Just when we thought we had a handle on teen substance abuse (we did NOT), along comes social media to throw a digital wrench in the works. It turns out those shiny apps on our kids’ phones aren’t just for sharing selfies and dance videos – they’re inadvertently serving as virtual gateways to drug and alcohol experimentation. While health officials have been patting themselves on the back for decades of anti-drug campaigns, social media algorithms have been quietly undermining their efforts, one viral post at a time. Parents, educators, and health professionals, it’s time to face facts: we’ve got a new drug dealer in town, and it’s hiding in plain sight on every teenager’s home screen. 

Leveraging Social Media for Prevention

While social media poses significant risks, some experts see potential in harnessing these platforms for substance use prevention and education. Government agencies and health organisations in the United States have launched anti-vaping campaigns on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, which may have contributed to recent declines in teen vaping rates.

However, these efforts are still vastly outnumbered by pro-substance content. Researchers emphasise the need for sustained investment in developing effective social media-based prevention strategies. This could involve partnering with social media influencers to create engaging anti-drug content or collaborating with young people to co-design relevant messaging that resonates with teen audiences.

The Australian government has begun experimenting with influencer-led campaigns to spark conversations among youth about the harms of vaping and nicotine addiction. While this approach leverages influencers’ authenticity and established audience relationships, experts caution that careful vetting and risk mitigation plans are necessary.

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(Not ‘Recreational’ Drugs – But Recreational use of toxic substances)

Recreational drug use poses significant health risks, particularly concerning cardiovascular health. Recent findings presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2024 reveal the alarming impact of recreational drugs on the likelihood of repeat serious cardiovascular events. The study underscores the urgent need for healthcare systems to address drug use effectively within cardiac care settings.

Study Insights from the ESC Congress 2024: The research, conducted as part of the Addiction in Intensive Cardiac Care Units (ADDICT-ICCU) study, investigated the prognostic impact of recreational drug use on patients admitted to intensive cardiac care units (ICCU) across 39 centres in France. Over two weeks in April 2021, systematic urinary testing revealed that 11% of patients had recently used recreational drugs, including cannabis, heroin, opioids, cocaine, amphetamines, and MDMA.

Key Findings: Patients with a recent history of recreational drug use faced a tripled risk of experiencing a repeat serious cardiovascular event, such as cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attack, or stroke, within one year of their initial admission. After adjusting for various factors, including age, sex, and existing health conditions, recreational drug use remained an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

The study found that among 1,392 patients screened, 64 (4.6%) experienced cardiovascular deaths, with a higher incidence among drug users (5.7%) compared to non-users (4.5%). Non-fatal heart attacks occurred in 24 patients (1.7%), with drug users showing a higher incidence (5.1%) compared to non-users (1.3%). Strokes were similarly more common among drug users (1.9%) than non-users (0.6%).

Specific Drug Risks: The type of drug used also influenced cardiovascular risk. MDMA users exhibited a 4.1 times increased risk, those using heroin and other opioids faced a 3.6 times higher risk, and cannabis users had a 1.8 times increased risk of serious cardiovascular events. These statistics highlight the varying impacts of different substances on heart health.

Healthcare Implications: Given the significant risks associated with recreational drug use, the study’s authors advocate for routine screening of ICCU patients for recent drug use. This proactive approach could enhance risk stratification and enable personalised care strategies, including facilitating drug withdrawal programs. Despite the high rate of underreporting drug use, systematic screening is not yet recommended by current guidelines but could provide critical insights into patient care.

Source: ESC

While psychedelic drugs like psilocybin have been touted for their potential therapeutic benefits, it is crucial to examine the darker aspects of these substances. Recent research led by Dr. Joshua Siegel at Washington University in St. Louis highlights the profound risks associated with psilocybin, particularly its ability to disrupt critical brain networks and cause potential long-term psychological harm.

Long-Term Implications: While some brain functions return to normal shortly after psilocybin use, the study noted that certain changes in functional connectivity, particularly between the DMN and the hippocampus, can persist for weeks. These lasting alterations could have unknown long-term effects on mental health, hinting at the possibility of enduring cognitive or emotional disturbances.

Despite the growing interest in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, the risks associated with its use cannot be overlooked

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September, 2024 By WRD News Team

A recent surge of illnesses linked to mushroom edibles has raised significant concerns about the safety and regulation of these products. This issue centres around Amanita muscaria-infused gummies, known for their psychoactive effects, and other synthetic compounds found in these edibles. As more than 140 documented cases of sickness, including two suspected deaths, have been reported, scientists, regulators, and consumers are grappling with the implications of these findings.

The Role of Amanita Muscaria: Amanita muscaria, the red-capped mushroom often depicted in folklore and popular culture, is at the heart of the current health scare. While not federally controlled, it is known for its psychoactive properties, primarily due to compounds like muscimol and ibotenic acid. Muscimol, a compound with sedative effects, and ibotenic acid, a neurotoxin, are both capable of inducing hallucinations and delirium. However, the Amanita species is different from psilocybin-containing mushrooms, which are more commonly associated with psychedelic experiences.

The wave of illnesses has been linked to products marketed under the brand Diamond Shroomz, which were found to contain muscimol in only a fraction of the tested samples. Despite the recall of these products, poison centres continue to receive reports of adverse effects, highlighting the ongoing concern.

Symptoms and Health Risks: The symptoms associated with these mushroom edibles are severe and varied, including nausea, vomiting, seizures, loss of consciousness, and agitation. The inability to pinpoint the exact cause of these symptoms complicates efforts to address the issue. Toxicologists like Dr. Michael Moss have noted the unusual severity of these reactions, which are not typical of mushroom intoxication.

Challenges in Testing: Analysing the contents of these edibles presents a significant challenge. The complexity of identifying compounds like muscimol and ibotenic acid, especially in edible forms like chocolate or gummy candies, makes testing difficult. Moreover, preliminary investigations have uncovered the presence of synthetic psilocybin analogs and other substances like pregabalin and kava, further complicating the safety profile of these products.

Tryptomics, a company specialising in testing psychoactive substances, has identified various unlisted ingredients in over 100 products, underscoring the inconsistency and potential for contamination in the market.

Regulatory Concerns: The proliferation of these unregulated psychoactive products mirrors past issues with synthetic cannabis, raising fears of a regulatory backlash. The lack of oversight allows for the sale of these potentially dangerous edibles, with manufacturers exploiting legal loopholes. Experts like Roger Brown, CEO of ACS Laboratory, acknowledge the gaps in regulation and the challenges of enforcing existing laws.

Industry insiders and health experts express concern over the potential impact on consumers and the need for better regulatory frameworks to ensure safety and transparency in the market.

Potential Solutions and Future Directions: Addressing the risks associated with mushroom edibles requires a multi-faceted approach, including improved testing methods, clearer regulatory guidelines, and consumer education. The ongoing federal investigation aims to determine the root cause of the illnesses and develop strategies to prevent future occurrences.

Consumers are advised to exercise caution, verify product safety through lab analysis, and remain informed about the potential health risks. As interest in microdosing and psychedelic substances grows, ensuring the safety and regulation of these products will be crucial to prevent further public health issues.

Source WRD NEWS

E-cigarette use among adolescents has become a widespread public health concern. Despite the known harms of nicotine exposure, there has been a lack of empirically tested interventions aimed at helping teens quit vaping. A recent randomised clinical trial investigated the effectiveness of a tailored, interactive text message program designed to promote vaping cessation among adolescents.

Study Design and Participants

The study was a parallel, two-group, double-blind, individually randomised clinical trial conducted from October 1, 2021, to October 18, 2023. It included 1,503 adolescent e-cigarette users aged 13 to 17 years who were interested in quitting vaping within 30 days. Participants were recruited via social media ads and were required to own a mobile phone with an active text message plan. The intervention was delivered via text message, and assessments were completed online or by telephone.

Interventions

Participants were divided into two groups:

• Assessment-Only Control Group (n=744): This group received only study retention text messages.
• Intervention Group (n=759): In addition to receiving study retention text messages, this group received a tailored, automated, interactive text message program designed to deliver cognitive and behavioural coping skills training and social support.

Primary Outcome Measure

The primary outcome of the study was self-reported 30-day point-prevalence abstinence from vaping at seven months. This was analysed using intention-to-treat analysis, with any missing data coded as continued vaping.

Results

The trial achieved a 70.8% retention rate at seven months. The intention-to-treat analysis revealed the following abstinence rates:

• Intervention Group: 37.8% of participants reported abstinence from vaping.
• Assessment-Only Control Group: 28.0% of participants reported abstinence from vaping.

This difference was statistically significant (P < .001). Importantly, no baseline characteristics, including nicotine dependence, moderated the treatment-outcome relationship. Additionally, there was no evidence that adolescents who quit vaping transitioned to combustible tobacco products.

Implications

The study demonstrated that a tailored, interactive text message program significantly increased self-reported vaping cessation rates among adolescents. This finding is crucial given the high prevalence of e-cigarette use among teens and the associated health risks. The success of this intervention highlights the potential of using digital health tools to support adolescent vaping cessation.

This randomised clinical trial provides strong evidence that a tailored text message program can effectively help adolescents quit vaping. Given the high rates of e-cigarette use among teens and the lack of empirically tested cessation interventions, this study underscores the importance of developing and implementing innovative digital health solutions to address this public health challenge.

(Source: JAMA)