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Daily news - 10th February 2026 |
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UK news
Public health grants to local authorities: 2026 to 2027
Local authorities (upper tier and unitary) in England are responsible for improving the health of their local population and reducing health inequalities. In 2026 to 2027, the total public health grant to local authorities will be £4.404 billion. This includes funding for drug and alcohol and smoking cessation services previously issued as separate grants | DHSC, UK
England’s poorest areas have 70% more vape shops and bookmakers than wealthier ones
Data shows deprived communities have more off-licences and takeaways and fewer childcare facilities and gyms | Guardian, UK
Analysis: Feeling guilty about drinking? You’re not alone
In an article for the Institute of Alcohol Studies, Dr Sharon Cox (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care) reports on new analysis finding that one in eight people who drink at increasing or higher-risk levels felt guilt or remorse after drinking in the past six months | UCL, UK
Exclusive:Scotland's only dry hotel up for sale over planning issue as owner admits 'negative' impact of alcohol ban
The businessman behind a popular island hotel which faced a backlash for banning the sale of alcohol has admitted the policy had “negative impact” on sales and the ability to recruit staff | Scotsman, UK
The Manifesto Sessions: #8 Community-based drug checking - video
Our 8th webinar in our Manifesto Sessions webinar series focused on community-based drug checking services. In this episode, we hear from Katy Porter, CEO of The Loop, and Gavin Jones, Head of Operations, Gwent Drug and Alcohol Service (GDAS) | Barod, UK
Alive to Thrive – Mobilising Scotland to be Recovery Orientated
Tuesday, 3 March, 11:00 am. Online. Join us for an inspiring webinar exploring what recovery can achieve - and why it matters - as we near the end of this phase of the Drug and Alcohol Mission in Scotland. Hear how people's lives are transformed, how recovery orientated services create hope, and how together they empower communities to thrive | Healthcare Improvement Scotland, UK
Share your story
Perhaps you’ve taken on the Dry January® challenge, or made another change to your drinking and noticed a difference. Maybe you’re exploring your relationship with alcohol, or have faced challenges in the past and want to share what you’ve learned. You might also want to talk about a loved one’s drinking and how it has affected them or you | Alcohol Change UK, UK
Submit your work for an award
The SSA awards two prizes each year for excellence in addiction science. Find out how to apply for the Fred Yates Prize for Early Career Researchers and the Impact Prize | SSA, UK
Nurse struck off after taking drugs from A&E store
Helen McLaughlan took the medication out of a store at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, Berkshire, over about six months, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) found. It said she took drugs, including painkillers ibuprofen and codeine, and recorded they were for patients, some of whom who were no longer being treated at the hospital | BBC, UK
Eight jailed over 'Merry Sniffmas' 24/7 drugs line
Offering special discounts to boost sales, they advertised cocaine on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram with promotional messages such as "Have a Merry Sniffmas"| BBC, UK
International news
Parents of Melbourne methanol-poisoning victims ‘shocked’ by $185 fines handed to Laos hostel staff
Fathers of Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles, both 19, who died after a night out at the Nana backpackers hostel in 2024, say court decision is ‘absolute injustice’ | Guardian, UK
Cannabis legalization may lead to a decline in daily opioid use
Legalizing cannabis for both medical and recreational use may lead to a decline in daily opioid use among people who inject drugs in the United States, according to a new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health researcher (BUSPH) | News Medical, USA
Legalization of cannabis and retail sales linked to rise in its use and co-use of tobacco
The legalization of cannabis and the start of retail sales of the drug in the US are linked to both a rise in its recreational use and concurrent use of tobacco, as well as a fall in sole tobacco use, finds an analysis of health behavioral data, published online in the journal Tobacco Control | Medical Xpress, USA
Decades of drinking reshape gene expression in key human brain regions, study shows
Chronic alcohol consumption profoundly alters gene expression in key brain regions involved in reward, impulse control, and decision-making, according to a study led by researchers at the Institute for Neurosciences, a joint center of Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Published in the journal Addiction, the work provides new insight into the biological basis of alcohol addiction and points toward potential therapeutic targets | Medical Xpress, USA
“Survival Mode” Amid Trump’s Health Care and Harm Reduction Cuts
The Trump administration continues to wage war on programs that keep people who use drugs healthy and alive. Experts fear that the recent decline in overdose deaths, after years of unprecedented crisis—the last year of the Biden administration saw a 26 -percent drop—will stall or reverse, as people lose access to health care and harm reduction | Filter Magazine, USA
National Wastewater Surveillance of Illicit Tobacco and Vaping Use Trends in Australia
In this cross-sectional study, with wastewater samples representing up to 50% of the Australian population, a continued decline in tobacco use was observed, particularly in regional areas. However, the results also suggested a recent increase in nicotine consumption primarily sourced from vaping products as well as an expansion of the illicit tobacco market in Australia | JAMA Network Open, USA
'Systemic failure': Global reviews show extent of injecting drug use and infectious diseases in prisons
One in nine people in prisons globally have a history of injecting drug use and their risk of HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis is up to 45 times higher than in the general population. Yet access to infectious disease prevention, treatment and harm reduction services remains woefully inadequate, with most countries failing to provide basic coverage, according to two landmark reviews published in the International Journal of Drug Policy | NDARC, Australia
Celebrity alcohol ads slip into teens’ Insta feeds
Celebrity actors, musicians and athletes are promoting their own alcohol products on Instagram without clear disclosure of advertising content - and almost all posts are visible to underage users, according to new research from La Trobe University’ | La Trobe University, Australia
Blogs, comment and opinion
Helping Children Be Children Again: The Power of Safety, Stability and Support
Safety creates the foundation for good health and wellbeing. Sadly, many children are growing up in environments that are just not conducive to good mental health, which is perhaps why this year’s theme for Children’s Mental Health Week is ‘This is My Place’ – a way in which we can explore the importance of place and belonging when it comes to children and young people | Phoenix Futures, UK
Breaking the Cycle: How Family Support Shapes Children’s Mental Health
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (9-15 February) is a great opportunity to stop and think about the everyday experiences that shape a child’s emotional world | Forward Trust, UK
Prisons & health struggle with rapidly changing drug threats
Last Wednesday (4 February 2026), the National Audit Office (NAO) published a new report on “The Cost of Tackling Drug Harms in Prison”. The focus of the report is on how effectively the prison and health services are using public funds to tackle drug use within prisons, how funds are prioritised and how well the two services work together | Russell Webster, UK
Tobias Ellwood: An age limit of 21 would protect our kids from toxic Chinese vapes but also boost our security
China’s most effective influence on the UK today does not come via diplomats, soldiers, or spies. It comes through economics, through supply chains, through the everyday products that quietly shape our lives. It is slow, legal-looking, and largely ignored | Conservative Home, UK