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Daily news - 4th June 2025

UK news

The Loop warns about deadly nitazene pills

Drug-checking charity The Loop has issued a warning after pills confirmed to contain nitazenes were associated with two recent deaths | DDN, UK

Opioid ‘hundred times stronger than heroin’ linked to UK clubbing deaths for first time

Nightclubs such as Ministry of Sound and Fabric have issued warnings over the new blue-green pill being sold in London | Independent, UK

Avoidable deaths in 2023 remain higher than pre-pandemic

Nearly one in six avoidable deaths were alcohol or drug-related. Avoidable deaths from alcohol and drug-related causes have risen over the past decade. The rate of avoidable deaths from alcohol and drug-related causes in 2023 was the third highest since 2001. Only 2020 and 2021 recorded higher levels | National Records of Scotland, UK

Health survey 'not an easy read', director says

Brighton and Hove's largest ever health survey is "not an easy read" as it shows "inequalities affecting our communities", the council's director of public health says. The survey found that: 25% of those living in the most deprived areas smoked, compared to 9% of those living in the least deprived areas / 37% of those in the most deprived areas drank alcohol at increasing, higher risk or possible dependence level (combined) rates compared to 48% living in the least deprived areas / 20% had taken drugs not prescribed to them and not available at a chemist or pharmacy in the last 12 months | BBC, UK

National naloxone programme Scotland - Quarterly monitoring bulletin

This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents information on the number of take-home naloxone kits issued by the National Naloxone Programme (NNP) in Scotland. Figures are presented separately for kits issued from community outlets, kits issued in prisons at the point of liberation, kits dispensed via community prescription, and kits issued by Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) | PHS, UK

Smoking

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the comments from Baroness Merron regarding the five-fold increase in use of non-cigarette tobacco (HL Deb Col 741) what data they have that show the specific contribution that handmade cigars have made to the increase in use of non-cigarette tobacco products | They work for you, UK

Shop owners welcome disposable vape ban

A vape shop owner says the long-term impact of the new disposable vape ban will be seen in years to come | BBC, UK

Liverpool Play Areas Smoke and Vape-Free Spaces for Children

Children and young people in Liverpool are taking a stand for their health with a clear message, “Don’t smoke or vape in our play areas!” | Liverpool Express, UK

Talking about homelessness: new report highlights how everyday language perpetuates stigma

King’s research underpins new Centre for Homelessness Impact report and guidance, highlighting how mindful use of everyday language can support efforts to end homelessness | KCL, UK

Street Drugs Discussions: Deep dive into Pregabalin

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:00 - 16:00 BST. This webinar features a panel discussion discussing the rising use of Pregabalin in the UK | Drug Science, UK

Peer support: getting started

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 10:30 - 12:00 BST. Are you a grassroots group or small organisation in Scotland interested in starting a peer support group or just curious to learn more? | Scottish Recovery Network, UK

Police commander Julian Bennett sacked for second time after refusing drugs test

Following the ruling, the Met Police says Julian Bennett had been suspended on full pay "for an extraordinary length of time" and Londoners will be "outraged... at the utter waste of public funds" | Sky News, UK

Four accused of smuggling cannabis to UK in the post

Four men have gone on trial charged with smuggling more than 300kg of cannabis from the US into the UK using the postal service | BBC, UK

Edinburgh Airport cocaine mule wins sentence appeal

A man caught smuggling £5m of cocaine from Mexico at Edinburgh Airport has successfully appealed his sentence | BBC, UK

International news

British trio face death penalty on tourist island for allegedly smuggling cocaine

They are accused of smuggling drugs disguised as Angel Delight dessert mix | Independent, UK

‘People think prison is for rehabilitation. It is all lies’: could community service work better than jail?

Colombia has seen a surge in the number of female inmates – many poor, from rural areas and convicted of drug offences. Now a radical scheme could release thousands to support their families | Guardian, UK

Clinical research on psychedelics gets a boost from new study

As psychedelics gain traction as potential treatments for mental health disorders, an international study led by researchers at McGill University, Imperial College London, and the University of Exeter stands to improve the rigor and reliability of clinical research | Medical Xpress, USA

Canada: Everything you need to know about B.C.'s toxic drug crisis

This feature zooms into the drug deaths crisis in British Columbia, now the leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 59 in the province. Declared a public health emergency in 2016, this crisis has pushed over 16,000 people into premature death and continues to worsen due to a toxic and unpredictable drug supply | IDPC, UK

Trends in health behaviours, outcomes and contexts: 1998-2022. The Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study (PDF)

There was an overall decrease in the proportion of children who reported that they currently smoked tobacco. There was also an overall decrease in the proportion of young people aged 15-17 who reported having their first cigarette at age 13 or younger. There was an overall decrease in the proportion of children who reported having ever been really drunk and using cannabis in the last 12 months. There was also an overall decrease in the proportion of young people aged 15-17 who reported having their first alcoholic drink at age 13 or younger | DoH, Ireland

Decrease in alcohol, cigarette and cannabis use among school-aged children in Ireland

There have been reductions in alcohol, cannabis and cigarette use among school-aged children over the past 25 years, but “concerning” trends regarding mental health issues | Journal, Ireland

[Open access] This study aimed to describe the health-related harms associated with the misuse of benzodiazepines/z-drugs, prescription opioids, gabapentinoids, and psychostimulants in Ireland by examining trends in their involvement in treatment demand, non-fatal intentional drug overdoses (IDOs), and drug related deaths (DRDs) | DAD, USA

The Potential Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: A Systematic Review

Derived from cannabis, cannabidiol or CBD is widely promoted as a herbal supplement. Effects on neural systems linked to opioid dependence and withdrawal have led to trials of CBD as a treatment. These show “CBD is well-tolerated [and] associated with reductions in opioid craving and anxiety, although the results concerning its effectiveness in alleviating opioid withdrawal symptoms and reducing opioid rewarding effects are mixed.” | Addiction Biology, USA

Fruit fly model sheds light on genetic roots of cocaine addiction

In a new JNeurosci paper, Adrian Rothenfluh and colleagues from the University of Utah developed a fruit fly model of cocaine self-administration that can be used to explore the genetic underpinnings of cocaine addiction | News Medical, USA

Understanding barriers to treatment for cannabis use disorder in the United States

As cannabis becomes more potent and widely used in the United States – especially among young adults – concerns about cannabis use disorder are growing. More than 16 million Americans meet the criteria, yet most never receive treatment | News Medical, USA

Study finds powerful sweetener in vapes marketed to teens

The sweetener, called neotame, is up to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar and is usually used in products like ice cream or lip gloss, STAT News reported | Medical Xpress, USA

Blogs, comment and opinion

We know MUP works – but we can make it even better

More than 10,000 people die every year in the UK from alcohol-specific deaths. Evidence shows that more than 1,300 of those lives could be saved by simply raising the cost of the very cheapest alcohol – such as large bottles of very cheap cider – which is often most associated with the heaviest and most harmful drinking | IAS blog, UK

Pepe Mujica: A Legacy of Freedom, Justice, and Simplicity

In a world marked by complex power dynamics and deep inequality, some people seem to be born to breathe in hope and transformation. On May 13, 2025, we lost one of these great souls: former Uruguayan president José “Pepe” Mujica | Talking Drugs, UK

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