News
DDN ONLINE All the news and views www . drinkanddrugsnews . com
Increasing violence associated with county lines activity
County lines activity is being characterised by rising levels of extreme violence and sexual exploitation , according to a report by the University of Nottingham ’ s Rights Lab . Professionals interviewed for the report described both an increase in the incidence of violence and ‘ shifts in the types of injuries and their severity ’. One respondent described an increase in the number of males under 21 attending A & E after being raped , while others also noted increases in self-harm and suicide attempts among children and young people admitted to hospital .
The report , which looks at the impact of COVID-19 on county lines activities , says more and more health professionals are warning that young people are being coerced into by gangs via online grooming and use of control through the harbouring of sexually explicit images , with an associated increase in self-harm among young females .
While males still represented the majority of violence-related A & E admissions in connection to county lines gangs , the injuries sustained by female victims were becoming ‘ more severe and sexual in nature ’, with victims ‘ passed around the wider network as a reward ’. The increased levels of privacy associated with COVID-related visiting restrictions in hospitals , however , had meant some young people felt safe enough to disclose more about their injuries and experience of exploitation .
‘ These latest findings are extremely concerning – taken together with the fact that professionals ’ ability to identify signs of exploitation and safeguard vulnerable young people are being hindered by COVID-19 restrictions ,
Childhood trauma can alter opioid response
PEOPLE WITH A HISTORY OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA are more likely to have a euphoric response to opioids , according to a study by the University of Exeter .
The findings ‘ may explain the link between childhood trauma and vulnerability to opioid use disorder , with implications for treatments and the prescribing of opioids medically ’, say the researchers .
The study – thought to be the first of its kind – compared the effects of morphine on 52 people , roughly half of whom had a history of severe childhood abuse and neglect , as measured by the widely used childhood trauma questionnaire . Those who had no history of childhood trauma were more likely to dislike the effects of the drug and report feeling nauseous or dizzy , while those who had experienced trauma ‘ felt more euphoric and had a stronger desire for another dose ’.
One explanation for the different responses could be trauma ’ s effect on the endogenous opioid system , a pain-relief process that is sensitive to chemicals such as endorphins – ‘ our natural opioids ’.
Childhood trauma may ‘ dampen ’ this system , the researchers state . ‘ When a baby cries and is comforted , endorphins are released – so if loving interactions like this don ' t happen , this system may develop differently and could become more sensitive to the rewarding effects of opioid drugs ,’ said lead author Dr Molly Carlyle .
‘ There are high rates of childhood trauma in people with addictions . Our findings show that these sorts of experiences can actually change how certain drugs feel .’
Study published in Addiction Biology at onlinelibrary . wiley . com / doi / 10.1111 / adb . 13047
' Professionals described both an increase in the incidence of violence and shifts in the types of injuries and their severity .'
it is a very alarming picture ,’ said research fellow in modern slavery perpetration at the Rights Lab Dr Ben Brewster . Covid-19 , Vulnerability and the safeguarding of criminally exploited children at www . nottingham . ac . uk / research / beaconsof-excellence / rights-lab / index . aspx
A fifth drinking more since lockdown
UP TO 20 PER CENT OF ADULTS may be drinking more since the start of the first lockdown , according to a YouGov poll commissioned by the Forward Trust . Of these , 17 per cent said this was causing problems related to work , relationships , finances or withdrawal symptoms – the equivalent of 1.5m people if replicated across the country . Almost 40 per cent of people in recovery also reported a relapse during the last year , indicating a ‘ profound impact ’ on the recovery community . ‘ The pandemic has had a devastating impact on many people – rates of harmful drinking and drug-related deaths are at an all-time high , gambling addiction is rising at an alarming rate , and families and children are living with the hidden harm of addiction in greater numbers than ever before ,’ said chief executive Mike Trace .
‘ Our survey provides an important insight into the looming pressure on services during and following lockdowns . It is clear that people need increasing levels of help , understanding and support , and they need that now .’
Local News
THE RIGHT NOTE BDP is hosting three days of free music workshops in Bristol in July for anyone affected by substance issues who can play an instrument . Participants in Reconnect , Recharge and Recover will also have the opportunity to take part in a filmed performance . Contact sophie . wilsdon @ bdp . org . uk for more information .
ROUGH TREATMENT More than 11,000 people were seen sleeping rough in London in the year to March , according to GLA figures – a 3 per cent increase on last year despite emergency pandemic measures like ‘ Everyone In ’. ‘ Without decisive action , much of the good work of the past 15 months risks being undone ,’ said Homeless Link chief executive Rick Henderson .
PERSONAL CONNECTION Edinburgh ’ s health and social care partnership and alcohol and drug partnership have launched an addiction recovery companion ( ARC ) app with a personalised emergency button to quickly connect people ‘ when things get tough ’. The app also features a mood tracker and motivational exercises . Available at arcapp . co . uk
WWW . DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS . COM JULY / AUGUST 2021 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • 5