Reports: May |
Local preparedness for synthetic opioids in England
A report outlining evidence and insights for Combating Drugs Partnerships, intending to help strengthen their preparedness for the synthetic opioid threat | Home Office, UK
People with substance use and mental health disorders suffering harm and premature death after being excluded from care, warns RCPsych
A new report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists warns that people who have a co-occurring substance use disorder and another mental health disorder (CoSUM) are being failed by a system that is not designed or equipped to meet their complex needs | RCPsych, UK
Injecting equipment provision in Scotland
This annual release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents information on injecting equipment provision (IEP). This includes the number of outlets, attendances and the types of injecting equipment distributed to people who used controlled drugs (including Novel Psychoactive Substances and Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs) in Scotland in 2025 | PHS, UK
UK mortality trends and international comparisons
While in the 2010s alcohol-related mortality rates for people aged 25–49 plateaued or declined and mortality rates for suicide slightly increased, the rate of drug-related deaths rose sharply. In contrast, rates of drug-related deaths continued to decline for peer countries. As a result, the drug-related mortality rate in the UK was more than three times higher in 2019 than the median of peer countries. Geographic inequalities in drug-related deaths are stark among people aged 25–49. In 2019, the drug-related mortality rate in Scotland was around 4 times higher than in England. Within England, the drug-related mortality rate in the North East was 3.5 times higher for men and almost 4 times higher for women than in London | Health Foundation, UK
Statistics on Local Stop Smoking Services in England, April 2024 to December 2024 (Q3)
This report includes information on the number of people setting a quit date and the number who successfully quit at the 4 week follow-up. It also presents in-depth analyses of the key measures of the service including breakdowns by age, ethnic group, socio-economic classification, type of stop-smoking aids used in the quit attempt, as well as spend on services. The results are provided at national, regional, and local authority levels | NHS Digital, UK
Behavioural insights into youth vaping in Northern Ireland (PDF)
This report provides detailed information on the use of e-cigarettes and perceptions of vaping among young people, as well as insights into tobacco use, and will help inform the future design of targeted interventions and communications on vape use by young people | Public Health Agency, UK
Knowledge and Skills Framework & Learning Directory
The Scottish Government has published the Drugs and Alcohol Workforce Knowledge and Skills Framework. This guide is for practitioners, commissioners, managers and service providers to understand the knowledge and skills required, in addition to any professional or clinical standards. The Framework is not mandatory, does not affect the rights and duties of employees and employers and does not replace existing standards. This is complemented by the Drugs and Alcohol Learning Directory. This gives staff access to resources to help develop knowledge and skills and support personal and professional growth. The directory is based on the Framework and is divided into five themes: family-inclusive practice / tackling stigma / harm-reduction / human rights-based approach and trauma-informed care | Scottish Government, UK
The price is right: Minimum unit pricing for alcohol and the case for a windfall tax
Evidence shows that minimum unit pricing reduces alcohol harm. However, a key objection to the policy of setting a floor price for alcohol is that it unfairly creates a financial windfall for retailers, who benefit financially from being able to charge higher prices without competition. This report explores ways of taxing this windfall, examining potential changes to the alcohol duty system and the case for a new additional tax | SMF, UK
Alcohol taxation and pricing policies implementation toolkit: a practical guide for selecting, implementing and evaluating policies
This toolkit supports government officials in selecting, implementing, and evaluating alcohol taxation and pricing policies. It offers practical considerations and resources to navigate the complexities of policy formulation, empowering officials from various sectors like health, finance, social welfare, children’s services, trade and agriculture to initiate and lead cross-government discussions | WHO, Switzerland
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee - Tuesday 13 May 2025 (PDF)
The official report of the evidence session given to the Health Committee on the 13th May 2025 on the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament, UK
Semi-synthetic cannabinoids related to tetrahydro-cannabinol and cannabidiol
ACMD review into the use and harms of SSCs and THCA to identify compounds causing harm which are not captured by the current generic definition for cannabinoids | ACMD, UK
Independent Sentencing Review: Final report
The Independent Sentencing Review sets out proposals to address prison and probation challenges and support victims | MoJ, UK
The cannabis conundrum: a way forward for London (PDF)
Our comprehensive examination of the nature and effectiveness of UK cannabis law involved taking evidence from over 200 witnesses who brought significant knowledge and lived experience. Many are well-known, experts in their fields. We also considered a substantial amount of wider data and research. Collectively, this led us to the following position and principal recommendation, with several underpinning conclusions and associated further recommendations: The current law criminalises importation, exportation, production and supply of cannabis, with the possibility of severe associated punishments. It also criminalises cannabis possession and, in this, we find it not fit for purpose. The law therefore requires some modification | London Drugs Commission, UK
National Drug Treatment Reporting System: 2024 drug treatment demand
The latest Health Research Board figures show 13,295 cases were treated for problem drug use in 2024. This is the highest annual number recorded to date and an increase of 191 cases compared to 2023. According to Drug treatment demand in Ireland 2024, cocaine remains Ireland’s most common drug treated (excluding alcohol), accounting for 40% (5,289 cases) of all drug treatment cases in 2024, a 7% increase on 4,923 cases in 2023. Cocaine is also the main problem drug for almost half of cases who are new to treatment. However, in 2024, cocaine also accounted for one in three previously treated cases, the highest number recorded to date and an indication of the changing profile of users and how prevalent cocaine use has become in society | HRB, Ireland
EUDA launches annual activity report capturing key achievements in 2024
[Yesterday], the EUDA launches its first Consolidated Annual Activity Report, which captures its key achievements in 2024. This was a year unlike any other, which saw the official establishment of the EUDA on 2 July 2024, succeeding the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). This marked the start of a new mission to strengthen EU preparedness on drugs. The report reflects the agency’s activities in this transformational period across three core drivers: health, security and business | EUDA, Portugal
A whole-system response to drug prevention in the UK
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) was commissioned in July 2023 to provide advice on drug prevention for young people, supporting the 10-year national drugs strategy (‘From harm to hope’). This report includes recommendations on: a whole-system response to prevention of drug use and related harms, including actions for younger age groups / effective labelled interventions on prevention / the structural components of a robust drug prevention system | ACMD, UK
Councillors' guide to local authority public health responsibilities
This publication has been developed by the LGA for elected members as overarching guidance to help clarify the current public health grant conditions and mandated public health functions in local government. The guide includes information on the provision of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services | LGA, UK
Public support for a smokefree society (PDF)
As the Tobacco and Vapes Bill nears the end of its journey through Parliament, new data on public attitudes in England reveal widespread support for further Government action to deliver a smokefree society | ASH, UK