High levels of absorbed cocaine have been found in South Wales’ wastewater, according to a new study. The BBC reports the largest consumption was found to have peaked during rugby internationals in Cardiff in 2021, when Wales faced South Africa, which found 8.54 milligrams of the illegal drug per day, per 1,000 people. By comparison, … Continue reading Wales v South Africa: Highest levels of cocaine found in wastewater

New research shows the estimated costs of adverse childhood experiences to the affected adults and to society across twenty eight European countries. Adverse childhood experiences or ACEs include suffering maltreatment, witnessing violence in the home or community, and living with family difficulties such as parental substance abuse. Exposure to such stressors is linked to poorer … Continue reading What adverse childhood experiences are costing European economies

A new regional health economics network is being launched by Professor Rhiannon Tudor Edwards of Bangor University. The Public Health and Prevention Economics Research Group network will link researchers working in the economics of public health and preventative interventions across Bangor University and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB). As the UK emerges from the … Continue reading New regional health economics network for North Wales

Volunteers are needed to take part in a clinical trial of a vaccine against coronavirus in North Wales. The BBC reports preliminary testing has been completed and showed promising initial results on antibody levels in healthy volunteers. It will now be tested on nine thousand volunteers across eighteen regions around the UK including Wrexham. Betsi … Continue reading Volunteers wanted for Covid-19 vaccine trial in Wrexham

Welsh Minister for Health and Social Services Vaughan Gething has issued a written statement on the genomic analysis of Covid-19 lineages. He writes “Through SAGE and the Technical Advisory Group, the Welsh Government receives updates on the genetic makeup of the virus that causes Covid-19. The insights that come from studying the very building blocks … Continue reading Genomic analysis of Covid-19 lineages in Wales

E-cigarette use among young people has fallen for the first time in Wales but declines in youth smoking have stalled, according to analysis from Cardiff University. The report is based on responses from 119,388 eleven to sixteen year olds who took part in the School Health Research Network’s (SHRN) 2019 Student Health and Wellbeing survey, … Continue reading Fewer young people in Wales vaping but no drop in smoking

A specialist laboratory in Newport which will help boost the UK’s Covid-19 testing capacity has officially opened. WalesOnline reports the lighthouse lab, based at Imperial Park, aims to process twenty thousand tests per day by the end of this month. The facility began processing its first samples on October 5th and has created two hundred … Continue reading Wales’ first Lighthouse Lab is now open

A new Covid-19 lab testing facility is being set up in Newport in an investment creating two hundred jobs. WalesOnline reports the UK Government’s Lighthouse Lab, at Imperial Park, is a partnership with global diagnostics company PerkinElmer. The project is being supported by the Welsh Government and Life Sciences Hub Wales. Led by the Department … Continue reading New coronavirus testing lab creating 200 jobs in Newport

Scientists in Cardiff are leading global efforts to decipher and track changes to the genetic code of coronavirus. Little variations in the code could have a big impact on whether the virus becomes more or less infectious, and could determine how effective any future vaccine might be. The BBC reports that samples from six thousand … Continue reading Welsh scientists helping crack coronavirus genetic code

Covid-19 convalescent plasma is a blood donation extract taken from people who have recovered from coronavirus. For accurate and up to date information on coronavirus please go to gov.uk/coronavirus. If you’re outside the UK please see the information on coronavirus from your national and local authorities. Wales is playing a leading role in a UK … Continue reading Wales’ lead role in antibody transfusion treatment for coronavirus