GP Deep Dives is aimed at GP registrars and primary care clinicians based in Scotland. Each series will focus on a complex clinical subject encountered in primary care. These subjects will be explored...

Councilors debated a special‑use permit to re‑activate a former drive‑through window at Mystic Greens dispensary, raising concerns about youth access, high‑potency THC products and whether a drive‑through would bypass ID/security checks; the item was placed on next week's regular agenda for a final vote.

Presenters at a city forum described treatment themes for people who perpetrate intimate-partner violence, highlighting adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), substance use correlations, and challenges in achieving lasting accountability and behavior change.

Council members asked why the CSRP's first-year report showed only nine formal referrals (four to detox, four to MOUD, one to harm reduction) across roughly 1,700 enrollees and 30,000 transactions; DOHMH said the pilot undercounted informal care connections and will improve data collection and classification.

At Community Board 11’s Human Services Committee, OnPoint described its drop‑in clinic, outreach teams and overdose‑prevention centers and urged more stable funding while residents gave accounts of increased public drug use and syringe litter. The committee asked for additional data and follow‑up from OnPoint leadership.

The board adopted a memorandum of decision for Charles O'Dowd (petition 2025-147), placing him on four years' probation (retroactive to Oct. 24, 2024) with monitoring after findings of repeated alcohol use that may have affected his ability to work; defense counsel argued the terms were excessive.

DCYF is seeking $4.1 million to add community interventions, expand Positive Indian Parenting sites, provide substance-use disorder training (noting fentanyl concerns) and add 16 PCAP slots to support pregnant and parenting women with substance use disorder.

One in three young adults reported substance-related generative AI use, mainly for seeking information on substances, with higher prevalence among Black and male respondents; findings highlight that generative AI might be shaping the substance-use ecosystem among young adults and further research is needed to understand its public health implications.

Councilor Nancy Murphy introduced a proposed ordinance to ban sale of kratom products and many derivatives in Merrimack; Prevention, Enforcement & Treatment Officer Justin Agraz told the council he views kratom "more like a drug than a supplement" and cited concerns about synthetic derivatives; council voted 6-0-0 to place the ordinance on first reading and a public hearing.

District presenters summarized MetroWest survey results showing declines in several high‑school substance‑use measures, a small rise in middle‑school alcohol use, persistent disparities for LGBTQ+ students and students with disabilities, and strong protective factors such as high reported adult support.

Public health planning analyst Ariel Holstein presented the county's Community Health Assessment (CHA), reporting 126 primary surveys (24 in Spanish) and regional data showing housing cost-burden, access to care and substance-use concerns among top community priorities.

Department of Public Health investigators told the board that observed urine drug screening remains the monitoring standard for impaired health‑care practitioners, while at‑home and breathalyzer tools can supplement investigations; staff described RecoveryTrak, PETH blood‑spot testing and hair tests as part of a toolbox.

A proposed substitute ordinance increasing penalties for public consumption — and adding enhanced penalties within 300 feet of schools, places of worship and community centers — drew extensive debate about enforcement, racial disparities and court implications; the sponsor opted to hold the bill for further work.

Council approved ordinance 2-2-1-4 to prohibit kratom possession, sale and manufacture in Madison Heights on second and final reading; a resident and nonprofit leader urged the council to protect youth and cited FDA concerns.

Arizona Department of Health Services described its licensing responsibilities and warned statutory limits require issuing some sober‑living licenses without initial on‑site inspections; committee members asked for the statutory history and rationale.

The board approved funding and land‑use restrictions for an Operation PAR behavioral health urgent‑care center under opioid‑abatement recommendations. Operation PAR’s CEO described a 56‑year local presence; commissioners asked for dashboards and performance metrics to show outcomes and reach.

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has confirmed the distribution of paper straws in federal prisons to facilitate safer drug use, specifically for snorting substances in powdered form or inhaling vapors. According to a memo distributed to staff, the paper straws are intended to reduce harm by minimizing the risk of internal nose injuries from homemade or plastic straws and reducing the transmission of infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C. The memo also states that foil strips will be distributed for safer smoking, alongside drug-testing strips for fentanyl, benzodiazepine, and xylazine. The CSC explained that these measures are in response to increased inhalation, smoking, and snorting of substances among inmates, and that harm reduction must adapt to reduce overdose risks and prevent disease transmission. The memo clarifies that while the items themselves are not considered contraband, if found alongside illicit substances or unauthorized paraphernalia, standard procedures will be followed. The CSC emphasized that harm reduction interventions are cost-effective as they prevent the spread of infectious diseases, reducing long-term healthcare costs associated with conditions like HIV and hepatitis. Training for health services staff on distributing these supplies will begin on October 1, with implementation set for October 13. The CSC stated that its National Drugs and Substances Strategy recognizes substance use as a health issue, and harm reduction supplies are approved as part of this approach. However, the agency maintains robust measures to address the introduction, trafficking, financing, and distribution of unauthorized substances within institutions, holding those involved accountable. This initiative aligns with evidence-based practices and aims to balance public health concerns with security measures within correctional facilities.