DrugWise Daily |
5th June 2026 |
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UK news
School children using vapes laced with drugs like Spice
More than a quarter of children across Blackburn and Darwen have used a vape laced with drugs, according to a recent health survey. The figures were revealed by the charity Healthwatch at a local authority meeting on Tuesday | BBC, UK
Vapes laced with 'spice' that put boy, 12, in coma sold to kids on social media
Professor Chris Pudney at the University of Bath has been investigating the prevalence of these vapes in schools and, in 2025, found that as many as one in four confiscated vapes contain spice. He has since been researching how available it is on social media and has found a network of ten thousand accounts linked to the sale of the drug | ITV, UK
Woman warns of 'ketamine bladder' after drug use scarred hers for life
Ellie Wight started taking ketamine when she was 18. It made her feel like she had "no worries" and "no cares", helping her to relax in social settings. She thought it was a "safe option" compared to other drugs, and "didn't think she'd have any issues". Five years later, the 23-year-old is living with permanent damage to her bladder caused by repeated use of the powerful class-B drug | BBC, UK
Estate agent, 22, with ketamine addiction died after weight dropped to just 5st
A young estate agent with a ketamine addiction died in agony at home after discharging herself from hospital and telling her mum ‘I can’t do it anymore’, and inquest heard | Metro, UK
Stop smoking service data explorer
This data explorer presents latest published analysis on stop smoking service data, alongside indicators relating to the prevalence of smoking | OHID, UK
Responsible Vaping APPG talks up ‘success’ of disposable vape ban
Monday 1 June was the first anniversary of the disposable vape ban and while some believe it ‘has not worked as intended’, the Responsible Vaping APPG is more positive in its assessment | Talking Retail, UK
Drugs: Misuse
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support local police forces to tackle (a) antisocial drug taking and (b) drug dealing | They work for you, UK
Alcoholic Drinks: Age Assurance
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring (a) age and (b) intoxication verification both at (i) the point of order and (ii) the point of delivery for alcohol sold through delivery applications | They work for you, UK
Electronic Cigarettes
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of unregulated vaping products containing (a) undisclosed and (b) prohibited substances on people's health | They work for you, UK
Cocaine Cue Database (CCD): development and validation of pictorial stimuli database for a cocaine cue reactivity paradigm - survey
We are recruiting current cocaine users for an online study. [Invitation flyer here] You will be asked to view and rate images related to cocaine, which might induce craving in those who use it frequently. We will use your ratings to create an image database for future research | KCL, UK
PROGRESS Webinar - Alcohol Awareness Week
Thursday, July 9 • 9:30 AM - 12 PM GMT+1. This session will feature specialist speakers including Professor Julia Sinclair (Addiction Psychiatry, University of Southampton), Mike Ward (Alcohol Change UK), Saskia Bauweraerts (COMHAD Lead, Leicestershire Partnership Trust), and Dr Viki Teggart (Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust). The webinar will explore key challenges in engaging hard-to-reach populations, the application of current alcohol treatment guidelines in clinical practice, and the importance of recognising liver health within mental health services | Progress Consortium, UK
International news
Ferry search leads to €2.9m drugs seizure
Cannabis with an estimated value of more than €2.9m (£2.5m) has been found in a freight unit which travelled on a ferry from France to the Republic of Ireland | BBC, UK
Big tobacco uses cigarette playbook to help sell ultra-processed foods, journal reveals
New issue of the American Journal of Public Health focuses on parallels between marketing for cigarettes and UPFs | Guardian, UK
Synthetic cannabis driving mental health issues, warns HSE official
HSE national clinical lead on addiction Eamon Keenan has warned an influx of synthetic cannabis products is causing more individuals to present with mental health problems | Irish Examiner, Ireland
Mental Health Services for People Who Use Drugs: Current Needs and Emerging Challenges. Civil Society Monitoring of Harm Reduction In Europe 2025
Drawing on data from 42 cities in 33 countries, this C-EHRN Monitoring 2025 mini-report explores the current availability, accessibility, and delivery of mental health services for people who use drugs. The findings reveal significant gaps in comprehensive service provision and show that many people continue to face barriers when seeking support, despite the existence of specialised services | C-EHRN, The Netherlands
Study shows dangerous associations between drug and alcohol use and adolescent mental health
Adolescents who use drugs or binge drink alcohol are more likely to experience psychological distress and have seriously thought of or attempted suicide, according to a new study from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR) | Medical Xpress, USA
FDA Greenlights First Human Trial of Kratom to Treat Opioid Use Disorder
The Food and Drug Administration has approved an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) to study mitragynine, the main psychoactive compound in kratom, as a potential treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) | Filter Magazine, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
FDA Approves Reduced Drinking Endpoints for Alcohol Trials: A New Road for Alcohol Treatment?
In January 2025 the US Food and Drug Administration accepted a reduction in the risk from drinking as a valid outcome for clinical trials. Departure from an exclusive focus on abstinence has for decades been the subject of sometimes virulent controversy. From a European perspective, "This signals a new attitude from the US side and paves their way for a sentiment shared by many who believe that total abstinence is not the only way out of addiction." | European Addiction Research editorial, USA