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Weekly news - 20th September 2024 |
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In date order, Monday to Friday
Young people addicted to ketamine a national problem, says UK expert
Situation potentially fuelled by people unable to access mental health services self-medicating, clinic founder says | Guardian, UK
An 'alcohol health champions' intervention to reduce alcohol harm in local communities: a mixed-methods evaluation of a natural experiment
With the Royal Society for Public Health, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority aimed to recruit and train 35 volunteer alcohol health champions in each of its 10 areas. Among their roles was to offer brief advice to risky drinkers and to influence licensing decisions. It was a bold experiment, but not enough to significantly reduce alcohol-related harm | NIHR, UK
Scottish Parliament - Drugs and Alcohol - video
Statement in Holyrood on the government's plans to 'reduce deaths and improve lives of people impacted by drugs and alcohol', from Thursday 12 September | BBC, UK
Alcohol advertising could be curbed in response to rising drink deaths
It comes after figures showed Scotland’s drug deaths remain the worst in Europe | STV News, UK
Further funding cuts for councils would be disastrous; urgent funding and reform is needed
In its submission to the Treasury ahead of the Autumn Budget, the LGA says the Government needs to take immediate steps to stabilise council finances and protect vital local services | LGA, UK
High cocaine levels in wastewater post-rugby
High levels of absorbed cocaine have been found in south Wales' waste water, according to a new study. The largest consumption was found to have peaked during rugby internationals in Cardiff in 2021, when Wales faced South Africa, which found 8.54 milligrams of the illegal drug per day, per 10,000 people | BBC, UK
Potential impact of alcohol calorie labelling on the attitudes and drinking behaviour of hazardous and low-risk drinkers in England: a national survey
A sizeable proportion of hazardous drinkers indicated that they would change their consumption practices if mandatory calorie labelling was introduced. Promoting more positive attitudes to calorie labelling might lead to stronger intentions to reduce consumption. Mandatory calorie labelling of alcoholic beverages may make a modest contribution to energy intake and the maintenance of health weight, particularly among heavier drinkers | BMJ Open, UK
Cross-party Commission concludes three-year enquiry with bold plan for 21st century health
A comprehensive plan for a modern 21st century health creation system has been unveiled in a major report aimed at kick starting a once-in-a-generation rethink of national health policy, to revitalise both wellbeing and the UK economy | IPPR, UK
Pint of no return? Two-thirds measure could boost English health – study
Scientists reach conclusion after trial in which pints were scrapped in a dozen pubs, bars and restaurants [See also: Impact on beer sales of removing the pint serving size: An A-B-A reversal trial in pubs, bars, and restaurants in England | PLOS Medicine]
Potential impact of alcohol calorie labelling on the attitudes and drinking behaviour of hazardous and low-risk drinkers in England: a national survey
A sizeable proportion of hazardous drinkers indicated that they would change their consumption practices if mandatory calorie labelling was introduced. Promoting more positive attitudes to calorie labelling might lead to stronger intentions to reduce consumption. Mandatory calorie labelling of alcoholic beverages may make a modest contribution to energy intake and the maintenance of health weight, particularly among heavier drinkers | BMJ Open, UK
Addiction group working to beat cultural stigma
A drug and alcohol rehabilitation group has welcomed an increase in people from harder-to-reach communities using its services. Peterborough-based Aspire has expanded its work with religious groups, community centres and local radio station Salaam Radio to beat "cultural stigma" surrounding drug and alcohol use within South Asian communities | BBC, UK
Representations of ‘risky’ drinking during pregnancy on Mumsnet: A discourse analysis
[Open access] Online forums provide an environment for peer discussions to anonymously share experiences about sensitive topics. In this article we explore discussions about alcohol use during pregnancy, including representations of ‘appropriate’ behaviour and risks, in relation to alcohol use | Addiction, UK
Pharmacist protest to hit contraception and anti-smoking services
Morning-after pill access is among services likely to be affected if pharmacists support 'work-to-rule' action amid a row over funding | i news, UK
'I manage my pain': Addictive drug prescription rates drop
Prescriptions of some addictive medications used to treat chronic pain and anxiety have fallen over the past 10 years in Northern Ireland, BBC News NI can reveal | BBC, UK