Reports: July |
Avoidable mortality, risk factors and policies for tackling noncommunicable diseases – leveraging data for impact: monitoring commitments in the WHO European Region ahead of the Fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting (PDF)
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, remain the leading cause of death and disability in the WHO European Region. Approximately 1.8 million deaths annually are avoidable, with 60% preventable through reduced exposure to risk factors and public health interventions, and 40% treatable with timely and high-quality health care | WHO, Denmark
Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol in Wales (PDF)
In January 2025, the Welsh Government published the final reports of the independent evaluation it had commissioned on the operation and effect of the Act. It is also undertaking a consultation to gather views on awareness of minimum unit pricing in Wales and its impact. This document outlines the inquiries recommendations | Welsh Parliament Health and Social Care Committee, UK
Briefing on a Smokefree England at 18 (PDF)
This briefing outlines the evidence and impact of smokefree legislation introduced in 2007. Substantial evidence now exists regarding the changes that have followed from the introduction of this legislation. The briefing outlines the positive developments in public support, compliance, health benefits and the economic impact of the legislation over the last 18 years | ASH, UK
Interim monitoring report on statutory-funded residential rehabilitation placements
In the last six-month period, between 1 October 2024 and 31 March 2025, a total of 471 residential rehabilitation placements were approved for statutory funding in Scotland. This is an increase of 10 placements when compared to October 2023 to March 2024 (n=461), and an increase of 29 placements when compared to the previous six months | Public Health Scotland, UK
First anniversary: EUDA delivers key gains in strengthening Europe’s preparedness on drugs
Exactly one year ago today, we became the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and embarked on our new mission to strengthen EU preparedness on drugs. Building on the work of the EMCDDA, and with a more proactive mandate, we set off to support the EU and its Member States in addressing emerging drug issues in an ever-changing world. Our work contributes to making Europe's streets safer and to saving lives. Our motto — 'Acting today, anticipating tomorrow' | EUDA, Portugal
HM Inspectorate of Prisons Annual Report 2024-25
The Chief Inspector of Prisons has called for the government to take far more seriously the widespread ingress of illegal drugs into prisons. In his Annual Report, Charlie Taylor said the prison service, police and security services must work closely together to tackle the threat from organised criminals, which is destabilising jails and preventing many from delivering rehabilitative work that will help people to stop offending. The supply and use of illicit drugs are the overriding themes of his report, undermining every aspect of prison life. Far too little was being done to keep drugs out of jails, too many prisoners said it was easy to get hold of them, and the rate of positive random tests frequently reached more than 30%. [See also blogs section below] | HMI Prisons, UK
New Report Shows US Drug Overdose Deaths Rising Again After Hopeful Decline
For the first time in more than a year, street drug deaths appear to be rising across the U.S. according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The latest available data, compiled in January of this year, shows fatal overdoses over the previous 12-month period increased by roughly 1,400 deaths | KQED, USA
Drug Trends output: Trends in cocaine use, availability, price and purity in Brisbane and Gold Coast, QLD, 2003-2024
This bulletin draws on multiple data sources to summarise trends in cocaine use, availability, purity and price in Queensland between 2003 and 2024 | NDARC, Australia
Press Release: New Data on Vaping Uncovers a Public Health Disconnect
Failure of current regulations means vapes are overused by teens but underused to quit smoking | ASH, UK
Evaluation of the National Mission on Drug Deaths: Lived experience survey
This publication presents findings from a survey of individuals with experience of using drugs, undertaken as part of the PHS evaluation of the National Drug Deaths Mission. The survey aimed to explore: 1) their views on the support currently available to them, including from Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services. 2) their views as to whether the support offer from services has got better or worse over the last two years. The survey provides some evidence which suggests that the support experience may have improved. However, the survey findings also suggest that there are substantial ongoing challenges and scope to improve the support offer | PHS, UK
10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future
The 10 Year Health Plan is part of the government’s health mission to build a health service fit for the future. Regarding alcohol, the plan aims to tackle harmful consumption by introducing new standards for alcohol labelling. It will also support further growth in the no- and low-alcohol market. The plan also aims to fully roll out lung cancer screening for those with a history of smoking | DHSC, UK
Use of vapes among young people in Great Britain (PDF)
This factsheet presents findings from the 2025 ASH Smokefree GB Youth Survey on vaping among 11–17-year-olds in Great Britain | ASH, UK
Generation Vape Research Project - Vaping and young people: Assessing early impacts of Australia’s comprehensive approach to vaping product control (PDF)
The growing rates of e-cigarette use among young people is concerning given young adulthood is a significant period for the establishment of unhealthy or risky behaviours that persist into adulthood. Generation Vape is the first research project of its kind to take place at a national level in Australia and involves both quantitative and qualitative research components | Generation Vape, Australia
Merchants Quay Ireland drug-related attitudes and beliefs in Ireland survey (PDF)
Merchants Quay Ireland wished to understand the general public’s perspectives towards people who use drugs or are drug dependent through a range of attitudinal statements sourced from Bryan et al. (2000) study | Merchants Quay, Ireland
Evaluation of the National Drug Strategy “Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025 (PDF)
The National Drug Strategy 2017–2025 is Ireland’s national framework for addressing substance use through a whole-of-government, person-centred, and health-led approach, framing substance use as primarily, a public health issue. The implementation of the strategy has been guided by five overarching goals: promoting health and wellbeing; minimising harms and supporting recovery; addressing drug market impacts; fostering community participation; and developing evidence-informed policies | DoH, Ireland
Media Release on The Use of Strip Searches & Drug Dogs in NSW Report
New report shows over 80,000 strip searches conducted in 10 years, with more than 85% finding nothing. The report titled ‘The Use of Strip Searches & Drug Dogs in NSW’, based on 10 years of police data from 2014 to 2023, was released today by Harm Reduction Australia and Redfern Legal Centre | Harm Reduction Australia, Australia
Drug-related harms increase across Scotland
Public Health Scotland (PHS) has published its latest Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly report. The report shows drug-related harms are higher compared to the previous quarter, including naloxone administration incidents (45% increase) and emergency department attendances (19%). A rise was also seen in suspected drug deaths, which were 15% higher than the previous quarter and 7% higher than the same period in 2024. A global challenge that Scotland needs to respond to is the emergence of new drugs, such as nitazene-type opioids. First detected in Scotland in 2022, these drugs were present in 6% of all deaths in the first quarter of 2025. People who use drugs and those who support them should be aware of the increased health risks these substances pose | Public Health Scotland, UK
Review of the Evaluation of the National Drug Strategy “Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025 (PDF)
Alcohol Action Ireland appreciated the opportunity to engage with the consultation reviewing and evaluating the National Drug and Alcohol Strategy - Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025 (NDS). The overarching goal of the evaluation was to determine how effectively the NDS delivered a health-led, whole-of-government response to drug and alcohol use and to inform the development of the next iteration of the NDS by identifying accomplishments, areas for improvement, and future recommendations | Alcohol Action Ireland, Ireland
Action on Alcohol - Priorities for policymakers (PDF)
Call for action. A national, cross-government Alcohol Strategy is required to commit the Government to reducing alcohol-related harm and to outline the practical steps it will take to do so. The strategy should be informed by current thinking on health inequalities, aim to strengthen family and community resilience, and foster a healthier, more informed relationship with alcohol across the UK. Crucially, it must recognise the potency of treatment and recovery in meeting the needs of people with alcohol problems, and adequately fund support | APPG Drugs, Alcohol and Justice, Waythrough, With You, Via, UK