5 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Addiction to ketamine rises eight-fold in a decade as powerful tranquiliser becomes popular with Gen Z
DOCTORS have sounded the alarm over an eight-fold rise in ketamine addiction in a decade.
The powerful tranquilliser is popular with Generation Z because of its relatively low cost, experts say.
GettyAddiction to ketamine has risen eight-fold in a decade, experts have warned[/caption]
Clinics in England treated 3,609 people of all ages for addiction last year, eight times more than 426 in 2014, figures reveal.
Ketamine, also referred to as “K” or “Ket”, numbs pain and can cause a trippy high.
Dealers sell it in powder form for around £20 to £40 a gram compared with £40 to £60 a gram for low-quality cocaine.
Doctors say heavy use can cause liver disease and permanently damage the bladder and kidneys. It is linked to constipation, depression and loss of mental sharpness.
Many medics fail to understand how addictive it can be, an NHS report said.
Led by Dr Irene Guerrini of the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, it called the drug’s prevalence “concerning”.
It said: “As ketamine use increases, more individuals are seeking treatment for addiction.
“Long-term use can seriously harm both physical and mental health, diminishing quality of life, affecting personal relationships and impairing academic or professional performance.”
Dr Guerrini called for stricter guidelines on how the NHS uses the drug and more funds for treatment and prevention.
Ministers are considering uprating 34878330from a Class B to Class A drug.
GETTING HELP:
If you think that you have a drug addiction then please contact your GP.
You can also visit FRANK for honest information about drugs and to find local treatment services.
If you are having trouble finding the right help, call the FRANK drugs helpline on 03001236600
You can also use it to settle credit card balances or pay bills.
However, Which? has raised concerns people may be unaware it can leave them unprotected if something goes wrong with a purchase.
The option lacks Section 75 and chargeback protections that shoppers get when paying through other methods.
Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, a credit card company can be held jointly liable for a purchase that turns out to be shoddy or does not materialise.
This means a shopper can potentially get a refund from the credit card company if they cannot recover their costs from a retailer.
Those using a debit card or credit card for purchases can also potentially get their money back via the chargeback scheme.
Which? said pay by bank is a “potential game changer” for businesses as they can sidestep card transaction fees and also benefit from receiving customer funds immediately.
There is also appeal for shoppers as refunds can be processed instantly.
While card details are not shared when making a transaction – eliminating the risk of them being stolen or compromised.
People do have general purchase rights under the Consumer Rights Act, meaning that goods must be fit for purpose, as described and of satisfactory quality.
But Which? said these protections are not always easy to enforce and in some cases may end up with people needing to go to a small claims court.
People may also face difficulties in the event of a businessgoing bust.
This could particularly be the case if there is an issue with a future-dated purchase such as a flight, a festival, or a household big ticket purchase such as a kitchen or a sofa.
Jenny Ross, Which? money editor, said: “Innovations like pay by bank present opportunities for businesses and consumers alike, but they’re not without risk, particularly as they lack the rigorous purchase protections you get when paying by card.
“We’re calling on the regulator to act to ensure consumers can use pay by bank with confidence, but in the meantime, we’d urge consumers to think carefully before using it to book events or make substantial purchases – for now, your good old-fashioned credit or debit card may be the best option.”
A spokesperson for banking and finance industry body UK Finance said: “There are a range of options for making payments online which provides customers with choice as to how they wish to pay.
“Different payment methods do come with different levels of protection and it’s worth being aware of these when shopping online, particularly when making higher value purchases.”
What is Section 75 protection?
Section 75 protection offers you consumer protection on credit card purchases worth between £100 and £30,000.
It applies to any products or services you’ve bought that end up being faulty, broken, or were not delivered at all.
It also covers you in the case a retailer you’ve bought from goes bust.
Section 75 applies to goods bought online, over the phone or via mail order.
You aren’t covered by Section 75 if you bought anything with a debit card, but may be under chargeback.
To make a claim under Section 75, you need to contact your credit card provider.
It should then send you a claim form which you can fill in and your provider will use to process your application.
Your card firm might ask you to provide evidence such as a receipt or a report verifying that the item is faulty.
In the scenario where a retailer has not gone bust, you should complain to them first.
If you find that your card company has been unhelpful and refused your claim, you can take your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
5 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Horoscope today, June 12 2025: Daily star sign guide from Mystic Meg
OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column is being kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.
Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today.
ARIES
March 21 to April 20
You may think you are sailing through a set of tasks, thanks to Saturn – but Neptune is now also on team Aries, and asking you to stop, look and listen.
A better set of steps may ask more but reward you more too, especially emotionally.
Love and money could set each other off so try to keep them apart.
Your daily horoscope for Thursday
TAURUS
April 21 to May 21
The first step on a journey can be the hardest – but you’ve spent a long time planning this and you are ready.
As soon as you start, you can feel how right this route is for you, so start now.
In love? Two names can find a unique way to become one.
Single? The One waits at desk number one.
Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
GEMINI
May 22 to June 21
Switching off your ever-busy mind and tuning in to the rhythms of your body can set up a day of peaceful togetherness.
Overthinking may have created a distance between partners that spontaneity can easily close.
If you’re single, ignoring a physical pull towards someone so different could be a mistake.
Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
CANCER
June 22 to July 22
Your fresh and sparkling Jupiter personality is a lot more outgoing – test this out when a chance appears to speak, or maybe sing, in public.
You also have a gift for seeing straight through a love list of “maybes” and landing on a name that could change your world.
But do keep your attention focused on just one.
Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
LEO
July 23 to August 23
When you need to work hard, you can and you will – but this must be your own decision.
A set of demands that are coming your way right now may feel hard to handle.
Focus on your own inner feelings.
In love? A fantasy date can be written into reality.
Single? Love crosses a finish line.
Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
Most read in The Sun
ACTOR GONE
Scarface and Ghostbusters actor dies aged 88 after heart attack
ICON GONE
Beach Boys founder & rock icon Brian Wilson dies aged 82 after health battle
CHILD DEATH
Boy, 4, dies inside home with woman, 37, arrested on suspicion of murder
STREET CARNAGE
Riot erupts in UK city as '60 masked youths' set fire to car & 'assault cop'
ACE'S COKE TRIAL
Ex-Prem star facing 13yrs in jail after 'smuggling TWO TONNES of coke'
MOM'S NIGHTMARE
Teen Mom star David Eason's ex's daughter suddenly dies at 7
VIRGO
August 24 to September 22
Maybe a parent-child bond isn’t always perfect – but it is unique.
Remember this if you are tempted to compare stories with a stranger.
Making sure forms are properly filled in comes naturally to you – consider taking this skill in the direction of a new career or maybe even your own business at some point.
Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
GettyDisrupter planet Pluto has an impact on you in ways you may resist at first[/caption]
LIBRA
September 23 to October 23
The more convinced you may be that you have found The One – in terms of love or work, or maybe property – the more you should make sure you do the right research.
Jupiter enthusiasm can cause you to get carried away – so tick all your boxes first, then share your excitement.
Luck circles “R”.
Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
List of 12 star signs
The traditional dates used by Mystic Meg for each sign are below.
When friends who love to create things together form a team, victory in a competition can be within their grasp – but the best prize is the deepening of bonds and trust.
Venus helps you hear the truth in words of love, even if it is concealed by haste or hesitation.
The luck factor links to names with a double “L”.
Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme –Sun Club.
5 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Horse racing tips: ‘A win would secure his place at Royal Ascot’ – Templegate’s 6-1 NAP for the Osbornes
TEMPLEGATE takes on Thursday’s action looking for winners.
Back a horse by clicking their odds below.
HICKORY (4.25 Newbury, nap)
Jamie Osborne’s flyer was a game winner of Ascot’s Victoria Cup before getting a bump at the start at Sandown last time. That meant he was way out the back before flying home to hit the frame. He could do with another win to secure his place in the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot and has every chance.
HARRYELLA (8.00 Chelmsford, nb)
Was an impressive winner on his last visit to this Essex track and didn’t get a clear run when second at Wolverhampton last time. He’s got more to offer and this longer trip will suit in-form James Fanshawe’s hopeful.
DEEP WATER BAY (4.33 Nottingham, treble)
Was a typical Sir Mark Prescott improver when winning on handicap debut when stepping up in trip. He has an extra quarter-mile in front of him today which should see him take another big leap forward.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chases their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
5 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Ananda Lewis dead aged 52: Talk show & 90s MTV host dies after breast cancer battle
ANANDA Lewis, the Talk show and 90s MTV host, has died after a long battle with breast cancer.
Her sister confirmed the news today in a heartbreaking post on Instagram.
She said: “She’s free and in his heavenly arms. Lord, rest her soul.”
In 2020, Ananda revealed she had been diagnosed with stage three cancer.
She said she had not been getting regular mammograms due to a fear of radiation.
In 2024, the late TV host revealed her cancer had reached stage four after she went against medical advice and refused a double mastectomy.
At the time she said her plan was to remove “excessive toxins” out of her body but later admitted she had made a mistake.
She told CNN: “My plan at first was to get out excessive toxins in my body.
“I felt like my body is intelligent, I know that to be true. Our bodies are brilliantly made.
“I decided to keep my tumor and try to work it out of my body a different way. . . . I wish I could go back. It’s important for me to admit where I went wrong with this.”
Ananda rose to fame in the late 90s when she landed a role as one of MTV’s VJ’s where she hosted the likes of Total Request Live and Hot Zone.
In 1999, The New York Times described her as “the hip-hop generation’s reigning It Girl.”
She left MTV in 2001 to host her own talk show, The Ananda Lewis Show.
The TV star was born in Los Angeles in 1973. Her parents divorced when she was just two, an experience she said affected her relationship with her mum as an adult.
Following the divorce, she and her sister moved in with their grandparents where Ananda went on to attend an arts high school.
After graduating Howard University in 1995 she landed her first job as the host of BET’s Teen Summit during which time she interviewed then First Lady Hillary Clinton.
Shutterstock EditorialLove Island fans were left annoyed as a huge show feature was ditched[/caption]
Fans hoping for a preview of the fallout from Shakira and Blu’s snog were left disappointedEroteme
Snogs were being dished out left, right and centre with plenty of couple-swapping on the horizon.
However, fans were left more irritated after an iconic feature was pulled from the episode.
As the show ended on a Hideaway cliffhanger with Blu’s shock snog with Shakira, fans were left on the edges of their seats hoping for a preview of the fallout.
But the usual ‘tomorrow night’ preview was scrapped and the programme instead cut straight to the end credits.
Narrator Iain Stirling has become known for his teased catchphrase but fans were not treated to that delight this evening.
It left viewers wanting more as they raced to X – formerly Twitter – to share their annoyance.
Reacting in disappointment, one fan said: “I hate when they don’t give us a tomorrow night.”
Another then added: “NAH sorry where is our. ‘Tomorrow on love island‘.”
A third wrote: “Erm?!!! Where’s the tomorrow night preview ???
“Don’t Introduce us to a vibe you cannot maintain pls.”
Someone else said: “What no tomorrow night?? Kmt.”
5 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Taking common contraceptive pill long-term could increase your risk of life-threatening brain tumour, scientists warn
TAKING a progesterone-only contraceptive pill for more than five years is linked to an increased risk of a life-threatening brain tumour, say scientists.
Desogestrel is a synthetic progestogen hormone used in oral contraceptives, specifically the progestogen-only pill (POP) or mini-pill.
Science Photo Library - GettyLong-term use of desogestrel has been linked to intracranial meningiomas[/caption]
While it offers several benefits beyond preventing pregnancy, such as regulating the menstrual cycle, reducing heavy or painful periods, new research suggests taking it continuously for more than five years is linked to a small increased risk of developing an intracranial meningioma.
An intracranial meningioma is a tumour that develops from the meninges, the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord.
These tumours are typically benign (non-cancerous) and slow-growing.
But they can be life-threatening depending on size, location, and growth rate.
The tumours are more common in older women, but previous studies lack information on the specific type of progestogen used – and risk has not been measured for continuous, current, and long term use.
In the study from France published by The BMJ, researchers set out to assess the real-life risk of the brain tumour and short-term (less than a year) and prolonged (one to seven or more years) use of oral contraceptives containing desogestrel 75µg, levonorgestrel 30µg, or levonorgestrel 50-150 µg combined with oestrogen.
Their findings were based on data from the French national health data system(SNDS) for 8,391 women who had undergone surgery for intracranial meningioma in 2020-2023.
Each case was matched to 10 control women without meningioma of the same age and area of residence.
The results showed a small increased risk associated with use of desogestrel for more than five continuous years.
An increased risk wasn’t found for shorter durations or when desogestrel had been discontinued for more than one year.
The risk was greater in women older than 45 and after prolonged use of one of the known high risk progestogens before desogestrel.
Although the researchers added the risk disappeared one year after stopping taking the pill.
It was estimated that 67,000 women would need to use desogestrel for one woman to need surgery for intracranial meningioma, and 17,000 women if current use was for more than five years.
No increased risk was found for levonorgestrel, alone or combined with oestrogen, regardless of duration of use.
The researchers suggested desogestrel be discontinued if an intracranial meningioma is identified and patients monitored rather than undergoing immediate surgery.
Desogestrel safety
Desogestrel, when used as a progestogen-only pill (POP), is generally considered safe and effective, but it has some potential side effects and risks.
But it’s important to discuss any concerns with a healthcare professional.
Highly effective
When taken correctly, it’s more than 99 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy.
No protection against STIs
The POP doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections, so it’s essential to use condoms for STI protection.
Important to take regularly
You need to take it at or around the same time every day, without breaks between packs.
Possible side effects
Changes in periods
Acne
Breast tenderness
Mood changes
Headaches
Nausea
Ovarian cysts
Some users might develop small, fluid-filled cysts on their ovaries, which are generally not dangerous and often resolve on their own.
5 days agoNew York StateComments Off on ‘Irresponsible’ Twix advert banned across UK and must never be shown again
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An advert for the chocolate bar Twix has been banned for ‘encouraging dangerous driving’.
The short ad features a man who is involved in a high-speed car chase who crashes.
However, as he makes an impact with the other driver, his caramel-coloured car is sandwiched on top of another, like a Twix.
Following five complaints the advert was deemed ‘irresponsible’ and was pulled from the air.
Mars-Wrigley own Twix, along with other confectionary brands such as Snickers, M&M’s and Milky Way.
The company has claimed that the ad had a ‘cinematic presentation’ and was set in a ‘world that was absurd, fantastical and removed from reality’.
The advert features a man driving in a high-speed car chase (Picture: Twix)
Towards the end of the chase, the two cars become stuck together, like a Twix (Picture: Twix)
This was a view that was echoed by Clearcast, who is the non-governmental organisation that approves adverts.
ASA claimed that the first half of the video ‘appeared likely to breach the legal requirements of the Highway Code’ despite it featuring fantastical elements.
An ’emphasis on speed’ as well as ‘visible skid marks’ also helped contribute to the decision to ban it.
Mars defended the advert, saying the cars were ‘shot driving at lawful speeds and any emulation would only reflect the legal and safe driving presented’, the BBC report.
After the cars crash together, a Twix bar falls through the sunroofs of the two cars before they drive off together, still attached.
The advert was deemed ‘unsafe’ and has since been banned (Picture: Twix)
Twix is owned by Mars-Wrigley along with Snickers, M&M’s and Milky Way (Picture Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Accompanying this is a tagline which reads ‘two is more than one’.
In the ASA official ruling, it tells Mars ‘not tocondone or encourage irresponsible driving that was likely to breach the legal requirements of the Highway Code in their ads.
This comes after a Next advert was banned earlier this year because of a single complaint over how the model looked – deeming it ‘irresponsible’.
The online ad for the clothing giant featured a model who was described as ‘unhealthily thin’ and also admitted digitally altering the image.
The camera angle and styling highlighted the slimness of her leg, the ASA said.
The model was sitting on a wooden block and her legs were extended towards the camera.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
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