LEAP UK

‘The Science Is Clear: Forced Addiction Treatment Fails’

“Mounting evidence from researchers, public health experts, and former law enforcement shows that punitive, coercive approaches to homeless addiction not only fail to reduce drug use but also increase overdose deaths, worsen housing instability, and cost taxpayers more than proven alternatives.”

The Science Is Clear: Forced Addiction Treatment Fails Homeless People Mounting evidence shows that punitive, coercive approaches to homeless addiction fail to reduce drug use and worsen housing instability.

‘Bigger Harms: How the UK’s Nitrous Oxide Ban Backfired’

“a system that prioritises punishment and criminalisation at the expense of substantive policies that address the underlying causes of substance use”

https://www.talkingdrugs.org/bigger-canisters-bigger-harms-how-the-uks-nitrous-oxide-ban-backfired/ via TalkingDrugs.org

Bigger Canisters, Bigger Harms: How the UK’s Nitrous Oxide Ban Backfired - TalkingDrugs The British government’s crackdown on 'NOS' may have decreased casual use, but it has caused new health and environmental risks in the process.

A look at how medical access still lacks for many and how tiered systems essentially exist.

After a hard-fought victory to legalise medical cannabis in the UK, why is it still so hard to access? The long read: Two mothers fought British bureaucracy to obtain lifesaving cannabis medicines for their children. But most patients are having to go private – at huge cost

A survey just released from INPUD:

The Human Costs of Funding Cuts on Harm Reduction 2.0 survey is now live. We're documenting how funding cuts, donor withdrawal, and policy shifts are affecting harm reduction services, HIV/hepatitis care, and the rights of people who use drugs.

If you're part of a community-led organisation, network, or service provider, we need to hear from you. 15–20 minutes.
Anonymous.

Available in 5 languages.
Complete the survey 👉 https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/x/XmAkLdWJ

Our friend Secret Drug Addict has a new book out and we truly recommend you read it. This article is just a taste of how interesting he is. He has a very unique way of translating what it’s like to have lived-experience with addiction.

The Secret Drug Addict: "You cannot quite understand the power of addiction until you’ve seen it eat like acid through everything you are" | Hotpress Having succumbed to Britpop excess, the now sober – 6,854 days and counting –  Secret Drug Addict is on a mission to help others escape the cycle of a...

Always worth reading Anyone's Child: Families for Safer Drug Control

Bromsgrove: Take Drugs Seriously Bromsgrove: Take Drugs Seriously - Anyone's Child -

‘Black children in England and Wales almost eight times more likely to be strip-searched than white peers – report’

We unfortunately haven’t seen much progress on rectifying the historical racial disparities. This latest reports confirms we are still seeing the same trends and practices.

Black children in England and Wales almost eight times more likely to be strip-searched than white peers – report Demographic also overrepresented when police officers use force such as handcuffs, fi****ms or Tasers, says children’s commissioner

We heavily caveat this satirical article with the fact that to***co regulation is a serous and complex issue with many factors in play. This discussion needs a great deal of context and evidence.

That said, this amusing take does cover some useful points on prohibition and the futility & counterproductive nature of such a model.

Banning ci******es for young people will ensure they are as impossible to buy as cannabis, insists government Government plans to ban the sale of ci******es will make them as hard to get hold of as cannabis, we can report today.