DRUG INFORMATION RESOURCES - INTERNATIONAL
Methamphetamine – the Respiratory System & Covid-19: Bad Combination
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
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“Vaping can effect your whole life – not just your lungs.”
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Who knew? We all knew, but we continue to follow Big Alcohol and Big Cannabis narratives that have either coercively or seductively lead to concealment of growing harms, not least accidents beyond the road toll. Permission models always drive demand, and when that demand leads to mixing and increasing use of psychotropic toxins, you get more and more of this damage. #PublicHealthMatters #cannabisindustry #alcoholawareness
Prevalence of alcohol and other drug detections in non-transport injury events
Key findings
- AODs were detected in 37% of non-transport injury cases where AOD testing was completed. AOD detections were particularly common in cases of intentional self-harm (47%) and interpersonal violence (69%).
- Of tested patients, alcohol was the most commonly detected substance (25%), followed by cannabinoids (14%), benzodiazepines (13%), amphetamine-type substances (11%), opioids (4%) and cocaine (2%).
- Population-level surveillance of AOD-related injury events is needed to inform prevention approaches that address AOD use as a risk factor for all causes of injury.
(Source: Emergency Medicine Australia)
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Xylazine is a nonopioid sedative that is not approved for human use and which has no known antidote. It can cause central nervous system depression, respiratory depression, bradycardia and hypotension in humans.
The report concluded that there is a need for routine testing for xylazine in suspected deaths. In addition, more research is needed into the drug’s potency and effect on humans to reach a full understanding of risk and to guide prevention efforts. (Complete article (addictionpolicy.org)
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Challenges in Identifying Novel Psychoactive Substances and a Stronger Path Forward
The Ongoing Fentanyl Firestorm and the Unhelpful Gagging of Policy & Practice Possibilities
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Alcohol, substance misuse causes brain changes, reducing 'cognitive flexibility'
- “Cognitive flexibility” involves adapting to changes in circumstances to achieve favorable outcomes.
- Certain substances influence cognitive flexibility, and researchers are still working to understand the interactions and changes that occur.
- A recent study explored the link between reduced cognitive flexibility and the use of alcohol and cocaine.
- The data offered vital insight into the underlying neural pathways involved in these brain changes.
“Cognitive flexibility is a complex phenomenon that typically refers to the ability to shift one’s mental focus and adapt to new obstacles, goals, and patterns. Being able to think and act effectively in response to changes in stimuli, environments, and surprises signifies a healthy level of cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility is important because our environment is rapidly changing, and when our thinking patterns remain rigid and fixed, we become unable to adapt to our environment.”
“In this study, we see how some of that switch between impulsivity and compulsivity takes place — neurons are sending signals to release high levels of dopamine, which then inhibits other deep structures that enforce cognitive flexibility. As this cycle of behavioral abuse continues, the structures continue to inhibit cognitive flexibility, thus leading to a negative feedback loop,” Spielberg added.
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Examining The World Drug Report 2023 UNODC Civil Society Webinar
(Dalgarno Institute Contribution)
