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In date order, Monday to Friday
Majority of UK smokers wrongly believe vaping is as harmful as cigarettes, experts find
Analysis shows public understanding about vaping, which is far less harmful than smoking, has plummeted in past decade | Guardian, UK
Alcohol Awareness Week
It's Alcohol Awareness Week! This year's campaign is running from 6-12 July 2026 on the theme of Alcohol and me | Alcohol Change UK, UK
New data shows 3.3 million ex-smokers used vapes to quit, but youth regulation still urgently needed, says charity
New data from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) shows daily vaping among adults has overtaken daily smoking in Britain for the first time, with 3.3 million vape users saying they are ex-smokers. At the same time over a million 11-17 year olds say they have tried vaping. The data highlights both the success of vaping as a quit aid and the urgent need to reduce youth uptake | ASH, UK
Ending smoking inequality
This action plan sets out key recommendations for government to ensure the harms of smoking are not borne by the communities least able to escape them. The Government must act now and ensure that these communities are not left behind. Increased investment in local authority stop smoking services and embedding greater treatment in the NHS is a strong start, but without a clear plan with tangible targets, this investment could miss those who need our support the most | ASH, UK [Press Release here]
The workers who 'just get it': How lived experience strengthens addiction recovery
People with lived experience of alcohol and drug use are helping others navigate recovery. New UNSW research shows their experience is a powerful form of expertise when workplaces recognise and support it | USNW, Australia
Addiction in the UK
A new report estimates that around 1.1 million people across the UK are currently addicted to alcohol and/or illegal drugs, with drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales reaching their highest level on record. The report, a systematic review of largely publicly available evidence with ad hoc insights from Forward Trust’s operational delivery and practice, found there is no precise data on the true scale of addiction in the UK. But the picture created from existing data shows the problem is widespread | Forward Trust and Crest Advisory, UK
Addiction in the UK report - Executive Summary by our CEO Mike Trace
Mike Trace, CEO of The Forward Trust, provides an insightful Executive Summary for latest report, Addiction in the UK | Forward Trust, UK
Researchers identify opioids with highest risk of respiratory depression
University of Manchester researchers have identified which opioids are most likely to be associated with respiratory depression, in a major new study. Fentanyl, combination opioid treatments, oxycodone and morphine are associated with higher risks compared to codeine among patients treated for non-cancer pain | University of Manchester, UK
Evaluation of the National Drug Deaths Mission:
International review-level evidence of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different treatment and support modalities
This publication presents the findings from two studies, which were aimed at exploring to what extent National Mission funding has been allocated to effective and cost-effective treatment and support. They are both part of the Public Health Scotland evaluation of the Scottish Government's National Drug Deaths Mission | PHS, UK
National report highlights progress and next steps for MAT Standards
Public Health Scotland (PHS) has today published the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards Implementation Benchmarking Report 2025–26. This report marks the end of the national mission for drug deaths and brings together progress across the five-year MAT programme. It assesses implementation of the 10 MAT standards across all 30 Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) in Scotland, using process, numerical and experiential evidence | PHS, UK
Why are one in three Brits drinking less alcohol in 2026?
New YouGov Profiles data shows that while most Britons who drink say their alcohol consumption is unchanged from a year ago (58%), one in three (33%) say they have reduced their intake in comparison | YouGov, UK
Thiamine prescribing
This guidance note is to remind healthcare professionals to routinely prescribe thiamine to people thought to be dependent on alcohol. It's prompted by Public Health Scotland data showing that in 2024/25, only around 8% of people assessed for specialist alcohol treatment reported being prescribed thiamine – despite the UK Clinical Guidelines for Alcohol Treatment (2025) being clear that thiamine prophylaxis should be offered to all people who drink harmfully and dependently | SHAAP, UK
Alcohol Matters in General Practice – free resources for clinicians
Here are a set of free resources developed with RCGP Scotland. While badged for primary care, the content is relevant to clinicians across specialties: A six episode podcast, Conversations about Alcohol, hosted by GP Dr Rachel Phillips, featuring addiction psychiatrists, hepatologists and lived experience perspectives (20-30 min episodes). A webinar on NES TURAS, counting towards CPD for trainees. Readymade PowerPoint slides for team meetings | SHAAP, UK
Ministers launch crackdown on vapes targeting kids
Ministers have launched a crackdown on vapes marketed at kids with a shift to plain white packaging | DHSC et al, UK
Vapes to have less enticing names to protect children, under UK plans
Plans to stop vapes being marketed to children have been unveiled as part of a UK-wide consultation to introduce plain packaging, stop the use of enticing flavour descriptions and move vapes out of sight in shops | BBC, UK
How to save a life: Emergency response to a drug overdose in prison
RADAR (Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response), Scottish Prison Service and NHS Scotland have worked together to create this prison resource on how to respond to a drug overdose, and how to reduce the harm from drugs | PHS, UK
Impact of drug and alcohol treatment on reoffending
Analysis of offending and reoffending by people in community drug and alcohol treatment in England, using linked NDTMS and Police National Computer data | OHID, UK
Government response to ACMD report on ethylbromazolam
Thank you for your advice of 14 April about ethylbromazalom which the ACMD has recommended be controlled under Class C of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and scheduled under Schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Given the similarities in chemical structure, cited in the report, which resemble those of bromazolam and other benzodiazepines that are subject to control under Class C of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and the assessment of the potential risk of health and social harms commensurate with other Class C drugs, I accept your recommendation. The Government will seek to implement the control and scheduling of ethylbromazalom as soon as Parliamentary time allows | ACMD, UK
The Way Ahead: our ten-year strategy
The system isn't working for everyone who needs it. Since launching as Waythrough, we’ve been determined to ‘join the dots’ between services in a smarter, more human way. And to push ourselves and the system to change. Press Release here | Waythrough, UK
Ketamine Trends in Scotland: Analysis of Police Seizure Data and Review of Early Identification Methods (PDF)
By exploring Police Scotland ketamine seizure data and a rapid literature review of ketamine testing methods, this report: i) identifies trends in seizures to raise awareness of where ketamine is generally present ii) describes drug checking technologies intended for point-of-need versus laboratory testing | DRNS, UK
NHS Grampian shares “rallying call” on Naloxone awareness
NHS Grampian, in partnership with Alcohol and Drugs Action (ADA) as part of Aberdeen’s Alcohol and Drug Partnership, is calling for greater awareness of drug harms reduction following a cluster of suspected drugs deaths in the city | NHS Grampian, UK
All lobbying should be publicly declared in transparency laws shake-up, watchdog says
Ethics and integrity commission chief says overhaul is crucial to help restore trust in standards | Guardian, UK