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Daily news - 16th July 2025

UK news

Evaluation of the National Mission on Drug Deaths: Lived experience survey

This publication presents findings from a survey of individuals with experience of using drugs, undertaken as part of the PHS evaluation of the National Drug Deaths Mission. The survey aimed to explore: 1) their views on the support currently available to them, including from Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services. 2) their views as to whether the support offer from services has got better or worse over the last two years. The survey provides some evidence which suggests that the support experience may have improved. However, the survey findings also suggest that there are substantial ongoing challenges and scope to improve the support offer | PHS, UK

10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future

The 10 Year Health Plan is part of the government’s health mission to build a health service fit for the future. Regarding alcohol, the plan aims to tackle harmful consumption by introducing new standards for alcohol labelling. It will also support further growth in the no- and low-alcohol market. The plan also aims to fully roll out lung cancer screening for those with a history of smoking | DHSC, UK

Use of vapes among young people in Great Britain (PDF)

This factsheet presents findings from the 2025 ASH Smokefree GB Youth Survey on vaping among 11–17-year-olds in Great Britain | ASH, UK

How inadequate nitazene testing is undermining the UK’s response to the deadly synthetic opioid crisis

Delays in better drug checking and toxicology are preventing life-saving interventions, especially in areas with the highest need | Whitechapel The Slice, UK

'I warn pupils after daughter's alcohol death'

Jane Mackenzie is talking to a class full of Year 6 children, who are mostly 11 year olds, at The Martin Wilson Primary School in Shrewsbury. She is on a mission to raise awareness of how dangerous alcohol is, and is motivated by the grief of losing her 37-year-old daughter Amy, who had become addicted to alcohol | BBC, UK

Minimum price for alcohol units 'broadly positive' in Wales, report

The effect of minimum unit pricing for alcohol in Wales has been broadly positive, according to a statement from Sarah Murphy MS, minister for mental health and wellbeing | South Wales Argus, UK

Applying an intersectional lens to alcohol inequities: A conceptual framework

[Open access] Prior research has demonstrated substantial inequities in alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harms, and mortality. These inequities arise from a complex interplay of factors, unlikely addressed by single factor analyses or solutions. Conceptual frameworks, such as the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework, aim to reflect this complexity and support research and action. This paper adapts the NIMHD Framework to focus on alcohol-related inequities and integrate core intersectionality principles | Addiction, UK

Injecting Drug Use - Part 2 - video

In part 2 of this episode, Rob is joined by Sian (Barod's Operations Manager), Katie (DDAS Active Treatment Worker) and Jamie (Barod's Swansea Service Manager). Part 2 of this episode focuses on some of the myths associated with injecting drug use, why people inject and how best to engage with people who inject drugs | Barod, UK

"Love Kevin" a Documentary about the life of Kevin Molloy - video

Kevin Molloy was born in Birmingham, United Kingdom. His life experiences and passions shaped his character and expertise in various areas, including rugby, music, acting, and harm reduction advocacy—a role in which he was able to save many lives. He was a beloved husband, father, friend, and colleague | Safer Documentary, UK

120mph driver with £1m of drugs in boot is jailed

A driver who reached120mph on the M5 and who had £1.3m of drugs in his car boot told arresting officers they'd had "a good day at the office" | BBC, UK

International news

I traded booze for THC drinks. But are there hidden risks?

Giving up alcohol changed my life, but I wanted to know whether cannabis cocktails were too good to be true | Guardian, UK

Reports of US children ingesting nicotine pouches surge, study says

Several children in intensive care and uptick in poisonings as popularity of pouches explode | Guardian, UK

Fewer school-age children vaping in Australia since ban, study says

Vaping rates among 14 to 17 year olds fell from 17.5% at the start of 2023 to 14.6% in April this year, according to the latest update from Cancer Council Australia's nationwide study Generation Vape | BBC, UK [See end of this section for full report]

Government set to defer health labelling on alcoholic drinks until 2029

Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, Sheila Gilheany, CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland, said that these were "disappointing and bizarre" comments to hear from the Government | RTe, Ireland

[Open access] Few studies have reported on the prevalence and health risks associated with substance use and substance use disorder (SU/SUD) in Veterans who use long-term opioid therapy (LTOT). We leveraged health record data to estimate SU/SUD prevalence and its association with mortality among Veterans on LTOT | DADR, USA

Clearing the air about the hidden danger in vapes

What's really inside those vapes that are marketed as safe and sold on every corner? | Medical Xpress, USA

Malta Rolls Back Historic Cannabis Legalization, Calls Odor a “Nuisance”

In late 2021, Malta became the first European country to legalize marijuana possession for adult use. Anyone over 18 could keep up to 7 grams on their person and up to 50 grams at home, plus grow up to four plants. The act also established a regulatory framework that included cultivation and distribution by licensed nonprofits known as Cannabis Harm Reduction Associations (CHRA) | Filter Magazine, USA

Generation Vape Research Project - Vaping and young people: Assessing early impacts of Australia’s comprehensive approach to vaping product control (PDF)

The growing rates of e-cigarette use among young people is concerning given young adulthood is a significant period for the establishment of unhealthy or risky behaviours that persist into adulthood. Generation Vape is the first research project of its kind to take place at a national level in Australia and involves both quantitative and qualitative research components | Generation Vape, Australia

Blogs, comment and opinion

Harry’s blog 128: Behind the smoke and mirrors: the continuing challenge of tobacco harm reduction

I recently returned from the 12th annual Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN) conference in Warsaw. My first visit was 2015 when I had just entered the tobacco harm reduction (THR) space after over thirty years spent with UK NGOs advocating for drug and HIV harm reduction – a space I still inhabit. I was invited by the conference founders Professor Gerry Stimson and Paddy Costall, colleagues from my earlier world, who realised the principles underpinning drug, HIV and tobacco harm reduction were the same. These principles were implicit in the concept of a universal right to health as laid down (ironically as it turned out) by the WHO in its founding charter of 1948 | NSP blog, UK

A moment that changed me: I stopped drinking – and realised what friendship really meant

I always thought hitting the bottle made me the life and soul of the party, but sobriety helped me to be honest with myself – and make genuine connections with other people | Guardian, UK

We banned smoking. So why can't we get warning labels on alcohol?

Alcohol Action Ireland chief says the powerful drink industry lobby has frustrated plans to put health warnings on its products | Irish Examiner, Ireland

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