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Weekly news - 3rd May 2024 |
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In date order, Monday to Friday
Warning over opioid up to '500 times stronger' than heroin
The alert, external, issued by Bristol City Council-commissioned organisation The Loop, said nitazenes had been found in multiple different samples in the city on Saturday | BBC, UK
Women should give up vaping if they want to get pregnant, study suggests
Research finds hormone that indicates fertility at lower levels in vapers and tobacco smokers | Guardian, UK
It’s 20 years since the UK hit ‘peak booze’. The hangover is still with us
A devil-may-care culture led to the UK’s highest drinking rates. Are we now paying the price for years of excess? | Guardian, UK
Young adults drugs and alcohol prevention: FOI release
Information requested: 1) How much if any funding going into education for young adults surrounding the topic of drug and alcohol misuse? Within the last 5-10 years. 2) What has/ if anything has been implemented to prevent drug and alcohol related deaths in young adults? Within the last 5-10 years. 3) How many drug related deaths have involved anyone aged 25 or under? within the last 5-10 years | Scottish Government, UK
A tribute to Russell Newcombe
We were hugely saddened to hear that Russell Newcombe had died earlier this month, at the age of 66, after a battle with lung cancer. Russell was a singular figure in the UK drug policy field. A brilliant mind, and a courageous compassionate spirit, Russell dedicated his life and career to the health, wellbeing and rights of people who used drugs - a community of which he was an unashamed and vocal member | Transform Blog, UK
University tests Bristol heroin to find link with Devon batch
A university is testing a batch of heroin found in Bristol to see if it is the same as drugs responsible for two deaths in Devon | BBC, UK
The New Drug Threat - video
Nitazenes are a new form of illicit drug entering the UK. Made in Chinese laboratories, the synthetic opioids have been linked to a growing number of deaths. This programme investigates how the highly potent drugs are being smuggled into the country from China. Is it possible to track down the dealers behind the trade, and just how are they advertising their business? We hear from the families and friends who have lost loved ones to nitazenes, a drug type termed ‘Frankenstein opioids’ because of the catastrophic effects. Is enough being done to prevent this supply and potential future deaths? | BBC, UK
Heroin testing could 'save lives' after North Devon drug deaths
The kit allows users to test for nitazenes - synthetic opioids which could have been present in the batch. Jon Findlay, harm reduction lead for drug recovery charity Humankind, said the testing strips "will save lives" | BBC, UK
Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly report
Drug-related harms remained high in Scotland. For harm indicators: suspected drug deaths: 11% increase / naloxone administration incidents: 14% decrease / emergency department attendances: 12% decrease / drug-related hospital admissions: 24% decrease. For service indicators: drug treatment referrals: 10% decrease / injecting equipment provision: transactions - stable, number of needles and syringes - 6% decrease. Patterns of polysubstance use remain the key driver of harms. The combinations most associated involve benzodiazepines (most commonly diazepam and bromazolam), cocaine and opioids. Cocaine played an increasing role in harms | Public Health Scotland, UK
Rapid evidence review: Integrated models of drug treatment in primary care
This report describes types of care and ways of working to merge drugs treatment and support with primary care to improve access, choice and support for people experiencing problems with their drug use (MAT standard 7) | Public Health Scotland, UK
Calls to strengthen drugs policy in rugby league
A coroner has asked rugby league's governing body to consider changing its drugs policy following a player's death | BBC, UK
Impact of the disruption in supply of varenicline since 2021 on smoking cessation in England: A population study
[Open access] Varenicline is one of the most effective smoking cessation treatments. Its supply in England was disrupted in July 2021 due to nitrosamine impurities found by its supplier, Pfizer. This study measured the impact of this disruption on smoking cessation in England | Addiction, UK
Criminal Justice Committee, Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, and Social Justice and Social Security Committee (Joint Meeting) - video
Tackling drug deaths and drug harm: The Committees took evidence from— Kirsten Horsburgh, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Drugs Forum; Dr Emma Fletcher, Director of NHS Tayside Public Health and Chair of Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnership; Justina Murray, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs; Christina McKelvie, Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, Scottish Government; Michael Crook, Drug Policy Team Leader, Harm Reduction Team, Scottish Government; Alison Crocket, Unit Head, Whole Systems Unit, Drugs Policy Division, Scottish Government; Dr Saket Priyadarshi, Associate Medical Director, Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde | Scottish Parliament, UK
Public health leaders call for system-wide response to reverse declining health in Scotland
Scotland’s public health community has come together at a major new Conference to drive forward work to protect and improve health for the people of Scotland. Jointly hosted by the Faculty of Public Health, Public Health Scotland, and the Scottish Directors of Public Health Group, this new Conference is centred on inspiring change and tackling the big issues creating problems for Scotland’s health including poverty, obesity, drug-related deaths, and tobacco | PHS, UK
England’s Widening Health Gap: Local Places Falling Behind
The new report provides information from 17 local authorities with statistically significant increases in inequalities in life expectancy and overviews widening regional inequalities in life expectancy. The report shows, since 2010, central government spending cuts to local authorities were highest in areas with lower life expectancy and more health inequalities, further harming health in these places | Institute of Health Equity, UK
Trends in Daily Cigarette Consumption Among Smokers: A Population Study in England, 2008–2023
[Open access] Over the last 15 years, the average number of cigarettes consumed each day by smokers in England has fallen by almost a quarter, but has plateaued since October 2019. There has been a sharp decline in the number of manufactured cigarettes consumed and an increase in the number of hand-rolled cigarettes consumed, as smokers have increasingly shifted towards using hand-rolled tobacco | Nicotine & Tobacco Research, UK
Alcohol and Other Drug Harm in Rural Scotland: Addiction Looks Different Here
[Open access] There is an unprecedented level of deaths from alcohol and other drugs in Scotland, and rural areas are not immune to the devastation that addiction can bring on individuals, their families, and their communities. But addiction looks different in rural Scotland in comparison to its urban counterparts, where the vast majority of recovery services are based. This chapter will look at why this is | Rural Social Work in the UK, UK
Vaping: Northern Ireland to ban single use vapes in 2025
The sale and supply of single use vapes will be banned in Northern Ireland by April 2025. Environment Minister Andrew Muir said while the timeline was "extremely ambitious", he recognised "strong support" for a ban. Across the UK, an estimated five million single use vapes are thrown away or incorrectly disposed of weekly | BBC, UK
How to stop smoking and stay stopped
This booklet is for smokers who are seriously thinking about stopping smoking. Reading this booklet will help smokers decide if they are ready to stop and then how to go about it | Public Health Scotland, UK
Magic mushrooms effective for treating depression - study
Magic mushrooms were more effective for treating depression in older people and those who had used psychedelics before, according to a new study in the BMJ | Sky News, UK
GP prescribing opioids in 'high amounts' needs to improve
A GP surgery that has "one of the highest "opioid prescription rates in England has been put into special measures. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it investigated Parson Drove Surgery in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, to follow up escalated patient safety concerns. Inspectors said “a lack of safe prescribing and monitoring left service users at risk of harm” | BBC, UK