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Daily news - 5th September 2025 |
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UK news
Council approves measures to tackle ketamine use
A report presented to St Helens Borough Council revealed a rise in use of the Class B drug, particularly among young people. The council said it would implement recommendations in the report to provide more education about the drug and its dangers in local schools and communities, in addition to calling on the government to reclassify the drug as Class A | BBC, UK
'I feared I'd find her dead in bed' - teens harmed by spice-laced vapes
Dealers are using Snapchat to sell vape liquid laced with the dangerous synthetic drug spice to unwitting children as young as 13, a BBC Investigation has found | BBC, UK
Why isn't Scotland's drug deaths the number one political issue? - video
James speaks to BBC Scotland social affairs correspondent Chris Clements about the number of drug deaths in Scotland remaining highest in Europe, despite falling in comparison to last year | BBC, UK
Official Statistics - Stop smoking service data explorer
This data explorer presents latest published analysis on stop smoking service data, alongside indicators relating to the prevalence of smoking. The data explorer has been developed to support commissioning and to assist with monitoring of local strategies and plans | OHID, UK
Offenders: Rehabilitation
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) ringfencing a minimum amount of community justice funding specifically for residential rehabilitation services, (b) establishing formal pathways between prison to residential rehabilitation provision and recovery housing services and (c) facilitating integrated discharge planning including proactive pathways into (i) community integration, (ii) employment, (iii) education and (iv) recovery support as part of her plans for justice reform | They work for you, UK
Drugs: Misuse
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) public health experts and (b) local authorities on the (i) implementation and (ii) regulation of supervised drug consumption facilities | They work for you, UK
Nitrous Oxide Misuse: Drivers - Question
To ask His Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to address nitrous oxide misuse among drivers in urban areas | They work for you, UK
Methanol Poisoning (Travel Advice)
I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require travel advice issued by the Secretary of State and other persons to include guidance about the risks of methanol poisoning | They work for you, UK
International news
New ‘golden triangle’ of fentanyl and guns spans US-Mexico border
Report links Arizona-Sonora smuggling to rising homicide and overdose deaths in both countries | Guardian, UK
Counterfeit ‘Xanax®’ tablets: A comparative study of clinical and seizure data in Victoria, Australia
[Open access] There is growing evidence of counterfeit benzodiazepine products containing other substances, including non-regulated benzodiazepine-type new psychoactive substances (NPSs). This study sought to compare detections of seized suspect counterfeit alprazolam products with clinical cases that reported use of an alprazolam-containing product to better characterise community use | Addiction, UK
Autumn increases substance abuse risk for young people, according to survey
The start of the fall semester and college football season can also kick off rising substance use and the harms that come with it for many young people | Medical Xpress, USA
FDA calls for child-resistant packaging on nicotine pouches
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is urging nicotine pouch manufacturers to adopt child-resistant packaging to help prevent children from accidentally ingesting the pouches | Medical Xpress, USA
Study finds prenatal cannabis exposure delays reproductive development in female offspring
Cannabis use by mothers during pregnancy and while nursing may disrupt and slow the reproductive development of their daughters and even granddaughters, a new Washington State University study suggests | Medical Xpress, USA
LSD can help reduce anxiety, new study finds
The results could pave the way for additional testing and possible medical approval | STAT News, USA
Contentious Study Gave Pregnant Women Low-Nicotine Cigarettes
Pregnant women who smoke participated in a recent study looking at very low-nicotine cigarettes (VLNC). The study adds to a raging debate over whether mandating VLNC would reduce harms, but has also been attacked as unethical | Filter Magazine, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
International Day of Charity (Sept 5) 2025: How global solidarity at all levels, can eradicate poverty
At Forward, when working in the housing and substance misuse sector, we believe in a common set of beliefs, that really highlight the need for global solidarity and an understanding of the interdependency with poverty | Forward Trust, UK
Trump’s killing of 11 alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers sets a dangerous precedent
Unless this dangerous precedent is condemned and curtailed, it will enable US authorities to summarily shoot anyone they choose | Guardian, UK
US obliteration of Caribbean boat was a clear violation of international ‘right to life’ laws – no matter who was on board
The U.S. government is justifying its lethal destruction of a boat suspected of transporting illegal drugs in the Caribbean as an attack on “narco-terrorists.” But as an expert on international law, I know that line of argument goes nowhere. Even if, as the U.S. claims, the 11 people killed in the Sept. 2, 2025, U.S. Naval strike were members of the Tren de Aragua gang, it would make no difference under the laws that govern the use of force by state actors | Conversation, USA