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Daily news - 20th June 2025 |
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UK news
Use of drugs and alcohol by pupils contributing to violence and disruption in schools
Nearly one in five teachers are aware of pupils using cannabis in schools, with the use of other drugs including spice, ketamine and cocaine also being abused by young people on school premises, according to new data collected by NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union | NASUWT, UK
Statistics on Women's Smoking Status at Time of Delivery: England, Q4 2024/25
This is the last quarterly report that includes comparative data from the original Smoking at Time of Delivery (SATOD) data collection and the Maternity Services Dataset (MSDS). This dual reporting covering the 2022-2023 to 2024-25 period has helped to determine the retirement of the SATOD data collection due to the close alignment between the two sources. Subsequent reporting will include data from MSDS only | NHS Digital, UK
Government achieves smoking in pregnancy reduction target – but progress threatened by NHS cuts
New figures show that fewer women in England are smoking during pregnancy than ever before, with 6.1% recorded as smokers in 2024/25.[1] This means that the government has achieved the national target of 6% or fewer women smoking during pregnancy – although three years later than the 2022 target | ASH, UK
Evaluating the effectiveness of the Drink Less smartphone app for reducing alcohol consumption compared with usual digital care: a comprehensive synopsis from a 6 month follow-up RCT
Digital interventions can be effective for reducing alcohol consumption. However, most digital interventions that have been evaluated are websites and there is little evidence on the effectiveness of smartphone apps, especially in a United Kingdom context. We developed an evidence- and theory-informed app, Drink Less, to help increasing-and-higher-risk drinkers (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score ≥ 8) reduce their alcohol consumption | NIHR, UK
Drinks For Everyone Research 2025
Discover the latest UK trends in alcohol-free drinking: 48% now enjoy AF options, younger adults lead the shift, and support for mindful drinking is growing | Club Soda, UK
Spin the bottle: How the UK alcohol industry twists the facts on harm and responsibility
Alcohol deaths are at an all-time high in the UK, yet current policy is unable to tackle this crisis. The alcohol industry’s influence has been recognised as a key barrier to addressing alcohol harm. One strategy used by alcohol companies and trade groups to avoid further regulation is to present the sector as responsible and part of the solution to alcohol harm. However, as this report shows, the industry’s claims do not always match its actions, or statements made in other forums. We analysed the public communications of six major alcohol industry and industry-funded organisations in 2024 to identify and assess the credibility of such claims | IAS, UK
Model-based appraisal of the potential effects of minimum pricing for tobacco in Scotland
Minimum tobacco pricing would set a legal price floor. This study aimed to estimate how five minimum price thresholds could impact smoking behaviour, health and economic outcomes alongside tobacco tax increases in Scotland | BMJ Tobacco Control, UK
'I was dying inside' - Tony Adams opens up about path to sobriety at no alcohol bar in Liverpool - video
The former Arsenal and England captain won countless trophies, but his biggest fight was with himself as he tried to overcome his dependence on alcohol | ITVx, UK
Single-use vapes ban: direction to local authorities
The direction will require local authorities to treat single-use vapes as waste and ensure they are disposed of using the best disposal route. Published and in force from 20 June 2025 | Welsh Government, UK
Away fan at Southend United handed county’s first football ban for drugs possession
A football fan, found with cocaine while at an away game, has been handed Essex Police's first football ban for drugs possession. Security staff on the Southend United football grounds stopped a Sittingbourne FC supporter, who was spotted going back and forth to the toilets during the match on Saturday 1 February | ITV, UK
Cannabis - podcast
Cannabis. It’s illegal in the UK without a prescription – and despite decriminalisation abroad, it’s likely to stay that way. When did people start smoking cannabis in Britain? Why is the law against it so patchily enforced — but apparently impossible to repeal? Ros Taylor talks to Prof Toby Seddon and former stoner Ian Dunt about the weed | More Jam Tomorrow, UK
Work under way to reclass chemical found in cannabis [Jersey]
Deputy Tom Binet, minister for Health and Care, said the Misuse of Drugs Advisory Council had advised "Cannabinol and cannabinol derivatives be rescheduled from Class A to Class B within the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978, external" | BBC, UK
Dealer of 'dangerous' synthetic opioid jailed
A North Yorkshire drug dealer has been jailed for 11 years for attempting to distribute a potentially fatal synthetic opioid. Drugs seized by police from Brian Hollywood, 30, in January were initially thought to be class C Xanax, however further tests discovered they were class A nitazenes | BBC, UK
Five held as drugs, guns and cash seized in raids
Detectives found ketamine and cannabis, along with more than £86,000 in cash and two self-loading pistols after an investigation running for more than two years targeted organised crime in north Liverpool, Merseyside Police said | BBC, UK
International news
Psychological Distress Trajectories in Residential Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment
[Open access] Residential clients frequently report high psychological distress at intake, but little is known about changes in distress throughout treatment. This study aimed to identify in-treatment trajectories for psychological distress and factors associated with trajectory classes | DAR, USA
More smokers quit after big hike in California tobacco tax
Researchers from the University of California San Diego and UC San Francisco have found that Proposition 56, a major tobacco tax increase that was overwhelmingly approved by California voters in 2016, was associated with a significant increase in smoking cessation over the next three years. The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, also reported significant differences in state tobacco spending and the proportion of people smoking daily | Medical Xpress, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Festivals are back!
It’s that time again for live music, DJs and dancing. For some of you, festival season might mean taking alcohol and other drugs, so let’s dust up on some harm reduction advice and explore what you guys have been saying so far this festival period… | BDP blog, UK