DrugWise Daily |
24th February 2026 |
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UK news
Correspondence: Government response to 3 medicines reports
The government accepts the ACMD’s recommendations in relation to the classification and scheduling of the 5 medicines featured in the ACMD’s reports: Somapacitan, lonapegsomatropin and somatrogon; Ganaxolone and Zuranolone | ACMD, UK
More than 2,500 motorists caught drink-driving three or more times in the last 11 years
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the RAC found 2,553 accrued three or more DR10 or DR20 endorsements for drink-driving since 2014.** DR10 endorsements apply to those driving or attempting to drive above the legal alcohol limit, while DR20 endorsements are issued to motorists deemed unfit to drive because of alcohol | RAC, UK
Health leaders call for minimum unit pricing after record alcohol deaths in Northern Ireland
The Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), an alliance of more than 60 organisations including medical Royal Colleges, treatment providers and health charities, has written to Ministers expressing “deep concern” at the latest statistics, calling for the urgent introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP) in Northern Ireland | AHA, UK
'Drug rehab helped my son turn his life around'
Rachel Kenyon says her family was left "ripped apart" after her son Tom, now 25, spent a decade of his life smoking marijuana, taking cocaine, ketamine and other recreational drugs from the age of 13 | BBC, UK
What’s With All the Smoke? Cigarettes on Stage in Oxford and Beyond
Smoking on stage has been a disputed topic for as long as smoking has been a disputed activity, but the modern iteration of the debate begins with the introduction of the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces in 2007 | The Blue, UK
Thousands sign vape shop's petition over new laws [Guernsey]
A Guernsey vape shop has said it could "lose half its customers" because of new laws banning under-18s from the premises, even with a parent or carer. The VapeBar said it had more than 1,000 signatures to a petition asking the States to reverse that part of the law, which will come into force at the end of March | BBC, UK
Drug Education Forum Event – Spring 2026
Thursday 26th February 2026, 15:30 - 17:00. Online. Keynote speaker, Dr Ashly Fuller, researcher in online harms and safety, will be talking about young people's experience of drugs on social media. Professor Chris Pudney from the University of Bath will build on this theme, by focusing on the global networks that enable spice to be sold on social media platforms, and finally Alex Piot, PhD candidate at UCL and Director of Research at the Centre for Evidence Based Drug Policy, will look at how policy shapes young people's perceptions and behaviours relating to ketamine. All three will take part in a panel discussion and there is an optional add-on half hour session for informal networking | DEF, UK
International news
Support for alcohol policies and its association with knowledge of alcohol-related health consequences: findings from 5 EU countries
[Open access] Understanding how knowledge of alcohol-related harms relates to policy support can inform strategies to increase acceptance of alcohol policies. This study examines the relationship between the two across five EU countries | European Journal of Public Health, UK
Drugs, denial and stigma: the babies and children swept up in Fiji’s HIV nightmare
Vulnerable young people, partners of drug users and victims of sexual violence also among those afflicted in world’s fastest growing HIV epidemic | Guardian, UK
“Disguised” Vape Flavor Ban Threatens Harm Reduction in Germany
Germany has set its sights on banning menthol vapes and other flavors that contain cooling agents, claiming these make vaping “more attractive.” | Filter Magazine, USA
Adolescents' Exposure to Zero-Alcohol Advertisements and Attitudes and Consumption Intentions Towards Alcohol: A Cross-Sectional Study
[Open access] Exposure to alcohol advertising is a key influence on adolescent alcohol consumption. Zero-alcohol drinks (<0.5% alcohol by volume) resemble and often share brands with alcoholic drinks, so may function as surrogate alcohol marketing. We examined whether exposure to zero-alcohol advertising was associated with adolescents' attitudes and consumption intentions towards alcohol | DADR, USA
The Supreme Court will decide if marijuana users may be barred from owning guns
Do stoners have a right to bear arms? | Vox, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Drug murders in France: how organised crime moves in and ruins communities
France has reached what has been called a “turning point” in its relationship with drugs cartels after Medhi Kessaci the innocent 20-year-old brother of anti-drug activist Amine Kessaci was shot dead in Marseille last November | Conversation, UK