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Daily news - 31st July 2025 |
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UK news
Health experts issue new warning over synthetic drugs
Health experts have issued a new warning over synthetic drugs which could explain a sharp rise in suspected drug deaths. An update from Public Health Scotland (PHS) revealed there were 312 suspected drug-related fatalities between March and May, a 15% rise on the previous quarter. The latest Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response report, said potent synthetic opioids known a nitazenes were increasingly mixed with other drugs such as heroin | BBC, UK
Coroner urges crackdown on prison 'hooch'
A coroner has urged the government to clamp down on prisoners accessing illicitly brewed alcohol and medication after an inmate died after consuming both | BBC, UK
Disposable ban fails to stick as quarter of UK retailers break the law
Nearly one in four UK vape retailers are selling disposable vapes illegally just weeks after they were banned, according to a new investigation | Clearing the air, UK
Drugs Wheel 2.0 (UK version)
Version changes: The first of the three main changes is the integration of drug effects into the design. The second is the blurring of the borders between the drug groups. This illustrates how many drugs and their effects do not fit into rigid categories. The third change follows debate over the categorisation of alkyl nitrites (poppers). We have placed these as depressants because their action is different than dissociative drugs - and they generally do not lead to an altered state of consciousness in the same way as ketamine or ether, for example, but result in more of a 'drunk' or 'dizzy' effect. We have introduced hydrocarbon inhalants such as butane and hexane | Mark Adley et al, UK
Quiet destruction: Everything our investigation has uncovered about the nitazenes crisis
Beneath the surface of east London, a new synthetic opioid crisis is taking hold – stronger than fentanyl, deadlier than heroin. This 18-part investigation has traced the shadowy rise of nitazenes and the tireless work of those striving to save lives before the wave breaks | The Slice, UK
'I was a shopping addict - it needs to be taken more seriously'
A day of retail therapy can be just the ticket for some people to help them feel better about themselves. But what happens when you can't stop shopping? | BBC, UK
What are Alcohol Care Teams – and why are they vital for hospitals? - podcast
On this month's podcast we spoke to Professor Julia Sinclair and Arlene Copland about Alcohol Care Teams – the small but vital hospital teams supporting patients with complex alcohol problems. They explained how ACTs not only manage alcohol withdrawal, but also build trust with vulnerable patients, advocate across departments, and link people to the wider support they need. Despite clear evidence they improve care and reduce costs, many teams now face closure as funding dries up. We also explored stigma, the misunderstanding of addiction in healthcare, and what’s needed to secure these essential services for the future | IAS, UK
71 | Elly Mortimer: Three Decades in Harm Reduction – Hep C, Learning, Listening & Leading - audio
Elly returns for her third appearance on Believe in People to share insight from over 30 years working in harm reduction, with a focus on eliminating Hepatitis C | Believe in People, UK
Join VHS
Voluntary Health Scotland is the national network for voluntary health organisations in Scotland. We have over 200 members who are passionate about their contribution to health creation across the country. VHS exists to create a healthier, fairer Scotland served by a thriving voluntary health sector. Our members range from large national charities to small community groups. Our membership includes specialist health charities, but also community and grassroots organisations whose work supports people’s health and wellbeing, and third sector interfaces | VHS, UK
'Endless battle': Fighting the crime gangs taking over the High Street
Along a one-mile stretch of road near the centre of Newport, 19 shops have been shut down in the past nine months for selling illegal tobacco and vapes | BBC, UK
Vape tax considered by Guernsey's States
Guernsey's top political committee is considering a tax on vape liquids as part of the 2026 budget | BBC, UK
International news
FDA looking to make vapes less addictive as agency head claims 85% of those sold are ‘illegal’
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary warns ‘epidemic’ of e-cigarette use in high schools needs to be tackled | Independent, UK
Unpacking the link between substance use disorders and 30-day unplanned readmission
[Open access] Given the more than twofold increase in the prevalence of substance use disorders in the United States in the past decade, more hospital inpatients can be expected to carry substance use disorder diagnoses, necessitating evaluation of potential links to 30-day unplanned readmissions, a marker of quality of care. This study aimed to measure the association between substance use disorder diagnoses, discharge disposition and 30-day unplanned hospital readmissions | Addiction, UK
Minister Murnane O'Connor attends inaugural steering group meeting to oversee the development of the new National Drugs Strategy
The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, has today attended the inaugural meeting of the steering group established to oversee the development of the successor National Drugs Strategy (NDS) | Gov.ie, Ireland
National Drug Treatment Reporting System, 2024 alcohol treatment demand
In this bulletin, data on treated problem alcohol use for the year 2024 are presented, followed by trends for the 8-year period 2017–2024. The data are from the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS), the national surveillance system that records and reports on cases of drug and alcohol treatment in Ireland | HRB, Ireland
UNODC Survey on the 2025 World Drug Report
The World Drug Report aims at providing the international community with the latest estimates and trends on drug demand and drug supply at global and sub-regional levels. In addition, it provides a more in-depth analysis of emerging trends in different drug markets and an analysis of various drug-related issues which are of policy relevance. UNODC is seeking your feedback on the 2025 World Drug Report as well as on emerging issues/trends to be addressed in the 2026 Report. The survey takes approximately 6-8 minutes and will close on Monday, 8 September 2025 at midnight Vienna time | UNODC, Austria
US Nitrous Oxide Mortality
More than 13 million people in the US report using the inhalant drug nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas or whippets) in their lifetime. Nitrous oxide misuse poses serious health risks, such as oxygen deprivation, which may result in hypoxia, neurological damage, and even death. Emergency department visits related to nitrous oxide misuse are increasing, but comprehensive data on the frequency of poisonings and associated mortality in the US remain sparse. This study examines national trends in nitrous oxide poisoning mortality in the US | JAMA Network Open, USA
Study shows young adults who use high strength cannabis do not 'titrate' to less risky levels of use
A new study published in Addiction has found that young adults in the US do not "titrate" when using strong cannabis. In other words, they do not use less cannabis to compensate for the stronger potency. In fact, it's the opposite: young adults who report using strong cannabis also typically use it more frequently and in higher quantities than young adults who use weaker forms of the drug | Medical Xpress, USA
Study finds genetics and personality traits shape early teen drinking risk
The research, published in Translational Psychiatry, draws on data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States. The study began following nearly 12,000 youth at age 9 and will continue through age 18, tracking mental health, cognitive development and substance use across adolescence | Medical Xpress, USA
Study shows heavy drinking raises the risk of undesired pregnancy; cannabis use does not
A new study has found that, among women with a high desire to avoid becoming pregnant, those who drank heavily had a 50% higher risk of becoming pregnant than those who drank moderately or not at all. In contrast, participants who used cannabis were no more likely to have an undesired pregnancy than participants who did not use cannabis | Medical Xpress, USA
State E-Cigarette Flavor Restrictions and Tobacco Product Use in Youths and Adults
In this cross-sectional study of 2019-2023 survey data on US high school-aged youths, young adults (ages 18-24 years), and adults ages 25 years or older, flavor policies were associated with reduced e-cigarette use among young adults and adults aged 25 years or older and increased cigarette use among youths and young adults, although results varied by state and year | JAMA Network Open, USA
Trump nominee for top HHS post pushed to ban methadone treatment
As a state representative in West Virginia, Mike Stuart also attempted to ban syringe exchange | STAT News, USA
NDARC Webinar - Supporting families affected by a loved one’s alcohol or drug use - video
Families affected by a loved one’s alcohol and other drug use often experience substantial strain and burden, yet support and understanding for this population remain limited. This seminar presents a series of studies examining affected families’ psychological wellbeing, innate strengths, help-seeking and the effectiveness of specialised services | NDARC, Australia
Blogs, comment and opinion
Expert reaction to an observational study comparing teen smoking rates and vaping use across three UK birth cohorts over 50 years
An observational study published in Tobacco Control looks at teen smoking rates in three UK birth cohorts before and after vape use. Here three experts give thir opinions on the study | Science Media Centre, UK
Why self-employment support matters for people with complex barriers
Self-employment can be a powerful path to independence, dignity, and economic empowerment. But for individuals facing multiple and complex barriers, the journey into self-employment is far from straightforward. Without targeted support, their entrepreneurial potential may remain untapped | Forward Trust blog, UK
Drug death epidemic: Is it time to bring legal consumption rooms to Sheffield?
A pioneering new project in Glasgow aims to cut the number of overdose deaths by providing a safe environment for injecting powerful opioids. Could this model work in South Yorkshire? | Now Then Magazine, UK
Psychedelic drug DMT and near death experiences have long been linked – my study is the first to explore the connection in depth
Have you ever wondered why people who nearly die often describe speeding toward supernatural light, or seeing their life flash before their eyes? You may have also heard about the powerful psychedelic dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a class A illegal drug in the UK, and how it might generate the so-called near-death experiences. In a recent study I compared both types of experience and found they share fascinating similarities – but also critical differences | Conversation, UK