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Daily news - 2nd July 2025 |
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UK news
Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol in Wales (PDF)
In January 2025, the Welsh Government published the final reports of the independent evaluation it had commissioned on the operation and effect of the Act. It is also undertaking a consultation to gather views on awareness of minimum unit pricing in Wales and its impact. This document outlines the inquiries recommendations | Welsh Parliament Health and Social Care Committee, UK
Briefing on a Smokefree England at 18 (PDF)
This briefing outlines the evidence and impact of smokefree legislation introduced in 2007. Substantial evidence now exists regarding the changes that have followed from the introduction of this legislation. The briefing outlines the positive developments in public support, compliance, health benefits and the economic impact of the legislation over the last 18 years | ASH, UK
Interim monitoring report on statutory-funded residential rehabilitation placements
In the last six-month period, between 1 October 2024 and 31 March 2025, a total of 471 residential rehabilitation placements were approved for statutory funding in Scotland. This is an increase of 10 placements when compared to October 2023 to March 2024 (n=461), and an increase of 29 placements when compared to the previous six months | Public Health Scotland, UK
GP in recovery calls for specialist training to tackle Scotland's drug problem
Since going into recovery 16 years ago, Dr Michael Blackmore has been driven to use his experience to help others overcome addiction | STV News, UK
Police could stop opioid deaths with this drug. So why do some UK forces stop officers carrying it?
Police offers have used naloxone over 1,200 times to reverse opioid overdoses. But as drug deaths rise, two police forces hold out | Big Issue, UK
'Vapocalypse': Is the disposable vape ban a game changer or a total flop?
A month after the government banned disposable vapes, ITV News has heard from consumers and experts who say the regulations may not go far enough in tackling what's been dubbed the ‘vapocalypse’. ITV News Digital Reporter Sam Leader explains | ITV, UK
‘Ozempic for smoking’ pill that ‘significantly improves quit rate’ to be rolled out on the NHS – are you eligible?
Drug firm Pfizer announced its drug varenicline, known as Champix, is back in supply | The Sun, UK
Campaign to help smokers quit wins council praise
Smoke-Free Sheffield, which works alongside 50 partner organisations, was hailed for its efforts to reduce the percentage of smokers in the city to 5% or lower | BBC, UK
Job support service transforms lives for dozens in Worcestershire
A new employment programme has supported 25 people currently accessing alcohol and drug support to get into work in its first year | DDN, UK
University Partnership Launches Innovative Ketamine Clinic to Treat Severe Depression
University partnership launches innovative ketamine clinic to treat severe depression – with emphasis on safe, monitored care amid rising national concerns | University of Birmingham, UK
Ketamine: Misuse
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle trends in the level of ketamine abuse among young people | They work for you, UK
Alcoholic Drinks: Industry
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the health-related findings in the Institute of Alcohol Studies report entitled Spin the Bottle: How the UK alcohol industry twists the facts on harm and responsibility; and what steps he is taking to ensure that engagement with industry stakeholders aligns with the Principles for Engaging with Industry Stakeholders published by Public Health England | They work for you, UK
Cancer: Alcoholic Drinks
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) recognise and (b) address the increased risk of developing cancer associated with alcohol consumption | They work for you, UK
Addictions: Lancashire
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to fund improved provision for addiction support services in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire | They work for you, UK
Pen y Fan Recovery Walk 2025
10th July 2025. We are delighted to announce that the annual national recovery walk is back for 2025. The event will be taking place on Thursday 10th July at Pen Y Fan, within the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. The meeting point and time for this year’s recovery walk is Pont ar Daf car park (LD3 8NL) at 10.00am. There will be a short briefing at 10.15am with the aim of starting the walk at 10.30am. The route will be marshalled to ensure everyone stays on the right track, as well as providing assistance if required | Barod, UK
'Smell detectors' could be used to catch drug abuse - both inside and outside of prison
A smell detector which uses synthetic brain cells and artificial intelligence could improve staff safety in prisons and probation officers and also help detect if an offender in the community has breached their licence conditions | Sky News, UK
Advice after exploding vape destroys three houses
A warning about vapes has been issued after a fire left three houses uninhabitable | BBC, UK
International news
Menstrual cycle phases may be linked to higher alcohol craving and drinking
Fluctuations in ovarian sex hormones across the menstrual cycle may influence women's likelihood of alcohol consumption, according to a study presented at the annual scientific meeting of the Research Society on Alcohol, held June 21 to 25 in New Orleans | Medical Xpress, USA
Massachusetts' Nantucket is testing wastewater for cocaine, fentanyl, meth
Nantucket is the latest community to start testing its sewage for drugs—partnering with a Cambridge firm that analyzes sewage for cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and xylazine | Medical Xpress, USA
Duration of Methadone and Buprenorphine-Naloxone Treatment
Have methadone and buprenorphine-naloxone treatment duration changed between 2014 and 2022 in Ontario, Canada? | JAMA Network Open, USA
Friends and social media drive teen vaping trends
Young people with friends who vape are 15 times more likely to use e-cigarettes, and more adolescents are turning to illicit cannabis products, University of Queensland research has found | News Medical, USA
Nicotine e-cigarettes for smoking cessation following discharge from smoke-free inpatient alcohol and other drug withdrawal services: a pragmatic two-arm, single-blinded, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial
Nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have been shown to be effective for smoking cessation among general populations, but there is little evidence in people with substance use disorders (SUDs). We aimed to assess the effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking abstinence in people with SUD following discharge from smoke-free inpatient withdrawal services | Lancet Public Health, Australia
Substance use implicated in most adult bath-related drownings, NDARC study shows
Substance use was implicated in more than half of all adult drownings in baths or hot tubs in the last 10 years, according to an Australian-first study published in Drug and Alcohol Review. Sedative-hypnotics (or ‘sleeping tablets’) and alcohol were the most frequently detected substances, said researchers led by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW Sydney | NDARC, Australia
Blogs, comment and opinion
Is there such a thing as ‘good’ stigma? - Blog from Dr James Morris
As drug-related deaths continue to rise across the globe, debates about what can be done to tackle society’s addiction problems continue. Although stigma is generally recognised as major barrier to addiction recovery, arguments can sometimes be heard that stigma – or at least societal ‘disapproval’ - towards substance use is in fact, a ‘good’ thing | AntiStigma Network blog, UK
Government considers ‘rules of engagement’ with the alcohol industry on health plans, acknowledges potential harm
RNZ has uncovered new information indicating senior Ministry of Health officials responsible for public health strategy are “expected” (presumably by the current Government) to work with the alcohol industry on public health plans and will continue to do so. “This is despite the industry’s conflict of interest and track record of opposing effective health policies”, says Steve Randerson of Health Coalition Aotearoa” | Health Coalition, New Zealand