Reports: December

National Collaborative Call for Evidence – Analysis Report (PDF)

The National Collaborative is a project that not only aims to empower people affected by substance use but will also set out how the rights to be included in the forthcoming Human Rights Bill can be effectively implemented. It will do this by applying a human-rights based approach to co-design a Charter of Rights. As part of this process, a Call for Evidence was launched to gather views from around Scotland about people’s experiences of substance use and human rights. This brought together people affected by substance use, their families and people working across a wide range of services and ran between May and August 2023 | Alliance Scotland, UK

First Steps Good Practice Guide

This guide is about how people with their own lived experience of substance use can make that outreach more effective. The guide is published in both English and Welsh | Alcohol Change UK, UK

Naloxone reporting short life working group: Final report

This short report describes the purpose, process and meetings of the Naloxone Reporting Short Life Working Group (SLWG). This report also describes the recommendations of the SLWG and outlines the next stage in this change process, where organisations will review these findings and respond to them | Public Health Scotland, UK

Cannabis liberalisation: lessons for alcohol policy (PDF)

This briefing was based on a roundtable meeting hosted by the Institute of Alcohol Studies on 29th June 2023. At the roundtable, Dr Elle Wadsworth presented research on alcohol and cannabis co-use in Canada and the United States immediately before and one year after legalisation of non-medical cannabis in Canada in 2018, and Dr Sadie Boniface facilitated an informal discussion on research gaps and priorities in this area | IAS, UK

Meeting Critical Needs: Evidence with Impact – CCSA Annual Report, 2022–2023

Outlines CCSA’s activities in fiscal year 2022–2023 and provides the auditor’s report. Highlights how, together with our partners, we offered people in Canada the latest insights and knowledge on the effects of substance use. We also issued new evidence to improve substance use health, inform policy makers at all levels of government, and support care delivery and education | CCSA, Canada

Afghanistan opium cultivation in 2023 declined 95 per cent following drug ban: new UNODC survey

Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan plunged by an estimated 95 per cent following a drug ban imposed by the de facto authorities in April 2022, according to a new research brief from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) | UNODC, Austria

E-cigarette Use Down Among U.S. High School Students in 2023

A study released from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration shows that, among high school students, current (past 30-day) use of any tobacco product declined during 2022-2023 (16.5% to 12.6%), primarily driven by a decline in e-cigarette use (14.1% to 10.0%). Declines also occurred for use of any combustible tobacco product, including cigars, among high school students | CDC, USA

Drug consumption data shows serious and organised criminals continue to exploit Australian community

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has released the latest findings from its National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, revealing methylamphetamine and cocaine consumption increased to the highest levels recorded since 2020 | ACIC, Australia

New report shows Victorian overdose deaths increased in 2022

A new report released today by the Coroners Court of Victoria, shows that in 2022 there was an increase in overdose deaths in Victoria — with 549 overdose deaths in 2022, compared to 500 deaths in 2021 | Coroner's Court of Victoria, Australia

Key interventions to prevent and control infections among people who inject drugs

Six interventions, one aim: to prevent and control infections among people who inject drugs. In new public health guidance released today, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) have joined forces to identify key interventions to address infectious diseases in this population. Reflecting new evidence, infectious disease treatments, and public health concepts, this guidance updates the 2011 edition | EMCDDA, Portugal

Health at a Glance 2023

Health at a Glance provides the latest comparable data and trends on different aspects of the performance of health systems in OECD countries. It provides striking evidence of large variations across countries in indicators of health status and health risks, as well as in the inputs and outputs of health systems. [Data is included on alcohol use, smoking, and ilicit drug use] | OECD, UK

Tobacco harm reduction consumer advocacy organisations

Tobacco harm reduction is a potentially life-saving intervention for millions of people across the world.[i] To those who use high-risk tobacco products, like cigarettes and some oral tobaccos, it offers the chance to switch to a range of safer nicotine products that pose fewer risks to their health. These include nicotine vapes (e-cigarettes), snus,[ii] nicotine pouches[iii] and heated tobacco products. While some governments are encouraging people who smoke to switch to safer nicotine products, in many countries, access is being limited or even banned entirely | GSTHR, UK

OHID and NHS England’s Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Workforce Transformation Programme (PDF)

In February 2019, Professor Dame Carol Black was commissioned by the then Home Secretary to undertake a two-part independent review of drugs, which should include an up-to-date analysis of the problems created by drugs in England and a set of recommended policy solutions. This second briefing is designed to update on programme progress and provide an overview of upcoming publications and projects | OHID, UK

2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Releases

Conducted annually, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) provides nationally representative data on the use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs; substance use disorders; mental health issues; and receipt of substance use and mental health treatment among the civilian, noninstitutionalized population aged 12 or older in the United States. NSDUH estimates allow researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the general public to better understand and improve the nation’s behavioral health. These reports and detailed tables present estimates from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health | SAMHSA, USA

Overdose prevention centres, safe consumption sites, and drug consumption rooms: a rapid evidence review (PDF)

This rapid review on overdose prevention centres (OPCs) aims to collate and summarise existing evidence. It describes the impact of OPCs on individuals who use drugs, communities, and public health. OPCs are community facilities which provide a safe, hygienic space for people to consume their own drugs in the presence of trained individuals who can intervene if an overdose occurs | Drug Science, UK

Public opinion on alcohol in Australia

This report highlights that Australians are concerned about alcoholic products and the impact they are having on our community. Alcohol harms are at a crisis point and Australians support change | Alcohol Change Australia, Australia

New guidance for drug checking services in health risk communication

Health risk communication strategies for drug checking services in Europe is the focus of a new EMCDDA manual out today. The resource provides staff working in these services with practical guidance on communicating drug-related risks at both an individual and community level | EMCDDA, Portugal

Vaping: a guide for health and social care professionals (PDF)

These guidleines aim to educate health professionals about vaping and to encourage them to assist smokers to quit with vaping. The guidelines were prepared by a team of UK and international experts in the field | NCSCT, UK

Holding us back: tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food and drink (PDF)

Although, there is such clear alignment between action to reduce the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food and drink and the UK Government’s view of its role in protecting the public’s health, there is little alignment in how government has acted to address the harms from these products. This report calls for a coherent and strategic approach to rebalancing the profit-making powers of industries with the rights of people to live free, healthy and productive lives | OHA, AHA and ASH, UK

Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2023 - wave 4 follow up to the 2017 survey

In 2023, most children aged 11 to 16 years reported that they had not had alcohol (95.1%), cigarettes (98.8%), cannabis and other drugs (99.1%), or used an e-cigarette or vaping device (96.3%) in the previous 7 days. In 2023, the majority of young people aged 17 to 22 years reported that they had not smoked cigarettes (87.3%) or used cannabis and other drugs (91.0%) in the previous 7 days. Young people with a probable mental disorder were more likely to have used a vaping or e-cigarette device in the previous 7 days (32.9%) than those unlikely to have a mental disorder (18.4%). They were also more likely to have used cannabis or other drugs in the previous 7 days than young people unlikely to have a mental disorder (19.5% compared with 3.6%) | NHS Digital, UK

Findings from the 2021-2022 HBSC study for England: Health behaviour in school-aged children: World Health Organisation collaborative cross-national study (PDF)

The HBSC questionnaire asks about many features of daily life for children and young people in England such as their diet, physical activity, sleep, smoking and alcohol use, as well as their experiences with their families, friends, and schools. This report is based on the data from 5377 young people in England. [See page 5 for information on drug use] | University of Kent, UK

Emergency department bloodborne virus opt-out testing: 12-month interim report 2023

An estimated 70,649 people were living with chronic HCV in England in 2022. This number has reduced by 45% since 2015 largely due to the roll out of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment through the NHS England Hepatitis C Elimination Programme. People who inject drugs (PWID) are the largest risk group for HCV and this population has been successfully targeted for testing and treatment, with routine testing in place in drug services | UKHSA, UK

European Drug Report 2023: Trends and Developments

The European Drug Report 2023: Trends and Developments presents the EMCDDA’s latest analysis of the drug situation in Europe. Focusing on illicit drug use, related harms and drug supply, the report contains a comprehensive set of national data across these themes and key harm reduction interventions | EMCDDA, Portugal

Homeless Deaths 2022

In 2022 there were an estimated 89 drug-misuse deaths of people experiencing homelessness. While this is a fall over the past year, drug-misuse accounted for 36% of all homeless deaths | National Records of Scotland, UK

Irish Prison Service drugs strategy 2023-2026

The Irish Prison Service Statement of Strategy 2023-2027 and the Irish Prison Service Drugs Strategy 2023-2026 marks a new chapter in the approach to imprisonment and substance abuse within the Irish prison system. The Irish Prison Service has embarked on an extensive consultation process to identify the strategic priorities that will shape its operations over the next number of years. This collaborative effort involved senior management and staff from across the prison estate, and, for the first time, engagement with individuals in custody facilitated by the Irish Red Cross | Irish Prison Service, Ireland

Smokefree generation policy: modelling report

A technical report about the methodology and data used to model the effects of the smokefree generation policy | DHSC, UK

Roads to recovery: Exploring UK prison rehabilitation and its alternatives (PDF)

One of the primary purposes of the UK prison system is to facilitate offender rehabilitation. However, inadequate support and high reoffending rates mean it is failing to live up to that ideal. Drawing upon lessons from the Netherlands and Norway, this briefing highlights the potential benefits of alternative approaches to rehabilitation | SMF, UK

Humankind publishes Impact Report for 2022/23

We are proud to publish our annual report detailing the impact Humankind had on people and communities across England throughout 2022/23 | Humankind, UK

Off track: Shadow report for the mid-term review of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration on drugs

The 2019 Ministerial Declaration on drugs laid down the main objectives of the international community in addressing the world drug situation for a 10-year period. Drawing on a broad range of data and evidence, as well as on the experience of civil society and communities, this report shows that by 2023 there has been little, incomplete or no progress in achieving these goals | IDPC, UK

We are family: Delivering more smokefree families in England (PDF)

A report by Future Health Research has shown that in England there are 1.8 million family households with children in which at least one adult smokes. Passive smoking harms children’s developing airways, lungs and immune system — which can lead to chest infections — and causes about 22,000 new cases of asthma each year in the UK | Future Health Research, UK

The Scottish Health Survey 2022 – volume 1: main report

This report presents results for the Scottish Health Survey 2022, providing information on the health and factors relating to health of people living in Scotland, including alcohol use and smoking | Scottish Government, UK

Drugs and alcohol workforce action plan 2023 to 2026

Sets out the key actions we will deliver over the next three years to address challenges experienced by the drugs and alcohol sector's workforce | Scottish Government, UK

New figures show smoking costs billions more than tobacco taxes as consultation on creating a smokefree generation closes

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) today publishes new figures showing the far-reaching impact smoking has on society on the day the consultation to create a smokefree generation closes. The charity says it demonstrates why action to make smoking history is needed and how this will benefit the whole of society | ASH, UK

WHO calls on countries to increase taxes on alcohol and sugary sweetened beverages

The World Health Organization (WHO) is releasing today new data that show a low global rate of taxes being applied to unhealthy products such as alcohol and sugary sweetened beverages (SSBs). The findings highlight that the majority of countries are not using taxes to incentivize healthier behaviours. To help support countries WHO is also releasing a technical manual on alcohol tax policy and administration | WHO, Switzerland

Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2023: Cultivation, Production, and Implications (PDF)

To assess the scope of opium poppy cultivation and opium production in Southeast Asia, UNODC has been conducting opium surveys in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) intermittently since 1992 and regularly in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar since 2002. The present report contains the results of the UNODC opium poppy cultivation surveys in Lao PDR and Myanmar covering the 2022/2023 poppy season | UNODC, Thailand

Alcohol Action Ireland Sale of Alcohol Bill polling Dec 2023 (PDF)

Report relating the results from a poll on late licensing | Alcohol Action Ireland, Ireland

Reversing the exploitation of amazonian indigenous peoples: drug trafficking and extractive economies in peru (PDF)

This paper has two main objectives. First and foremost, to shine a light on the extremely vulnerable situation Amazonian Indigenous peoples of Peru currently face, with the aim to specifically highlight this to the international community of the country | Beckley Foundation, UK

Engagement with the tobacco industry: Guidance for local government

This publication sets out how local councils can manage interaction with the tobacco industry, in line with the requirements of article 5.3 of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and in accordance with the WHO Guidelines for implementation of article 5.3 | Local.gov, UK

MAT standards informed response to benzodiazepine harm reduction interim guidance

This guidance encourages flexible and individualised high-intensity care, to support staff working in specialist treatment services who are regularly engaging with people using street benzodiazepines as well as opioids. Included is information on immediate changes you can make and action you can take to actively reduce harms by forming therapeutic relationships which consider the prescribing of benzodiazepines and the safe and effective delivery of appropriate psychosocial interventions | Public Health Scotland, UK

Hospital admissions due to smoking up nearly 5% last year, NHS data shows

Smoking-related hospital admissions in England increased by nearly 5% in 2022-23, compared to the previous year, but remain lower than before the Covid pandemic. Latest statistics from NHS England show that in 2022-23 there were an estimated 408,700 hospital admissions due to smoking, a rise from 389,800 in 2021-22 (an increase of 4.8%). The newly published figures in NHS England’s Statistics on Public Health, 2023 report also cover 2020-21, when there were 314,100 admissions attributed to smoking, which was consistent with fewer hospital admissions overall that year | NHS England, UK

HSE emerging drug trend monitoring. Year 2 results from the Syringe Analysis Programme 2022. The identification of injecting trends in the Dublin and Midland Region through the application of syringe analysis methodology

In the second phase of the Syringe Analysis Programme, the HSE in partnership with Merchants Quay Ireland collected 165 used syringes from the Dublin and Midland regions during September and October 2022. The residual drugs were extracted from these syringes and the data used to compare drug trends from the two regions. The Syringe Analysis Programme is the first of its kind in Ireland, whereby community services and a laboratory collaborate to conduct analysis | HSE, Ireland

Migrants and drugs — need to scale up specialised drug services in Europe

Health and social responses for migrants who use drugs are explored in a new EMCDDA miniguide launched to mark International Migrants Day. The resource is one of a series of miniguides making up the agency's latest overview of actions and interventions to respond to the consequences of illicit drug use. Presenting key issues related to migrants and drug use, the miniguide reveals gaps in service provision and limited knowledge on the extent and nature of drug problems in this group | EMCDDA, Portugal

This briefing looks at case reviews published between 2022 and 2023, where parental substance use problems were a key factor. Many of the learning and recommendations contained in the serious case reviews repeat lessons from numerous other reviews. Reviews emphasise that professionals need to conduct child-centred assessments and continue to reassess the potential risks that children face in households experiencing problems with substance use | NSPCC Learning, UK

Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2022 registrations

In England and Wales, 4,907 deaths related to drug poisoning were registered in 2022, equivalent to a rate of 84.4 deaths per million people, this is similar to the rate recorded in 2021 (84.0 deaths per million, 4,859 deaths); the age-standardised mortality rate for deaths related to drug poisoning has risen every year since 2012 | ONS, UK

National drug and alcohol treatment waiting times

This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) reports on waiting times for people accessing specialist drug and alcohol treatment services between 1 July and 30 September 2023. In 2011, the Scottish Government set a Standard that 90% of people referred for help with problematic drug or alcohol use will wait no longer than three weeks for specialist treatment that supports their recovery | Public Health Scotland, UK

Interim monitoring report on statutory funded residential rehabilitation placements: Placements approved by Alcohol and Drug Partnerships between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2023

This is the eighth report on residential rehabilitation within the Monitoring and Evaluation Programme led by Public Health Scotland (PHS). The report presents information on the number of Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) statutory-funded placements into residential rehabilitation, with estimated costs, that were approved between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2023 | Public Health Scotland, UK

Scottish Public Health Observatory update: Estimated quarterly numbers of people prescribed opioid substitution therapy in Scotland (12-month period)

In the 12-month period ending 30 June 2023 (the end of 2023/24 Q1), Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) was prescribed to an estimated minimum of 30,133 people in Scotland. In the 12-month period to the end of the previous financial year quarter (2022/23 Q4) an estimated minimum of 29,962 people were prescribed OST | Public Health Scotland, UK

NHS stop smoking services quarterly

This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents information on NHS Stop Smoking Services in Scotland and their progress towards their annual Local Delivery Plan (LDP) Standard. The LDP Standard for NHS Scotland sets a target number of successful 12-week quits based on a percentage (1.5%) of the estimated smoking population aged 16 plus in the 40% most deprived areas (60% in NHS Island Boards). In 2023/24 this target amounts to 7,026 individuals | Public Health Scotland, UK

Drug consumption rooms

A main aim of this report is to inform discussions on drug consumption rooms (DCRs) by examining the available evidence, as well as reviewing the various models being adopted and their characteristics. The report is based on a mixed-methods approach, including a review of documents published by EMCDDA and C-EHRN up to 2020, together with a structured literature search for new peer-reviewed (MEDLINE) and grey publications, including relevant health and public-order outcomes of drug consumption rooms and covering the most recent years (2020 and 2021) | EMCDDA, Portugal

Seeds of Inequality Contrasting Realities in South Africa’s Cannabis Industry (PDF)

This briefing paper focuses on Mpondoland, the Eastern Cape centre of traditional small-scale cannabis farming. It provides an overview of the changing dynamics in the national cannabis economy, with a specific emphasis on inclusive policies. It addresses the question of how to create the inclusive cannabis industry, ‘serving the ordinary farmer’ as envisaged by President Ramaphosa | TNI, The Netherlands

Update on new synthetic drugs

The latest data from the Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) early warning system, led by Public Health Scotland (PHS), shows that nitazenes have been detected in 25 deaths in Scotland since 2022 (up until 30 September 2023), based on post-mortem toxicology testing. There can be little doubt nitazenes are circulating in Scotland and pose a serious harm to health | Public Health Scotland, UK

National Mission on Drugs: Annual Monitoring Report 2022-2023

This first standalone annual monitoring report provides an analysis of the progress made between April 2022 and March 2023 towards reducing the number of drug-related deaths and improving the lives of people affected by drugs in Scotland. It reports on the set of metrics described in the National Mission on Drugs: Monitoring Metrics Technical Paper, which are used to monitor progress towards the National Mission | Scottish Government, UK

Extend Studio