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Daily news - 29th July 2025 |
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UK news
Panorama - Britain’s Ketamine Crisis
Ketamine is increasingly popular as a recreational drug. So why are so many people taking it? And what can prolonged use do to your body? Reporter Hazel Martin travels to the north west of England to talk to users, those being treated in detox and rehab, and doctors who say they’re now being inundated by young patients in need of help. The government is considering reclassifying it as a class A drug, so is that part of the answer? And if not, how else can the ketamine crisis be fixed? | BBC iPlayer, UK
London homeless hostel failed vulnerable resident in multiple ways before fatal overdose, review says
Investigation into death of Joe Black, 39, at Holmes Road in Camden found inadequate support and missed safeguarding opportunities | Guardian, UK
Coroner's ambulance concerns after drug death
A coroner has highlighted concerns over a private ambulance provider's staff training and vehicle equipment after a 17-year-old girl died from a drugs overdose at an event in Kent | BBC, UK
Drugs: Rehabilitation
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of short-term funding grants on the ability of drug treatment services to (a) provide long term care and (b) retain staff | They work for you, UK
Anti-social Behaviour: Drugs
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle antisocial drug smoking | They work for you, UK
Electronic Cigarettes: Bus Services
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the merits of banning vaping at outdoor bus stops | They work for you, UK
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: Conferences
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to promote the UK’s Swap to Stop scheme at the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Eleventh Session of the Conference of Parties | They work for you, UK
Breaking Barriers: How stigma undermines support and connection - and what we can do about it
Thursday 27th November 2025, 9.30am - 4.00pm. Join us for a day of reflection, connection, and action as we explore the impact of stigma. We’ll share the progress we've made together, spotlight ongoing work across the sector, and look ahead to what’s next. Through lived experience, research, and frontline insight, we’ll focus on breaking down the barriers stigma creates - and on building stronger, more inclusive support systems for everyone affected by drugs, alcohol or gambling. This event will be provided online and for free for all delegates. Register your place today | NHS APA, UK
Covert texts identify singer's son as drugs boss
A drugs kingpin who ran a UK-wide operation has been jailed after police discovered his identity through encrypted messages he sent to his contacts about his famous father | BBC, UK
International news
Delay in alcohol labelling a ‘serious threat’ to public health warns IMO
Dr Anne Dee, a Consultant in Public Health, said the delay “until 2028 at the earliest”, places corporate interests ahead of the health and wellbeing of Irish people | Medical Independent, Ireland
Rise in number of women seeking cocaine treatment - report
Women represent one of the fastest growing groups seeking treatment for cocaine, according to rehabilitation facility the Rutland Centre | RTe, Ireland
EUDA updates tool for tracking progress in eliminating viral hepatitis in people who inject drugs
As only a few countries are on track to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat among people who inject drugs, greater investment in harm reduction services, testing and treatment is needed | EUDA, Portugal
Offering Support to the Survivors of October 7th
We interviewed Israeli psychotherapist Nir Tadmor about how he supported survivors of the Nova festival massacre and the deep emotional impact the tragedy had on the community | Drug Reporter, Hungary
Heavy smoking linked to atrophy in Alzheimer’s brain regions
New MRI research reveals that heavy smoking can shrink key brain regions tied to memory and cognition, and excess weight might intensify the damage, raising fresh questions about dementia prevention | News Medical, USA
Disparities in Treatment and Referral After an Opioid Overdose Among Emergency Department Patients
In this cohort study of 1683 patients, there was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of Black patients who received an outpatient treatment referral (5.7%) compared with White patients (9.6%) | JAMA Netwok, USA
Doctor's advice can reduce opioids taken after surgery
Some wise counsel in advance can reduce the amount of opioid painkillers a patient takes after orthopedic surgery, new clinic trial results show | Medical Xpress, USA
Sex differences affect efficacy of opioid overdose treatment, whole-body PET study reveals
Naloxone (also known as Narcan, the commonly used drug to treat narcotic overdoses) has greater binding to opioid receptors in women's brains than in men's brains, according to new research published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine | Medical Xpress, USA
Ultra-processed foods trigger addictive behaviors meeting clinical criteria, researchers say
New research by a University of Michigan psychologist and colleagues makes the strongest case yet that ultra-processed foods—including chips, cookies, soda and other heavily engineered products—aren't just tempting; they can actually be addictive | Medical Xpress, USA
How Hopeful Should We Be About Ozempic for Alcohol Use Disorder?
The media has recently been filled with stories about how diabetes drugs like Ozempic (generic name semaglutide) might additionally be helpful not only for weight loss but also for alcohol use disorder (AUD). The HAMS alcohol harm reduction group on Facebook has also been abuzz with discussions of peptides, as such medications are known. So, what is the state of the research? Are these drugs effective for AUD? | Filter Magazine, USA
Campaign resources - IOAD 2025 theme: One big family, driven by hope
August 31st. This International Overdose Awareness Day let’s imagine a new meaning of what family can be. A family driven by hope, love and action. We are one big family – not just because we share in the pain of loss, but because we share in the power to change what comes next. This August 31, we move beyond awareness. We organize, we show up, and we take action | Penington Institute, Australia
Blogs, comment and opinion
JUUL E-Cigarette Products & the FDA
In case you missed it, on 07/17/2025 the FDA announced it has “authorized” the marketing of five JUUL e-cigarette products. These are the JUUL device, Virginia Tobacco flavor JUULpods (3% and 5% nicotine concentration) and Menthol flavor JUULpods (3% and 5% nicotine concentration) | Recovery Review blog, USA