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Daily news - 14th August 2025 |
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Special announcement
This year marks the tenth anniversary of DS Daily. In 2015, DrugWise took over the daily bulletin and the website from DrugScope. So a big shout out to all our sponsors who have stuck with us and made sure we can keep the service free to end users. From all the feedback we get, we know how much DS Daily is valued.
But an equally big shout out to my colleague Jackie Buckle who has kept our comprehensive DS Daily coverage going 5 days a week, 12 months a year, for the past 10 years. This is a remarkable achievement.
Thank you everyone
Harry Shapiro
Director, DrugWise.
UK news
New data reveals the GB jobs most likely to be exposed to second-hand smoke: is yours on the list?
New data from public health charity Action on Smoking and Health has revealed the professions where workers are most likely to report being exposed to second hand smoke. The data shows that although 14% of all Brits report being exposed to second-hand smoke at work there are inequalities with some professions being significant outliers. Transport workers and those in hospitality top the list with those in media, education and pharmaceutical industries being the least exposed. This shows that current smokefree laws are insufficient to protect staff | ASH, UK
How alcohol affects people differently - and is there any safe limit for driving?
The drink-drive limit for England and Wales is set to be cut by a third - but alcohol tolerance varies from person to person | The iPaper, UK
Making a change booklets
This booklet is intended to help people make positive choices about the amount they drink | Public Health Scotland, UK
Open call for evidence - Ketamine harms assessment
This call for evidence closes at midday on 19 August 2025. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is calling for evidence on ketamine use, harms and interventions | ACMD, UK
Correspondence - Ganaxolone: ACMD advice
Letter from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to the Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention. Ganaxolone is approved for marketing in the UK for the treatment of CDKL5, a rare epileptic seizure disorder. This letter provides advice on whether ganaxolone warrants control under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 | ACMD, UK
Correspondence - Zuranolone: ACMD advice
Zuranolone is expecting approval in the UK for the treatment of moderate or severe postnatal depression. This letter provides advice on the classification and scheduling of zuranolone | ACMD, UK
Correspondence - Somapacitan, lonapegsomatropin and somatrogon: ACMD advice
Somapacitan, lonapegsomatropin and somatrogon have been granted a marketing authorisation in the UK. This letter provides advice on their classification and scheduling | ACMD, UK
What are Alcohol Care Teams – and why are they vital for hospitals? - podcast
On this month's podcast we spoke to Professor Julia Sinclair and Arlene Copland about Alcohol Care Teams – the small but vital hospital teams supporting patients with complex alcohol problems. They explained how ACTs not only manage alcohol withdrawal, but also build trust with vulnerable patients, advocate across departments, and link people to the wider support they need | IAS, UK
'I was a slave to the addiction'
Dan Dobbs, 38, from Lincoln, began drinking at 18 whilst working in the hospitality industry. He now works for Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership after receiving support from the service himself. Mr Dobbs said: "Some of the most gifted, skilled people I've ever seen are in recovery. Please don't give up on them. Please give them an opportunity." | BBC, UK
Drug addiction support centre launched in memory of The Vivienne
House of The Vivienne is described as a “safe, inclusive space” offering free, confidential advice, guidance, and compassionate listening every Tuesday at Ty Enfys (Rainbow House) in Colwyn Bay | Nation Cymru, UK
One in 10 pregnant women smoking at delivery time [Guernsey]
Guernsey's Quitline and Public Health said last year, when 10.4% admitted smoking while pregnant, engagement with the smoking cessation service was "low, with women frequently declining appointments or not attending accepted appointments" | BBC, UK
Drug Education Forum Autumn 2025
Thursday, 16th October, 15.30. Join us at the DEF Autumn 2025 Event, which will focus on excellent, evidence-based, age-appropriate drug education and harm reduction. Our keynote speaker is Jane Keyworth: What can we do for parents and carers? How can professionals best support parents and carers of adolescents in relation to drugs and decisions? What difference does neurodiversity add to the mix? | Drug Education Forum, UK
Urgent plea to safeguard advocacy amid local cuts
Voices of Experience (VOX) Scotland and the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance have joined forces to lead calls for the Scottish government to safeguard collective advocacy services for people living with mental illness | Health and Care.Scot, UK
Radler Lemon, Grapefruit & Pineapple Beer
Complaint: “I am contacting you regarding the packaging of a Scottish brewery called Vault City. I purchased some of their products and left them in the fridge. When I was out my son picked radler out of the fridge thinking it was a soft drink. He opens it and tried it and fortunately didn’t like it. The packaging is immigrating san pelegrino soft drinks and that is what he thought it was” | Portman Group, UK
International news
US alcohol consumption at a record low as health warnings grow, survey finds
A majority of Americans – 53% – for the first time view even moderate drinking as harmful, Gallup poll shows | Guardian, UK
Protocol for modelling the risk of alcohol-attributable mortality and hospital admission in Ireland (PDF)
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is undertaking a study to estimate the risk of alcohol-related mortality and hospital admission in Ireland associated with different levels of alcohol consumption. The findings will support an update of Ireland’s low-risk alcohol guidelines, which were revised in 2015 to less than 11 standard drinks for women and less than 17 standard drinks for men per week | HIQA, Ireland
Is Ireland heading towards an prescription opioid addiction crisis? - podcast
Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) associate professor Frank Moriarty, who co-authored the study into how pain is treated in Ireland, discusses the significant rise in opioid prescriptions | Irish Times, Ireland
Quitting smoking is associated with recovery from other addictions
Adults who smoke cigarettes and are addicted to alcohol or other drugs were more likely to achieve sustained remission of their substance use disorder symptoms if they also quit smoking, according to scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Based on their analysis of data from a large U.S. study of smoking and health, researchers believe the results clearly show the benefit of pairing smoking cessation with addiction recovery efforts | Medical Xpress, USA
Naloxone use in older adults: Report covers staying safe with opioids at home
With increasing age, older adults are more likely to encounter health conditions and injuries that require opioid therapy for pain relief. This reality means that opioid overdoses are a concern for older adults as well as for their family members and other caregivers. A new Gerontological Society of America report, "Staying Safe with Opioids at Home," describes questions about pain management and opioid reversal for older adults and their caregivers and presents a decision tree to guide their actions | Medical Xpress, USA
Podcast: Should We Urge Adult Smokers To Vape?
Smoking kills hundreds of thousands of Americans annually. As this death toll mounts, studies continue to show that nicotine vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking and far more effective than FDA-approved cessation therapies like nicotine gum. Why, then, do so many public health experts malign vaping as a threat? Let's take a closer look | ACSH, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Ketamine policy & law: Where next for the UK?
Before the early 2000s, recreational ketamine use in the UK was relatively niche, mostly confined to specific psychedelic and rave scene subcultures. However, in the past two decades, the drug has seen a significant shift into mainstream UK drug culture, particularly among young people and in party/nightlife environments | Transform blog, UK
Running is a substance-free pleasure that supports addiction recovery
Addiction is a widespread health issue that will affect about one in five Canadians over their lifetimes. For example, addiction to opioids has led to opioid and overdose crises in many cities, which has brought the social question of addiction to the forefront | Conversation, Canada
If recreational vapes are banned, why are there still vape shops everywhere?
Recently, you may have noticed an increase in the number of shops selling tobacco in your area. Alongside cigarettes, these shops often sell vapes. In July 2024, the federal government banned the sale of recreational vapes nationwide. The only way to get one legally is from a pharmacist. Some states also require a doctor’s prescription. So why, then, more than a year on, are these stores still selling vapes, in broad daylight? | Conversation, Australia
Vape brands bypass regulations on marketing to young people by using global social media accounts
Youth vaping is a major public health concern in many countries, with New Zealand’s youth vaping rates among the highest in the world. In 2017, 3% of New Zealanders aged between 15 and 24 vaped daily, but by 2024, this was up to 21.3%. Globally, one of the main drivers is the promotion of vapes on social media. Like many other countries, New Zealand introduced vape advertising restrictions, including on social media, as part of efforts to curb this problem. But vape manufacturers mirror the techniques of traditional tobacco marketing, including stylish branding, flavours and sponsorship, and use global channels to get around domestic regulations | Conversation, New Zealand