Reports: July |
Drug use and current alternatives to coercive sanctions in Ireland. Mapping the existing alternatives to coercive sanctions for people found in possession of controlled drugs for personal use
The report identified and mapped nine current alternatives in Ireland to coercive sanctions for people who are found in possession of controlled drugs for personal use. These initiatives include the Garda Adult Caution Scheme, Diversionary measures, the Dublin Drug Treatment Courts and the Law Engagement and Assisted Recovery (LEAR) Programme | Centre for Justice Innovation, Ireland
WHO releases first-ever clinical treatment guideline for tobacco cessation in adults
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a comprehensive set of tobacco cessation interventions, including behavioural support delivered by health-care providers, digital cessation interventions and pharmacological treatments in a first guideline on tobacco cessation | WHO, Switzerland
Cancers caused by smoking reach all time high
The number of cancer cases caused by smoking in the UK has reached an all-time high of 160 cases every day, new analysis from Cancer Research UK shows. The number of cases has increased by 17% since 2003, meaning over 20 additional people a day are being diagnosed with cancer caused by smoking compared to 20 years ago | Cancer Research UK, UK
National benchmarking report on implementation of the medication assisted treatment (MAT) standards
This report provides an assessment of progress on implementation of medication assisted treatment (MAT) standards 1–10 as of April 2024 across all 29 Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) areas. It does not report directly on outcomes, but recommends actions to address gaps | 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 in 2023/24 is to achieve at least 7,026 self-reported successful twelve-week quits through smoking cessation services in the 40% most deprived areas (60% in NHS Island Boards) | Public Health Scotland, UK
Eurojust annual report 2023 (PDF)
Drug trafficking was once again one of the top two crime types dealt with by the Agency in 2023. Eurojust handled almost 2 500 cases, of which just under half were new cases opened in 2023 and just over half were ongoing cases from previous years. The number of drug trafficking cases addressed by the Agency continues to increase, with more than double the number of cases registered in 2023 compared to 2020 | Eurojust, The Netherlands
Alcohol, tobacco & other drugs in Australia
Alcohol, tobacco and other drug use is a major cause of preventable disease, illness and death in Australia. This report consolidates recent information on the availability and consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in Australia, and related impacts, harms and treatment | AIHW, Australia
Inequalities in distance from tobacconists, off-licences and betting shops
People living in more deprived areas, minority ethnic groups and younger people are more likely to live near tobacconists, off-licences and betting shops | The Health Foundation, UK
“Above and beyond” The key role families play in recovery (PDF)
In this study we ran a survey completed by over 100 people who had previously experienced problems with their drinking and/or drug use and over three quarters said that their families played a key role in their recovery, helping in multiple ways, going above and beyond | Adfam, UK
Interim monitoring report on statutory-funded residential rehabilitation placements
Overall, between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2024, 2,290 statutory-funded placements (including ADP approved placements, National Mission funded placements and Ward 5 data) for residential rehabilitation were approved in Scotland. The total estimated cost over this timeframe was £21,647,768 | Public Health Scotland, UK
Controlled drugs annual update report for 2023
There is a significant increase in the number of cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) prescribed privately in the independent sector. The most current available prescribing data for independent services has shown an increase of 118% between 30 June 2022 and 30 June 2023. The number of unlicensed CBPMs prescribed each year continues to increase by at least 100% annually | CQC, UK
National Drug Treatment Reporting System: 2023 alcohol treatment demand
A total of 8,163 cases were treated for problem alcohol use in 2023, according to the latest data from the Health Research Board (HRB) – an increase of 10% on 2022 figures and the highest annual total in over a decade. One in four cases also reported problem use of another drug along with alcohol in 2023. Cocaine remains the most common additional drug reported with 1,310 cases mixing alcohol and cocaine in 2023 compared to 607 in 2017 | HRB, Ireland
Developing drug driving statistics
An initial feasibility study exploring drugs present in motor vehicle drivers and riders killed in reported road collisions, updated with data to 2022 | DoT, UK
Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly report
Drug-related harms remain high in Scotland. Patterns of polysubstance use remain the key driver of harms. The most common combinations associated with risk of harm involve benzodiazepines (most commonly diazepam and bromazolam), cocaine and opioids. New synthetic drugs (particularly nitazene-type opioids and xylazine) played an increasing role in harms | Public Health Scotland, UK