Josh Torrance

I recently finished a PhD on implementing drug diversion schemes. It explores the contextual conditions within which policy change occurs, some practical elements of implementing drug diversion schemes and some theoretical discussion. Have a read:

research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfil...

Interesting article about how cuts have damaged consent-based policing in Britain...

Interestingly, I think vaping GBL liquid would work fine. Please no one try this for science.

And also, LSD would completely break down long before the temperature at which VG/PG is commonly vaped at, so it would be a miracle if you could get high from vaping LSD. If someone wants to try it for science I'm all ears but yeah, no.

"Last year, one girl aged 14 had her vape spiked with suspected GHB, known as a date rape drug"

🫣

"Meanwhile, the damage to the urinary tract caused by intensive ketamine use can cause debilitating abdominal pain known as “K-cramps”"

Hate to be that nit picky guy, but ket cystitis and k cramps are two totally different mechanisms.

Wastewater analysis: Measuring illicit drug consumption in 2023 and 2024

But whichever way you slice it, Q1 of 2024 was very, very, very ketty compared to Q1 of 2023.

Is anyone listening yet? 😅

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Home Office claims this reflects use prevalence. I say that's a little brave given a couple of variables, including rainwater throwing the numbers out and the surprisingly common trend for people to throw ket down the sink because the minimum purchase amount is more than they wanted for one evening.

English wastewater analysis comparing Jan - Apr 23 with Jan - Apr 24.

Prevalence of ketamine prevalence up by *85%*

Prevalence of MDMA up by 52%.

Wastewater analysis: Measuring illicit drug consumption in 2023 and 2024

www.gov.uk/government/p...

And if it does, this makes quality welfare provision at events all the more important.

Drag artist The Vivienne died of cardiac arrest caused by ketamine, family says James Lee Williams’s sister says it is important to raise awareness of the dangers of the increasingly prevalent drug

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Tragic case - The Vivienne dies from ketamine-related cardiac arrest.

Other factors aside (eg other drugs in the mix or underlying conditions) I wonder if the psychological element of catastrophising / drug induced anxiety could feed into cardiac issues, or if it is purely pharmacological.

Exclusive: Cartels React To Terrorist Designation Narcos and gang members talk to CrashOut about Trump threats of U.S. strikes

Cartels react to being designated a terrorist organisation by the US government:

www.crashoutmedia.com/p/exclusive-...

For what it's worth (probably not much) I would say hash has medical utility, and better for the lungs.

Recent innovations (eg static sift & ice water) create cleaner product with less contaminants.

Shame it's not on offer on UK med, apart from distillate in a cart aka the worst possible option.

UK public spending cuts from 2010 to 2019 led to 190,000 excess deaths. Worth noting UK population is roughly one fifth of the US.

blogs.lse.ac.uk/inequalities...

Hey don't be mean, Volkswagen golfs are decent cars!

4/4 ...for now at least, you can buy THCa flower and extracts in the UK, look at them, smell them, but not smoke them 😂

3/4 ...or synthesis, including within the body if ingested"

Essentially, once THCa is smoked it becomes THC, and is therefore illegal.

These companies are operating in a legal grey area. Who knows how long this will last, but...

2/4 "THCA as an isolated substance, in its pure form, would not be controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act. It is readily converted to THC, which is a controlled substance. So a substance containing THC-a could well become controlled by virtue of active or passive conversion...

1/4 So THCa (basically when a cannabis plant is cropped early before it becomes THC) is becoming a thing in the UK.

For quite a while companies have been shipping THCa products across all US states. Various UK companies are now importing them and delivering products online.

The Home Office states:

Found some casual bumper sticker stigma on a walk today...

YouTube video by Channel 4 Documentaries Inside Britain’s Cannabis Letterbox Drug Trade - Exposed | 24 Hours In Police Custody | Channel 4

Worth a watch for those interested in US-UK cannabis supply...

youtu.be/l4_0b4gNKi4

Who can save Bristol's only NHS detox centre The campaign over the closure has highlighted the complex way treatment is funded

I've done a deep dive into the future of Bristol's only NHS detox unit
The campaign to save it has exposed the complex & shifting way services like this are funded, which leaves them vulnerable to closure
Read the full story here:
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...

Trump pardons Silk Road dark web market creator Ross Ulbricht Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht gets Presidential pardon

In a strange twist of fate, libertarian support for Trump resulted in the pardoning of Ross Ulbricht, who ran a major darknet market from 2011 to 2013.

www.techradar.com/pro/trump-pa...

Does anyone know of any studies / evidence on taxpayer savings resulting from detox specifically?

This is surely a prime example of a public service cut that increases strain on public resources in the long run...

Drug Policy Alliance Applauds Biden’s Commutations for Drug War Victims, Urges Elected Officials to Avoid Repeating Same Mistakes - Drug Policy Alliance

Nice one! Where has this guy been for the last 50 years? drugpolicy.org/news/drug-po...

Sign the Petition Save the Acer unit detox

We need more detox beds, not less! Where is the ADDER funding? Please sign this petition, this facility is amazing.

chng.it/XvD9DVstYS

As a general rule, public policy doesn't offer panaceas to social issues. Expecting drug policy to be the exception is pretty wild...