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UK ’ s first regular drug testing facility launches in Bristol
The country ’ s first regular drug checking service has been launched in Bristol . Operated by harm reduction organisation The Loop in partnership with Bristol City Council , Bristol Drugs Project ( BDP ), and the universities of Bath and Liverpool , the free , confidential service will operate once a month .
Licensed by the Home Office , it will allow people to submit substances for testing with results available in around an hour , along with ‘ personalised , nonjudgemental ’ health advice . The council-funded service will also increase understanding of local drug markets for health services and the police , says The Loop , and will focus on ‘ dependent , frequent and problematic use ’ with the aim of reducing consumption of contaminated or adulterated drugs . Users of the service will be able to drop a small amount of drugs in an amnesty bin at BDP ’ s premises , and will also be signposted to other support services .
‘ This is a landmark moment for
THE EU HEROIN MARKET is estimated to be worth ‘ at least ’ EUR 5.2bn a year , says a report from EMCDDA and Europol .
While the Taliban ’ s opium ban has led to a 95 per cent fall in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan according to the latest UNODC analysis ( www . drinkanddrugsnews . com / afghan- opium-cultivation-drops-by-95- per-cent ), there are as yet no signs of any heroin shortages in Europe , states EU drug market : heroin and other opioids .
The amount of heroin seized by EU member states more than doubled in 2021 , to 9.5 tonnes , the highest level recorded for two decades . There are an estimated 1m high-risk opioid users in the harm reduction – after 12 years of preparations , evaluations and negotiations , it is fantastic news that The Loop can start the UK ’ s first regular drug checking service ,’ said the charity ’ s founder and chair , Professor Fiona Measham . ‘ With more cities due to follow soon , this launch represents the start of a new era for drug checking and it could not come at a more important time . The risks from adulteration of the illegal drug market have never been greater .’ ‘ I am proud that Bristol is the first city in the UK to have a regular drug checking service ,’ added the council ’ s public health lead , Ellie King . ‘ This new initiative is ultimately going to save lives . It also means our communities will be able to access scientific and evidence-based information about the drugs that they may consume and that are in circulation . This is about working in partnership to help reduce harm to our communities and empowering people to make safer , more informed choices , with access to drug treatment and further support .’
‘ With more cities due to follow soon , this launch represents the start of a new era for drug checking and it could not come at a more important time .’
PROF FIONA MEASHAM
Europe ’ s EUR 5bn heroin market
EU , the report says , with opioids responsible for three quarters of 2021 ’ s 6,000 drug-related deaths across the continent .
Many drugs organisations are concerned that any decrease in heroin availability caused by the situation in Afghanistan could lead to highly potent synthetic opioids like nitazenes filling the gap in the market , with consequent increases in overdose deaths .
‘ Compared to North America , the EU has been impacted to a much lesser extent by synthetic opioids ,’ EMCDDA says . ‘ This can be attributed to protective factors such as strict prescribing practices , social healthcare provisions in most countries , and welldeveloped treatment and harm reduction services for existing opioid users .’ However , they are increasingly being detected in places like Latvia , Lithuania and Sweden , and urgent action is needed to ‘ increase preparedness ’, the report states .
‘ Concerningly , over the past five years , most of the newly identified opioid substances reported to the EU early warning system on new psychoactive substances have been highly potent benzimidazole ( nitazene ) opioids , rather than fentanyl derivatives as in previous years ,’ it says . Document at www . emcdda . europa . eu / publications / eu-drug-markets / heroin-andother-opioids _ en
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‘ LANDMARK ’ CONVICTION Essex police have secured one of the first convictions for supplying nitrous oxide since the law was changed , after a car was stopped in Basildon in December last year . ‘ Where we are dealing with a larger number of canisters , it is right we take robust and swift action and put this new legislation to use ,’ said superintendent Philip Stinger .
FIVE-YEAR FUNDING Gloucestershire County Council will provide Via with almost £ 6m funding to provide treatment services across the county over the next five years . ‘ As well as helping some of our most vulnerable residents to turn their lives around , these services help to improve our communities ,’ said council leader Mark Hawthorne .
CHANGES CLOSES Birmingham-based Changes UK has ceased trading after failing to secure new funding . ‘ This is a devastatingly sad day for us and for those in the West Midlands who rely on our lifesaving support ,’ the charity said . ‘ We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone , past and present , who has contributed to making Changes UK the beacon of hope it has been for so many .’
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