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Daily news - 12th March 2026 |
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UK news
ACMD work programme 2026
Letter to the the Minister for Policing and Crime from the Chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) discussing the ACMD work programme for 2026 | ACMD, UK
Over a Million Quit Smoking in 2025, as Health Charities Urge Smokers to Join the Smokefree Generation
New figures released to mark National No Smoking Day (11 March) shows that more than one million people in Great Britain quit smoking in 2025. Analysis from UCL’s Smoking Toolkit Study found that, among people in Great Britain who reported smoking in the past year, 35% tried to stop, and of those, 29% quit successfully– equivalent to more than a million people across the country. Separate YouGov polling for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) shows the appetite to quit is already strong: 53% of smokers say they want to stop, including 22% who “REALLY want to stop” | ASH, UK
Drugs: Departmental Responsibilities
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she can list the (a) Ministerial responsibilities and (b) the responsibilities and reporting arrangements of any relevant cross-departmental units in relation to drugs policy | They work for you, UK
Swap to Stop smoking programme extended for another year
The service, available over a period of 12 weeks, is delivered by trained members of staff who provide support and weekly 'check in' sessions at local community venues to help people on their quitting journey. And in the first 3 quarters of this financial year, 279 people in Wolverhampton have successfully quit with support from Swap to Stop | City of Wolverhampton Council, UK
WithYou Scotland Impact Report 2025
Across Scotland, thousands of people are living with challenges linked to drugs and alcohol. The right support can make a real difference. Our new Scotland impact report looks at the work our teams carried out in 2025 and the people we supported along the way | WithYou, UK
New Film Highlights Forward’s Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Work in Essex
A new video featuring four counsellors from The Forward Trust speaking about their work in Essex has been released this week | Forward Trust, UK
When does alcohol become a problem? - podcast
Kimberley and her guest, consultant clinical psychologist Dr Kevin Vento, talk about when one drink becomes one drink too many | BBC Sounds, UK
Politicians to take control of alcohol licenses [Jersey]
The Licensing Assembly will no longer have control of Jersey's drinking laws. The Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, proposed an amendment to his own proposition that would move oversight of alcohol licences | BBC, UK
Kava in the UK
Wednesday, Mar 18 from 10:30 am to 5 pm. London. We are pleased to invite you to the Kava in the UK symposium, where we will be asking is it time to rethink the UK's ban on kava? | Centre for Evidence Based Drug Policy, UK
Warning girls in town being lured into drug-running
Kate Champneys has worked with several teenagers in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, who she said were groomed with gifts and affection | BBC, UK
International news
Two women arrested for using decoy crow drones in prison smuggling operation
The women reportedly used plastic crow decoys to deliver drugs, phones, and tobacco into the correctional facility | Independent, UK
Gambling and Substance Use: Early Evidence From Sports Betting Laws
[Open access] Previous research documents a strong association between gambling and substance use, suggesting that these seemingly distinct behaviors may share similar environmental, neurobiological, and genetic causes. However, there is a dearth of credible empirical evidence on whether gambling has a causal impact on substance use or vice versa. This paper estimates the impact of gambling on substance use making use of the rapid roll-out of sports betting laws across US states | Health Economics, USA
Psilocybin or Nicotine Patch for Smoking Cessation - A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial
In this pilot randomized clinical trial, 42 participants randomized to receive psilocybin had more than 6 times greater odds of prolonged smoking abstinence 6 months after treatment than 40 participants who received the nicotine patch | JAMA Network Open, USA
Is vaping more harmful than smoking cigarettes? More people incorrectly think so
A growing number of U.S. adults consider electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) more harmful than conventional cigarettes. The findings, by researchers from the UT Southwestern Medical Center and published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, could have significant implications for public health policymakers, tobacco control strategies, and people who use either of these cigarette types | Medical Xpress, USA
Inconsistent labeling and high doses found in delta-8 THC products
Cannabis products containing delta-8 THC have spiked in popularity in recent years, from gummies and brownies to vapes, pre-rolls, and tinctures. These products are frequently marketed as "legal" cannabis and often come in youth-oriented packaging, while lacking clear and consistent cannabinoid-content labels | Medical Xpress, USA
FDA Eyeing “Drug Disposal” Products, for Destroying Rx Opioids at Home
The Food and Drug Administration is asking the public to weigh in on the merits of commercial drug-disposal products, for destroying leftover prescription opioids at home. The agency is considering whether to require pharmaceutical companies to offer such products, though it can’t seem to find many reasons to look into the issue other than that recent legislation requires it | Filter Magazine, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Women do well in residential rehab – so why are fewer women referred?
Glasgow residential service admissions of women have declined by 50% since 2022. So why aren’t more women being referred into services? Why are we missing the opportunity to help more women onto effective treatment programmes? | Phoenix Futures, UK