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Weekly news - 17th April 2025 |
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In date order, Monday to Friday
Increase in alcohol deaths in England an ‘acute crisis’
The persistent higher rate of alcohol deaths in England since the pandemic in 2020 is an “acute crisis” requiring urgent action from government, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Sheffield and UCL | University of Sheffield, UK
Low-level drinkers have increased cancer and cardiovascular risk, study finds
The charity Alcohol Change UK is calling on the government to introduce health risk labelling on alcohol | Sky News, UK
Could a safe injection site help tackle Belfast's addiction crisis?
The issue of drug addiction is not unique to any major city, but how a city tackles the issue is. Belfast Council recently voted in favour of installing needle disposal bins in certain areas of the city. In Dublin, the council has gone further by opening a supervised injection facility located at Merchant's Quay along the River Liffey | ITV, UK
Ordering illicit weight loss drugs is 'dicing with death' - GP
A leading GP has said that people ordering illicit weight loss drugs online are "dicing with death" after a BBC investigation found illegal injections are being sold over social media and sent to people in Northern Ireland | BBC, UK
Disposable vape use falling in UK ahead of ban
The percentage of people aged 16-24 who mainly use disposable vapes has dropped by nearly half in the last year from 63% to 35%, according to University College London (UCL) research | BBC, UK
Drug-related hospital statistics [Scotland]
There were 11,136 drug-related hospital stays (2022/23: 9,654). The European Age-sex Standardised Rate (EASR) of drug-related hospital stays was 212 stays per 100,000 population. This rate was an increase from 2022/23 (186 stays per 100,000 population) but remained below the 2021/22 level (242 stays per 100,000 population). In relation to drug types, the highest stay rate (91 per 100,000 population) was for opioids (drugs similar to heroin). This rate was higher than in 2022/23 (83 stays per 100,000 population) but remained below the peak of 144 per 100,000 population in 2019/20 | Public Health Scotland, UK
Increasing shisha use 'concerning' - council
There are 26 shisha bars in the district and the practice had become more popular among young people, Bradford Council's health and social care scrutiny committee heard | BBC, UK
How to save a life: emergency response to an overdose
RADAR (Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response) and the Simon Community Scotland worked together to create this resource on how to respond to a drug overdose, and how to reduce the harm from drugs | Public Health Scotland, UK
Addiction Healthcare Goals - Innovate UK - Accelerated Knowledge Transfer 4 (AKT4)
Are you an Academic or Organisation with an innovative challenge that can help address the aims of the Addiction Healthcare Goals? The Addiction Healthcare Goals – Innovate UK – Accelerated Knowledge Transfer scheme opens on 12 May 2025, with an anticipated close on 2 July 2025 at 11am prompt. This call will fund projects exploring questions linked to treatment of, recovery from, and reduction or prevention of harm by drug and/or alcohol addiction(s); jointly delivered by Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect and is funded by the Addiction Healthcare Goals from the Office for Life Sciences, with up to £2 million available in this round | Innovate UK, UK