Latest news with #drugabuse
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Joshua Reeson died after taking MDMA to celebrate 15th birthday
A 15-year-old boy died after taking a large quantity of MDMA to celebrate his birthday, an inquest has Reeson, from York, was found on the pavement in Hospital Fields Road in the early hours of 27 September 2020. He was taken to hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest and died later the same day from multiple organ failure due to the effects of MDMA, the hearing in Northallerton was mum, Michelle Reeson, said: "One spur of the moment decision, one wrong choice, and everything changed. Drugs took Joshua away from us." Speaking at the inquest Mrs Reeson said her son had turned 15 on 25 September following day he made plans to go out with friends and sleep at another boy's house, she inquest heard Joshua and two friends had arranged to buy three grams of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, to celebrate, which they took later that night at one of their to Det Ch Insp Nichola Holden CCTV showed Joshua withdrawing his birthday money from a cash machine in York and later meeting a man to buy the hearing was told after taking the substance Joshua begun to feel unwell, shaking and sweating, and was told to leave the house after being discovered by one of the boy's adults later went out to look for the boys and Joshua was found to have fallen over and banged his head at 03:30 was treated by paramedics but died in hospital, surrounded by family, at 15:10 BST. 'Needless heartbreak' Mrs Reeson said: "There are no words that can fully capture the pain, shock, and the emptiness that follows such a tragedy. "His death cannot be for nothing, I intend to carry his memory forward with purpose. "My son, who gave so much for others, would want me to spread awareness of how he died, to hopefully prevent others from having to experience the same terrible, needless heartbreak we, his family and friends, live with everyday."She described her son as "a light to everyone around him", who had a big heart and was always eager to lend a hand. "The reality is this can happen to anyone, any child from any family, no matter how much love and care surround them," she added."It is simply not enough to say 'don't do drugs', we need to educate ourselves and our children about the dangers they pose, and the signs and symptoms of an overdose. "We must speak openly about this issue so that our silence does not steal another child from us."Concluding the inquest as a drug-related death, assistant coroner Alison Norton shared her condolences with the Reeson family. Following an investigation into Joshua's death, Alexander Payne, 20, was charged with conspiracy to supply MDMA and December 2024, Payne, of Overdale Road, Middlesbrough, was jailed for four and a half years at York Crown Court, having admitted the other people arrested in the wake of Joshua's death, were also sentenced for drug Roe, 37, and Jay Baxter, 22, of York, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce received an 18-month community order and 80 hours unpaid work, while Baxter was handed an 18-month community order, 100 hours unpaid work and a 25-day rehabilitation Gilchrest, 21, of Cherry Wood Crescent, York, pleaded guilty to failing to disclose a passcode to allow investigators access to a device and was sentenced to eight months in prison. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
Video: Man slams toddler on floor in horrific act, apprehended by authorities
The 31-year-old was seen checking his surroundings as he stood by a child who was holding onto a small suitcase A Belarusian man has been charged after he picked up and slammed an 18-month-old toddler on the floor of Moscow's airport. The 31-year-old was seen checking his surroundings as he stood by a child who was holding onto a small suitcase. The man then picked up and slammed the child headfirst onto the hard floor. A CCTV recording of the incident has been making the rounds online. The video shows the man carrying out the horrific act, after which witnesses move him out of the way and rush to the aid of the child. Media reports say that the man has been arrested by local authorities and admitted to committing the assault, saying that he "attempted to murder" the child. The assailant added that he was under the influence of drugs. Reports also said that the child was fleeing from Iran as the regional conflict was escalating. Here's the CCTV footage that has been going viral online with clips of the man being apprehended. Viewer discretion is advised as visuals may be disturbing:
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Alcohol abuse among hardest to treat, expert says
Dubai Police have launched a sweeping public awareness campaign to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, aiming to tackle drug use and addiction trends in the country. The multi-agency initiative, held across key shopping malls in the city, focuses on early detection, stigma reduction, and expanding access to treatment for vulnerable groups. More than 600,000 people engaged with the campaign at Dubai Hills Mall alone last year, with thousands more reached through activations at Mirdif City Centre, BurJuman, and Reef Mall. The outreach effort brought together Dubai Customs, the State Security Service, Dubai Health, mental health hospitals, and frontline rehabilitation centres to confront what officials called a growing public health challenge. 'Addiction doesn't discriminate,' said Brigadier General Dr Abdul Rahman Sharaf Al-Maamari, Director of the International Protection Center, General Department of Narcotics Control, Dubai Police. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. 'It affects workers, students, parents, and even visitors. That's why coordinated national action, including awareness and secure rehabilitation pathways, is so important.' Among the most difficult cases discussed were those involving mothers struggling with substance abuse. Authorities highlighted the challenges of identifying such vulnerable individuals and ensuring treatment without added trauma. 'We are not just focusing on arrests, but on awareness, early intervention, and coordinated care,' he added. 'Finding the right place and establishing a strong protocol for addiction cases, especially when children are involved, is a national priority.' The campaign included interactive workshops, remote lectures, public consultations, and creative competitions targeting different community groups, from school and university students to employees, domestic workers, and airport arrivals. In 2024 alone, Dubai Hills Mall recorded over 619,724 campaign beneficiaries, while Mirdif City Centre and Dubai Mall jointly engaged 14,567 participants. These figures, released by the General Department of Narcotics Control, reflect a growing public interest in education around addiction and mental health. Treatment centers like Erada and Al Amal Hospital for Mental Health have been central to this year's awareness efforts. They have also seen a rise in individuals seeking help, often thanks to family involvement. 'Stigma around addiction is slowly decreasing, and that's encouraging,' said Dr Ammar Hamid Al Banna, Director of Al Amal Hospital. 'More families are stepping forward early, which helps us provide timely support and reduce long-term harm.' He added that alcohol remains one of the hardest substances to treat, not only because of its accessibility but also due to the deadly withdrawal symptoms when not managed medically. Opiates and stimulants also remain prevalent in addiction cases reported to hospitals and clinics. Erada Center, one of the UAE's leading rehabilitation hubs, reported a 43 per cent success rate in treated cases. 'At Erada, our 43 per cent success rate reflects how targeted treatment and community support can change lives,' said a spokesperson for the centre. 'But it's a journey, not a one-time intervention.' Dubai Customs also reiterated its evolving role in combating addiction beyond seizures and inspections. 'Frontline agencies like ours play a key role in early detection,' said a senior Customs representative. 'But beyond seizures, we are now part of a larger effort to support treatment and reintegration.' This year's campaign didn't just aim to raise awareness, but to actively involve the public in shaping future initiatives. Community members were invited to contribute ideas, ask questions, and access on-the-spot consultations, making prevention and recovery a shared responsibility.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Kardashians in Venice and a French Spiderman: photos of the day
A gull flies over the Roman bath. The bath's architecture consists of four main parts: a sacred spring, a temple, a bathing area plus what is now a museum. More than a million tourists visit annually, although they are prohibited from entering the water due to health risks. Photograph: Nurettin Boydak/Anadolu/Getty Images Children play near a football field in a village in the industrial region, where at least 19 people were killed and nearly 300 injured in a Russian attack on Tuesday. Photograph: Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP/Getty Images Students, environmental activists and volunteers plant mangroves during a conservation campaign with the goal of planting 10,000 mangrove trees. Mangrove areas are disappearing from Aceh's coastline due to coastal erosion. Photograph: Hotli Simanjuntak/EPA Seized illegal drugs are burned in a destruction ceremony to mark the UN's international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. Photograph: Sai Aung Main/AFP/Getty Images A Red Cross member works with recovery crews after a landslide that killed at least 10 people in the north-western Antioquia province. Photograph: Juan David Duque/Reuters A hoverfly rests on the seed pod of a poppy in the humid afternoon weather in south Oxfordshire. Photograph: Geoffrey Swaine/Shutterstock A woman assists her friend in showering outside their tent during day two of Glastonbury festival 2025 at Worthy Farm in Somerset. Established in 1970, Glastonbury has grown into the UK's largest music festival, drawing over 200,000 fans to enjoy performances across more than 100 stages. Photograph:The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un, his daughter, Kim Ju-ae (centre), and his wife, Ri Sol-ju (right), attend the opening of a new tourist zone and beach resort on North Korea's east coast in Kangwon province. Photograph: KCNA via KNS/AFP/Getty Images Bart De Wever, Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico, the prime ministers of Belgium, Hungary and Slovakia respectively, meet at the start of the two-day EU leaders' summit. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA Kris Jenner, Kim and Khloé Kardashian, and the Italian fashion designer Domenico Dolce gather before the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez in Venice, Italy. Photograph: Luigi Iorio/GC Images Mourners carry the bodies of Palestinian youths who were killed during an attack by Israeli settlers. Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters Palestinians search for usable items in the rubble of heavily damaged and collapsed buildings after Israeli attacks on the al-Shati refugee camp. Photograph: Saeed MMT Jaras/Anadolu/Getty Images Foreign volunteers in the 13th Khartiia brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine attend military exercises at a training ground near a frontline, amid Russia's attack. Photograph: Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters The skyscraper climber Alain Robert, known as the French Spiderman, ascends without protection to the top of the Meliá Barcelona Sky hotel. Photograph: Manaure Quintero/AFP/Getty Images
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Washington Post
Myanmar burns confiscated drugs worth around $300 million
YANGON, Myanmar — Nearly $300 million worth of confiscated illegal drugs were destroyed in Myanmar's major cities on Thursday to mark the annual International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, officials said. The drug burnings came nearly a month after U.N. experts warned of unprecedented levels of methamphetamine production and trafficking from Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle region and Myanmar's eastern Shan State in particular.
