DrugWise Daily |
5th November 2026 |
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UK news
Cocaine overtakes heroin as leading cause of drug deaths in England and Wales
The number of deaths from cocaine use in England and Wales has nearly quadrupled in a decade, overtaking those attributed to heroin for the first time. Cocaine was linked to more than one in five drug poisoning deaths registered in 2025, more than any other single substance, with charities blaming its increased purity and availability. Meanwhile a record 115 ketamine-linked deaths were registered, almost twice as many as in 2024, according to Office for National Statistics data | BBC, UK
'Contaminated drugs' kill two inmates and harm others as prison goes into lockdown
Two inmates have died and multiple medical emergencies have occurred at HMP Ranby in Nottinghamshire following a suspected bad batch of drugs | Independent, UK
Highs and lows: Complex relationships between childhood socio-economic position and adolescent substance use in three United Kingdom birth cohorts
[Open access] In the United Kingdom, certain substance use behaviours appear to be consistently related to socio-economic position over time. Qualitative differences between the cohorts indicate that socio-economic inequalities in adolescent smoking and illicit drug use appear to have peaked in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children whereas inequalities in drinking appear stronger in the Millennium Cohort Study | Addiction, UK
Celebrating Black History Month at The Forward Trust
This October, colleagues across Forward Trust came together to celebrate Black History Month, reflecting on this year's theme, 'Honouring Our Communities', through events focused on lived experience, storytelling, culture and connection | The Forward Trust, UK
Met worker denies smuggling cocaine as porridge
A Metropolitan Police call-handler has denied attempting to smuggle cocaine into the UK disguised as peanut porridge in her luggage | BBC, UK
Medicinal cannabis worth £35k stolen in armed robbery
Medicinal cannabis products worth about £35,000 were stolen in what police believe was an armed robbery on the A34 near Newbury | BBC, UK
Trio jailed after £80m of cocaine smuggled in lorry
A third member of a cocaine smuggling gang has been jailed for 20 years after officers tracked 18 holdalls of the drug, valued at about £80m, in a lorry | BBC, UK
International news
Demand for drug treatment services has ‘exploded’, support group says
Women in particular are seeking support in bigger numbers and ‘crack cocaine is causing untold harm’, according to Merchants Quay Ireland | Irish Times, Ireland
What Europeans think about drugs and drug policy: results from the first EUDA Drug Survey
12 Nov 2026. Online. Join us on 12 November as we present the results of the first EUDA Drug Survey, exploring public attitudes towards drugs and drug policy across Europe. Using the European Commission's Flash Eurobarometer methodology, the survey captures the views of the general population on drug-related problems and risks, drug availability and how society should respond | EUDA, Portugal
Even moderate drinking linked to cancer and early death, major study finds
A major new study challenges the idea that moderate drinking is safe, finding that even relatively small amounts of alcohol increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, and premature death. Researchers found no overall health benefits from drinking and warn that consuming more than one alcoholic beverage per day can significantly increase long-term health risks | Science Daily, USA
Cannabis dominates youth hospital visits while alcohol impacts older adults
A large national study analyzing emergency department visits and hospitalizations related to alcohol or cannabis use across the U.S. has found diverging age patterns: Among people who presented to the hospital for a substance-related problem, cannabis was involved in the majority of visits by adolescents and young adults, while alcohol predominated among older adults | News Medical, USA
Combining HIV prevention and addiction treatment in mobile clinics could save lives
Results from a clinical trial in five major United States cities show that delivering integrated HIV and substance use disorder (SUD) services using peer navigation in mobile medical units reduced all-cause deaths by 71% compared with those among participants who received peer navigation to community-based services alone | Medical Xpress, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Collective Voice calls for action following latest drug-related death figures
The Office for National Statistics today released its latest data on deaths from drug poisoning, covering 2025. The figures present a concerning picture across England and Wales | Collective Voice, UK
WithYou responds to the ONS statistics on drug-related deaths in 2025
Simon Phillips, CEO of drug and alcohol treatment provider, WithYou, said:
“These deaths were preventable. Each number is a person, with family, friends, and a future, and their loss is felt every day. My thoughts are with them today. Any fall is welcome, but even one life lost is too many.) These deaths are preventable with the right support, treatment and policy-making..." | WithYou, UK
Our Statement on the latest drug related death statistics in England
To the families, loved ones and friends of the people who lost their lives, I am deeply sorry for your loss. Today's statistics are first and foremost about people. They are about lives cut short, futures not realised, and the devastating impact that loss has on those left behind. These deaths affect families, parents, children, friends, colleagues, peers and entire communities. While every death is personal, the patterns within these figures tell a much wider story | Phoenix Futures, UK
Waythrough responds to latest drug-related deaths figures
Today’s figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are not just numbers. Every death is a person whose life mattered; a person who should still be with us. They leave behind family, friends and communities who feel their loss. Our thoughts are with everyone grieving a loved one | Waythrough, UK
Moderate drinking carries health risks even within UK alcohol guidelines
Alcohol is deeply embedded in British culture, from celebrations and religious ceremonies to everyday social life. Government guidelines offer a way to reduce the risks associated with drinking, but consuming alcohol within recommended limits does not mean those risks disappear | Conversation, UK
Why we need to talk about cocaine regulation in the UK
This is the introduction from Transform's new analytical report: High Returns: The Economic Impacts of UK Cocaine Regulation. Available online Nov 5th | Transform blog, UK
30 Years, 30 Decisions – Kronenbourg 1664 Spotify Promotion
The majority of cases that the Panel consider primarily relate to packaging. In the Code’s 30-year history this accounts for 97% of all cases. However, there are a few cases that buck this trend and fall into lesser-known areas of the Portman Group’s remit | Portman Group, UK