Marijuana use remains stubbornly high, survey of high school students shows Fewer Colorado high school students view regular marijuana use as risky behavior, according the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS), which was released today. Only 48 percent of high school students surveyed saw marijuana use as risky in 2015, compared to 54 percent of those surveyed in the HKCS survey two years earlier. While youth tobacco use has declined, high school marijuana use inched up, the HKCS data shows. Twenty one percent of Colorado high school students used marijuana at least once in the last month, the HKCS shows. Even more troubling, high school use is reported as high as 30.1 percent in some parts of Colorado, according to the HKCS. Meanwhile, only 9 percent of Colorado high schools students reported smoking a cigarette at least once in the last 30 days.   The HKCS collects health information every odd year from Colorado public school students. The data released today was collected in 2015. While the HKCS says Colorado high school youth marijuana use is in line with national data, Colorado ranks first in the nation for past month marijuana usage by those 12-17 years old, according to National Surveys on Drug Use and Health data released in December by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Colorado voters were promised marijuana would be kept out of the hands of Colorado kids.  And yet, after  three and half years of commercialized recreational marijuana and after over six years of commercialized medical marijuana, that has yet to happen,” said Diane Carlson, a co-founder of Smart Colorado. “Meanwhile, the perception of harm from consuming marijuana for high school students is on the decline according to the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, which is deeply concerning as much of  Colorado’s marijuana has become an increasingly different, harder, stronger drug,” Carlson added. “Youth marijuana use can have lifelong implications.  The risks, which include psychosis, suicide, drug addiction and lower IQs, have been reported based on research on much lower THC potencies than are typically sold on Colorado’s commercial market. That means the risks and harms for Colorado kids using today’s pot are far more serious and potentially long lasting. And yet too few Colorado kids are aware of just how harmful and risky today’s high-potency pot can be.”

Source:    www.smartcolorado.com  June 2016

Knowing what to say or do can be tough, but your help can make a huge difference

Helping a friend or family member through an alcohol or drug addiction is by no means easy, but with the right help and knowledge it can be incredibly successful (and rewarding). First things first, there’s no perfect way to behave and it’s rare that the recovery process is understood by anyone except for the individual, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Ian Young founder of Sober Services says,

“When someone begins (or even continues or returns to) their addiction recovery journey, the love and support of friends and family is often crucial to their success. This begins with their acceptance of the addictive illness and then continues with sensitivity around the recovery seeking addict’s requirements, such as not visiting bars initially and not socialising with friends who are still using.”

So here are some of the most helpful things you can do to help a loved one tackle addiction…

1. Speak up and offer support

Just the act of offering support alone goes a long way towards helping recovery (whether it’s taken up or not), says Deirdre Boyd, founder of DB Recovery Resources. And to know that people have offered it means a lot. There’s a few different ways you can do this, for example:

“If they attend Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous, ask them if they would like you to accompany them to an ‘open’ meeting.”

2. Focus on the replacement rather than sacrifice

Remember that recovery is not about sacrificing something but about replacing it with something healthier (and happier), advises Deirdre. Suggest meeting friends in a coffee bar or even a recovery café instead of the pub, or in a restaurant instead of a night club. There’s now a growing trend of recovery cafes and dry bars, with more people trying to curb their drinking completely. If you’re going out, arrange to meet in the company of ‘safe’ friends instead of old drinking companions, advises Deirdre.

“Don’t replace drinks only with water but with sparkling flavoured waters offered by many supermarkets and interesting drinks, such as those from Schloer. This is especially important on celebratory occasions where others might use champagne to toast, so that they don’t miss out on the ‘ritual’ and sense of belonging.”

You could also suggest a physical activity: perhaps go for a walk. The combination of the natural environment acts as a calming backdrop to any issues up for discussion. Events are also a good option.

“Music and comedy are also often the best anchors for this as they naturally offer a good time to the recovering addict without the requirement for alcohol or drugs, though maybe avoid rave parties or rock concerts,” advises Ian.

3. Be sure they know you’re not judging

Deirdre says:

“People that are in their active addiction can be ashamed of themselves, and they feel that everyone else feels that way. But it is not always the case. A lot of times, good friends and healthy friends are just worried about the person and want them to be the best they can be.”

Understand that an addict is not responsible for their addiction, but when they learn about recovery, they are accountable for their actions.

4. Listen

If you’re helping a friend, listening is the best thing you can do. Deirdre says,

“You can’t always fix someone but you can always say, ‘Have you gone to your meeting?’, ‘Have you spoken to your sponsor?’.”

5. Educate yourself on addiction

There are plenty of resources available for those that want to learn about addiction. The most important part of the family or friends role in the addict’s early recovery will be their own education to what’s appropriate and what isn’t, says Ian.

“For instance, the addict will know it’s not a good idea to visit a pub where their friends may be drinking. But if the family or friend is unaware of this then the simple invitation could be enough to trigger their obsession to drink. Or maybe the suggestion that the recovering addict visits an ex-girlfriend whom the family/friend thinks is a safe person for them to be around, could be bringing up deep emotions that could destabilise the newly recovering addict.”

7. Know that it’s not your job to ‘fix them’

If you notice that your friend is struggling or they tell you that they are, Deirdre says to listen and ‘echo’ what they have said – you don’t have to fix them, just be there for them and advise them to share also at an AA or NA meeting.

In most cases, if the recovering addict is serious about their recovery, they’ll inform the family and friends of their boundaries, but they may not think to speak of everything, or they may be more introverted or shy about specifics, and so sensitivity is encouraged here by the loved ones, says Ian.

Source:  http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/   17th June 2016

Researchers argue that the lack of available treatment and understanding around cannabis dependency is a major public health concern, with users often being ignored

Health experts have warned that the public health care system is unprepared and ill-equipped to provide help for cannabis users, despite a rapid increase in the number of people seeking treatment for problems relating to the drug.

Researchers gathering at a conference at the University of York highlighted the discovery of “concerning, unexpected” new symptoms reported by intensive users of cannabis and synthetic alternatives, including agitation and impulse control problems, contradicting the perception of cannabis as a suppressive drug.

One new study presented to the group demonstrated that while the use of cannabis has fallen in recent years, those smaller numbers of people are using the drug more intensively, with 73 per cent of all cannabis consumed by 9 per cent of users.

We’re effectively seeing a surge of people presenting for treatment but centres are not sure what to do with them,” explained Ian Hamilton, a lecturer in mental health in the Department of Health Sciences at York University, a member of the research group. “It’s like going in for heart surgery but finding the doctors don’t have the necessary equipment to do it.”

While previous studies show that one in 10 dependent cannabis users now seek treatment, researchers at the Cannabis Matters meeting said access and routes into treatment remain unclear and even when they could be traced they were varied.

“We noticed something strange going on with the drug statistics,” said Mark Monaghan, a Social Sciences researcher at Loughborough University. “While fewer people were seemingly using cannabis, more people were lamenting to treatment services to cannabis related problems, but when we started to explore the literature around this, it was pretty unclear as to why this was happening – and what was happening to users once they were getting into treatment.”

Another pattern acknowledged by the researchers was that an increasing number of people seeking help for drug use are citing cannabis as their primary problem, yet the drug is still not taken seriously by many healthcare professionals.

“At a time when cannabis treatment demand is rising there is also increasingly competitive tendering between treatment providers for these contracts,” said Mr Hamilton. “This has created a disincentive for services to share intelligence with each other about good practice and potential solutions with their competitors.”

“Once in treatment it was clear that the response users had was variable in terms of interventions, in particular how seriously cannabis problems were viewed by treatment staff, with the consistent view being that cannabis was a benign drug.”

“It was people using cannabis who had the knowledge and expertise of the drug and its effects, rather that the treatment staff.”

The group of researchers argue that the lack of available treatment and understanding around cannabis dependency is a major public health concern, and should be treated on the same level as alcohol or smoking addiction. The health risks for cannabis

are exacerbated by the fact it is often used in conjunction with tobacco, putting users at increased risk of nicotine addiction and other associated health problems.

“Despite the success of initiatives to reduce tobacco use in the general population, cannabis users have largely been ignored,” The researchers said. “Treatment may offer an opportunity to intervene on both tobacco and cannabis use.”

Of those seeking treatment for drug use in 2014, 43 per cent of the 18-24 age group named cannabis as their primary drug, compared to just 16 per cent for opiates including heroin.

Synthetic cannabinoids such as ‘spice’ have also been named as a potential factor for the suggested increase in dependency among intensive users. According to Professor Harry Sumnall from the Centre for Public Health, SCRAs – which are now banned under the psychoactive substances act – work differently to organic cannabis, their chemicals acting on different neuro-receptors to produce distinct physical and psychological effects.

Over half of those using SCRAs more than 50 times in last year who tried to stop reported withdrawal symptoms, according to the most recent Global Drug Survey.

Synthetic cannabinoids are more likely to lead to emergency medical treatment than any other drug, with one in eight weekly users seeking emergency medical treatment.

In a statement, Rosanna O’Connor, Director of Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco at Public Health England said: “It is clear that while substance misuse treatment is working well for many, there is a need for increasingly specialist approaches to support a range of complex needs, especially among the more vulnerable in our communities.”

“It’s vital that local authorities continue to invest so those in need of help are supported on the road to recovery, giving them the best possible chance of living a better, healthier life. Public Health England continues to support local areas in delivering effective tailored services, which increasingly need to meet the needs of older drug users and younger people for whom drug use is just one of many problems.”

Source:  http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families   25th June 2016

Regular marijuana use significantly increased risk for subclinical psychotic symptoms, particularly paranoia and hallucinations, among adolescent males.

“Nearly all prior longitudinal studies examining the association between marijuana use and future psychotic symptoms have not controlled for recent patterns of use, have not repeatedly assessed marijuana use across adolescence, or have combined prior and recent use. Therefore, it is impossible to delineate the enduring effect that regular use has on emergent psychotic symptoms and whether this effect is sustained when individuals remain abstinent for several months,”Jordan Bechtold, PhD, of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and colleagues wrote.

To determine associations between regular marijuana use in adolescence and subclinical psychotic symptoms, researchers evaluated 1,009 males from as early as first grade through age 18 years. Study participants were recruited in first and seventh grades. Marijuana use, subclinical psychotic symptoms, and time-varying covariates such as other substance use and internalizing/externalizing problems were determined via self-reports from ages 13 to 18 years.

Analysis indicated that for each year adolescent boys engaged in regular marijuana use, their projected level of subsequent subclinical psychotic symptoms increased by 21% and projected risk for subclinical paranoia or hallucinations increased by 133% and 92%, respectively.

This effect persisted even when participants stopped using marijuana for 1 year.

Further, these associations remained after controlling for all time-stable and several time-varying covariates.

Researchers did not find evidence for reverse causation.

“This study demonstrates that adolescents are more likely to experience subclinical psychotic symptoms (particularly paranoia) during and after years of regular marijuana use. Perhaps the most concerning finding is that the effect of prior weekly marijuana use persists even after adolescents have stopped using for 1 year,” the researchers wrote. “Given the recent proliferation of marijuana legalization across the country, it will be important to enact preventive policies and programs to keep adolescents from engaging in regular marijuana use, as chronic use seems to increase their risk of developing persistent subclinical psychotic symptoms.” – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: Bechtold reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all authors’ relevant financial disclosures.

Source: Bechtold J, et al. Am J Psychiatry. 2016;doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.15070878.   June 15, 2016

Childhood trauma, ranging from interpersonal violence to car accidents, was associated with increased risk for illicit drug use, according to findings in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

“Abuse and domestic violence were particularly harmful to children, increasing the chances of all types of drug use in the adolescent years,” Hannah Carliner, ScD, MPH, of Columbia University, said in a press release. “We also found that trauma such as car accidents, natural disasters and major illness in childhood increased the chances that teens would use marijuana, cocaine and prescription drugs.”

To assess associations between potentially traumatic events in childhood and illicit drug use, researchers analyzed data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication-Adolescent Supplement for 9,956 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years.

Potentially traumatic events were categorized as interpersonal violence (physical abuse by caregiver, physical assault by someone else, mugged, raped, sexually assaulted, stalked, kidnapped, or domestic violence exposure), traumatic accidents (car accident, other serious accident, natural or man-made disaster, physical illness, toxic chemical exposure, or accidentally injured someone), network or witnessing events (unexpected death of a loved one, traumatic experience of a loved one, or witnessing injury or death), and other events.

Overall, 36% of the cohort reportedly experienced potentially traumatic events before age 11 years.

Exposure to potentially traumatic events before age 11 years was associated with higher risk for use of marijuana (risk ratio = 1.5; 95% CI, 1.33-1.69), cocaine (RR = 2.78; 95% CI, 1.95-3.97), prescription drugs (RR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.29-2.51), other drugs (RR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.37-2.63) and multiple drugs (RR = 1.74; 95% CI, 1.37-2.2).

Researchers found a positive monotonic relationship between number of potentially traumatic events and marijuana, other drug, and multiple drug use.

Interpersonal violence increased risk for use of marijuana (RR = 1.78; 95% CI, 1.54-2.07), cocaine (RR = 2.64; 95% CI, 1.75-3.98), nonmedical prescription drugs (RR = 2.2; 95% CI, 1.49-3.27), other drugs (RR = 1.7; 95% CI, 1.12-2.57) and multiple drugs (RR = 2.31; 95% CI, 1.69-3.15).

Car accidents and unspecified potentially traumatic events were associated with higher risk for marijuana, cocaine and prescription drug use, according to researchers.

“Drug treatment programs should consider specifically addressing the psychological harm caused by traumatic experiences in childhood, and developing less harmful active-coping strategies for dealing with current stress and traumatic memories among adolescents,” Carliner said in the release. “Such early intervention during this critical period of adolescence could have broad benefits to the health and well-being of adults.” – by Amanda Oldt

Source:  Carliner H, et al. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2016.05.010.   June 16, 2016

One in four deaths of young men aged from 15 to 39 in Ireland is due to alcohol and drink is a factor in half of all suicides, according to the Health Research Board.

Alcohol is also involved in more than one third of cases of deliberate self-harm, peaking around weekends and public holidays.

Those grim statistics are among the challenges for the medical professional nationwide and yesterday the first regional Alcohol Strategy to tackle the damage caused by alcohol in counties Cork and Kerry was launched at Cork County Hall.

“Our overarching principle in terms of strategy is to reduce the harm caused by alcohol in Cork and Kerry,” said David Lane, co-ordinator of Drug & Alcohol Services at HSE South.

While welcoming the new Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, Mr Lane said its slow progress through the legislature was frustrating.  “We need this new legislation as a matter of urgency,” he said.

“In fact, the minimum unit pricing which is a central plank of the Bill should have been put in place years ago. In the meantime, more than one person every week in this country dies of alcohol poisoning. They just consume alcohol and no other drug and die from it. That is quite shocking.”

Among the HRB findings: n Alcohol consumption in Ireland almost trebled between 1960 (4.9 litres) and 2001 (14.3 litres); n Almost two thirds (63.9%) of males started drinking alcohol before the age of 18; n Four in five (80.3%) male drinkers consumed six or more standard drinks on occasion.

Those attending the launch of the strategy heard that liver disease rates are increasing rapidly in Ireland and the greatest level of increase is among 15- to 34-year-olds, who historically had the lowest rates of liver disease.

As well as that, 900 people are diagnosed with alcohol-related cancers with around 500 people dying from these diseases every year. Drink driving is also factor in one third of all deaths on Irish roads.

The bill aims to reduce alcohol consumption in Ireland to 9.1 litres per person per annum by 2020 and to reduce the harms associated with alcohol. It consists of 29 sections and includes five main provisions.

These are: Minimum unit pricing; health labelling of alcohol products; the regulation of advertising and sponsorship of alcohol products; structural separation of alcohol products in mixed trading outlets; and the regulation of the sale and supply of alcohol in certain circumstances.

However, Mr Lane lamented the absence in the proposed legislation of any attempt to tackle seriously the marketing of alcohol, particularly in its association with sporting events.

“We might be turning a corner,” said Mr Lane.

“The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill outlines some positive steps to tackle the issue for the first time in a meaningful way.

“It might be the first step in introducing minimum unit pricing which we, as an Alcohol Strategy Group for Cork and Kerry, will fully support. But Ireland needs to strengthen its resolve to tackle the availability and marketing of alcohol in a meaningful way too.

“Finally, we must include alcohol as part of our response to substance misuse and when our National Drugs Strategy runs out at the end of 2016 we must include alcohol in a new National Substance Misuse Strategy from the start of 2017.”

Source: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/25-of-males-age-15-39-die-due-to-alcohol-404928.html

Roll Call Video Advises Law Enforcement to Exercise Extreme Caution

DEA has released a Roll Call video to all law enforcement nationwide about the dangers of improperly handling fentanyl and its deadly consequences.  Acting Deputy Administrator Jack Riley and two local police detectives from New Jersey appear on the video to urge any law enforcement personnel who come in contact with fentanyl or fentanyl compounds to take the drugs directly to a lab.

“Fentanyl can kill you,” Riley said. “Fentanyl is being sold as heroin in virtually every corner of our country. It’s produced clandestinely in Mexico, and (also) comes directly from China. It is 40 to 50 times stronger than street-level heroin. A very small amount ingested, or absorbed through your skin, can kill you.”

Two Atlantic County, NJ detectives were recently exposed to a very small amount of fentanyl, and appeared on the video.

Said one detective: “I thought that was it. I thought I was dying. It felt like my body was shutting down.”

Riley also admonished police to skip testing on the scene, and encouraged them to also remember potential harm to police canines during the course of duties.

“Don’t field test it in your car, or on the street, or take if back to the office. Transport it directly to a laboratory, where it can be safely handled and tested.”

The video can be accessed at: http://go.usa.gov/chBWW

More on Fentanyl:

On March 18, 2015, DEA issued a nationwide alert on fentanyl as a threat to health and public safety.

Fentanyl is a dangerous, powerful Schedule II narcotic responsible for an epidemic of overdose deaths within the United States. During the last two years, the distribution of clandestinely manufactured fentanyl has been linked to an unprecedented outbreak of thousands of overdoses and deaths. The overdoses are occurring at an alarming rate and are the basis for this officer safety alert.

Fentanyl, up to 50 times more potent than heroin, is extremely dangerous to law enforcement and anyone else who may come into contact with it. As a result, it represents an unusual hazard for law enforcement.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opiate painkiller, is being mixed with heroin to increase its potency, but dealers and buyers may not know exactly what they are selling or ingesting. Many users underestimate the potency of fentanyl.

The dosage of fentanyl is a microgram, one millionth of a gram – similar to just a few granules of table salt. Fentanyl can be lethal and is deadly at very low doses.

Fentanyl and its analogues come in several forms including powder, blotter paper, tablets, and spray.

Risks to Law Enforcement

Fentanyl is not only dangerous for the drug’s users, but for law enforcement, public health workers and first responders who could unknowingly come into contact with it in

its different forms. Fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin or accidental inhalation of airborne powder can also occur. DEA is concerned about law enforcement coming in contact with fentanyl on the streets during the course of enforcement, such as a buy-walk, or buy-bust operation.

Just touching fentanyl or accidentally inhaling the substance during enforcement activity or field testing the substance can result in absorption through the skin and that is one of the biggest dangers with fentanyl. The onset of adverse health effects, such as disorientation, coughing, sedation, respiratory distress or cardiac arrest is very rapid and profound, usually occurring within minutes of exposure.

Canine units are particularly at risk of immediate death from inhaling fentanyl.

In August 2015, law enforcement officers in New Jersey doing a narcotics field test on a substance that later turned out to be a mix of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl, were exposed to the mixture and experienced dizziness, shortness of breath and respiratory problems.

If inhaled, move to fresh air, if ingested, wash out mouth with water provided the person is conscious and seek immediate medical attention.

Narcan (Naloxone), an overdose-reversing drug, is an antidote for opiate overdose and may be administered intravenously, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously. Immediately administering Narcan can reverse an accidental overdose of fentanyl exposure to officers. Continue to administer multiple doses of Narcan until the exposed person or overdose victim responds favorably.

Field Testing / Safety Precautions

Law enforcement officers should be aware that fentanyl and its compounds resemble powered cocaine or heroin, however, should not be treated as such.

If at all possible do not take samples if fentanyl is suspected. Taking samples or opening a package could stir up the powder. If you must take a sample, use gloves (no bare skin contact) and a dust mask or air purifying respirator (APR) if handling a sample, or a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for a suspected lab.

If you have reason to believe an exhibit contains fentanyl, it is prudent to not field test it. Submit the material directly to the laboratory for analysis and clearly indicate on the submission paperwork that the item is suspected of containing fentanyl. This will alert laboratory personnel to take the necessary safety precautions during the handling, processing, analysis, and storage of the evidence. Officers should be aware that while unadulterated fentanyl may resemble cocaine or heroin powder, it can be mixed with other substances which can alter its appearance. As such, officers should be aware that fentanyl may be smuggled, transported, and/or used as part of a mixture.

Universal precautions must be applied when conducting field testing on drugs that are not suspected of containing fentanyl. Despite color and appearance, you can never be certain what you are testing. In general, field testing of drugs should be conducted as appropriate, in a well ventilated area according to commercial test kit instructions and training received. Sampling of evidence should be performed very carefully to avoid spillage and release of powder into the air. At a minimum, gloves should be worn and the use of masks is recommended. After conducting the test, hands should be washed with copious amounts of soap and water. Never attempt to identify a substance by taste or odor.

Historically, this is not the first time fentanyl has posed such a threat to public health and safety. Between 2005 and 2007, over 1,000 U.S. deaths were attributed to fentanyl – many of which occurred in Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia.

The current outbreak involves not just fentanyl, but also fentanyl compounds. The current outbreak, resulting in thousands of deaths, is wider geographically and involves a wide array of individuals including new and experiences abusers.

In the last three years, DEA has seen a significant resurgence in fentanyl-related seizures. In addition, DEA has identified at least 15 other deadly, fentanyl-related compounds. Some fentanyl cases have been significant, particularly in the northeast and in California, including one 12 kilogram seizure. During May 2016, a traffic stop in the greater Atlanta, GA area resulted in the seizure of 40 kilograms of fentanyl – initially believed to be bricks of cocaine – wrapped into blocks hidden in buckets and immersed in a thick fluid. The fentanyl from these seizures originated from Mexican drug trafficking organizations.

Recent seizures of counterfeit or look-a-like hydrocodone or oxycodone tablets have occurred, wherein the tablets actually contain fentanyl. These fentanyl tablets are marked to mimic the authentic narcotic prescription medications and have led to multiple overdoses and deaths.

According to DEA’s National Forensic Lab Information System, 13,002 forensic exhibits of fentanyl were tested by labs nationwide in 2015, up 65 percent from the 2014 number of 7,864.  The 2015 number is also about 8 times as many fentanyl exhibits than in 2006, when a single lab in Mexico caused a temporary spike in U.S. fentanyl availability.  This is an unprecedented threat

Source:  U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration dea@public.govdelivery.com  11th June 2016

Guilt-stricken drug dealer pictured in tearful mug shot after handing himself into police because he’d ‘had enough’

Manchester Crown Court heard Heath’s extraordinary confession came after his own addiction brought him to the point where he was living in a drug den with only a coat to his name

Sean Heath

With tears in his eyes guilt-stricken drug dealer Sean Heath poses for his mugshot moments after handing himself into police because he’d ‘had enough’.

The addict stunned officers, who didn’t even know he was dealing drugs, when he turned up at Little Hulton police station, placed 36 wraps of heroin on the counter and told the custody sergeant: ““I’m dealing drugs and I don’t want to do it anymore.”

Manchester Crown Court heard Heath’s extraordinary confession came after his own addiction brought him to the point where he was living in a drug den with only a coat to his name.

Over an eight month period he had been buying crack and heroin and selling to other users to feed his long-term, £200 a day habit.

Now Heath, of no fixed abode, has been jailed for two years and four months, after pleading guilty to possessing class A drugs with intent to supply, reports the Manchester Evening News .

As he was sentenced he said: “Half my life’s gone on drugs – I have just had enough.”

Prosecutor Neil Beckwith told court that Heath handed himself in to police after midnight on May 3, giving officers 36 wraps of a greyish powder which he revealed was heroin.

Interviewed, he said on a typical day he sold 36 wraps of heroin and 56 wraps of cocaine. During Heath’s sentencing hearing, Alistair Reid, defending, said: “This is the first time in my professional career I have had a defendant who has knocked on the door of police, surrendered himself and handed over a class A drug worth over £700 in street value. That goes to show his mindset. He tells me he’s been using illicit drugs since the age of 14, and prior to his remand in custody, would describe himself as an alcoholic.”

Mr Reid said Heath’s drug and drink problems had begun and escalated against a backdrop of family and relationship difficulties, leaving him penniless.

The defence lawyer added: “He has no assets whatsoever to his name – he informs me the only item he has is a coat. He has nothing else in the world in terms of material goods.

“He is, tragically, an indication of the harm illicit drugs cause in society. He sees this as an opportunity he needs to put drug misuse and alcohol misuse behind and move forward – he is determined to completely abstain from drugs.”

Sentencing, Recorder Andrew Jefferies QC said of Heath: “I don’t think you can get any clearer indication of remorse than going to the police station and handing yourself in.”

Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/guilt-stricken-drug-dealer-pictured-8113171

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – May 31, 2016)

Researchers at the University of Western Australia have identified the causal links between marijuana use and the development of serious diseases, cancers, birth defects, and the inheritance of traits that can cause such problems in children and grandchildren including the development of Down’s Syndrome. Parental use of marijuana is a children’s rights issue.

Associate Professor Stuart Reece and Professor Gary Hulse from UWA’s School of Psychiatry and Clinical Sciences found illnesses are likely caused by cell mutations resulting from cannabis properties having a chemical interaction with a person’s DNA. Even if a mother has never used cannabis, the mutations passed on by a father’s sperm can cause serious and fatal illnesses in offspring. The parents DNA carrying these mutations can lie dormant and may only affect generations down the road. The study was published in the Mutation Research — Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis.

Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0027510716300574

Crystals and tablets in the Spanish ecstasy market 2000–2014: Are they the same or different in terms of purity and adulteration?

Highlights

* Crystal samples of ecstasy showed clear differences in relation to tablets.

* Proportion of samples containing only MDMA was higher in crystals.

* Caffeine was the main adulterant detected both in crystals and tablets.

* Recent increase in the amount of MDMA in tablets was not observed in crystals.

* Since 2009, the number of adulterants identified increased in both formats.

ABSTRACT

Background

Although 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has a long history in recreational settings, research on its composition (purity and adulteration) has focused only on tablets even though crystal format is readily available for users.

Methods

Drug specimens collected between January 2000 and December 2014 were analyzed at Energy Control’s facilities. All samples were voluntarily provided by drug users. Sample identification was made with thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, and quantification with ultraviolet spectrophotometry (only in unadulterated samples).

Results

Between January 2000 and December 2014, 6200 samples purchased as ecstasy by their users were analyzed. Crystals were the most frequent format (60.6%) followed by tablets (38.8%). During the study period, the proportion of samples containing only MDMA was higher in crystals than in tablets. Compared with tablets, adulterated crystal samples contained the same number of adulterants but more combinations of different substances. Although caffeine was commonly detected as adulterant both in crystals and tablets, other substances such as phenacetin, lidocaine, dextrometorphan or methamphetamine were detected almost exclusively in crystal samples. The amount of MDMA in crystal samples remained stable unlike tablets for which a huge increase in MDMA dose was observed since 2010.

Conclusion

Crystal samples of ecstasy showed clear differences compared to ecstasy tablets and this must be taken into account both in research and harm reduction.

Source:    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.04.016  Volume 263, Pages 164–168