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Vitamin D deficiency: The surprising supplement that could stave off the condition

Reference: Daily Express: Harriet Whitehead 

Tolerance of cannabis is growing just as scientists show that it can cause insanity

The singer Justin Bieber is promoting pre-rolled cannabis joints that he calls “Peaches”, the name of a song from an album. He is doing so in association with a Los Angeles-based company, Palms Partners, that specialises in selling seven-joint packs for $32 (£24) in California and Nevada. “I’m a fan of Palms and what they are doing by making cannabis approachable and helping to destigmatise it – especially for the many people who find it helpful for their mental health,” he says.

Bieber is one of a strange coalition seeking to legitimise cannabis (marijuana) for its health-giving properties or because they believe that criminalisation has failed and proved counter-productive. Online advertising for recreational cannabis in the US claims that it is an antidote for depression. Amazon, the largest delivery company in the world, is reportedly lobbying in Washington for marijuana’s legalisation at the federal level.

In Britain, the former Conservative Party leader William Hague argues in a newspaper column for a move “from seeing drug use as a criminal issue to a health issue, achieving a crucial change in culture”. He praises Portugal for reclassifying as a misdemeanour the possession and purchase of drugs for individual consumption.

Legalising and commercialising cannabis is well under way from Uruguay to Canada and in at least 10 states in the US. Paradoxically, this shift towards the toleration of cannabis as more or less harmless is taking place just as scientists conclusively prove the link between cannabis and psychosis (a less shocking word than “madness” or “insanity”, but the meaning is the same). Cause and effect is today as well established as it is between cigarette smoking and lung cancer.

© Getty Images/iStockphoto: Legalising and commercialising cannabis is well under way from Uruguay to Canada and in at least 10 states in the US

“Numerous prospective studies have shown that cannabis use carries an increased risk of later schizophrenic-like psychosis,” says an article by Sir Robin Murray of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London and Wayne Hall of the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research at the University of Queensland. They cite a study showing that, though Portugal is held up as a pioneer in dealing with drugs, the rate of hospitalisation for psychotic disorders has increased 29-fold since decriminalisation 15 years ago. Another study calculates that between 30 per cent and 50 per cent of new cases of psychosis in London and Amsterdam would not have occurred if the individual affected had not been smoking high-potency cannabis.

Personal observation confirms this: doctors in mental hospitals have told me that they scarcely bother anymore to ask patients if they have taken cannabis, but simply assume it is the case. The situation has deteriorated as the proportion of THC, the psychoactive substance in cannabis producing the “high”, has risen precipitately. Once as low as 3 per cent, it has risen to 10 to 15 per cent in Europe and North America, though in Colorado, the first state to legalise recreational use, the THC can reach as high as 70 per cent. Those taking cannabis daily, particularly if they are young, face an escalating risk of permanent mental breakdown.

But if cannabis has already had its “tobacco moment”, when the damage it does is scientifically proven, why do celebrities like Justin Bieber want to destigmatise it and persuade consumers that it will improve their mental health?

Part of the boosterism in favour of cannabis plugs into its old association with a bohemian lifestyle and “the swinging Sixties”. But it is commercial pressure that is becoming far more important in lobbying for its legalisation. Businesses see they can make money out of it: projected legal sales of cannabis will be worth $66.3bn by 2025, according to a report. Big profits will pay for advertising and lobbying campaigns lauding the drug’s virtues and seeking to put in doubt or divert attention from the harm it causes.

The cigarette industry did this a century ago, funding “independent” experts who sought to blur or discredit evidence that smoking caused cancer. Governments were seduced by high tax revenues from tobacco sales and reluctant to do anything to curtail them. Hollywood stars such as John Wayne, Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy happily – and profitably – glamourised cigarettes, much as is happening to cannabis now.

Businesses seeking to emulate the tobacco companies at the height of their profitability have formed a bizarre de facto alliance with liberals and progressives, who are appalled by the disastrous mess created by government drug policy. The so-called “war on drugs” has demonstrably inflicted more misery in the US, certainly on the black community, than real military conflicts.

But an overreaction to government failure, provoking a dash in the opposite direction, has equal dangers. Those in favour of greater tolerance towards drugs are almost invariably thinking of cannabis as much less nasty than heroin and cocaine. But I have met psychiatrists, with long experience of dealing with drug victims of all sorts, who believe that cannabis is more dangerous than the other drugs because it has the potential to damage many more people.

About 3 million people take illicit drugs in England and Wales, of whom about 2.5 million consume cannabis, some 10 per cent on a daily basis in 2017-18, according to the review of drugs report by Dame Carol Black. Much of the cannabis is produced in the UK, sometimes by Vietnamese organised crime groups using slave labour. Most of the violence provoked by drugs is between the gangs who control the heroin and crack cocaine markets, which are worth about £5bn a year. Decriminalising drugs, notably cannabis, will not affect this sort of battle for territory and market share. Supply lines are very different between the different drug markets, with the heroin from Afghanistan wholesaled by Turkish and Pakistani gangs, and cocaine from Latin America controlled by Albanians.

The legalisation of cannabis will do nothing to hurt organised crime groups, but it will make the drug much more widely available. The idea by proponents of legalisation that the government will tightly regulate its quality and sale is naive. If the authorities cannot control it when it is illegal, they will be even less able to do so when it is legal. But legalisation – and even limited decriminalisation – will send a message that taking cannabis is a benign activity and does not do you or anybody else much harm. The deterrent effect of illegality will evaporate and the drug becomes no different than alcohol and tobacco.

Once commercially available, all the old persuasive tools formerly used by the cigarette industry swing into action as is happening unstoppably in the US. Celebrities like Justin Bieber will “destigmatise” the drug and give it the gloss of youth and fashion. Once, the victims of the tobacco companies coughed up their lungs unnoticed by the wider community, and this time round the victims of cannabis will disappear into mental hospitals without anybody taking much notice.   

Reference: Independent: Patrick Cockburn 

What is a panic attack? How to spot the signs and be able to tackle it

 Panic Attacks can come on suddenly and be very frightening. But it's important to know that the panic attacks themselves aren't life-threatening, and the symptoms won't harm you. 

They may happen unexpectedly, or could be triggered by a specific situation. Although they can be frightening and significantly affect your life, treatment can be very effective.

Debra Longsdale, Therapy Services Director at the Priory Group, speaking on behalf of leading free global mental health app My Possible Self, explained: "Often manifesting as flashbacks and nightmares of what you have experienced they are extremely common and can be disturbingly vivid, resulting from your body having difficulty processing the event in a healthy way. Panic attacks can be very distressing and mean that you may continue to relive the event again and again until you seek appropriate psychological treatment."

Here we take a closer look at what a panic attack is, how to spot the signs and how treatment can help someone tackle it.

© Getty Images/iStockphoto Panic attack

What is a panic attack?

According to the NHS, a panic attack, or panic disorder, is an "anxiety disorder where you regularly have sudden attacks of panic or fear".

Everyone may experience feelings of anxiety and panic at certain times, because this is the body's natural response to stressful or dangerous situations.

However, the NHS states that "someone with panic disorder has feelings of anxiety, stress and panic regularly and at any time, often for no apparent reason".

A panic attack will inevitably feel different for different people. But during a panic attack, the symptoms can build up very quickly.

According to Mental Healt h Charity Mind, symptoms can include:

• a pounding or racing heartbeat
• feeling faint, dizzy or light-headed
• feeling very hot or very cold
• sweating, trembling or shaking
• nausea (feeling sick)
• pain in your chest or abdomen
• struggling to breathe or feeling like you're choking
• feeling like your legs are shaky or are turning to jelly
• feeling disconnected from your mind, body or surroundings, which are types of dissociation

Mind also notes that during a panic attack you might feel very afraid that you're:

• losing control
• going to faint
• having a heart attack
• going to die

What causes a panic attack?

Because everyone experiences anxiety in different ways, it's hard to pinpoint exactly what causes them.

It may be that there are several reasons why someone might experience a panic attack.

Mind lists some reasons why someone might experience a panic attack on its website:

past or childhood experiences

your current life situation

physical and mental health problems

drugs and medication

How to deal with panic attacks

Living with anxiety and panic attacks can be very difficult, but Mind lists several ways you can help manage it.

During a panic attack, it may help to:

• Focus your breathing – Try concentrating on breathing in and our while counting to five
• Stamp on the spot – This may help control your breathing
• Focus on your senses – You could focus on the flavour of your chewing gum, or feel something soft
• Try grounding techniques – This may help you feel more in control

If you've already had a panic attack its important to pay attention to what your body needs.

• For example, you may need to rest or eat or drink something.
• You could also try talking to someone you trust.
• Treatment for panic attacks

Another thing you could do is to try the My Possible Self App, which, which is a free NHS endorsed global mental health app which provides holistic and engaging tools to the support and improve the mental wellbeing of all.

Debra Longsdale, Therapy Services Director at the Priory Group, speaking on behalf of leading free global mental health app My Possible Self explains: “Seeking help if you think you are experiencing panic attacks is really important, and the My Possible Self app is a great tool to help if you have the signs and symptoms of panic attacks. The ‘Overcoming my anxiety series’ is designed to help you rate your symptoms, to understand more about anxiety, and provides tools to help you manage your symptoms.” 

Reference: Mirror: Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz  

E.coli contamination alert over tap water in thousands of homes

Tap water in thousands of homes could have been contaminated with E.coli, a water company has warned.

Sutton and East Surrey (SES) Water has advised people living in parts of Kent and Surrey to boil their water as a “precautionary measure” after a routine test detected a possible outbreak of the bacteria.

The company said that water supplies at 6,500 properties “could be affected” by the bacteria, which can cause severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhoea and kidney failure in humans and animals.

Some 443 affected postcodes include homes in Oxted Redhill Horley, Biggin Hill and Tonbridge.

SES Water issued an update later on Friday evening saying a water sample from Westwood Water Treatment Works had tested positive for E.coli the day before, but further tests over the past 24 hours showed no signs of any contaminated water leaving the site.    

Tom Kelly, the company’s wholesale director, said: “Following a positive result for E.coli from one sample at our Westwood Water Treatment Works on Thursday, we put in place a precautionary boil notice for customers whose mains water is supplied from the site – this is around 6,500 properties in and around Oxted in Surrey.

“We apologise for the inconvenience and concern this may be causing to some of our customers, but it was the right thing to do, based on the information available at the time.

“I am pleased to say that through our investigations over the last 24 hours, involving sampling and analysis of water quality throughout the area covered by the precautionary boil notice, there is no indication of contaminated water leaving the treatment works.

“We are awaiting final confirmation of this with a third set of tests within the next 24 hours but at this stage, based on the latest sampling results, we are increasingly confident we can lift the precautionary boil notice tomorrow.”

SES Water advised customers to boil water and let it cool before using it for drinking, preparing food, cleaning their teeth or giving it to pets.

The company added that once cooled, boiled water can be kept in the fridge, covered and used within 24 hours.

Most cases of E.coli infections are mild and do not cause a serious health risk, and can be resolved by drinking lots of fluids.

However, some strains can cause severe symptoms and life-threatening complications including hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure. 

Reference: Evening Standard: Laura Parnaby