DrugWise Daily |
6th November 2026 |
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UK news
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
Ketamine deaths reach record high as cases double in a year
There has been a 16-fold increase in ketamine drug-related deaths registered in England and Wales over the past decade, according to new data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) | Independent, UK
Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales - EDM (Early Day Motion)1106: tabled on 04 November 2026
That this House notes with concern that the Office for National Statistics reported on 4 November 2026 that 5,519 deaths related to drug poisoning were registered in England and Wales in 2025, of which 2,324 involved opiates and 150 involved synthetic opioid nitazenes; recognises that many of these deaths were preventable, and that preventing them requires a sustained response combining treatment and harm reduction... | UK Parliament, UK
High Returns. The Economic Impacts of UK Cocaine Regulation
This report evaluates the economic impacts of legalising and regulating cocaine for adult non-medical use in the UK from a Treasury perspective of income and spending. The report focuses on government tax and sales revenues under a proposed state retail monopoly | Transform, UK
Spotlight on Services: Murray’s Initiative – LGBTQ+ Wellbeing Service
Thursday 12 November is Scotland’s first ever Alcohol Action Day. Together, we’re using the day to celebrate the organisations providing alcohol support across Scotland and to raise awareness that help is available for anyone who needs it. In this Spotlight post, Murray’s Initiative describe in their own words their pioneering LGBTQ+ Wellbeing Service, providing dedicated substance use support for members of the LGBTQ+ community | Alcohol Focus Scotland, UK
Spotlight on Services: West Lothian Drug and Alcohol Service (WLDAS)
In this Spotlight post, we feature West Lothian Drug and Alcohol Service (WLDAS), which offers a range of support to adults, young people and families affected by alcohol and drug use | Alcohol Focus Scotland, UK
How a lorry driver's cup of tea led to an £80m cocaine bust
After an HGV driver reported that his container had been broken into, rapid action by police officers led to the discovery of more than £80m in cocaine | BBC, UK
International news
People may have been getting high off cannabis almost 2,800 years ago, new study suggests
Archaeologists who led a dig at a monumental tomb in Siberia said they turned up evidence of the earliest known use of cannabis for psychoactive purposes | Independent, UK
What do Europeans think about drugs and drug policy? Survey results out on 12 November - First EUDA drug survey: key findings
The results of the first European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) Drug Survey will be released on 12 November, revealing public attitudes towards drugs and drug policy across Europe. Using the European Commission's Flash Eurobarometer methodology, the survey captured the views of the general population on drug-related problems and risks, drug availability and how society should respond | EUDA, Portugal
Drug Consumption Rooms in Italy: the campaign restarts from Turin
Italy is among the European countries where drug consumption rooms (DCRs) are not currently available. Despite a strong civil society movement and the fact that harm reduction has been implemented in major cities and many regions for over 30 years, DCRs have been the focus of an ideological battle by successive center-right governments | C-EHRN, TheNetherlands
Afghanistan Opium Survey 2026: Cultivation, production and market analysis (PDF)
In 2026, the drugs ban in Afghanistan appears to be weakening. Although estimated cultivation remains well below pre-ban levels, it increased sharply from around 10,000 hectares in 2025 to more than 43,000 hectares in 2026. There are now 16 out of 34 provinces – five more than in the year before – that saw poppy cultivation. At 76 per cent of total area, cultivation continues to be concentrated in the North-East. Estimated national opium production increased from about 300 tons in 2025 to just under 1,500 tons in 2026 | UNODC, Austria
Blogs, comment and opinion
The Guardian view on cocaine and domestic abuse: new links between drugs and crime need investigating
Patterns of drug supply and use are changing and the government’s five-year-old drug strategy must evolve too | Guardian, UK
Alcohol drinking and mortality in older men: what does new research tell us?
Heavy drinking is a well-established risk factor for poor health and premature death. However, the health effects of drinking in older age remain debated. Some observational studies suggest that moderate drinkers have a lower risk of death than non-drinkers, but these findings may be misleading because of differences in health and lifestyle between the groups. Our new paper in the European Journal of Epidemiology investigated this question among older British men | IAS blog, UK