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Daily news - 24th July 2025

UK news

Is London on the brink of an opioid crisis? What the capital's clubbers need to know

Synthetic opioids called nitazenes,which are up to 500 times stronger than heroin, are appearing in the capital in the form of pills, powders and vapes | Standard, UK

Hepatitis C elimination - EDM (Early Day Motion)1699: tabled on 17 July 2025

Motion text - That this House recognises that the blood-borne virus hepatitis C, which disproportionately affects disadvantaged and marginalised communities, is preventable, treatable and curable; notes that the United Kingdom’s commitment to achieve the World Health Organization’s goal to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health concern by 2030 would have a huge impact on health inequalities; and calls upon the Government to celebrate World Hepatitis Day on 28 July by reaffirming its commitment to meet the WHO 2030 target, guided by a comprehensive Hepatitis Elimination Action Plan | UK Parliament, UK

Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing draft duty relief for (a) consumers (b) pubs and (c) breweries in Poole constituency | They work for you, UK

Cannabis: Medical Treatments

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of mandating digital prescribing for medical cannabis | They work for you, UK

Drug-smuggling footballer signed after prison term

The ex-Arsenal and Ipswich Town striker had served more than 10 months of a four-year sentence behind bars, having been jailed in June for masterminding the importation of £600,000 worth of cannabis at London Stansted Airport | BBC, UK

International news

French nicotine pouch ban on hold amid EU backlash

France has once again delayed its ban on nicotine pouches, pushing enforcement to August 25 after seven European Union (EU) countries filed formal objections | Clearing the air, UK

French cities impose curfews on children after drug violence

Nîmes in the south was the latest to bring in measures, which authorities said were meant to prevent under 16s from being "exposed to violence" and to "contain tensions". Additional police units will also be sent in | BBC, UK

132. The Fellowship of the River with Dr Joe Tafur - podcast

In this episode of the Drug Science Podcast, we meet with Dr. Joe Tafur, MD, an integrative Family Physician, curandero, author and speaker. He discusses his book, The Fellowship of the River, exploring the role of spiritual healing in modern healthcare. Within this episode. Tafur further delves into topics such as biological and psychological links to Generational trauma as well as the relationship between spiritual practice and healing | Drug Science, UK

Doctor admits to selling Matthew Perry ketamine weeks before Friends star died from an overdose

According to a co-defendant, he called the actor a ‘moron’ who could be exploited for money | Independent, UK

Government delays introduction of alcohol warning labels until 2028

Labels which warn of links between alcohol and cancer had been due to come into effect in May 2026 | Irish Examiner, Ireland

Diversion of Diacetylmorphine in Heroin-Assisted Treatment: A Focus Group Study among Patients and Treatment Providers

[Open access] Accounts from Switzerland of why prescribed opioids are ‘diverted’ by patients will help you understand not just why this happens (and how to avoid it) in heroin programmes, but also in more conventional methadone and buprenorphine services | European Addiction Research, Switzerland

The Shadow of the Psychedelic Movement: An Interview with Eric Davis

In this interview, we talk with Eric Davis about the forgotten shadows of psychedelic history, the need for cultural memory, and the deeper meanings hidden within blotter art | Drug Reporter, Hungary

Mental health outcomes associated with electronic cigarette use, combustible tobacco use, and dual use among U.S. adolescents: Insights from the National Youth Tobacco Survey

[Open access] Adolescents who use either e-cigarettes or conventional tobacco products (CTP)-like cigarettes, cigars, hookah and pipes-are significantly more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety than teens who don't use tobacco products at all, according to a study published this week in the open-access journal PLOS Mental Health by Noor Abdulhay of West Virginia University, USA, and colleagues | PLOS Mental Health, USA [See expert reaction in Blogs section below]

Tiny brain circuit linked to cocaine withdrawal discomfort and relapse risk

Why do so many people relapse after quitting cocaine? A new study from The Hebrew University reveals that a specific "anti-reward" brain circuit becomes hyperactive during withdrawal—driving discomfort and pushing users back toward the drug. Surprisingly, this circuit may also serve as a built-in protective mechanism, offering new hope for addiction treatment | Medical Xpress, USA

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a hidden surgery risk, study finds

"We found that alcohol withdrawal syndrome is linked with poorer surgical outcomes, extended hospitalizations and increased costs. These findings underscore the need for standardized perioperative screening and targeted management strategies to reduce these risks," said study lead author Timothy Pawlik, MD, Ph.D., professor and chair of Ohio State's Department of Surgery. | Medical Xpress, USA

Study finds health care provider stigma toward substance use disorder varies sharply by condition and provider

A new national study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, with colleagues at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, University of Chicago, National Opinion Research Center, and Emory University finds that stigma toward patients with substance use disorders (SUD) remains widespread among U.S. health care providers—and varies significantly across types of substances | Medical Xpress, USA

Global Perspectives on Kava: A Narrative Systematic Review of the Health Effects, Economic and Social Impacts and Policy Considerations

Kava is a plant-based drug central to many Pacific Island cultures, yet its physiological and psychological effects remain contested and poorly understood. Additionally, the broader social, economic, and policy consequences of kava trade and consumption are unclear. This paper systematically reviewed global literature on kava to clarify its role and potential impacts across these domains | DAR, USA