Latest news with #substanceuse
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Danny Dyer says an ‘odd' incident with a pair of jeans made him ‘sort his life out'
The Mr Bigstuff actor won three National Television Awards between 2015 and 2019 for his role as Mick Carter in EastEnders. Despite the success of the period, the 47-year-old said that his drinking and drug habit had gotten out of control. He says that he realised his substance use had gone too far when, after a party, he struggled to get on a pair of jeans while in an en-suite toilet. Speaking to The Telegraph, Dyer said that, despite its randomness, the incident was a 'moment of clarity' for him. 'It's an odd story, but that was my moment of going, 'Oh God, you've got to sort your life out, you're going to die,'' he explained. 'Of all the things that had happened, all the weird moments, that was the moment.' Dyer added that while he doesn't do drugs anymore, he still enjoys a beer and has taken up meditation. 'We're only on this earth once,' said the Human Traffic star. 'You need to experience as much stuff as you can and squeeze as much joy out of it as you can, and not beat yourself up too much. I've got a good balance at the moment. It took a long time to get there.' Earlier this year, Dyer opened up about why his wife, Joanne Mas, has total control of their finances. Speaking on the ITV series, The Assembly, Dyer said that he was kicked out of his home in 2000 after it was discovered that he had been unfaithful. The Rivals star said that Mas 'controls everything now.' He continued: 'Yes, she did kick me out because I was a p***k and she deserved better. Sometimes I would go out and get off my head, take drugs, and I wouldn't come home for three days. I had issues. I never wanted the party to end. She had every right to throw me out.' Last year, the actor said he had put his wife 'through a lot of s***' while speaking to Elizabeth Day on the How to Fail podcast. 'It f***ed my head up when I became really famous,' he said. 'I didn't quite know what to do with it and I suppose she stood by me for a lot of s*** and had to be very patient with me. The actor remarked: 'I didn't quite know who I was and I suppose she had to suffer all that on a national level. I love her with all my heart. You know, she challenges me every day. She's kept me very grounded. I'll tell you that now.'
News24
2 days ago
- Health
- News24
Stefani Du Toit is fighting HIV/Aids stigma
Stefani du Toit is a doer. The 33-year-old has dedicated her adult years to working in the public healthcare sector. 'My work strongly stems from trying to make a positive impact [on] those in a more vulnerable situation,' she told News24. Du Toit is a researcher at the Institute for Life Course Health Research and holds a PhD from Stellenbosch University. Her primary research focuses on substance use and chronic conditions, with a specific focus on HIV and treatment adherence. The 33-year-old's work specialises in adolescent mental health with research spanning seven African countries. She has contributed to developing World Health Organisation guidelines on mental health promotion and preventive interventions for adolescents. Most recently, she received funding from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences' Early Career Research Fund for work on refugee populations.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Illicit drugs are getting into Yukon's only fly-in community. Officials say there's little they can do
The Yukon government says that stopping illicit drugs from reaching the remote, fly-in community of Old Crow is an urgent issue — but government and regulatory officials also say they have limited authority to do much about it. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation issued a public notice earlier this summer warning Old Crow residents that tainted drugs may have made their way into the community, and urging anybody using illicit drugs to carry naloxone and to not use alone. It followed a letter sent earlier this year from a territorial government minister to Yukon's MP, describing the flow of illicit drugs into Old Crow as an "urgent" and "pressing" issue that somehow needs to be addressed. CBC News sent the Vuntut Gwitchin Government — which declared a substance use emergency in Old Crow two years ago — multiple requests for an interview, but the First Nation said it had nothing to say "beyond what has already been shared publicly." Meanwhile Annie Blake, the NDP MLA for Vuntut Gwitchin, says drugs have had devastating impacts on her community and she wants more done to address the issue. "We've lost so many of our community members," said Blake. "And we continue to see so many people struggling." She says impacts are compounded by the community's size and isolation. "We see things very openly and deeply with each other, and when people are struggling, everyone feels it." Blake, who has spoken openly in the past about her own struggles with substance use, says a toxic drug supply can have particularly devastating impacts in Old Crow. "For the most part, a lot of people who use, use in groups. It's a safety mechanism. But if there's a toxic drug supply, it's a huge risk factor. It's quite scary." She says she visits with people who are raising their grandchildren because the children's parents struggle with substance use issues, or have died due to overdose. Blake said they are frustrated by the lack of attention to the issue. "What are we doing to support the children who've lost their parents? The grandparents raising their grandkids? What grief supports are we investing in? What mental health services are available?" Blake asked. "These are the questions I keep hearing in the homes I visit." Jurisdictional gaps, limited enforcement In a January letter to Yukon MP Brendan Hanley, obtained by CBC News, the territory's highways and public works minister described some of the challenges to stemming the flow of illicit drugs into Old Crow. Minister Nils Clarke wrote that those challenges include the fact that "there is no federal or territorial law that would authorize the RCMP to search all mail or baggage arriving in Old Crow." Yukon RCMP told CBC News in an email that random dog searches at an airport would violate Section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which protects against unreasonable search or seizure. To use a sniffer-dog team at an airport, the RCMP says there would have to be "reasonable suspicion" that an offence had been committed. Larger airports around the country rely on the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), which was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, to screen passengers and baggage. But Clarke points out that in Yukon, CATSA only operates out of Erik Nielsen Airport in Whitehorse, and not the airports in Dawson City or Inuvik, N.W.T. — the two aerodromes with direct flights to Old Crow. "Passengers and goods flying to Old Crow are not screened by CATSA, as they do not go through our screening checkpoints prior to boarding the aircraft," said CATSA spokesperson Dominique Huras in an email to CBC News. Clarke's letter says even if CATSA did provide security, searching for drugs is not part of its mandate. He wrote that in conversations his office had with federal authorities, it became clear that CATSA "specifically targets threats to safety of civil aviation," but does not screen for "community contraband." Transport Canada, which regulates CATSA, told CBC News in a statement that the authority screens for "prohibited items that could potentially pose a threat to aviation security," and provided a link to a full list of items banned from flights, including weapons and incendiary devices. It is a criminal offence to carry illicit drugs in checked or carry-on baggage on any flight, and CATSA told CBC News that when illegal drugs are "inadvertently discovered during screening, local police are advised." 'How are we supporting those who are already struggling?' Blake says some residents in Old Crow want to see more RCMP presence at the airport and tighter security on flights to the community. She also says some people would like to see more local drug enforcement in Old Crow. "We only have two RCMP officers, so some people talk about the need to have more presence in the community," she said. However, Blake also said it's clear that enforcement on its own isn't the answer. "People also ask, how are we supporting those who are already struggling? Where are the harm reduction services, the health care, the safety checks, the nutrition? Why is there no regular programming like men's groups or women's groups? Why aren't there workshops to help people understand how to access Yukon government supports?" Blake asked. She said conversations are happening between the Vuntut Gwitchin, territorial and federal government agencies, as well as funding initiatives and programming. MP Brendan Hanley also said "we have to talk about the bigger picture." He went on to list mental health supports for youth and adults, harm reduction services for those using drugs, treatment options in community, including land-based healing, and post-rehabilitation aftercare as resources that could help turn the tide. Hanley said "there is no one clear defined pathway" for addressing the issue, but that any solution will require collaboration between the Vuntut Gwitchin government, the Yukon and federal governments, RCMP, and Air North, the airline that serves Old Crow. He also suggested the territorial government has a role to play "as the operator of all public airports in the Yukon." Neither the territorial, federal, or Vuntut Gwitchin government would provide specifics on what actions or meetings are currently taking place to address the issue. The First Nation has said that safer-use supplies are available at the Old Crow Health and Wellness Centre.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
New study reveals alarming stat about people in their 30s at work
A study by Ohio State University researchers revealed that nearly one in ten US employees in their 30s use alcohol or drugs while working. The findings indicate that substance use is particularly prevalent among workers in food preparation, service, construction, and other safety-sensitive occupations. The research highlights a strong link between substance use at work and misuse outside of work, with employees often using substances as a coping mechanism for adverse working conditions or personal circumstances. The study, based on data from over 5,400 employees surveyed between 2015 and 2016, found that 8.9 per cent reported workplace substance use, including alcohol, marijuana, and harder drugs. The authors suggest that updated workplace policies and improved access to support services are crucial to addressing and mitigating the issue of substance misuse among workers.
CBS News
02-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Baltimore Mayor Scott releases preliminary plan to curb city opioid overdoses
Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott released the city's preliminary overdose response strategic plan Wednesday. The plan is part of an executive order detailing how the city will spend $242.5 million in settlement funds won in a lawsuit against multiple pharmaceutical companies. Data on opioid overdoses in Baltimore City According to Baltimore City's Overdose Needs Assessment, overdose deaths are declining – but the city still leads metro areas nationally in overdose mortality. Black male residents who are 60 and older are 4.6 times as likely to experience a fatal overdose compared to their white counterparts. The leading cause of maternal mortality in Maryland is overdose, the city's report cited. What is the plan to reduce overdoses? The overall goals of the city's preliminary plan include addressing inequities in the overdose crisis, dismantling silos and improving connections within care systems, reducing the stigma surrounding care, and improving the quality and accessibility of substance use services across the city. The city said that when community members lack access to housing, food, employment, and transportation, their access to harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services can be impeded. Housing is the most essential need to support those who use drugs, according to the assessment. The report also highlights a need to increase youth engagement programming in the city. Other needs included in the assessment are public health education and awareness campaigns, expanded access to mental health services, and more harm reduction spaces. In a community input form, community members said pharmacy access was also an issue. What are the next steps? Mayor Scott says his goal is to reduce fatal overdoses by 40% by 2040. "This is a major milestone in our work to end the overdose crisis in our city and address decades of harm done to our residents," Scott said. "We made the decision to directly take on Big Pharma for their role in this crisis, and we won millions in settlements and awards. This strategic plan lays out how we'll invest that money back into communities, with the goal of reducing fatal overdoses at least 40% by 2040." The city will hold four listening sessions in July where residents can provide feedback on the plan: Wednesday, July 9: 5:30–8:00 p.m. at Cherry Hill Elementary and Middle School, 801 Bridgeway Rd., Baltimore, MD 21225 Thursday, July 17: 5:30–8:00 p.m. at Gethsemane Baptist Church, 2520 Francis St., Baltimore, MD 21217 Wednesday, July 23: 5:30–8:00 p.m. at Pimlico Elementary School, 4849 Pimlico Rd., Baltimore, MD 21215 Thursday, July 31: 5:30–8:00 p.m. at Henderson Hopkins Elementary and Middle School, 2100 Ashland Ave., Baltimore, MD 21205 The full Overdose Response Strategic Plan is available here.
