WRDNews

The Rising Threat of Tianeptine in the US: FDA Warns Against 'Gas Station Heroin' The FDA has issued a stark warning about the dangers of Tianeptine, a drug often referred to as ‘gas station heroin’ due to its widespread availability in smoke shops and convenience stores. Although it operates in a legal grey area in many states, including California, Tianeptine’s opioid-like effects and lack of regulatory oversight have raised… Read More: https://lnkd.in/gMXYtuJi

Georgia, US, Cracks Down on Fentanyl With Tough New Laws Georgia is ramping up efforts to combat the deadly fentanyl crisis ahead of its 2025 legislative session. Highlighting the urgency of addressing rising overdose deaths, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones has called for increased funding for law enforcement to target drug traffickers and street gangs. He emphasised, “Austin’s Law will help save the lives of Georgians… Read More: https://lnkd.in/gG8-jhFA

Mother Calls for Ketamine Reclassification in the UK Following Tragic Death of 20-Year-Old Daughter A grieving mother has called for ketamine to be reclassified as a class A drug after the tragic death of her daughter, Sophie Russell, at just 20 years old. Sophie, from Lincolnshire, battled a two-year addiction to the drug after initially trying it during a night out in 2021. The addiction left her suffering severe… Read More: https://lnkd.in/gGSqQP7D

Kentucky Senator Advocates Tougher Vaping Laws to Protect Youth A Kentucky lawmaker is pushing for stricter measures to combat underage vaping, proposing new legislation with tougher licensing rules and penalties. Senator Jimmy Higdon

Study Links Opioid Use to Increased Dementia Risk in Older Adults A Danish study has uncovered a significant link between cumulative opioid use and heightened dementia risk in adults over 60, but only beyond a specific threshold of use. The research, conducted by Dr Nelsan Pourhadi and colleagues at Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, analysed data from nearly 1.9 million individuals and was published in JAMA Network Open…. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gq2AGgyn

Study Reveals Over Half of Psychedelic Exposures Require Medical Care A new study from the University of Colorado School of Medicine has uncovered that more than half of psychedelic-related cases reported to U.S. poison centres over a decade necessitated medical intervention. Highlighting the risks associated with substance use, the study sheds light on the implications for healthcare and evolving policies in states like Colorado and… Read More: https://lnkd.in/gzn8zqZu

Smoking Disparities Persist Despite Progress, Warns US Surgeon General The US Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, has highlighted significant disparities in smoking rates, despite a decline in adult and youth smoking to record lows. With tobacco killing nearly half a million people in the US each year, Murthy has called for urgent action to address inequalities and reduce smoking-related deaths. “At stake are the lives… Read More: https://lnkd.in/gMR-8deC

Examining the Effectiveness of Antipsychotic Drug Therapy for Treating Psychosis in People With Epilepsy Introduction to Epilepsy and Psychosis Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that affects an estimated 50 million people worldwide. It involves recurrent seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Among those with epilepsy, there is an increased risk of developing psychosis, with forms that range from preictal to ictal, postictal, and interictal psychoses…. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gkCqa6Q4

Opioid Misuse in College Student Populations Among young adults enrolled in higher education, transitioning to college life often coincides with significant developmental changes. These changes are frequently accompanied by heightened vulnerability to substance use behaviours, particularly opioid misuse, and its intersection with mental health challenges. Recent national studies highlight the concerning prevalence of these behaviours and underline their potential impact on… Read More: https://lnkd.in/gAVz2TeZ

Patterns of Alcohol, Cannabis, and E-Cigarette Use Among U.S. College Students and Their Mental Health Impacts Substance use on college campuses, including alcohol, cannabis, and e-cigarettes, has continually risen as a public health concern—particularly when co-occurring with mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. A comprehensive exploration of these behaviours has revealed complex relationships between single, dual, and polysubstance use and mental health outcomes. Utilising data from the high-participation Healthy… Read More: https://lnkd.in/gpNvxHFA