at events and festivals this weekend

The HSE is reminding people attending festivals, gigs and events this weekend to stay safe and well, and is encouraging people to ‘be in the know and reduce the harms’ | HSE, Ireland

Research explores measures to reduce alcohol harms without impacting pubs and restaurants

Higher prices in shops and tighter restrictions on online alcohol sales could help to reduce rising alcohol harms whilst minimising impact on hospitality businesses, according to a new study | University of Stirling, UK

Canadian drug advocacy group founders charged with trafficking

Vancouver’s volunteer-led ‘compassion club’ offered users pure drugs like heroin and cocaine to prevent overdose deaths | Guardian, UK

Cannabis use disorder associated with increased risk of both psychotic and nonpsychotic unipolar depression and bipolar disorder

As we witness greater access to more potent, and potentially more harmful cannabis products, it has never been more important to understand the health risks associated with use | Mental Elf blog, UK

Suspected Drug Deaths in Scotland: January to March 2024

There were 320 suspected drug deaths between January and March 2024. This was 8% (23) higher than the previous quarter and 7% (22) higher than during the same period of 2023. Following a downward trend from early 2021 to late 2022, the rolling 12-month total of suspected drug deaths has risen over the last year | Scottish Government, UK

[Open access] Discontinuation of medications such as methadone and buprenorphine amongst patients receiving opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is an international phenomenon. Recent developments in OAT medication include depot-injections of buprenorphine. Circumstances underlying discontinuation of these new formulations of medication are not fully understood from a qualitative perspective | IJDP, UK

How big is Europe’s cocaine problem – and what is the human cost?

Over the past 10 years, Europe has developed a serious cocaine problem. The drug, originating in the jungles of South America, is being transported, sold and consumed across the European continent in record amounts | Guardian, UK

‘We’re seeing firearms, arson, attacks on homes’: the families in the eye of Ireland’s cocaine storm

With use in the country soaring among both young and older people, it’s not just the drug that is devastating lives but the violence and abuse that surround it | Guardian, UK

European Drug Report 2024: Trends and Developments

The European Drug Report 2024: Trends and Developments presents the EMCDDA’s latest analysis of the drug situation in Europe. Focusing on illicit drug use, related harms and drug supply, the report provides a comprehensive set of national data across these themes, as well as on specialist drug treatment and key harm reduction interventions | EMCDDA, Portugal

Potent synthetic substances, new drug mixtures and changing patterns of use pose growing threat in Europe: European Drug Report 2024 Highlights

Potent synthetic substances, new drug mixtures and changing patterns of use pose a growing threat in Europe. These are among the issues raised today by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) as it launches its European Drug Report 2024: Trends and Developments | EMCDDA, Portugal

Crime here is hurting, whatever the statistics say

On a terraced street in Middlesbrough, a teenager in a mask takes out a a long kitchen knife from his trousers and says he’s prepared to use it. “It’s brutal round here, you have to be prepared, if you don’t stab them, they will stab you.” He is part of a group of young drug dealers, and I have no reason to doubt him. One of them says he was 14 when he started. Why? Money - they talk openly about how much they can make from selling heroin and crack cocaine | BBC, UK

Restricting flavoured vapes could harm smoking cessation efforts, finds study

Restricting the choice of flavoured vapes, also known as e-cigarettes, could have an adverse effect on the many adults who use them to reduce or quit smoking, according to a new University of Bristol-led study published in the journal Harm Reduction | University of Bristol, UK

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