Displaying items by tag: Drugs

Colombian special forces have been deployed to the conflict-ridden Catatumbo region to counter renewed violence between armed rebel groups, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The groups, vying for control of lucrative drug routes, have ended a truce, resulting in over 100 deaths and displacing more than 20,000 people. About a thousand refugees have fled to Venezuela, while others remain trapped or kidnapped amid the chaos. President Gustavo Petro has declared a state of emergency and suspended peace talks with the ELN, accusing them of war crimes. The Catatumbo region, producing 15% of Colombia's coca crop, remains a flashpoint for organised crime. The recent unrest revives memories of Colombia’s decades-long civil war, which claimed 450,000 lives. The UN has called for an immediate halt to the violence and protection for civilians, as military forces move to reestablish state control in affected areas.

Josh's journey from addiction to redemption is a testament to the power of Christian faith and forgiveness. Deeply addicted to heroin and meth, he resorted to drug trafficking and crime to sustain his habit, leading to a downward spiral that left him homeless and estranged from his family. In a moment of despair, handcuffed in a patrol car, he prayed for forgiveness and a chance to reconcile with his loved ones. Miraculously, his withdrawal symptoms were manageable, and he received support from his wife and community. Now clean, Josh credits God for his second chance and strives to rebuild his life.

A UN report has revealed record levels of methamphetamine and synthetic drug production in East and Southeast Asia, primarily sourced from the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet. Historically known for opium and heroin production, the area now sees massive methamphetamine production, fuelling the illicit economy by an estimated $80 billion a year. Political instability, especially in Myanmar's lawless frontier regions, has exacerbated drug production. In 2023, a record 190 tons of methamphetamine were seized in the region, 89% of it from Southeast Asia. The report also noted record seizures of ecstasy and the increasing presence of ketamine, a powerful anaesthetic used both medically and recreationally. Drug networks have diversified, spreading production from Myanmar's Shan State to other regions in the lower Mekong River basin.

Atogepant, an oral medication for preventing chronic and episodic migraines, may soon be accessible via the NHS in England. This treatment, poised to benefit up to 170,000 people, is especially for those unresponsive to other medications or unable to take injections. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends it for patients who have tried and found no relief with three different medications. Clinical trials have shown its effectiveness in some adults. Migraines, often marked by severe pain, dizziness, and light sensitivity, can last several days. Atogepant is meant for daily use to prevent both chronic (over 15 times a month) and episodic (4-15 times a month) migraines. Initially, it will be prescribed by specialists in secondary care. The Migraine Trust has welcomed this development but stressed the need for swift access, citing past difficulties in accessing new treatments due to limited awareness among doctors and long specialist waiting lists.

The Government has banned 15 synthetic opioids, including 14 nitazenes, classifying them as Class A drugs. These opioids, far stronger than heroin, have been linked to numerous fatalities. Nitazenes, frequently misidentified in other drugs, cause dangerous respiratory depression and are often unknowingly consumed. Home secretary James Cleverly stated the government's commitment to combating these drugs, with the classification resulting in strict penalties for production, distribution, and possession, including potential life imprisonment or unlimited fines. This move follows rising numbers of drug deaths in Scotland and widespread opioid addiction concerns. However, there are calls for quicker action in tracking overdoses and understanding drug spread. Originally developed in the 1950s, nitazenes were never approved for medical use due to high potency and addiction risks, making them a significant public health concern. The Government's classification aims to curb the impact of these potent drugs on public health.

In October we prayed for the presidential election in Ecuador. Now millionaire Daniel Noboa has been sworn in as president, marking a significant shift in the country's political landscape. A businessman with no prior political experience, he surprisingly won the snap election which former president Guillermo Lasso called to avoid possible impeachment. He will serve only 18 months, the remainder of Lasso’s term. Once considered one of the safest countries in the region, Ecuador has seen violence explode in recent years; there was an unprecedented increase in bloodshed, and drug violence has led to some 3,600 murders so far this year. Noboa has said he will target the violence by tackling unemployment, but also implement a state of emergency, suspend some citizen rights such as freedom of movement, and deploy the military to the streets. There is a considerable sense of uncertainty and anticipation surrounding his presidency.

Officials in Glasgow are expected to approve plans for the UK's first drug consumption room. The facility, known as the Safe Drug Consumption Facility (SDFC), would allow users to take their own drugs under the supervision of health professionals. Campaigners believe the facility could be ‘life-changing’ in addressing Scotland's high drug death rate, which remains the highest in Europe. The UK government does not support the plans but has stated it will not block the pilot. The proposed location for the facility is in Glasgow's east end, where a heroin assisted treatment service has been operating since 2019. The Scottish government has committed funding for the first year of operation, and Glasgow's Health and Social Care Partnership will cover building costs and necessary redesign. The plans will be presented to the city council's Integration Joint Board for approval. The move comes after the city council became the first local authority in the UK to formally support the decriminalisation of drug consumption.

The production of opium increased sharply in Myanmar, reaching nearly 795 metric tonnes in 2022, nearly double the production in 2021 - the year of the military coup that plunged much of Myanmar into a bloody civil war that still continues. The UN believes the increase is driven by economic hardship and insecurity that followed the military takeover, and farmers in remote conflict-prone areas have had little option but to move back to opium. The region, where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos meet - the Golden Triangle - has historically been a major source of opium and heroin production.

Albanian drug gangs use French migrant camps as recruitment grounds. They pay the passage for those prepared to work in the UK drugs industry on arrival. Senior police and immigration officials on both sides of the Channel are worried by the growing number of Albanian middlemen facilitating crossings. Albanians accounted for 1/3 of the people arriving in small boats this year. They have the right to enter France as EU tourists for up to three months without a visa., and are urged on by social media adverts promising help. Posing as an Albanian migrant, a journalist contacted two people-smugglers advertising for clients on TikTok. Both responded within half an hour, with options to pay in France or in England, and guidance for getting to Belgium or France, where a fixer would make contact. The message from both of them was ‘It's easy’.

Scotland has been marked by the devastating impact of drug and alcohol addiction in many ways. Today, the nation is at the forefront of addiction related issues and deaths in Europe, with health, economic, and educational repercussions, and social challenges for families and communities in urban and rural environments. The widening mental health crisis, socio-economic challenges, and limited clinical support exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic have led to the highest increase in addiction issues in over ten years. But we are a nation with hope. For decades, Christian organisations have invested tremendously in the building of in-person and online spaces for drug addiction recovery. Within the last decade, over 2,300 individuals have been directly treated and successfully recovered from their addictions through faith-based recovery programmes, with thousands more impacted in some way. The Scottish government has appointed a minister for drugs policy and increased funding to reduce addiction.