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Daily news - 9th March 2026

UK news

Substance use and addictive behaviours Initial findings from the Millennium Cohort Study at Age 23 (PDF)

This briefing examines a range of substance uses and addictive behaviours among participants in the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), a UK nationally representative cohort tracking the lives of over 19,000 individuals who were born around the millennium. It focuses on young people’s experiences at age 23, where a total of 9,675 took part in the survey | UCL, UK

Government "Swap to stop" scheme sees approximately 125,000 more people using vapes to try and quit smoking cigarettes

New research from the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Addictions at King’s College London and University College London has found that the introduction of the Government’s Swap to Stop scheme resulted in a significant increase in the number of people using vapes (also known as e-cigarettes) to help quit cigarette smoking | KCL, UK

Man dies outside UK's first drug consumption room in Glasgow

Police sealed off the entrance to The Thistle on Hunter Street after the death was reported at about 10:20 on Sunday morning. The force said that inquiries were ongoing but there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report would be sent to the procurator fiscal | BBC, UK

From Scotland, pros and cons from the patient's point of view of monthly buprenorphine injections versus daily doses of methadone or non-injectable buprenorphine. The injections were "overwhelmingly seen as a 'game changer', having a positive impact" | DADR, UK

231 died whilst homeless in 2024

Deaths of people going through homelessness occur at younger ages than those in the population generally. They are also more likely to be from external causes which includes drug related deaths, accidents, suicide and assaults | National Records of Scotland, UK

Tackling banned nitrous oxide use 'a priority'

Durham Police pledged to work with Darlington Borough Council and residents to crackdown on reports of people inhaling the substance, commonly known as laughing gas, from balloons | BBC, UK

Guidance - My safety: using and disposing of vapes

OPSS is leading a fresh campaign to raise awareness of safety issues with vapes, with resources for local authorities, community groups and the public | Office for Product Safety and Standards, UK

Govan Community Alcohol Partnership named Scotland's CAP of the Year

The Govan Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) received the honour for its efforts to reduce underage drinking, promote alcohol awareness, and deliver positive youth engagement | Glasgow Times, UK

Driving under Influence: Testing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the annual cost of evidential drink-driving testing to the police budget from (a) blood and (b) urine tests | They work for you, UK

Driving under Influence: Breathalysers

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department holds on the number of people screened for drink-driving with a breath alcohol content of (i) 9–21, (ii) 22–34 and (iii) higher than 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath | They work for you, UK

John Robins - from Alcohol Addiction to Becoming a Runner; "The Act of Beginning is Where the Magic is" - audio

Podcast host, radio presenter and stand-up comedian John Robins opens up to Giovanna Fletcher about his journey from addiction to becoming a runner. It's a frank and honest conversation where addiction recovery and mental health issues meet running | BBC Sounds, UK

Street Drugs Discussions: Overdose Prevention Centres in the UK

Friday, Mar 13 from 12 pm to 2 pm GMT. A deep dive into how Overdose Prevention Centre policy has changed in the UK over the past 5 years | Drug Science, UK

The Junkie Miracles by Des Dillon

Live stage play telling the true stories of four recovering addicts. Visit this link for venues and ticket links and use discount code RECOVERY1 in all venues for a 50% DISCOUNT for all recovering addicts, staff, families and friends. Royalties go to the Riverside Community drop in centre in Ayr | 12 Step Productions, UK

Psilocybin's potential in treating methamphetamine use disorder with Jonathan Brett

In this episode, Dr Elle Wadsworth talks to Professor Jonathan Brett, a senior consultant at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, clinical director of the Psychiatry and Non-Prescription Drug and Alcohol Unit, and a clinical toxicologist with the New South Wales Poison’s Information Centre, Australia. The interview covers Jonathan’s research article looking at psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder: A pilot open-label safety and feasibility study | SSA, UK

Monkey and crack found in car stopped at prison

A "cheeky" one-year-old monkey has been discovered alongside what is believed to be a quantity of crack cocaine during the search of a car outside a prison | BBC, UK

International news

Does illicit drug use increase stroke risk? A systematic review, meta-analyses, and Mendelian randomization analysis

[Open access] The recreational drugs cannabis, cocaine and amphetamines significantly increase the risk of stroke—including among younger users—Cambridge researchers have concluded after analyzing data from more than 100 million people | International Journal of Stroke, UK [See also Guardian article]

[Open access] The multifaceted nature of drug-related violence extends beyond simple market disputes, requiring a nuanced understanding of several distinct drivers. Criminal governance literature highlights violence as a key regulatory tool in illicit markets, particularly in establishing and defending territory between competing criminal organisations | IJDP, UK

Some NJ Girl Scouts ‘got in trouble’ with leaders for selling cookies at a weed dispensary. But they aren’t the only enterprising troop

Troops across the United States have long set up booths in spots where they expect high footfall or a particularly cookie-hungry clientele, from shooting ranges to marijuana shops and bars. But where they are allowed to sell appears to dependon the state | Independent, UK

Revenue spent €2.7m destroying seized nitrous oxide, alcohol, and tobacco

More than 90% of the overall bill came from dealing with the canisters of laughing gas, a major headache for authorities in the last few years | Irish Examiner, Ireland

Understanding gender and drugs in Europe: new FAQs released

Why is it important to consider a gender perspective in the drugs field? What do the data tell us about the main gender differences in drug use and drug-related harms in Europe? Is the gender gap in drug use narrowing among younger generations? How can gender-responsive interventions be implemented in the drugs field? | EUDA, Portugal

Alcohol abstinence enables regeneration even in advanced liver cirrhosis

Consistent and permanent abstinence from alcohol can lead to the regression of existing liver-related complications, even in cases of advanced alcohol-related cirrhosis. This is shown by an international multicentre study led by MedUni Vienna, which was recently published in the Journal of Hepatology | Medical Xpress, USA

Prior authorization bans for buprenorphine alone may not improve treatment retention

State laws that ban insurance prior authorization for buprenorphine—a leading medication for opioid use disorder—may not help more patients stay in treatment for the recommended minimum of 180 days, Weill Cornell Medicine researchers report | Medical Xpress, USA

Creating less trippy, more therapeutic 'magic mushrooms'

Psilocybin—the psychoactive compound in "magic mushrooms"—is gaining scientific attention for its potential in treating neuropsychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and certain neurodegenerative diseases. However, its hallucinogenic effects may limit broader therapeutic applications | Medical Xpress, USA

Rethinking how we measure recovery from substance use

Nearly 50 million people in the United States struggle with substance use disorders, and nearly three in four use more than one substance. People with polysubstance use disorders are more likely than single drug users to suffer poor health, relapse from treatment, and overdose. They're also three times more likely to die | Medical Xpress, USA