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Weekly news - 14th November 2025

 

In date order, Monday to Friday

 

Cutting through with Harry Shapiro - podcast on Spotify

Drug, alcohol and tobacco policy is too focused on fear and abstinence than harm. So, how can we cut through the noise with pragmatism? In this conversation with harm reduction stalwart we delve into that... and much more | Cutting Through with Natasha Plowman, UK [Link on Apple podcasts]

Rise in violence after prison legal high ban - study

The banning of "legal highs" has led to an increase in incidents of violence, self-harm and suicide in prisons, according to a study by the University of Sussex. Researchers say despite being made illegal in prisons in 2016, new psychoactive substances (NPS) remain available behind bars, including Spice, a synthetic drug linked to unpredictable behaviour | BBC, UK

An evaluation of a psychoeducational harm-reduction focused intervention targeting music festival attendees/at risk of negative outcomes surrounding recreational substance use

This pilot study assessed a video-based psychoeducational intervention designed to reduce substance-related harm among music festival attendees. Participants (N=273) completed pre-intervention surveys, with 144 engaging in the intervention. Post-intervention, 80% of participants correctly recalled key information from the video. Analysis showed a significant reduction in self-reported substance-related harm post-intervention, suggesting potential efficacy in reducing harm | Drug Science Policy and Law, UK

A Healthier Future: A long-term vision to tackle alcohol harm in the UK

With the last UK alcohol strategy published in 2012, and alcohol deaths at an all-time high, the time for meaningful, evidence-based policy action is now. The limited commitments to prevent alcohol harm in the 10 Year Health Plan are driving calls for a standalone strategy to get to grips with the alcohol emergency. This document, developed by a broad range of experts in alcohol policy, research, and treatment, offers a blueprint for achieving long-term progress | IAS, UK

When I met Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his life might turn around. I was tragically wrong

I knew he was running away from something. It wasn’t until many years later that I discovered the truth | Guardian, UK

‘Success is shutting them down’: Met police in fight against illegal vape and phone shops

Products that fail fire safety checks, are counterfeit and breach laws protecting children targeted in raids in London | Guardian, UK

Heroin addicts who also use deadly "Benzo" pills to be targeted in new clinical trial

Major clinical trial will prescribe stable dose of diazepam to drug users most at risk of overdose from street supply | Daily Record, UK

Smoking cessation after referral from hospital to community stop smoking services: an observational study

[Open access] In England, acute National Health Service (NHS) hospitals routinely ask patients about smoking status on admission, offering in-hospital treatment for tobacco dependence and support for quitting postdischarge. Referring patients to community stop smoking services (CSSS), which offer behavioural and pharmacological support postdischarge, is a key strategy for this continued support. This study investigated patient flows from hospital to CSSS and the subsequent quitting outcomes | BMJ Public Health, UK

‘I'd rather have worse gums than worse lungs’: Young people's views of nicotine pouches in the UK

[Open access] Nicotine pouches entered the UK market in 2019. Although research has shown that young people's prevalence of use has been low, it has been reported to be increasing. This paper reports the findings of the first qualitative study in the UK to explore the views of 14–16 year olds' knowledge, awareness of, access to and use of nicotine pouches, augmented by the views of school staff, as part of a study investigating the marketing and use of new nicotine products in Scotland | Addiction, UK

Experts concerned over health effects of high-dose nicotine pouches as sales soar in UK

Teenagers reported nicotine rushes, sickness and fainting in recent research amid claims of ‘targeting younger age groups’ | Guardian, UK

Primary school children in Wales are vaping, new study shows

More than 50,000 children aged seven to 11 from every council area in Wales took part in the research. One in 10 reported clinically significant behavioural difficulties, half own a smartphone and seven in 10 have trouble sleeping | Wales Online, UK

Drug Deaths

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments by Professor Catriona Matheson, former chair of the drug deaths task force, that the national mission on drug deaths has failed to deliver robust, evidence-based clinical care for people affected by drug use, due to clinical and practitioner expertise being sidelined | They work for you, UK

Heineken UK cuts Foster's alcohol strength to 3.4%

Heineken UK, which brews Foster's, said cutting the alcohol strength from the current 3.7% would make the lager eligible for lower rates of alcohol duty | BBC, UK

How e-cigarettes compromise children’s human rights

Children are now using e-cigarettes at higher rates than adults. Tom Gatehouse and colleagues argue for an approach to regulation that prioritises children’s rights | BMJ, UK

Crackdown on legal highs backfired amid rising violence in prisons

Outlawing drugs once known as ‘legal highs’ led to waves of violence, self-harm and suicide in prisons, according to a study released by the University of Sussex | University of Sussex, UK

Aberdeen to trial alcohol sales at Scottish Premiership match

Home supporters will be able to buy alcoholic drinks in the lower concourse of the Richard Donald Stand before kick-off in the game against Kilmarnock on 14 December. Fans will not be able to drink within sight of the pitch and sales will be stopped before the match gets under way. It is part of a pilot scheme to see how alcohol sales could be safely incorporated into the matchday experience | BBC, UK

Teachers’ experiences of delivering youth vaping prevention materials in schools in England and Scotland: A cross-sectional online survey

INTENT is an evidence-based smoking prevention programme for secondary school pupils in Great Britain (GB) that was recently expanded to include vaping information. Little research has evaluated GB-specific youth vaping prevention materials. This study assesses teachers’ experiences of delivering INTENT’s vaping prevention materials in England and Scotland | PLOS One, UK

Exploring women’s views toward no-lo alcohol products during pregnancy: a photo elicitation guided qualitative study

The UK has one of the highest rates of alcohol exposed pregnancies globally. ‘Non-alcoholic and low alcohol’ (NoLo) drinks may provide a viable means to support abstinence or harm reduction. We explore women’s views towards NoLo products including consumption barriers and enablers | DEPP, UK