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Daily news - 8th July 2025

UK news

DDN July/August 2025

Violence and exploitation have dominated the grim world of county lines, and authorities and children’s charities are working out how to respond more effectively (cover story). What’s clear is that the ‘red flags’ that could indicate a trail of abuse are highly likely to cross our paths so there’s no time to lose in understanding the latest strategies. The future of thousands of vulnerable young people is at stake and our sector has a vital role to play | DDN, UK

HM Inspectorate of Prisons Annual Report 2024-25

The Chief Inspector of Prisons has called for the government to take far more seriously the widespread ingress of illegal drugs into prisons. In his Annual Report, Charlie Taylor said the prison service, police and security services must work closely together to tackle the threat from organised criminals, which is destabilising jails and preventing many from delivering rehabilitative work that will help people to stop offending. The supply and use of illicit drugs are the overriding themes of his report, undermining every aspect of prison life. Far too little was being done to keep drugs out of jails, too many prisoners said it was easy to get hold of them, and the rate of positive random tests frequently reached more than 30%. [See also blogs section below] | HMI Prisons, UK

Drugs smuggled by drone undermining rehabilitation in prisons, watchdog warns

Chief inspector says jails in England and Wales are overwhelmed by contraband, overcrowding and lack of staff | Guardian, UK

Police innovation and institutional entrepreneurs: the emergence of police drug diversion schemes in England and Wales

[Open access] This article advances knowledge about the initiation of police innovation in the context of drugs policing. Drawing on the findings of a qualitative research project, it provides an original account of the emergence of police drug diversion schemes in England and Wales by analysing the complex interactions between individual, organisational and environmental determinants | Policing & Society, UK

[Open access] The COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in delivery of opioid-agonist treatment (OAT) and risk of drug-related harm in Scotland. This study aimed to (i) examine changes in drug-related death (DRD) rates and the protective effect of OAT during the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland (2020–2022) compared with the previous decade (2011–2019); and (ii) describe trends in OAT prescribing over the same period | IJDP, UK

Alcohol and Cancer

On 8 July 2025, there will be a Commons debate on alcohol and cancer. The debate will be led by Cat Smith MP. This briefing has been published ahead of the debate to provide infomration on all aspects of the topic | UK Parliament, UK

Alcohol advice offered in city with high abuse rate

Wolverhampton residents are being encouraged to consider the harmful effects of excessive drinking as part of Alcohol Awareness Week. Mortality and hospital admission rates in the city for alcohol-specific conditions are both significantly above the national average, the council said | BBC, UK

Nearly two thirds of people drinking more for work-related reasons

Almost two thirds of UK workers report drinking for work-related reasons, according to a survey of more than 2,000 people by Alcohol Change UK. ‘Job stress, pressure and anxiety’ had all caused people to increase their consumption in the past 12 months, said research released as part of Alcohol Awareness Week | DDN, UK

International news

Effect of pilates on the physical and mental health of drug-dependent individuals — a randomized controlled trial

[Open access] While detained in a rehabilitation centre in China, residents volunteered to be randomly allocated to a Pilates exercise programme conducted remotely by an instructor or to usual care. The programme improved physical and mental health, strengthening the platform for their recovery | BMC Psychiatry, UK

Julio César Chávez Jr was a cartel henchman, Mexican prosecutors allege

Prosecutors claim Chávez treated gang rivals ‘like a punchbag’ before Ice arrested Mexican boxer in California | Guardian, UK

Greece passes law to jail people for selling alcohol or tobacco to children

The Greek parliament has passed a bill that aims to protect children from smoking and alcohol by enacting strict age verification rules for sales, banning smoking in certain public places, and restricting advertising | Euronews, Belgium

Survey: A Third of Californians Use Cannabis, But Many Don’t Know the Risks

Most California cannabis users seek symptom relief; few ask their doctors for advice. This and other trends suggest a need for more public education on impacts of cannabis use | UC San Diego, USA

Lower sensitivity to alcohol linked to persistent drinking despite negative consequences

People who experience less stimulation from drinking are more likely to continue seeking alcohol despite its negative consequences, according to a novel study that tested a behavioral model of aversion-resistant drinking. Compulsively using alcohol despite its impact on health and relationships is a key marker of the transition to alcohol use disorder | Medical Xpress, USA

Gender-minority stress and resilience linked to alcohol use among young transgender adults

Increased stress related to gender-minority status is associated with greater alcohol use among transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth and young adults, according to an innovative study. TGD people, whose gender identity differs from their sex assumed at birth, experience greater alcohol use and hazardous drinking than their cisgender and heterosexual peers | Medical Xpress, USA

Cortisol and β-Endorphin Responses During a Two-Month Exercise Training Program in Patients with an Opioid Use Disorder and on a Substitution Treatment

[Open access] Confirmation that as with people in general, among opioid substitution patients exercise raises levels of the body’s own opiate-like hormone, offering a route to feel-good states without substance use | Int. J. Mol. Sci, USA

Blogs, comment and opinion

Drugs destabilising prisons and preventing rehabilitation

In his annual report published today (8 July 2025), Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor Prisons has called for the government to take far more seriously the widespread ingress of illegal drugs into prisons. He urged the prison service, police and security services to work closely together to tackle the threat from organised criminals, which is destabilising jails and preventing many from delivering essential rehabilitative work that will help people to stop offending | Russell Webster, UK

Eradicating drugs from prisons may be unrealistic, but it should be the goal

The removal of drugs from Britain’s prisons needs to be pursued with a lot more urgency and application than governments have shown thus far | Independent voices, UK

Thinking About Your Drinking? You’re Not Alone — Insights from Dr. Fiona Matley

If you’ve ever found yourself questioning your relationship with alcohol — you’re not alone. Many women, especially in mid-life, start to reflect on their habits and how they’re impacting their health, relationships, and wellbeing | Manchester Women Together blog, UK

Vital steps to move the NHS from cure to prevention

Readers respond to Guardian coverage of health inequalities in Britain and the government’s 10-year plan for the health service | Guardian letters, UK

Quitting the quit-aid: people trying to stop vaping nicotine need more support – here are some strategies to help

New Zealand is among a number of countries that encourage vaping (the use of e-cigarettes) as a tool to help people stop smoking tobacco. But what happens when people want to quit vaping? | Conversation, New Zealand

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