DrugWise Daily |
15th May 2026 |
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UK news
Family criticise test delays at drug death inquest
The family of a man who died in a drugs-related incident have said that the system for testing blood samples after death "is not fit for purpose" in Kent | BBC, UK
Dad 'would still be here' without booze deliveries
Two sisters have said their alcoholic father could still be alive had he not been allowed to repeatedly order booze on delivery apps. Glenn Perkins, from Kent, died in January aged 55 after long term alcohol-related problems, according to his twin daughters. Connie Perkins said that Uber Eats told her in 2022 that she could not prevent her father from ordering alcohol on their platform as she was not the account holder | BBC, UK
Opiate Substitution Treatment — Does it Save Lives?
Mike Trace, CEO of The Forward Trust, reviews a new government report that analyses the outcomes of prison leavers in England (between August 2018 and December 2022) receiving substance misuse treatment. Mike explains how this reopens the debate about whether there should be ‘free’ drugs prescribed to prisoners, as part of a well established public health measure called Opiate Substitution Treatment (OST) | Forward Trust, UK
A review of the relationship between dimensions of alcohol consumption and the burden of disease: 2026 update including Mendelian randomisation studies
[Open access] Evidence on the causal impact and corresponding risk relationships between dimensions of alcohol consumption and health outcomes continues to evolve, with some contradictory findings across study designs. This review aimed to update current knowledge on causality and risk relationships to inform global and national comparative risk assessments for alcohol | Addiction, UK
Chapel plan for recovering addicts' centre
If approved, the centre would operate from the Grade II-listed St Robert and St Alice Chapel at Dodding Green, near Kendal in Cumbria, and would be able to care for seven people at a time | BBC, UK
Warning after cannabis found in sweet packets
Police have warned parents that drugs are being hidden in sweet and chocolate packets after a stash was found in a car in Coventry | BBC, UK
Major police operation targets drug and knife crime
A major police operation involving 80 officers has taken place to launch an initiative to target crime and anti-social behaviour in Handsworth, Birmingham | BBC, UK
International news
94% of smokers wrongly believe vaping is as harmful as cigarettes, new US study finds
The study, published in Contributions to Tobacco and Nicotine Research, examined responses from 3,481 adults using data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Wave 7, collected in 2022 and 2023 | Clearing the air, UK
Marlboro maker accused of ‘exploiting’ young people with new global ad campaign
Philip Morris claimed it wanted to end cigarette sales, but experts and campaigners say new promotions seem designed to attract younger consumers | Guardian, UK
Not just an energy drink: National study finds kratom use is rising
A national study of kratom use in the U.S. found rising popularity among young adults, and it is linked to addiction and mental health issues, according to new research from the University of Michigan and Texas State University. This is the first known national study to examine the use patterns of kratom and its association with mental health and addiction, researchers say | Medical Xpress, USA
The goal of a Tobacco-Free Generation will not progress without stronger EU support, experts suggest
A recent study shows that the rapid increase of new nicotine products and the influence of the tobacco industry are perceived to significantly hinder the European countries' ability to achieve ambitious tobacco control goals. Without strong support at the EU level and rapid responses to changes in the market, the targets risk remaining unmet | Medical Xpress, USA
Three Former WHO Directors Urge It to Back Tobacco Harm Reduction
Three former World Health Organization directors say the goal of reaching a global smoking rate below 5 percent by 2040 is achievable—if safer nicotine products are fully embraced. Their words are a clear rebuke to the WHO’s anti-tobacco harm reduction stance | Filter Magazine, USA
Nationally, Overdose Is Still Going Down. In the West, It’s Going Back Up
The latest overdose mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the rate of drug deaths in the United States is still decreasing, as it has continuously for the past two-and-a-half years. During that time we’ve known that the national average has not been experienced equally across the country, and that in some states overdose was decreasing at a slower pace or even going up. What’s becoming clearer now is that these states are all in the West | Filter Magazine, USA
Impact of cannabis legalization on drug possession offences among people who experience incarceration in Ontario, Canada
[Open access] In October 2018, Canada legalized non-medical cannabis possession and use. While a stated objective of legalization was to prevent people from entering the criminal justice system for cannabis possession, we lack evidence about whether this objective has been achieved. This study aims to compare drug offences among people who experienced incarceration in Ontario, Canada, before and after cannabis legalization | IJDP, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Benefits of ‘body doubling’ for students and researchers
Fiona Hughes explores how virtual co-working sessions could help people focus, reduce their overwhelm, and finally get things done | SSA, UK
Kenya’s war on traditional alcohol: a colonial hangover about what it means to be ‘civilised’
At the dawn of Kenya’s colonial era in 1902, consumption of home-made alcohol was deeply embedded in society. For instance, among the Mijikenda of coastal Kenya, palm wine was integral (p.290) to traditional ceremonies, such as marriage and initiations, and in ritual offerings | Conversation, South Africa