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Daily news - 12th August 2025

UK news

Evaluation of nitazene immunoassay test strips for rapid in-situ detection of nitazene and nitazene analogs in illicit drug samples

[Open access] The detection of nitazene compounds in the United Kingdom has raised concerns among healthcare professionals, public health authorities, and law enforcement due to the increased risk of fatal overdose, particularly among opioid users. In response, nitazene testing strips have been distributed to help users identify these substances in drugs they may consume. However, to date, limited testing has been conducted on the effectiveness of these strips. This study assesses the sensitivity and selectivity of a widely distributed nitazene immunoassay drug testing strip | Harm Reduction Journal, UK

Associations between non-daily smoking and motivation to stop smoking: A population study in England 2021–2024

[Open access] An increasing proportion of adults in England who smoke cigarettes do not smoke every day and may see quitting smoking as less important than those who smoke daily. This study aimed to examine whether motivation to stop smoking differs between those who smoke cigarettes daily vs. non-daily, and to explore differences in this association by relevant sociodemographic, smoking and vaping-related factors | Addiction, UK

Vapers face paying wallet-busting £40 per bottle for vaping liquid as new rule comes in

The Government will introduce a new 22p per ml vape tax next year which could see the price of vaping liquid shoot up to £40 per bottle from £15 | Daily Star, UK

Neuroscientist Ranks Every Drug By How Hard They Are to Quit! Tier List - video

Expect to learn why alcohol and tobacco still out-kill every illegal drug, how MDMA became both a rave staple and a prescription therapy, the science behind ketamine’s antidepressant buzz and its bladder danger, why 2 mg of fentanyl can be fatal, how smoking vs injecting changes heroin risk, what makes high-THC cannabis a new drug entirely, the true neurotoxicity story of cocaine, and more... | Giant's Shoulder, UK

NIHR and research funders’ joint commitment for better inclusion of older adults in research and health studies

NIHR has signed a joint statement alongside other major UK research funders, committing to greater inclusion of older adults in health and care research. This builds on our announcement in November 2024 that inclusion needs to be considered in all applications for our funding | NIHR, UK

Recovery Walk Scotland Stirling 2025

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 11:00 - 16:00 BST. Recovery Walk Scotland is the largest recovery event in Scotland and has been held in different locations across our beautiful country since 2013. The event is comprised of three parts: Roses in the River Memorial, Recovery Walk Scotland procession through the town and a Recovery Festival and Village in King's Park, Stirling | Recovery Walk Scotland, UK

Three jailed for £2m cocaine smuggling plot

Junaed Dar, 47, of Randolph Road, Slough, was an airport security manager at Heathrow Airport, who helped two drug mules import what he thought was cocaine into the country | BBC, UK

Dealer set up new drug line a day after his arrest

A man who set up a new drugs line the day after he was arrested has been jailed | BBC, UK

International news

Ayahuasca and toad poison seized as police raid spiritual retreats in Spain

Three arrested and San Pedro cactus plants also found at rural properties that hosted lucrative ‘astral journeys’ | Guardian, UK

Trends in analgesia prescribing in primary care in Ireland and England between 2014 and 2022: A repeated cross-sectional study

[Open access] Analgesic medicines are an important component of pain management, with different medicines carrying different risks and benefits. The aim of this study was to examine trends in analgesic prescribing in Ireland and England between 2014 and 2022 | BJCP, UK

[Open access] Ireland has set a tobacco endgame goal. Strengthening surveillance of tobacco impact on population well-being, healthcare system and resources are essential for achieving that ambition. This study aimed to examine the long-term health and societal impacts of tobacco smoking in Ireland, in terms of loss in life years (LY), quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), productivity-adjusted life years (PALYs) and associated healthcare costs | Public Health, UK

Rise in use of opioid painkillers likely reflects a 'failing health system'

Opioid painkillers are “not being given out like smarties” by medics but an increase in their use likely reflects a failing health system, a leading addiction counselor said | Irish Examiner, Ireland

Survey shows majority of Dutch support smoking ban on beaches to combat litter

A growing majority of Dutch citizens support implementing a smoking ban on the country’s beaches, according to a recent survey by Hart van Nederland. Sixty-one percent of respondents said they favor a ban designed to create cleaner and healthier coastal environments by reducing cigarette litter | NL Times, The Netherlands

Hospital-Based Methadone and Buprenorphine Initiation Practices by Addiction Consult Services

In this national, cross-sectional survey study of 58 addiction fellowship–associated hospital consult service directors, practices including rapid methadone initiation, use of full-agonist opioids for opioid withdrawal, and use of low- and high-dose buprenorphine initiation were widespread. These findings suggest that among hospital-based academic addiction consult directors, methadone and buprenorphine initiation in the hospital setting is adapting to a shifting opioid supply, often outpacing advances in research and clinical guidelines | JAMA Network Open, USA

Study identifies potential therapeutic strategy for treating cocaine use disorder

A research team led by Virginia Commonwealth University has gained new insights into the molecular mechanisms that cause cocaine use disorder, identifying a potential therapeutic strategy to inhibit the drug's addictive effect | Medical Xpress, USA

Laughing Gas Is No Laughing Matter: New Lawsuit May Impose Strict Liability on Nitrous Oxide Manufacturers for Marketing Practices

Laughing gas may make you giggle, but the legal implications are no joke. As courts begin to scrutinize the marketing of nitrous oxide, a substance long associated with harmless fun, a new lawsuit is forcing manufacturers to face the serious consequences of their branding choices. This article will examine the implications of recent litigation seeking to hold nitrous oxide manufacturers strictly liable for harm caused by recreational misuse of their products | JD Supra, USA

FDA Approves Ketamine for Surgical Pain Management

The FDA approved ketamine (Ketarx; PharmaTher Holdings) for its indicated uses in surgical pain management, according to a news release from the manufacturer. This indication represents a significant commercial and clinical innovation in the mental health, neurological, and pain disorder spaces | Pharmacy Times, USA

Exclusive: USPS blocks shipping of illicit vapes in boost for Big Tobacco

The U.S. Postal Service has cracked down on distributors of unregulated vapes using its services for business shipments, letters reviewed by Reuters show, in a blow to a multi-billion dollar industry that has dented Big Tobacco's sales | Reuters, USA

Judge Offers Baltimore $100 million for OD Crisis—Far Less Than City Sought

A judge has offered Baltimore $100 million for opioid abatement efforts in a landmark case—but only if it accepts a large cut to the money awarded by a jury in the first phase of trial in 2024. The ruling could massively scale back plans to combat the overdose crisis in the beleaguered city, which had insisted it needed billions of dollars to augment its harm reduction and treatment initiatives | Filter Magazine, USA

Press Release | Gaps in alcohol and other drug services contributing to extraordinary overdose toll

The fatal overdose data released today by the Coroners Court of Victoria is of major concern to the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA). The Court revealed that 583 Victorians suffered a fatal overdose in 2024, 36 more than 2023 and the highest number of fatal overdoses by calendar year on record for Victoria | VAADA, Australia

Blogs, comment and opinion

Synthetic drugs are having devastating effects around the world, from Sierra Leone to the UK

In the blistering heat of Freetown, Sierra Leone, young men gather on street corners, their limbs swollen, eyes glazed. They are the victims of kush, a cheap and deadly synthetic drug sweeping the country | Conversation, UK

IAS supports potential plans to reduce drink drive limit – letter to Transport Secretary

Dr Katherine Severi said: We fully support potential plans to reduce the drink drive limit in England and Wales. Along with Northern Ireland – which has legislated to reduce its limit – we are now the only countries in Europe to have a limit this high, so it would be common sense to align with other countries, including our neighbour Scotland..." | IAS comment, UK

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