Federal Register Notice Re Intl Drug Scheduling That Includes THC

The findings are still valid as to why marijuana should not be rescheduled as determined in the Denial of Petition To Initiate Proceedings To Reschedule Marijuana, by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 81 FR 53767-01(August 12, 2016) Human Physiological and Psychological Effects of Marijuana MARIJUANA AND MENTAL ILLNESS Recent studies show a connection between marijuana […]

Re-Scheduling of Cannabinoids in USA Pattern of Colorado Birth Defects 2000-2013

Attached is a submission from Professor Stuart Reece to the Food and Drug Administration in USA for forwarding to the World Health Organization relating to the re-scheduling of cannabis FDA Federal Register Submission for WHO Review and Consideration – Colorado Teratogenicity Patterns Illustrated Email from Stuart Reece April 2018

Improving community engagement in addiction science – NIDA

This paper by NIDA, USA, was forwarded to NDPA by Drug Free Australia: November 12, 2024  by Dr. Nora Volkow Medical research can sometimes become disconnected from the interests and needs of the people it is intended to serve. This is true across diseases and disorders, and addiction research is no exception. Too often, scientists […]

What does Trump’s election potentially mean for addiction response?

Policy News Roundup: November 14, 2024 by drugfree.org The main point: Overall, a Trump administration is likely to be more focused on law enforcement and supply side responses to the overdose crisis, rather than approach the challenge from a public health perspective. The details: Treatment: We do not expect there will be efforts to remove […]

Small Changes with Big Impact: Supporting Employees in Recovery

Workplaces have a unique opportunity to make subtle yet meaningful adjustments to better support employees who may be in recovery or experiencing challenges. When businesses make small changes in their events, management style, and overall culture, they create an environment that respects and uplifts employees facing SUDs. Here are three impactful ways to make the […]

US News: PHI Study Shows Nearly 160 Million Americans Harmed by Another’s Drinking, Drug Use

November 22, 2024 One in 3 adults who responded to a new nationwide survey said they had suffered “secondhand harm” from another person’s drinking, and more than 1 in 10 said a loved one’s drug use had harmed them. PHI’s William Kerr shares insights on how secondhand harms from alcohol and drug use can affect […]

DEA to Hold Hearing on the Rescheduling of Marijuana

November 26, 2024 MEDIA ADVISORY DEA Headquarters Division – Public Information Office WASHINGTON – Formal hearing proceedings regarding the proposed rescheduling of marijuana will begin on December 2, 2024 at 9:30 A.M. ET in the North Courtroom at DEA Headquarters located at 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA. This preliminary hearing will serve as a procedural […]

According to new provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug deaths in the United States have fallen for the first time in five years.

We targeted drug cartels to stop fentanyl. Now, overdose deaths are dropping. | Opinion Anne Milgram  |  Opinion contributor For the past three years, we have fought to protect our communities and save American lives lost at the hands of the drug cartels. This fight may seem daunting, and it is unbearable for the families who […]

Tackling the global drug crisis

Illegal drugs are the source of immense human suffering. Those most vulnerable, especially young people, bear the brunt of this crisis. People who use drugs and those struggling with addiction face a multitude of challenges: the harmful effects of the drugs themselves, the stigma and discrimination they endure, and often, harsh and ineffective responses to […]

From Inspiration to Action: 5 Youth Forum Alumni Champion Prevention Efforts

November 29th 2024 Young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow but also a powerful force for change today. Their engagement in drug prevention efforts is crucial in not only identifying the challenges faced by the younger generation; it can also shed light on the various ways that youth can be meaningfully involved as […]

A Presidential Proclamation on National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, 2024

November 29, 2024      Too many families know the pain of losing a loved one to a drunk or drug-impaired driving accident.  Each year, more than 10,000 Americans lose their lives in these preventable tragedies.  During National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, we remind everyone that they can save lives by driving only when sober, […]

Why We Need to Modernize Substance Use Education

These TC experts emphasize the critical need for a more proactive approach to substance use education More than 40,000 youth used nicotine pouches last year alone, a staggering increase from 2021. The relatively new and less detectable product’s increasing prevalence among youth underscores an urgent need for informed discussion and intervention regarding adolescent substance use more broadly. […]

Cell Biology Studies

This is an exchange on Drug Watch International with questions from Roger Morgan and responses from Dr Stuart Reece (in bold italics) Hi Stuart In reflecting on the studies referred to by Peggy Mann from 40 or 50 years ago, combined with your recent research, I believe we need to do some more research.  I […]

Key insights into cannabis-cancer pathobiology and genotoxicity

 – PERSPECTIVE  CO-AUTHORS: Albert Stuart Reece1,2 | Gary Kenneth Hulse1,2 1University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia 2School of Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia Correspondence: Albert Stuart Reece, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. Email: stuart.reece@uwa.edu.au ABSTRACT: Whilst mitochondrial inhibition and micronuclear fragmentation are well […]

France’s drug problem: Both repression and prevention are needed

The martial language used by the government when presenting its plan to combat drug trafficking cannot mask the wide blind spots in its announcements, particularly in terms of health and social issues. Published in Le Monde on November 9, 2024, at 12:46 pm (Paris), updated on November 9, 2024, at 2:14 pm 2 min read Lire […]

More than a dozen Oregon communities vote to ban psilocybin businesses

 Supporters of psilocybin expressed dismay at the bans after thousands of people reported benefits from using the psychedelic drug Oregon Capital Chronicle, November 7, 2024- by Ben Botkin and Lynne Terry.                                  Image: PIXABAY  Voters in more than a dozen […]

Prevention focus needed to tackle alcohol and drug harm

October 31, 2024   Scotland’s drug and alcohol deaths remain among Europe’s highest – despite an increase in spending and better national leadership. The Scottish Government has made progress in increasing residential rehabilitation capacity and implementing treatment standards. However, it has been slow to progress key national strategies, such as a workforce plan and alcohol […]

Notes from the Field: Ketamine Detection and Involvement in Drug Overdose Deaths — United States, July 2019–June 2023

Weekly / November 7, 2024 / 73(44);1010–1012 Alana M. Vivolo-Kantor, PhD1; Christine L. Mattson, PhD1; Maria Zlotorzynska, PhD1 What is already known about this topic? Expanded availability of ketamine for management of treatment-resistant depression has resulted in increased use. What is added by this report? During July 2019–June 2023, ketamine was detected in <1% of overdose […]

Mosque’s drug awareness event hailed ‘encouraging’

The drug and alcohol awareness event was held at Faizen-E-Madina Mosque on Gladstone Street Shariqua Ahmed – BBC News, Peterborough Published 9 November 2024 A drug and alcohol awareness event has taken place at a mosque to encourage Muslims and families struggling with addiction to seek help. Dozens of people, including children, attended the workshop organised by […]

Drug legalization takes massive hit in state referenda

By Gabrielle M. Etzel November 6, 2024 10:45 am Voters in the 2024 election dealt a rebuke to drug legalization efforts in four states, a major political development that will shape the future of both marijuana and psychedelic drug policy across the country: Measures to legalize recreational marijuana failed in Florida, North Dakota, and South Dakota, despite record spending from the cannabis […]

Experts propose all-inclusive approach, legal framework to combat drug abuse

November 6, 2024 by Our Reporter Experts in Nigeria are increasingly concerned about the country’s rising drug abuse rates, urging the Federal Government to adopt a public health-centred approach.  This proposed strategy prioritizes reducing drug use while establishing a supportive legal framework to empower health interventions. With roughly 14.4 percent of the population or about 14.3 […]

Afghanistan: opium cultivation increased by 19 per cent in second year of drugs ban, according to UNODC

United Nations  –  Office on Drugs and Crime PRESS RELEASE  – Kabul / Vienna, 6 November 2024 Opium cultivation in Afghanistan in 2024 increased by an estimated 19 per cent year-on-year to cover 12,800 hectares, according to a new survey released by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) today. The increase follows on a […]

‘Fentanyl steals families’: New Cincinnati billboard spreads awareness of opioid epidemic

by Chloe Marklay, Katie Amrhein, WKRC Wed, October 30th 2024 at 10:20 AM Updated Fri, November 1st 2024 at 10:44 AM CINCINNATI (WKRC) – A local mother who lost her son to fentanyl has spearheaded an initiative to bring a powerful billboard to Cincinnati. The billboard is located in the Northgate area. It includes pictures of […]

Black Pennsylvanians are 50% less likely to receive naloxone, despite soaring overdose deaths, new study finds

Cultural, systemic and historical factors have converged to create the perfect storm when it comes to Black overdose deaths.       By Liz Tung – June 14, 2024 Reporter at The Pulse In this Jan. 23, 2018 photo, Leah Hill, a behavioral health fellow with the Baltimore City Health Department, displays a sample of Narcan nasal […]

WHAT TRUMP GOT WRONG – PLEASE WRITE TO SENATOR VANCE ABOUT THIS

From: thinkon908 via Drug Watch International Subject: FROM DAVE EVANS WHAT TRUMP GOT WRONG PLEASE WRITE TO SENATOR VANCE ABOUT THIS In a message dated 9/3/2024 6:52:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time: President Trump and Senator Vance have recently come out in favor of marijuana legalization. This is a big mistake. Here is what President Trump had […]

Prevention, Persistence, and the Power of Storytelling: Interviews from the NPN Conference

10Sep2024 In this special episode of the Pathways 2 Podcast, recorded live at the National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference, we bring you two insightful conversations with leaders who are making a significant impact in the field of prevention. First, we sit down with Ben Stevenson, who oversees prevention and harm reduction services for Montgomery County, […]

Kentucky attorney general offers prevention plan to combat drug abuse scourge

  By  BRUCE SCHREINER  September 10, 2024 Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman unveiled plans Tuesday to create a statewide drug prevention program, saying the youth-focused initiative would fill a hole in the Bluegrass State’s fight against an addiction epidemic that has claimed thousands of lives. Coleman presented the plan’s details to a state commission, which […]

X Launches Prevent Alliance to Combat Synthetic Drug Abuse

Published July 11, 2024 By Andrew Hutchinson   X is taking another step in combating the promotion of illegal substances in the app, by signing up to the Prevent Alliance, which aims to establish more definitive rules and approaches to combat synthetic drug promotion within social apps. Synthetic drugs aim to replicate the effects of more commonly […]

Kentucky Attorney General Coleman announces statewide youth drug prevention campaign

Attorney General Russell Coleman proposed a statewide, youth-focused addiction prevention initiative before the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission Tuesday. The Commission unanimously approved the two-year, $3.6 million proposal, which is centered around a research-backed youth education campaign. This campaign, called “Better Without It,” will feature data-driven outreach to engage with young Kentuckians where they are, […]

Red Ribbon Week

RED RIBBON WEEK is Celebrated Annually October 23-31. Red Ribbon Week highlights the importance of living a drug-free life. It presents an opportunity for parents, educators, and communities to reinforce the drug-free messages they share with their children throughout the year. During Red Ribbon Week, youth and adults around the nation pledge to increase their […]

New research explores how campus belonging impacts binge drinking and substance use

The Pennsylvania State University  Oct 12 2024 Students who feel a sense of belonging at their university are more likely to binge drink than those who do not feel the same connection, according to a new study by researchers at Penn State, the University of California, Santa Cruz and University of Oregon. In the study, […]

Preventing bullying can prevent substance abuse

Posted Saturday, October 12, 2024 By MARIE GARCEAU October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying prevention programs begin locally, with communities and the individuals within them creating safe and supportive schools, organizations, neighborhoods and family units. While this campaign is not as recognized as much as the months dedicated to overdose awareness and suicide prevention, it is […]

Health smokes ’em out

Source: The Sunday Mail

Blow to vaping, cigs fight

National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research

Submission to the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society Executive Summary Social media platforms have become a major part of young Australians’ lives. While these platforms have many benefits, they also expose youth to content that promotes substance use, including alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes, and illicit drugs. This is concerning because: 1. There […]

Drug ‘summiteering’ in NSW

By Ian Webster  Oct 28, 2024 Ian W Webster AO is Emeritus Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine of the University of New South Wales. He has worked as a physician in public and regional hospitals in Australia and UK and in NGOs dealing with homelessness, alcohol and drug problems and mental illness. Please review Ian Webster’s […]

New Pediatric Opioid Rules Aim to Cut Risks, Clarify Pain Treatment

By Brittany Vargas  /  September 30, 2024 The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published its first clinical practical guidelines on opioid prescriptions for children with acute pain, outlining 12 evidence-based recommendations for safely and appropriately treating pain in young patients. The guidelines have been published alongside a technical report in Pediatrics and presented at the group’s 2024 annual meeting. […]

DEA Supports 2024 Red Ribbon Campaign to Promote Healthy, Drug-Free Lifestyles

October 18, 2024 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration recognizes the Red Ribbon Campaign – the nation’s largest drug prevention effort – throughout the month of October by providing drug prevention, awareness, and education that encourages living healthy and drug-free. DEA’s Red Ribbon Week is recognized October 23 through October 31 every year and honors […]

Fatal overdoses often happen when users are alone. Hotlines, sensors can save lives.

Even as officials hope tech can stem the tide of solitary drug fatalities, they know deploying these warning strategies could face obstacles. By David Ovalle   and   Elana Gordon October 19, 2024 They die alone in bedrooms, bathroom stalls and cars. Each year in the United States, tens of thousands of fatal overdoses unfold as tragedies of […]

Drug laws are back in Oregon. How they are enforced depends on the county

Counties will approach enforcement differently, providing yet another large-scale experiment in drug policy. by Troy Brynelson|Oregon Public Broadcasting October 17, 2024 Days after Oregon officially recriminalized drug possession, Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Gomez found himself helping with an arrest. Officers in the town of Sutherlin stopped a car near a park, he recalled. They spotted […]

White House Drug Policy Director Statement on Latest Drug Overdose Death Data

Washington, D.C. – Today, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Dr. Rahul Gupta released the following statement on the latest provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), showing drug overdose deaths decreased by 12.7% year-over-year (in the 12-months ending May 2024). This is the largest recorded reduction in overdose deaths, […]

A National Strategy for Preventing Substance and Opioid Use Disorders Through Evidence-Based Prevention Programming That Fosters Healthy Outcomes in Our Youth

Diana H. Fishbein dfishbein@unc.edu and Zili SlobodaAuthors Info & Affiliations Abstract The recently released National Drug Control Strategy (2022) from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) lays out a comprehensive plan to, not only enhance access to treatment and increase harm reduction strategies, but also increase implementation of evidence-based prevention programming at the community level. Furthermore, […]

Police launch “Let’s T.A.L.K. LOL Party”

The Narcotics Bureau (NB) and the Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Unit of the Hong Kong Police Force have collaborated for the first time to stage a large-scale carnival, “Let’s T.A.L.K. LOL Party”, which will run for two consecutive days from today (November 16) at the West Kowloon Cultural District. The event will combine […]