Home | Archive | Weekly | Reports

Weekly news - 28th November 2025

 

In date order, Monday to Friday

 

Princess of Wales calls for end to ‘stigma’ around addiction

The Princess of Wales has called for an end to the “stigma” surrounding addictions, saying the experiences of those dependent on drugs, alcohol or gambling are “shaped by fear, shame and judgment”. Catherine, who is a patron of the charity Forward Trust supporting recovering addicts, said more open conversations were needed to bring the issue “out of the shadows” and for society to show “compassion and love” to those affected | Guardian, UK

Tony Adams launches National Addiction Awareness Week: 23 – 30 November

During the week of 23rd November to 30th November the campaign will feature new research which reveals public understanding of addiction; events which celebrate the resilience of people in recovery; employer forums which spotlight best practice; community events across the Forward Trust Network; and spotlight stories which inspire and move the dial on how we understand addiction | Forward Trust, UK

Tony Adams: The Conversation That Changed Everything | Taking Action on Addiction - video

In this powerful film, Tony shares the moment that sparked his recovery journey - and why honest conversations about addiction can save lives. This video is part of The Conversation That Changed Everything, a national campaign for Addiction Awareness Week (23–30 November), led by The Forward Trust and the Taking Action on Addiction coalition | Forward Trust, UK

Hepatitis B in England 2025

This report summarises England’s progress towards the WHOelimination targets for hepatitis B with data to the end of 2024. This year’s report shows continuing decline in self-reported vaccine coverage among people who inject drugs, and limited data on uptake among other at-risk groups including people accessing sexual health services (SHSs) and people in prison | UKHSA, UK

Member Spotlight: Phoenix Futures on the ‘Restorative Power of the Outdoors’

In our latest Member Spotlight, Rachel Hudson, Living Skills Worker at Phoenix Future’s Recovery Housing Service in Glasgow, explores the role of nature in recovery from drugs and alcohol | CCPS, UK

Examining changes in the prevalence of cost-motivated alcohol reduction attempts in the context of a cost-of-living crisis and alcohol duty reforms: A population survey of risky drinkers in Great Britain, 2021–2024

Concludes that “cost is an increasingly important motive for alcohol reduction attempts among risky drinkers … likely reflecting financial pressures resulting from the cost-of-living crisis and rising alcohol prices” | Addiction, UK

Contingency management interventions for substance use and addictive behaviours: Review of the United Kingdom evidence base

Despite the effectiveness of substance use treatment approaches, treatment adherence and success rates remain low. Contingency Management (CM), a behavioural intervention using positive reinforcement, is a promising approach to enhance clinical outcomes; however, its implementation in UK settings remains limited. This scoping review aimed to explore how CM has been adopted to improve outcomes for substance use and addictive behaviours in the UK | Addiction, UK

Barriers to Recovery: Overcoming obstacles to alcohol recovery in the UK

Research shows that dependent drinkers face multiple, persistent barriers to entering recovery and social reintegration. This report uses data from interviews with professionals working in addiction and alcohol harm reduction to describe and discuss the key obstacles currently faced by people entering and sustaining recovery across the UK and make recommendations for change | IAS, UK

Surveillance of hepatitis C in Scotland

This annual release follows the HCV surveillance report published in January 2025 and includes the most up-to-date surveillance data through December 2024, except for data from the HCV clinical database, which is reported by financial year up to the end of March 2025. The report outlines Scotland’s progress toward achieving both national and World Health Organization (WHO) hepatitis C elimination targets | Public Health Scotland, UK

Judgement Kills: End the Stigma Against Women in Crisis

Every year, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence calls on people around the world to stand together to end violence against women and girls. At Phoenix, this issue is deeply connected to the women we support. More than 65% of the women in our residential services, many of them mothers, have experienced physical, emotional, or sexual violence. During these 16 Days, this page will host resources, articles, and - with consent and compassion - survivor voices. We aim to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and encourage a culture where we are all slower to judge and quicker to understand | Pheonix Futures, UK

World's first lung cancer vaccine to enter clinical trials... but quitting smoking is still recommended as top way to avoid developing the disease

Researchers at University College London and the University of Oxford will run the trial over the next four years, with its first phase expected to commence in summer 2026. The team, who have been awarded over £2million from Cancer Research UK, will investigate the best dose of LungVax to give high risk patients and look for any potential side effects from various doses of the vaccine in the first phase of the trial | Mail Online, UK

Bid to let drug users smoke cocaine in consumption room

Health officials in Glasgow are planning to make the case for a smoking space to be added to the city's drug consumption room. The Thistle, which opened on Hunter Street in January, is a facility in which people can inject heroin or cocaine while under medical supervision without being prosecuted | BBC, UK

Saving Mum: Breaking the silence on alcohol addiction - audio

A daughter confronts her mum’s alcohol addiction, breaking silence, stigma and pain. Maleena Pone and her mum Jasbir share their story of grief, addiction and healing | BBC Sounds, UK

How does Narcan work? Mapping how it reverses opioid overdose can provide a molecular blueprint for more effective drugs

Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, is one of the most important drugs in the United States’ fight against the opioid crisis. It reverses an opioid overdose nearly instantly, restarting breathing in a person who was unresponsive moments before and on the brink of death. To bystanders witnessing it being administered, naloxone can appear almost supernatural | Conversation, USA

THINK! launches first drug driving campaign in a decade

We’re determined to tackle this growing issue as part of our upcoming Road Safety Strategy, which will set out how we make our roads safer for everyone | Department for Transport and Lilian Greenwood MP, UK

Welsh Overdose Awareness Day 2025

Saturday 13th December. Welsh Overdose Awareness Day is a national campaign held every year to remember those we’ve lost to drug overdose, support those left behind, and take action to prevent further deaths. This year’s theme — “The time is now…” — is a powerful call for change. It reminds us that we already have the evidence, tools, and compassion needed to save lives. What’s missing, are a range of evidenced-based interventions | Barod, UK

WithYou partners with British Steel to protect workforce from drug and alcohol harm

Local charity WithYou is bringing drug and alcohol education directly into the British Steel workplace, as the business embeds early intervention and prevention into every day working | WithYou, UK

Beyond Remembrance: New trauma therapy breaking barriers for women veterans

A new pilot supporting women veterans experiencing substance use related to previous trauma has been launched today by national charity WithYou | WithYou, UK