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Weekly news - 13th June 2025

In date order, Monday to Friday

Ketamine crisis causing A&E influx - councillor

Parts of Lancashire are in the grip of a "ketamine crisis" with the drug causing a surge in visits to A&E amongst those using it, councillors have been warned | BBC, UK

Addiction Healthcare Goals - Innovate UK - Accelerated Knowledge Transfer 4 (AKT4)

Are you an Academic or Organisation with an innovative challenge that can help address the aims of the Addiction Healthcare Goals? AKT enables UK organisations (such as companies, and NHS or voluntary sector treatment services) to accelerate innovation, working with a UK Knowledge Base (such as a university) to deliver a rapid and targeted intervention to accelerate the evaluation or development of an innovation project or concept, which has the potential for significant impact. Applications close on 2 July 2025 at 11am prompt | Office for Life Sciences, UK

[Open access] To reduce Glasgow’s poor record of drug-related harm and deaths, health services tried offering cash incentives to high-risk service users to engage them in a three-monthly set of investigations and treatments to reduce harm related to injecting | Addictive Behaviours Reports, UK

UK supermarkets exploit tax loophole to produce cider at ‘pocket-money prices’

Campaigners say ‘super-strength subsidy’ puts pressure on the NHS, as some ciders cost same as apple juice | Guardian, UK

Community Not a Commodity: The LGBT+ Community’s Views on Alcohol Marketing

Alcohol Focus Scotland has published a new report exploring how alcohol marketing affects LGBT+ people in Scotland, and how the industry’s presence in LGBT+ spaces and events, particularly Pride, is being perceived by the community itself. Community, Not a Commodity is based on a series of workshops held in late 2024 with LGBT+ individuals, offering a safe space for participants to share their experiences and perspectives on alcohol marketing. The report captures participants’ reflections on how alcohol is promoted in LGBT+ venues, events, and media - and how this intersects with their own experiences of identity, inclusion, and community | Alcohol Focus Scotland, UK

UK Parliament Justice Committee - Tuesday 10 June 2025 -
Subject: Rehabilitation and resettlement: ending the cycle of reoffending - video recording of the meeting

Witness(es): Kate Davies, Director of Health and Justice, Armed Forces and Sexual Assault Services Commissioning, NHS England; Dr Russell Green, Medical Director for Health in Justice, Practice Plus Group and Witness(es): Dr Will Haydock, Executive Director of Policy & External Affairs, Collective Voice; Mike Trace, CEO, The Forward Trust | UK Parliament, UK

Suspected drug deaths in Scotland: January to March 2025

This quarterly report presents Police Scotland management information to provide an indication of current trends in suspected drug deaths in Scotland | Scottish Government, UK

Tributes after sudden death of drugs campaigner Peter Krykant

Tributes have been paid following the sudden death of Peter Krykant, who led a campaign for safe drug consumption facilities to be established | BBC, UK

John Swinney announces Scottish Government Cabinet reshuffle

John Swinney appointed a new minister for drugs and alcohol policy and reappointed the economy secretary on a permanent basis | STV News, UK

Local councils on the frontline: tackling nitazenes and drug-related deaths in England

In response to the nitazene threat, many councils have ramped up efforts to distribute naloxone kits to at-risk populations, including people who use drugs, their families, and frontline workers | LGA, UK

Big tobacco should pay their share for NHS spending uplift

ASH CEO Hazel Cheeseman responded to the Government’s Spending Review announcement today (11/06/2025) saying: "The Spending Review rightly acknowledges the importance of tobacco cessation for the sustainability of the NHS and prevention of disease with at least £80million being invested in cessation and enforcement annually. However, this is less than current spending. The Government should ensure that all current spending commitments are maintained - including swap to stop, financial incentives for pregnant women and mass media campaigns... | ASH, UK

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