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Weekly news - 12th December 2025 |
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In date order, Monday to Friday
DDN December/January 2025
It’s been a reactive year for the sector. Drugs – familiar, new, hard to identify – have brought treatment challenges that demand our attention. Escalating drug death figures continue to shame us. Alcohol policy still treads water. The prison system is stuck in a cycle of addiction, violence and reoffending. When an MP says the drug sector needs to speak with a clear and unified voice to policymakers, it feels frustrating. But exploring some key initiatives – throughout this issue – reminds us that we have much of the evidence of what works | DDN, UK
Open call for evidence - Drug use in LGBT+ communities and chemsex
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is reviewing the evidence of drug use in LGBT+ communities and in the context of chemsex in the UK. This call for evidence closes at 11:59pm on 30 January 2026 | ACMD, UK
'Dental charity gives me new hope after years of addiction'
A charity that provides free dental care for people experiencing homelessness and hardship has returned to the site of its first-ever clinic to mark its 10-year anniversary | BBC, UK
Warning as new synthetic opioid 200 times stronger than heroin kills three users in days
Questions mount over delays in informing frontline services about the threat from new synthetic opioid cychlorphine | Big Issue, UK
Cocaine widely detected in some of NI's major lakes and rivers
Scientists found the Class A drug, and its by-product, in 91% of almost 140 water samples collected in different locations from five waterways - the River Lagan, River Bush, Dundrum, Lough Neagh and Lough Erne. Ketamine and amphetamine, two Class B drugs that are also used as pharmaceuticals, were also found as well as painkillers and antidepressants | BBC, UK
Man recovering from over-the-counter drug addiction urges others to get help
A Belfast man who is currently receiving treatment for an addiction to over the counter medication has warned others of the dangers they pose. Michael Main said he started taking ibuprofen and codeine products around 12 years ago for pains in his legs and migraines. He said his addiction had gotten so bad, he ended up in hospital to get operations for a perforated ulcer and to remove part of his bowel. Consultant addiction psychiatrist Dr Joy Watson said addiction to over-the-counter drugs is "an increasing problem in Northern Ireland" | BBC, UK
'I would drink and I wouldn't want to wake up'
A man who struggled with alcohol addiction has called for support to be provided for all communities. Navraj Singh, 43, has spoken out about how he got help, the barriers he faced, and what support was needed | BBC, UK
Evaluation of the Scottish Government Residential Rehabilitation programme
This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) is part of a series of reports on the number of individuals who start a residential rehabilitation placement in Scotland. These reports are informing the PHS evaluation of the Scottish Government's Residential Rehabilitation programme. The Residential Rehabilitation programme was set up to improve access to residential rehab for substance use in Scotland | Public Health Scotland, UK
Senedd backs bill to create smoke-free generation and curb youth vaping
Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister Sarah Murphy welcomed the Senedd’s vote on the legislative consent motion, describing the Bill as vital to protecting young people from a lifetime of nicotine addiction | Pembrokeshire Herald, UK
Guidance - Co-occurring mental health and substance use: delivery framework
A framework setting out actions to improve treatment for people with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions. The framework provides national commitments and recommended actions on how the health system should improve delivery of integrated, person-centred care across drug and alcohol treatment and mental health services | DHSC and NHS England, UK
Government response to the ACMD's sixth addendum advice on nitazenes
Response from - Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State for Policing and Crime: I would like to thank the ACMD for the recent advice dated 21 October 2025 on the sixth addendum to the generic definition of 2-benzyl benzimidazole opioids (nitazenes)... | ACMD, UK
Neurodiversity in Custody: Screening Results for ADHD and Autistic Traits in Individuals Arrested by the London Metropolitan Police
[Open access] Our findings suggest high rates of ADHD and autistic traits in arrestees, particularly among individuals arrested for drug offences. Screening for ADHD and autism at early stages of police contact could serve as a key opportunity to identify undiagnosed individuals and inform appropriate management | CBMH, UK
Sober strolls and sober cycles - York researchers behind new map promoting no and low alcohol options across the City (PDF)
A team of researchers are behind a new map which aims to help local residents and visitors easily discover venues offering no and low alcohol drinks. The team behind the NoLo (no and low alcohol) Map say it is a timely guide for the festive season and Dry January, when people may not choose to drink but still want to socialise and visit venues and support the hospitality industry | Sam Armstrong, UK
Patterns of e-Cigarette Use and Smoking Cessation Outcomes: Secondary Analysis of a Large Randomised Controlled Trial to Inform Clinical Advice
[Open access] A new major study from Queen Mary University of London has found that smokers who use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes at the same time—known as dual use—are reducing their intake of harmful chemicals and are also more likely to eventually quit smoking than those who continue to smoke only. This challenges common fears about dual use | Nicotine & Tobacco Research, UK
Drug misuse in England and Wales: year ending March 2025
The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimated that 8.7% of people aged 16 to 59 years (around 2.9 million people) reported using any drug in the last 12 months for the year ending (YE) March 2025; there was no statistically significant change compared with YE March 2024. Drug use was higher among people aged 16 to 24 years, with 15.1% reporting any use in the last 12 months; although there was no statistically significant change compared with the previous year, there has been a general downward trend in this age group since its peak in YE December 1997 (31.8%). Around 2.0% of people were frequent drug users (more than once a month) | ONS, UK
Opiate and crack cocaine use: prevalence estimates 2022 to 2023
Estimates of the number and rates of people using opiates and/or crack cocaine (OCU) in England between April 2022 and March 2023. The estimated total number of OCU for 2022 to 2023 in England is 310,718 | DHSC and UKHSA, UK
Policy briefing: alcohol
The briefing sets out the range of evidence-based actions that could be taken to prevent and reduce harm from alcohol, building on the progress that has been made through minimum unit pricing. We expect these actions, taken together, could reverse current trends in terms of harm from alcohol, and would reduce the burden that alcohol-related conditions place on our health and social care services | Pubic Health Scotland, UK
2026/27 NHS Payment Scheme consultation
The consultation on the proposed 2026/27 NHS Payment Scheme is open until the end of 16 December 2025. This consultation allows you to say whether you accept or reject the proposed Payment Scheme, and give reasons for your choice. It also gives you the opportunity to provide feedback on specific policy areas covered by the consultation notice | NHS England, UK
Responsible advertising: illegal drugs references
“Need drugs to get you through Christmas?” Avoid any reference to illegal drugs to avoid tripping up on the rules around responsibility. Any references, however veiled and obscure, to illegal drugs, are likely to breach the Code. Even if they are a common reference point in the target audience, or they might not offend those who see the ad, mentioning illegal drugs suggests you condone or even encourage their use | ASA, UK