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Weekly news - 1st March 2024

In date order, Monday to Friday

Press release: New court approach helping get offenders off drugs

Offenders with drug and alcohol problems are being put back on the straight and narrow through a new US-inspired sentencing approach to cut reoffending | Ministry of Justice and The Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC MP, UK

Single-use vapes could be banned in Scotland by April 2025

The sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland could be banned by 1 April next year. It follows a UK-wide consultation last year, with the date agreed by the devolved governments and Westminster | BBC, UK

Germany legalises cannabis, but makes it hard to buy

The German parliament has backed a new law to allow the recreational use of cannabis. Under the law, over-18s in Germany will be allowed to possess substantial amounts of cannabis, but strict rules will make it difficult to buy the drug | BBC, UK

Synthetic opioid preparedness. Fact sheet for medical care providers

This update has been developed by the HSE National Clinical Lead for Addiction Services and the National Red Alert Group (NRAG) in response to the emergence of N-pyrrolidino protonitazene on the Irish drug market. This fact sheet is dated February 2024 with the content and guidance subject to change based on possible future developments in this area | HSE, Ireland

Teens 'forced into sex and crime to pay off drug debt, says bereaved mum

Young people in Northern Ireland are being forced into sex and criminality to pay off drug debts, a BBC Spotlight investigation has been told | BBC, UK

Ministers consider new vaping tax at Budget next week

Currently, vaping products are subject to VAT - but unlike tobacco, they are not also subject to a dedicated levy | BBC, UK

Nearly 400,000 vape kits to be sent to smokers

Nearly 400,000 vape kits are set to be sent to smokers in England under the government’s swap-to-stop scheme, our sister title Healthcare Leader has exclusively revealed | Pharmacist, UK

Out in the open: Alcohol use and harm in LGBTQ+ communities

This report explores alcohol consumption, drinking behaviour, and experiences among gender and sexual minority individuals in the UK | Drinkaware, UK

Drug use: Calls for consumption room to 'prevent deaths'

There are fresh calls for a drug consumption room to be opened in Northern Ireland | BBC, UK

Health professional v Ethypharm - Poster about Naloxone

This case was in relation to a poster produced by Ethypharm that appeared on the side of a telephone booth. The Panel ruled breaches of the following Clauses of the 2021 Code because it considered that the poster, which included a website address as an integral part of the poster, advertised a prescription only medicine, naloxone, to the public. The Panel considered that the poster was not sufficiently balanced and, in addition, was likely to encourage members of the public to seek a specific formulation | PMCPA, USA

Efforts to reduce smoking in pregnancy in Norfolk praised

A scheme offering pregnant mothers incentives to quit smoking could be rolled out across Norfolk. Women who actively participated were offered £250 in shopping vouchers | BBC, UK

Smokers increasingly overestimate vaping risk - study

Fewer smokers in England now see vaping as less harmful than cigarettes, despite evidence tobacco is far worse for health and e-cigarettes can help smokers quit, data suggests | BBC, UK

Heavy drinkers ‘more likely to reject alcohol health messages’

The heaviest drinkers are the most likely to reject public health messaging on the dangers of alcohol, according to new research by London South Bank University (LSBU). Heavier drinkers also rated themselves as less likely to experience drink-related health problems like liver disease than those following recommended NHS guidelines | LSBU, UK

Brief for parliamentarians

The SFAC has produced a brief for parliamentarians on raising the age of sale of cigarettes. The organisations listed endorse this brief and urge parliamentarians to support the legislation to create a ‘smokefree generation’ by ending cigarette sales to those born on or after 1 January 2009 | SFAC, UK

ADHD medication shortage: Cannabis clinic sees spike in patients

Cannabis clinics have seen a spike in ADHD patients accessing their services amid a national medication shortage, a BBC North West investigation has found | BBC, UK

Safe Consumption Room Pilot

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Police Scotland regarding the policing strategy for the safe consumption room pilot in Glasgow | They work for you, UK

Brighter outlook

‘There are two key parts to coming off and staying off drugs,’ says Kim Hager, joint commissioning manager and drugs strategy partnership lead at Cornwall Council. ‘One is medical – coming off the actual drugs people are dependent upon. The other is improving social functioning, so that people can sustain their recovery successfully.’ | DDN, UK

98. The Merseyside Experiment with John Marks

In this week’s episode, we feature John Marks, an Addiction Psychologist who spearheaded the Merseyside experiment in northwest England from 1982 to 1995. Throughout this 13-year period, Marks fearlessly operated clinics in Liverpool, basing his practice on the long-term maintenance prescribing of opiates to opiate users | Drug Science, UK

National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023

Drug use affects individuals, families and the community. Every 3 years, people in Australia are asked about their use and opinions of licit and illicit drugs, including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, e-cigarettes and vapes. More than 21,000 people across the country took part in the latest National Drug Strategy Household Survey, held in 2022 and 2023. This report presents findings from the survey and looks at what has changed over the past 20 years | AIHW, Australia

WATCH BACK: HSE Webinar: Safeguarding communities against nitazenes (22nd February 2024)

The webinar aimed to increase awareness among frontline service providers regarding the rise of synthetic opioids both in Europe and locally, shedding light on the diverse range of products coming into the EU market. It also provided invaluable insights into HSE guidelines, emphasising harm reduction and effective risk communication strategies to tackle the challenges posed by these emerging substances | HSE, Ireland