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New cannabis tech is boosting industry – and user experience
Ancient Egyptians heated herbs and oils on hot stones to create potent vapours they could inhale. Today, the fastest-growing segment in cannabis is the old-fashioned...
Amid deepening addiction crisis, FDA approves powerful new opioid
Despite the ongoing opioid crisis plaguing America, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a new opioid medication five to 10 times more powerful...
German drug czar slams tobacco ads, demands billboard ban
Germany's drug commissioner says that nicotine represents the country's biggest substance risk, reports DW. She wants to ban outdoor advertising for cigarettes and tobacco – but...
UK £1bn vaping industry ‘targets children’ with cartoons and kiddy flavours
The UK vaping industry has been accused of targeting products at children by using cartoon packaging and flavours that resemble fizzy drinks to 'hook...
Controversy over Philip Morris’ UK anti-smoking ad
One of the world's biggest tobacco firms, Philip Morris, has been accused of ‘staggering hypocrisy’ over its new UK ad campaign that urges smokers...
Statistics show rise in pot, cigarette smoking among Canadian adults
Health Canada figures say Canadians over 25 years smoked more tobacco and cannabis last year than they did two years before, reports The Canadian Press.
Health Canada closely...
‘Incapacitated’ Austrian gambling addict wins €2.5 million compensation
An Austrian court has ordered a gambling company to pay €2.5 million (US$2.87 million) to a gambler the court found was under the influence of addiction, in...
Abuse of medicine across SA alarms Pharmacy Council
The SA Pharmacy Council (SAPC) is alarmed at the misuse and abuse of medicines in South Africa and has appealed to the public to use...
Harmful use of alcohol kills millions annually – WHO global report
More than 3m people died as a result of harmful use of alcohol in 2016, according Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2018 published...
3.2 million vape in UK as smokers ‘get the message’ that e-cigs are healthier
More than three million people in Britain are now vapers, new data has revealed, writes the Daily Mail’s Stephen Matthews. Action on Smoking and Health found there...
Support for FDA crackdown on e-cigarette sales to minors
The US Food and Drug Administration is cracking down harshly on manufacturers and retailers who are e-cigarettes who are allowing sales to minors.
US Health and Human...
Is teen vaping really an epidemic in America?
Experts say yes, reports NBC News’Maggie Fox, citing experts such as Dr Kirsten Hawkins, a pediatrician at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington DC,...
Internet addiction disorder soaring among students in Japan – Study
An estimated one in seven students at junior high and high schools in Japansuffers from internet addiction, a growing disorder that is affecting academic...
US Congress’ latest opioid bill welcome but won’t solve the crisis
US Congress’ latest efforts to address the opioid crisis are welcome but won’t be enough to stop the unrelenting scourge of overdose deaths across...
Addiction treatment gap is driving a black market for Suboxone
Restrictions on the availability of approved medications to treat opioid addiction is driving a black market, writes Jake Harper for NPR. The American Society...
England ‘won’t be cigarette free until after 2050’
England won’t be entirely cigarette free until after 2050, new research suggests, writes Zoe Drewett for Metro. Some areas will go ‘smoke free’ sooner...
Smoke-free Ireland still 34 years off as 100 die every week
Ireland risks missing its tobacco-free target date of 2025 by 27 years, the Health Service Executive has warned, writes John Downing for the Irish Independent....
Stub out South Africa's proposed Tobacco Bill
The debate on the health effects of tobacco products and the socio-economic impact of the proposed legislation and illicit trade is an important one....
US children born addicted to opioids quadrupled in 15 years
The number of US women who gave birth addicted to opioids has quadrupled in the last 15 years, increasing the number of infants who...
More than 10 million in the US use e-cigarettes
Despite safety concerns about e-cigarettes, they are commonly used in the United States, especially among young adults, according to findings published in Annals of Internal Medicine....
Tobacco tax rise in Australia ‘exploits and punishes’ addicted
Cigarette prices in Australia rose yet again last weekend, reports News.com.za, to become the highest in the world. Colin Mendelsohn, chair of the Australian Tobacco...
China to crack down on children gaming amid addiction fears
China will restrict the number of video games and take steps to curb playing time by minors to address growing rates of childhood visual impairment...
Norway experiments with free heroin to combat overdose epidemic
Norway is to trial an experimental scheme to provide drug addicts with free heroin in a bid to combat the country’s overdose epidemic, reports...
Big Vape goes to Canada – But effects won't be known for decades
The results won't be known for decades, but vaping is poised to take off in Canada now that it's officially legal to sell nicotine vaping...
Fired-up vaping advocates argue health is at centre of legalisation campaign
E-cigarette campaigners in Australia have headed to the big smoke to convince federal politicians to lift bans on nicotine vaping products, reports Michael Blakc for...
Prisoners to be offered free vaping kits ahead of tobacco ban
Prisoners who smoke are to be offered free vaping kits as Scotland's jails prepare to go tobacco-free this autumn, writes Reevel Alderson for BBC Scotland....
Child passive smoking 'increases chronic lung risk'
Non-smoking adults have a higher risk of dying from serious lung disease if they grew up with parents who smoked, according to US research, writes...
Vaping market in SA is steadily expanding as prices fall, says study
The vaping market in South Africa is expanding at a steady pace, although the devices are not yet affordable enough to gain real traction, writes...
Vaping may cost more if BAT buys Twisp – SA Competition Commission
Cigarette giant British American Tobacco's planned acquisition of big South African e-cigarette maker Twisp would lead to higher vaping prices in South Africa, according...
Google slowly lifting ban on addiction centre ads after vetting
Google will now allow ads to run on addiction-related keywords and phrases after a nearly year-long ban instituted to crack down on shady providers...
UN-backed treaty against illicit tobacco trade takes effect next month
A United Nations-backed treaty aimed at stopping the illicit trading of tobacco products is set to enter force on 25 September, marking a diplomatic...
Sixth US state raises tobacco purchase age to 21
A bill that will raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products in Massachusetts to 21 years old received the signature of Governor Charlie...
Nine US states ask FDA to ban flavoured tobacco
The Attorneys General of nine American states have asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban flavoured tobacco products. They say the use...
Chinese tobacco regulators call for ban on public use of e-cigarettes
Chinese tobacco regulators are calling for comprehensive awareness of and control over electronic cigarettes – an alternative to cigarettes that currently operates in a...
UK government warns Phillip Morris over ‘healthier’ tobacco ads
The UK government will take one of the world's largest tobacco firms to court unless it stops illegally targeting UK consumers with tobacco adverts, a...
Americans say marijuana, vaping less harmful than tobacco – Gallup
Americans see each of four tobacco-based products – cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars and pipes – as being much more harmful to people who use...