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Daily news - 14th July 2025 |
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UK news
Press Release: New Data on Vaping Uncovers a Public Health Disconnect
Failure of current regulations means vapes are overused by teens but underused to quit smoking | ASH, UK
IVF changes to tighten up smoking and vaping rules
Male partners in couples who want NHS-funded fertility treatment could be banned from taking part if they smoke or vape | BBC, UK
Warning as man says ketamine 'stripped him to bone'
"The first side effect was the cramps, where I'd get just bad stomach pains, where I couldn't lie down properly [or] sit down properly," said Ethan, who started taking ketamine when he was 15. But that was just the start, with endless hospital trips to follow as Ethan's kidneys struggled to function and the mental challenges mounted as he dealt with the drug-induced fallout | BBC, UK
Recovering alcoholic urges others to seek help
William Fleming says his drinking and drug use was once "so out of control" - but now he's eight months clean and is encouraging others to seek help | BBC, UK
Parents and Families Invited to Complete our NEW National Online Survey into Alcohol Harms
This Alcohol Awareness week (7 - 13 July), our Family Support and Specialist Programmes team has launched a new national survey which aims to improve understanding of how alcohol use impacts families | Forward Trust, UK
#ddnconf 2025: that’s a wrap!
The DDN Conference is over for another year – huge thanks to all of this year’s visitors, exhibitors and speakers. Look out for our conference coverage coming soon! In the meantime, we’ve taken to social media to share some of your fantastic feedback | DDN, UK
Consultation: Shaping our Strategy and the future of Scotland’s health
Stakeholders across Scotland are invited to support the development of Public Health Scotland’s new strategy for 2025-2035. As Scotland’s national public health body, we work to protect, improve, and sustain the health of Scotland’s people. We invite stakeholders from across Scotland to contribute their views to shape our strategy and to help us understand how we can achieve these goals in collaboration with partners | PHS, UK
Schools: Drugs
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of schools reported finding students in possession of illegal drugs | They work for you, UK
Schools: Electronic Cigarettes
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has issued to (a) schools and (b) teaching bodies on using vapes in school settings | They work for you, UK
Drugs: Children
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of children aged between 12 and 16 years inclusive that have taken illegal drugs | They work for you, UK
Smoking: Health Services
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of integrating smoking cessation services into (a) A&E, (b) mental health services and (c) lung screening | They work for you, UK
Addictions: Eastbourne
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase access to addiction support in Eastbourne | They work for you, UK
UK Recovery Walk 2025
The UK Recovery Walk 2025 will take place on Saturday, 13th September 2025, Hosted in the vibrant city of Wolverhampton, this year’s walk promises to be a powerful celebration of recovery, resilience, and hope. Together, we will gather to demonstrate the strength and unity of the recovery community, raise awareness, and advocate for improved support and services for those affected by addiction | FAVOR, UK
Child exploitation by drug gangs laid bare on TV
Bedfordshire Police's search for a missing child becomes an investigation into a drug dealing involving the grooming of young boys | BBC, UK
Drug smuggler jailed for importing £49k cocaine
A drug smuggler who travelled to the Isle of Man with large quantities of cocaine and cannabis stashed in a hidden compartment in his van has been jailed for six years and four months | BBC, UK
International news
Trump team defends ICE raid at California marijuana farm where children were allegedly found working
At least one worker has died after he was chased by federal agents, according to United Farm Workers | Independent, UK
The alcohol hangover product market of the United States of America
A 2019 study revealed more than 80 products available online with implied benefits to alcohol hangover. Since then, several developments may have influenced the market. In order to gauge the extent to which this may have changed in the ensuing 5 years, two market evaluations (25 March 2023 and 7 November 2024) were conducted via the online web shop www.amazon.com, using the search term “hangover treatment.” | Drug Science, UK
HSE cannot support vaping and nicotine pouch addiction through quit smoking programmes
The HSE is not being given funding to tackle vaping or nicotine pouch addiction under current quit smoking programmes, it has emerged. The current programmes can only support people quitting tobacco or people quitting a dual use of tobacco and nicotine products together. However, the HSE has now warned services are seeing a rise in people trying to quit e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches who had never smoked tobacco | Irish Examiner, Ireland
More than €2m worth of drugs seized by gardaí after intercpeting vehicle
The seizure was part of on-going investigations under Operation Tara, a project targeting drug trafficking networks | Irish Examiner, Ireland
Government implementing stricter age checks for online alcohol sales
By the end of next year, age verification for online alcohol sales must become stricter. Outgoing State Secretary Judith Tielen (Prevention, VVD) expects to publish the new regulations for public consultation in the coming months, allowing people to give their input | NL Times, Netherlands
Scotland faces up to its drug crisis by offering the UK’s first supervised injection facility
In a quiet corner of Glasgow’s East End, a radical public health experiment is underway. For the first time in the United Kingdom, people who inject illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine can do so under medical supervision – in a safe environment and indoors | CNN, USA
Use of Tobacco and Cannabis Following State-Level Cannabis Legalization
In this cohort study using difference-in-differences methods to analyze 171 257 observations from 55 406 participants, legalization was associated with increased cannabis use and ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems) use. There was no association with cigarette use | JAMA Network Open, USA
Barriers and facilitators to injectable opioid agonist treatment engagement within a structural vulnerability context: a qualitative study of patient experiences in Vancouver, Canada
[Open access] Amidst a sustained drug poisoning crisis, there is growing recognition in Canada of the need to expand injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT). iOAT is an intensive treatment that involves the daily self-administration of hydromorphone or diacetylmorphine under healthcare provider supervision, typically accompanied by other health and social services. While this treatment has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing drug use-related risks, high threshold characteristics may also create barriers to engagement | Harm Reduction Journal, USA
Who’s Missing From the Tobacco Harm Reduction Conversation?
When it comes to tobacco harm reduction, whose opinions and voices should be heard? The question was put to a host of experts at the Global Forum on Nicotine, which took place in Warsaw, Poland from June 19-21 | Filter Magazine, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Work as recovery: Supporting employment during Alcohol Awareness Week
Kayleigh Gamblin, National Employment Lead at WithYou, provides a perspective on the role of work in recovery from alcohol issues during Alcohol Awareness Week | Collective Voice blog, UK
The politics of inaction: why alcohol policy can’t wait
Most of you reading this will be well aware that the 10 Year Health Plan published in early July failed to include any of the most effective policies to reduce alcohol harm. Leaks in the media around the time are very telling regarding why this happened. It’s pretty clear that the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) pushed for effective, evidence-based interventions, including minimum unit pricing (MUP) and advertising bans | IAS blog, UK
It is high time higher education adopted a harm reduction approach to drug use among students
David Hillier presents the evidence for shifting the attitude to drug use away from zero tolerance and criminalising users towards student safety and wellbeing | Wonkhe Blog, UK
Moscow Finally Planning to Open Drug Rehabilitation Centers for Veterans Returning from Ukraine
After Putin launched his expanded war in Ukraine in 2022, it quickly became obvious that a significant share of Russian soldiers were using illegal drugs. Estimates suggest that 10 to 15 percent of all Russian troops sent to Ukraine have taken such drugs and many have become dependent, especially as the Russian military hasn’t addressed the problem seriously | Window on Eurasia, USA
Even a day off alcohol makes a difference – our timeline maps the health benefits when you stop drinking
We’ve made a timeline – based on scientific research – that shows what you might feel in the first days, weeks, months and years after taking a break from alcohol. Some benefits start immediately, so every day without alcohol is a win for your health | Conversation, Australia