DrugWise Daily |
14th August 2026 |
Thank you to our Premium sponsors:
|
|
Could you sponsor DrugWise Daily? Please Email Harry Shapiro to discuss |
|
UK news
Information relating to wastewater monitoring for illicit drugs in Scotland: FOI release
Information relating to the current status of wastewater-based epidemiology or wastewater monitoring activity associated with illicit drugs in Scotland | Scottish Government, UK
Temporal trends in alcohol-related liver disease mortality and prior inpatient care in England before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2004–2024): a population-based observational study
[Open access] Mortality from alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) in England rose after the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing reports lack data on prior healthcare use, which is key to understanding care pathways before death. This study examined long-term trends in ARLD mortality before, during and after the pandemic and assessed changes in relation to prior inpatient care | BMJ, UK
I started gambling at seven - mobile betting was like Vegas in my pocket
Diane said she tried to take her own life 13 years ago but has been in recovery for a number of years now for gambling and alcohol addiction, after receiving remote support through Gamblers Anonymous Scotland | BBC, UK
Fake sex worker and accomplice jailed for fatally spiking men’s drinks
Adina Mihai and Madalin Dumitru from Essex jailed for 17 years for drugging four men to steal from them, two of whom died | Guardian, UK
Man charged after ketamine worth £2m intercepted
A man has been charged after ketamine with an estimated street value of £2.1m was intercepted as it was being sent from the Netherlands to the UK | BBC, UK
International news
Washington D.C.’s Crackdown on Unlicensed Cannabis Shops is a Warning for Underground Networks
Over the past 18 months, Washington, D.C. has escalated its law enforcement crackdown on unlicensed cannabis shops and the illegal commercialisation of psychedelics. Since the Medical Cannabis Conditional License and Unlicensed Establishment Closure Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2024 took effect on 15 July, 2024, the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) and the Metropolitan Police Department have raided and shuttered 113 storefronts during this period | Talking Drugs, UK
Vaping and cannabis hit record highs among young adults in 2025: Survey
Young adults’ use of vapes and cannabis hit all-time highs last year, according to the results of a large new national survey conducted at the University of Michigan | STAT News, USA
Alcohol Policy, Commercial Influence, and the Public Health Costs of Ignoring Evidence: The Case of the Alcohol Intake and Health Study
[Open access] From the inside, the story of the side-lining of a US "federally authorized scientific effort that produced evidence at odds with powerful commercial interests" – the Alcohol Intake and Health Study | JSAT, USA
Vanillin flavoring in e-cigarettes disrupt human embryonic stem cell development, lab study finds
Vanillin, a common flavoring chemical in e-cigarettes, may disrupt the normal development of embryos in pregnant women who vape, according to a study published in Human Reproduction. The finding explains how vaping may be linked to women having difficulty conceiving and to miscarriages | Medical Xpress, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
It’s time to show alcohol and junk food sponsorships the red card
As someone who has been enjoying this year's packed sporting calendar, Melissa Dando, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer, explores how the promotion of health-harming products has come to dominate major sporting events, and what can be done to reclaim sport from industry influence | WCRF, UK
IDPC labelled 'undesirable' by the Russian Federation
On July 24th 2026, the Russian Ministry of Justice formally added the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) to the regime’s ever-growing list of ‘undesirable organisations’ based on the work we do to promote human rights and more effective drug policies | IDPC, UK