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Daily news - 11th December 2025 |
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UK news
Guidance - Co-occurring mental health and substance use: delivery framework
A framework setting out actions to improve treatment for people with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions. The framework provides national commitments and recommended actions on how the health system should improve delivery of integrated, person-centred care across drug and alcohol treatment and mental health services | DHSC and NHS England, UK
Government response to the ACMD's sixth addendum advice on nitazenes
Response from - Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State for Policing and Crime: I would like to thank the ACMD for the recent advice dated 21 October 2025 on the sixth addendum to the generic definition of 2-benzyl benzimidazole opioids (nitazenes)... | ACMD, UK
Neurodiversity in Custody: Screening Results for ADHD and Autistic Traits in Individuals Arrested by the London Metropolitan Police
[Open access] Our findings suggest high rates of ADHD and autistic traits in arrestees, particularly among individuals arrested for drug offences. Screening for ADHD and autism at early stages of police contact could serve as a key opportunity to identify undiagnosed individuals and inform appropriate management | CBMH, UK
Sober strolls and sober cycles - York researchers behind new map promoting no and low alcohol options across the City (PDF)
A team of researchers are behind a new map which aims to help local residents and visitors easily discover venues offering no and low alcohol drinks. The team behind the NoLo (no and low alcohol) Map say it is a timely guide for the festive season and Dry January, when people may not choose to drink but still want to socialise and visit venues and support the hospitality industry | Sam Armstrong, UK
Exploring no and low alcohol consumption
Problematic drinking continues to be a major public health issue. In response, no and low alcohol (NoLo) drinks have gained popularity as a potentially healthier alternative, with growing interest from both consumers (Mintel, 2023; Wilson et al., 2025; Portman Group, 2025) and policymakers (European Parliament, 2021; WHO, 2023; Department of Health and Social Care, 2023; UK Government, 2025). Our research explores how NoLo products can be used to support more mindful drinking habits without harming pubs or the wider drinks industry | University of York, UK
Patterns of e-Cigarette Use and Smoking Cessation Outcomes: Secondary Analysis of a Large Randomised Controlled Trial to Inform Clinical Advice
[Open access] A new major study from Queen Mary University of London has found that smokers who use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes at the same time—known as dual use—are reducing their intake of harmful chemicals and are also more likely to eventually quit smoking than those who continue to smoke only. This challenges common fears about dual use | Nicotine & Tobacco Research, UK
NHS stop smoking services quarterly
This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents information from April to June 2025 on NHS Stop Smoking Services in Scotland and health boards' progress towards their annual Local Delivery Plan (LDP) standard | Public Health Scotland, UK
Champion jockey Murphy on his alcohol battle
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has spoken of the difficulties with alcohol that led to him being fined £70,000 for drink driving after he crashed a car into a tree | BBC, UK
Alcoholic Drinks: Labelling
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has assessed how alcohol labelling reforms could support local public-health and community-based initiatives aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm, particularly in areas with significant health inequalities | They work for you, UK
Legislative Consent Motion: The Tobacco and Vapes Bill
The UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill provides us with a unique opportunity to tackle smoking and the growing issue of youth vaping. Despite the real progress that we have made to reduce smoking levels in Wales, it continues to be a leading cause of preventable disease and premature death in Wales. So, this Bill will create the UK's first smoke-free generation by making it an offence to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009... | They work for you, UK
Invitation to participate in study about psychedelics assisted therapy (PDF)
The study involves a brief 10-15 minute questionnaire and is open to adults (18+) with sufficient English proficiency. No prior knowledge of psychedelics is required. Participation is entirely voluntary and no identifying data will be collected. Your contribution would be greatly appreciated and will support ongoing research conducted at the University of Hertfordshire University of Hertfordshire, UK
International news
Panic in France as children fall victim to lethal violence of Marseille drug gangs
A group of children spotted Adel's body on their way to school, just as his parents were heading to the police station to report him missing. A grotesque, charred silhouette, reclining, with one knee raised, as if lounging on one of Marseille's nearby beaches | BBC, UK
Four-Year Effects of a Computer-Based Brief Alcohol Intervention Targeting Alcohol Users in the General Population: Randomized Controlled Trial
In Germany an intervention was tailored to an assessment of a person’s drinking, an attempt to reinforce low-risk but counter higher-risk drinking. Unexpectedly, four years later participants who had simply been assessed were the ones who on average had reduced their drinking | JMIR, USA
Genetic links found between addiction risk and educational attainment
A new study published in Addiction has identified genetic factors that influence both a person's risk of developing an addiction and their educational attainment. Researchers found that some genetic variants affect both traits in opposite directions, meaning that a higher genetic risk for addiction is associated with an increased likelihood of lower educational attainment | Medical Xpress, USA
Opioid Use Linked to Higher Risk of C. Diff Infection, Study Finds
Taking opioids may make some patients more likely to develop a dangerous infection, new research suggests | HealthDay, USA
Opioids: Clarifying the concept of safe supply to save lives
In Canada, thousands of people use contaminated street opioids. To reduce overdoses, the country has been experimenting for the past 10 years with the distribution of pharmaceutical opioids as an alternative to illicit drugs. This method is often referred to as "safe supply" or "safer supply." | Medical Xpress, USA
Alcohol, tobacco & other drugs in Australia
Alcohol, tobacco and other drug use is a major cause of preventable disease, illness and death in Australia. This report consolidates recent information on the availability and consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in Australia, and related impacts, harms and treatment | AIHW, Australia
Blogs, comment and opinion
OK Boomer, buy me a drink
Gen Z aren’t boring, we’re poor. Don’t pass off poverty as puritanism. We hear again and again that young people are shunning booze. But if the headlines are routine, the responses are anything but. Each time a new pub closes, the elder cultural commentariat diagnoses extravagant new strains in the Gen Z psyche. The theories proffered are internal, psychological and even spiritual | New Statesman, UK
Richard Spratt: Ambitious new law is a major step to protecting next generation from tobacco harm - and we trust this legislation will be implemented in Northern Ireland
I am old enough to remember a time when smoking was simply a part of life. When planes, buses and restaurants had smoking sections, as if a cloud of second-hand smoke could be neatly contained. When ashtrays were as common in homes as the kettle | Newsletter opinion, UK
Exposure to neighborhood violence leads some Denver teens to use tobacco and alcohol earlier, new study shows
High levels of neighborhood violence increase the risk of Latino and African American teens in Denver starting to use alcohol and tobacco, according to our recent study | Conversation, USA
8 reasons the government should not introduce oral nicotine pouches to NZ
It is now clear the government has failed to meet New Zealand’s smokefree goal of fewer than 5% of people from all population groups smoking by the end of this year. According to the latest New Zealand Health survey, 6.8% of adults smoked daily this year, which is similar to the previous year (6.9%) and 2022-23 (6.8%) | Conversation, New Zealand