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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Forum: Safeguarding society from drug scourge a collective responsibility
The National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) applauds the move to classify etomidate as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) as an interim measure, pending the Ministry of Health's development of more appropriate legislation. This is needed for the Government to be able to act quickly and more decisively to protect our people, especially our youth, who are most vulnerable. The recent rise in the abuse of drug-laced vapes and products such as 'Kpods' is troubling. These products may appear harmless but contain harmful substances such as synthetic cannabinoids, cocaine, and pharmaceutical drugs like etomidate, which are not intended for recreational use. These substances can endanger health, including causing muscle spasms, changes to breathing patterns and blood pressure, seizures and psychosis, as well as addiction and even physical dependence. We are most concerned that these products are often deliberately designed to appeal to youth. They are attractively packaged, infused with fruity flavours, and marketed through social media and peer networks. Let us be clear: There is no such thing as a 'safe high' when it comes to these substances. Etomidate may have legitimate medical uses under strict supervision, but outside of that context, its misuse poses serious risks. In addition to this interim legislative step, more needs to be done. We need to increase public awareness and ramp up preventive education. The council also recognises the importance of continued collaboration among all stakeholders, including enforcement agencies, educators, parents and youth themselves. Safeguarding our society from the scourge of drugs is a collective responsibility. NCADA will fully support the Government's public education efforts in this area. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Asia Singapore urges all parties in Thailand-Cambodia border dispute to exercise restraint Asia Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line Life Hulk Hogan, who helped turn pro wrestling into a billion-dollar spectacle, dies at 71 Singapore Avoid water activities around Tuas Second Link, Raffles Marina after chemical tank accident: NEA Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp Singapore Mindef to set up new volunteer management unit to grow volunteer pool Singapore Primary 1 registration: 29 schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2B We call on parents, educators, community leaders and our youth to engage in conversations, and to stay informed, about the changing nature of drug abuse. Prevention is not only about policies and laws. It is also about building a strong social shield through awareness, education and care. Together, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to a drug-free Singapore. Dr Jimmy Lee Exco Member, National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA)
Metro
4 days ago
- Metro
Jay Slater's friend reveals final panicked texts from doomed teen at inquest
Jay Slater's friends have spoken of his final panicked moments as he realised he was lost in the mountains as he attempted a 14-hour walk home, an inquest has heard. The 19-year-old had taken ecstasy, cocaine, alcohol and possibly ketamine the evening of his disappearance in Tenerife, his friend said. Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, vanished after attending NRG music festival last June. He is thought to have gone to an Airbnb with convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim, 31, and fellow Briton, Steven Roccas before he disappeared. He was reported missing on June 18 and his remains were found near the village of Masca 29 days later. The disappearance captivated millions on social media, with TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X flooded with a mix of conspiracy theories about drug cartels and claims about Jay's past. His friend Lucy Law, who launched the search, called Jay around 8.30am and had sent him a message saying: 'Go back to wherever the f**k you just came from before it gets boiling.' She said on the call she asked him: 'What on earth are you doing? 'Where are you? 'He was just, 'I'm in the middle of the mountains'.' She asked him what he could see, and he replied: 'Nothing. Literally nothing. There's literally just mountains.' Mr Slater also said he needed a drink and asked if cacti are poisonous. Ms Law added: 'By this stage, I'm panicking.' Another friend Bradley Geoghegan, who was on holiday with Jay, spoke to the inquest into his death about the final night the 19-year-old was seen alive. Jay had been kicked out of a club because he was so drunk, but decided against going back to the apartment he was sharing with Geoghegan. Instead he went to an Airbnb miles away with two men he met on holiday. Geoghegan told Preston Coroner's Court heard that he got a video call from Jay the next morning, who was walking along a road 'under the influence'. Geoghegan said: 'I said put your maps on to see how far you were. It was like a 14-hour walk or an hour drive. I said, 'Get a taxi back', then he just goes, 'I will ring you back'.' Jay likely did not have any money on him, with taxis in Tenerife insisting on payment before taking a ride, the witness added. When asked if the teenager had appeared 'threatened' or 'under duress', Geoghegan said no. 'I think he probably got there and thought, 'Why am I here?', sobered up and decided to come back,' he added. Evidence heard during the inquest suggested Jay had attempted to walk back from his own apartment after failing to get a taxi. He then fell from a height into a ravine, with a huge search discovering his body on July 15. During the hearing in May, toxicology expert Dr Stephanie Martin said there were difficulties checking for the presence of drugs or alcohol in a body so severely decomposed. But she said analysis of Jay's body showed traces of the presence of MDMA and MDA, commonly known as ecstasy along with cocaine and alcohol. Dr Martin said because of the limitations of the analysis, she could not say exactly how much or how soon before death the drugs had been taken. Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said his post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as head injuries. He added that Jay's body had no signs of restraint or assault. Data from the teenager's phone had also been analysed by police, Lancashire Constabulary's Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Higson told the hearing. The next witness was Ayub Qassim, who told the court about meeting Jay on a night out with his friend Steven Roccas. He said he had been in a different venue before later meeting Slater and Geoghegan and getting food after clubs closed. Qassim described Jay as: 'On a buzz. Chilled, happy. Mingling in'it.' Jay then asked to go back to his and Roccas' apartment. Qassim told the hearing: 'I did say, 'Bro, oh mate, it's so far away from the strip.' There's nothing happening there other than scenery. I said I would drop him off in the morning. He rolled with us.' The coroner asked Qassim about messages sent by Jay describing a possible watch theft. A video in May seemingly show Jay at the back of a car en route to the remote village of Masca after having been kicked out of a rave. In the 6am videos, he appears to brag about stealing a watch in the Snapchat posts. He says: 'Just took a 12k Rolly (Rolex) off some c*** with this Maili (Somalian) kid. Off to get 10 quid (thousand) for it. Off my undies ha, ha, ha.' Qassim, however, described how he saw a man take a watch from another person on the strip in Tenerife and tried to sell it to him and Jay. But Qassim insisted: 'Jay did not steal no watch. I can say one hundred per cent.' When asked if he was involved in a watch theft, he replied: 'No. And neither was he.' More Trending Trying to explain the social media posts, Jay said: 'He could be boasting to his friends. He's on a buzz, so maybe it could be that. Sometimes people do exaggerate. The coroner then asked: 'But so far as you are concerned, none of that is true?' Qassim replied: 'No. One hundred per cent. I didn't see a watch. At this point he's just firing off messages.' Once back at the remote apartment, Jay was then given a blanket and a pillow at the Airbnb to sleep on the sofa, the witness added. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. 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Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
State to administer anti-filariasis drugs to 1.27cr residents from Aug 10
Ranchi: To eliminate lymphatic filariasis from state, the department of health, medical education and family welfare will roll out the second round of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) from August 10, targeting over 1.27 crore people across 80 identified blocks in nine districts. The round of MDA will include the administration of three medicines — DEC, Albendazole, and Ivermectin. Additional chief secretary of health department, Ajoy Kumar Singh said, "Anti-filariasis medicines are not just distributed but consumed in the presence of trained health workers to ensure efficacy. Make people aware about the importance of anti-filariasis medicines to stay safe from the disease." Singh appealed to departments such as Education, ICDS, Panchayati Raj, Urban Development, PHED, and Livelihood to cooperate actively in the MDA campaign. State programme officer Dr Birendra Kumar Singh said, "Every eligible individual will be reached. The MDA hinges on detailed micro-planning, community awareness, and strong monitoring. Review meetings will be held daily at district and block levels, with a state-level assessment during the campaign to ensure proper implementation. If the community consistently takes the prescribed anti-filarial medicines annually for five years, the disease can be eliminated from the state. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World Undo " Moreover, the state is also proactively implementing the STOP Diarrhoea Campaign, running from July 1 to August 14, aiming to prevent child deaths due to diarrhoea. Experts said with diarrhoea contributing to 4.1% of child mortality under the age of five in India, the state is taking comprehensive measures under the campaign.
Gulf Today
4 days ago
- Gulf Today
Eight injured in suspected car-ramming attack in Israel
Kfar Yona, Israel: Eight people were taken to hospital after a car ploughed into a bus stop in central Israel on Thursday in a suspected car-ramming attack, emergency services said. Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) first responders said they received a report at 9:25 am (0625 GMT) that a vehicle crashed into a bus stop near Kfar Yona. A man and woman in their 20s were said to be in a "moderate condition, with injuries to the chest and limbs", the MDA said. Three others were in a "mild-moderate condition, with injuries to the head and limbs", it added. Three people were described as having "mild" injuries. "The vehicle hit several people and fled the scene," police spokesman Aryeh Doron said. The car was abandoned and later recovered and the driver is being hunted using helicopters, motorbikes and a specialist dog unit, police added. The site of the crash was cordoned off as forensic investigators combed the scene, an AFP photographer said. The site of the crash was cordoned off as forensic investigators combed the scene, an AFP photographer said. There has been a spate of violence in Israel and the occupied West Bank since the start of the war against Hamas in Gaza, triggered by the militants' attack on October 7, 2023. A teenager died in March this year when police said a car driven by a Palestinian man deliberately ploughed into civilians at a bus stop in northern Israel. At least 32 people, including soldiers, have died in attacks in Israel by Palestinians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. In the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, at least 958 Palestinians, including many fighters but also civilians, have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers, according to Palestinian Authority figures. At the same time, at least 36 Israelis, including civilians and soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations, Israeli figures showed. Agence France-Presse
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Toronto Sun
Eight injured in suspected car-ramming attack in Israel
Israeli police cordon off the site of a suspected car ramming attack near the central town of Kfar Yona. Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP KFAR YONA, Israel — Eight people were taken to hospital after a car ploughed into a bus stop in central Israel on Thursday in a suspected car-ramming attack, emergency services said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) first responders said they received a report at 9:25 am (0625 GMT) that a vehicle crashed into a bus stop near Kfar Yona. A man and woman in their 20s were said to be in a 'moderate condition, with injuries to the chest and limbs', the MDA said. Three others were in a 'mild-moderate condition, with injuries to the head and limbs', it added. Three people were described as having 'mild' injuries. 'The vehicle hit several people and fled the scene,' police spokesman Aryeh Doron said. The car was abandoned and later recovered and the driver is being hunted using helicopters, motorbikes and a specialist dog unit, police added. The site of the crash was cordoned off as forensic investigators combed the scene, an AFP photographer said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. There has been a spate of violence in Israel and the occupied West Bank since the start of the war against Hamas in Gaza, triggered by the militants' attack on October 7, 2023. A teenager died in March this year when police said a car driven by a Palestinian man deliberately ploughed into civilians at a bus stop in northern Israel. At least 32 people, including soldiers, have died in attacks in Israel by Palestinians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. In the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, at least 958 Palestinians, including many fighters but also civilians, have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers, according to Palestinian Authority figures. At the same time, at least 36 Israelis, including civilians and soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations, Israeli figures showed. Sports Golf Canada Canada Sunshine Girls
