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Weekly news - 28th February 2025

In date order, Monday to Friday

Briefing packs and outcomes for the drugs consumption room at the Thistle facility: FOI release

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Information requested: 1. Briefing packs on drugs consumption rooms in reference to the opening of the Thistle facility on 13 January 2025. 2. What specific outcomes (KPIs) will be measured to determine the success of the Thistle DCR? How will these be measured in particular? and 3. How will data be collected, when will the data first be evaluated and who will be collecting and evaluating the data? | Scottish Government, UK

Child exploitation and cuckooing to be criminal offences

Cuckooing is when the home of a vulnerable person is taken over by criminals who use it as a base for illegal activities, such as drug dealing | BBC, UK

‘It’s not ethical and it’s not medical’: how UK rehab clinics are cashing in on NAD+

They are beloved by A-listers and surging in popularity. But claims that NAD+ infusions are a fix for addiction are unproven, risky – and possibly illegal, an Observer investigation reveals | Guardian, UK

[Open access] Mothers in substance use treatment Scotland with experience of having their children removed from the home by child welfare services tell researchers about the circumstances and how the removal impacted on them | Children and Youth Services Review, UK

Ozempic being ‘sold by drug dealers alongside class As’

Weight-loss drugs and prescription medications for ADHD are among the latest items being offered for sale by dealers, an investigation found | Independent, UK

Why does Sunderland have such high alcohol deaths?

A city's high rate of alcohol-specific deaths is due to a "perfect storm" of factors, researchers have said. The latest ONS figures, external, released earlier this month, showed Sunderland had the highest rate of alcohol deaths per 100,000 people across England in 2023 | BBC, UK

Alcohol sale rules in NI 'risk stifling innovation'

The rules for licensing the sale of alcohol in Northern Ireland are allowing established businesses to restrict competition and risk stifling innovation, a major independent review has concluded | BBC, UK

Generation K: The disturbing rise of ketamine abuse among young people

At the urology department of Burnley General Hospital, 26-year-old Ryan (not his real name) is having a drug solution inserted through a catheter - part of his treatment for a condition known as ketamine bladder. This procedure will not completely reverse the damage inflicted by Ryan's previous addiction to the Class B drug, but it will help him manage the symptoms | BBC, UK

Policy paper: Crime and Policing Bill: Overarching factsheet

The bill includes a range of measures, including: Tougher action on drugs. Expanding police powers to drug test more suspects on arrest, helping direct more drug users into treatment and away from drugs. Additionally, the bill makes ‘cuckooing’ a specific offence, protecting the most vulnerable people whose homes are used by others to commit criminal activity, whilst also creating new offences of exposure and child abduction | Home Office and MoJ, UK

Amanda Pritchard quits as NHS England chief executive in shock move

Exclusive: Departure follows meetings with Wes Streeting and unusual criticism from two Commons committees | Guardian, UK

Bold new collaboration to tackle health inequalities launches in three local areas in Scotland

The Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland launches plans this week to bring about significant change to reduce health inequalities in three of Scotland’s local authority areas. Over the next two years, this partnership will help local areas and Community Planning Partners to strengthen their local plans to reduce health inequalities and improve wellbeing in their communities. It will support local partners to understand the actions which will have the greatest impact on health inequalities locally and help to overcome the barriers to implementing these | Public Health Scotland, UK

Hopes NHS lung cancer screening will save lives

Thousands of smokers and ex-smokers will be invited for free NHS lung cancer screening to help detect the disease early | BBC, UK

Warning issued over dangerous 'super vapes'

European Safety Gate – a rapid alert system for dangerous products – has issued a product alert for the R&M Tornado Vape, which contains 30,000 puffs. It carries 30ml of liquid – 15 times the legal amount – and has the equivalent amount of nicotine as 375 king-sized cigarettes | BBC, UK

Mum of drugs victim hopes play will 'make NI pupils think'

The mother of a County Armagh teenager, who died after taking drugs given to her on her first night at university, is hoping a play touring schools will make other young people think about what they would do in a similar situation | BBC, UK

A qualitative study of benzodiazepine/z-drug and opioid co-use patterns and overdose risk

[Open access] Co-use of benzodiazepines and/or ‘z-drugs’ along with opioids is linked to the rise in drug related deaths (DRD) in the UK. Understanding patterns of co-use could inform harm reduction strategies for reducing DRDs. This study explored how people co-use, including dosages, timings, methods of administration, use of other substances and desired effects sought | Harm Reduction Journal, UK

Paydens and Drinkaware join forces over alcohol campaign

Alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware has partnered with Paydens to roll out its free Drinking Check across the group’s 128 pharmacies in the south east of England. Pharmacists are using the tool to assess people’s drinking habits to see if they are seriously impacting their health | Pharmacy Magazine, UK

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