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Weekly news - 1st August 2025

In date order, Monday to Friday

FSS issues warning after potentially harmful counterfeit vodka discovered

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is issuing a public health warning after counterfeit vodka was seized this week which confirmed the presence of the chemical isopropyl, which can be harmful if consumed. The counterfeit vodka recovered was sold in 35cl bottles (commonly known as half bottles) and fraudulently labelled as Glen’s | FSS, UK

Panorama - Britain’s Ketamine Crisis

Ketamine is increasingly popular as a recreational drug. So why are so many people taking it? And what can prolonged use do to your body? Reporter Hazel Martin travels to the north west of England to talk to users, those being treated in detox and rehab, and doctors who say they’re now being inundated by young patients in need of help. The government is considering reclassifying it as a class A drug, so is that part of the answer? And if not, how else can the ketamine crisis be fixed? | BBC iPlayer, UK

Risk of adolescent cigarette use in three UK birth cohorts before and after e-cigarettes

[Open access] UK teens who currently vape are as likely to take up smoking as their peers in the 1970s, despite a substantial fall in the prevalence of teenage smoking over the past 50 years, suggests a long term intergenerational study | BMJ Tobacco Control, UK

Third of UK teenagers who vape will go on to start smoking, research shows

[See item above] Findings suggest e-cigarettes increasingly act as ‘gateway’ to nicotine for children, undermining earlier falling rates | Guardian, UK

Expert reaction to an observational study comparing teen smoking rates and vaping use across three UK birth cohorts over 50 years

An observational study published in Tobacco Control looks at teen smoking rates in three UK birth cohorts before and after vape use. Here three experts give thir opinions on the study | Science Media Centre, UK

Calls to reinvest money from minimum alcohol pricing to help addicts

Any income made from increasing the minimum unit price for alcohol in Wales should be reinvested in addiction services, the chair of a Senedd committee has said | BBC, UK

Fatal drug overdoses in healthcare workers: A thematic framework analysis of coroner reports

[Open access] Healthcare workers face specific vulnerabilities for drug overdose due to their unique access to medications, clinical knowledge and work-related stress. This study aimed to understand the characteristics of fatal overdoses in healthcare workers with a view to providing guidance for preventative strategies | Addiction, UK

Lifestyle changes and vaccination ‘could prevent most liver cancer cases’

The Lancet Commission says that three in five cancer cases are preventable with action on obesity, alcohol and hepatitis | Guardian, UK

NHS launches first ever review to tackle LGBT+ health inequalities

The NHS has launched its first ever review to tackle health inequalities experienced by LGBT+ people, including access to mental health care, cancer screening and primary care services. The six-month review will examine data and evidence from a range of research and clinical settings, including mental health, sexual and reproductive health, HIV, perinatal care, primary care and cancer screening as well as smoking, alcohol and drug prevention services | NHS England, UK

Health experts issue new warning over synthetic drugs

Health experts have issued a new warning over synthetic drugs which could explain a sharp rise in suspected drug deaths. An update from Public Health Scotland (PHS) revealed there were 312 suspected drug-related fatalities between March and May, a 15% rise on the previous quarter. The latest Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response report, said potent synthetic opioids known a nitazenes were increasingly mixed with other drugs such as heroin | BBC, UK

Coroner urges crackdown on prison 'hooch'

A coroner has urged the government to clamp down on prisoners accessing illicitly brewed alcohol and medication after an inmate died after consuming both | BBC, UK

Disposable ban fails to stick as quarter of UK retailers break the law

Nearly one in four UK vape retailers are selling disposable vapes illegally just weeks after they were banned, according to a new investigation | Clearing the air, UK

Drugs Wheel 2.0 (UK version)

Version changes: The first of the three main changes is the integration of drug effects into the design. The second is the blurring of the borders between the drug groups. This illustrates how many drugs and their effects do not fit into rigid categories. The third change follows debate over the categorisation of alkyl nitrites (poppers). We have placed these as depressants because their action is different than dissociative drugs - and they generally do not lead to an altered state of consciousness in the same way as ketamine or ether, for example, but result in more of a 'drunk' or 'dizzy' effect. We have introduced hydrocarbon inhalants such as butane and hexane | Mark Adley et al, UK

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

THINK! launches summer 2025 drink drive campaign

THINK! has relaunched its drink drive campaign to remind young drivers that even a small amount of alcohol before driving can have serious consequences this summer | Road Safety GB, UK

Warning labels to be added to all alcoholic drinks in UK

The move will bring alcohol labelling in line with the existing requirements for tobacco, food and alcohol-free drinks | Express, UK

[Open access] Sales of alcohol-free and low-alcohol (no/lo) drinks are increasing rapidly but the drivers of this trend remain unclear. Reductions in alcohol consumption during January, including through temporary abstinence campaigns like Dry January, are one potential driver. This study estimates the immediate and long-term impact of changes made in January on sales of standard alcoholic and no/lo drinks in Great Britain | IJDP, UK

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