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Daily news - 23rd January 2026

UK news

New Centre marks the future of drug and alcohol support in Hartlepool

A new Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre officially opens its doors in Hartlepool this week, welcoming patients, staff and partners into a modern, purpose-built space where high-quality drug and alcohol treatment will be delivered to give residents the best chance of recovery | Hartlepool Borough Council, UK

ADHD in childhood can increase the risk of physical health problems later in life

The authors of a new study have suggested poorer health outcomes can be partly explained by increased mental health problems, higher BMI and higher smoking rates among people with ADHD | Independent, UK [See also Irish Times article below and Mental Elf article in Blogs section ]

Death of schoolboy Archie York to be used to help spot signs of illegal cannabis shatter labs - video

The story of the seven-year-old schoolboy, who died when the makeshift lab in the flat below exploded in 2024, will be shared to help prevent more deaths | ITV, UK

Autumn Budget Analysis 2025 (PDF)

In the Autumn Budget 2025 there were three key announcements: 1) All alcohol duty rates will go up by RPI inflation in February 2026 2) Small Producer Relief will be increased 3) The National Licensing Policy Framework was published. After the increase, alcohol duty will still be much lower than it was in 2012/13 | IAS, UK

Remembrance Month 2026: A Space to Remember Loved Ones

We’ve created a dedicated online space where you can leave a tribute in memory of someone special. Whether you share a few words, a cherished memory, or a message from the heart, each tribute helps create a shared space of reflection, compassion, and remembrance | Forward Trust, UK

Millions of illegal vapes seized in the South East

More than three million illegal vaping products have been seized by Trading Standards officers in south-east England in five years, new figures suggest | BBC, UK

Police block drug gangs from 'cuckoo' homes

The Devon and Cornwall force said the closure orders were served on Tuesday after concerns that the tenants were being targeted and used by criminals | BBC, UK

Jail for drug dealer who trafficked three teens

A man who trafficked three teenagers in order to use them as drug runners has been jailed for five years and seven months | BBC, UK

International news

Trends in fentanyl-containing drug samples seized by law enforcement agencies across Canada

Canada's drug toxicity crisis has been largely attributed to a volatile fentanyl-dominated unregulated drug supply with increasing reports of fentanyl detected in combination with benzodiazepines, stimulants and xylazine. Although rates of opioid-related harms vary significantly by region, it remains unknown how the composition of the unregulated drug supply differs across Canada. Therefore, we sought to describe trends in Canadian fentanyl-containing drug seizures nationally and compare trends by province/territory | Addiction, UK

'They saw them on their dishes when eating': The mushroom making people hallucinate dozens of tiny humans

Only recently described by science, the mysterious mushrooms are found in different parts of the world, but they give people the same exact visions | BBC, UK

‘What am I doing?’ Adults with ADHD reveal struggles with drug addiction - podcast

"In my mid to late teens, that’s when I started dabbling with drugs". Eric Galvin, 32, was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult having been battling addiction and suffering the consequences of “impulsive behaviour” for years. He is one of three adults who’ve spoken to the In The News podcast about the links between ADHD and addiction | Irish Times, Ireland

New study: Kids who need treatment for opioid use disorder rarely get it

A new nationwide study published in Health Affairs finds that adolescents aged 12 to 17 struggle to access and remain engaged in treatment, often because they are not offered youth-tailored treatment and gold-standard opioid use disorder medications | Prison Policy Initiative, USA

Screening and Counseling for Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Primary Care Practices

In this quality improvement study of 21 practices and 54 294 patients, rates of screening and brief counseling increased significantly, and improvements were sustained, despite COVID-19 pandemic–related barriers. There was significant variability in adoption of evidence-based screening and counseling across participating practices | JAMA Network Open, USA

CO Renews Most of Its Historic Push to Reduce Harms of Faulty Drug Tests

In June 2025, Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) signed a bill that established a working group focused on the impact of colorimetric drug tests, the rapid-result field kits that law enforcement and corrections officers across the country use to check unknown substances for the presence of drugs | Filter Magazine, USA

Discontinued Canadian Safe Supply Program Was Working, Study Shows

Facing right-wing backlash, harm reduction initiatives around Canada have steadily been rolled back. Safer opioid supply (SOS) programs—which provide pharmaceutical-grade opioids in lieu of unpredictable street supply—have been one major target, including through legislation restricting pharmacies’ “high potency” opioid distribution and ending take-home programs | Filter Magazine, USA

Addressing Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome in Canada

Highlights key information on Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) in Canada, an underrecognized condition that is linked to frequent cannabis use and exposure to high-THC products and can result in repeated episodes of severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. This brief covers commonly asked questions about CHS is, who is most affected, and the reason cannabis-related vomiting is leading to an increase in emergency care, while also highlighting the negative effects on Canada’s health care system | CCSA, Canada

[Open access] Within limits set by, and in partnership with, the prescriber, in Australia pharmacists took on much of the medical care of patients on methadone or buprenorphine. The patients’ quality of life improved and treatment became more cost-effective | Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, USA

Blogs, comment and opinion

Treating ADHD, preventing harm: can medications help with non-core ADHD symptoms?

Research surrounding ADHD has been shifting to explore the broader impacts beyond the core clinical symptoms described in diagnostic manuals. A recent Mental Elf blog discussed the findings from an umbrella review highlighting the mental health, physical health, social and lifestyle risks that are associated with ADHD. The results suggest that ADHD may have far reaching adverse impacts across a variety of domains in life. This then raises the crucial question; could medication mitigate the impacts beyond core ADHD symptoms? Or more specifically, does pharmacological treatment of ADHD reduce the risks of suicidal behaviours, substance misuse, accidental injuries, transport accidents and criminality? | Mental Elf blog, UK

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