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Weekly news - 13th February 2026

In date order, Monday to Friday

UK's growing synthetic opioid problem: Nitazene deaths could be underestimated by a third

King’s College London research, published today in Clinical Toxicology, sheds light on the UK’s growing synthetic opioid problem. The presence of nitazenes on the unregulated drug market has risen steeply in the last seven years – prompting UK and international bodies to issue public health warnings about their use | KCL, UK

Synthetic opioids may have caused hundreds more UK deaths than thought

Study find nitazenes, which are up to 500 times stronger than heroin, can degrade significantly in portmortem blood samples | Guardian, UK

Gambling impacts people’s quality of life as severely as chronic medical conditions, alcohol and illegal drugs

The research found that experiencing gambling harm can result in a 16% reduction in a person’s ability to carry out everyday tasks (referred to in the study as their capability wellbeing), and a 14% reduction in their quality of life (referred to as their health utility). The percentages are comparable to those experiencing the highest levels of harm driven by cocaine and alcohol use, as well as those with health conditions including depression and opiate dependence | University of Plymouth, UK

Seven ways pharmacy can improve outcomes for those impacted by substance use

Practical examples of and advice on how pharmacists can improve the care of individuals impacted by substance use | Pharmaceutical Journal UK

Public health grants to local authorities: 2026 to 2027

Local authorities (upper tier and unitary) in England are responsible for improving the health of their local population and reducing health inequalities. In 2026 to 2027, the total public health grant to local authorities will be £4.404 billion. This includes funding for drug and alcohol and smoking cessation services previously issued as separate grants | DHSC, UK

England’s poorest areas have 70% more vape shops and bookmakers than wealthier ones

Data shows deprived communities have more off-licences and takeaways and fewer childcare facilities and gyms | Guardian, UK

Analysis: Feeling guilty about drinking? You’re not alone

In an article for the Institute of Alcohol Studies, Dr Sharon Cox (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care) reports on new analysis finding that one in eight people who drink at increasing or higher-risk levels felt guilt or remorse after drinking in the past six months | UCL, UK

Stirling experts warn tobacco industry interference persists as Scotland celebrates 20 years since smoking ban

The global tobacco industry is still deploying tactics that were used two decades ago to attempt to weaken Scotland’s smoking ban, University of Stirling experts have warned | University of Stirling, UK

Man dies and six ill after suspected overdoses

Det Insp Tom Kelly, of Humberside Police, said officers were trying to establish "the full circumstances of the incidents and whether the reports are linked". "We are in the early stages of our investigation," he added. "However we are considering the possibility that they could have been caused by contaminated batches of drugs." | BBC, UK

From Hope to Delivery: Five essential next steps for Government action on alcohol and other drugs

Our Chief Executive, Will Haydock, introduces the five key policy steps Collective Voice is asking Government to take to ensure we can save and improve lives | Collective Voice, UK

'His loss is massive': Inquests show spread of deadly synthetic drugs

Highly potent synthetic opioid drugs called nitazenes, which experts say can be many times more potent than heroin, have been linked to hundreds of deaths in the UK | BBC, UK

Alcohol-Specific deaths in Northern Ireland, 2014 to 2024

This report presents statistics on Northern Ireland (NI) alcohol-specific mortality in 2024. Figures are based on deaths registered in NI that are known to have an alcohol-specific cause. Some key points: 1) There was a total of 397 alcohol-specific deaths registered in Northern Ireland in 2024. 2)Since 2014, Northern Ireland has seen registered deaths due to alcohol-specific causes rise by 81.3% from 219 to 397 in 2024. 3)Over the past ten years, the three-year rolling average for registered alcohol-specific deaths rose from 223.0 between 2012 to 2014 to 364.7 between 2022 to 2024 | NISRA, UK

Middle-aged women from deprived backgrounds struggle to quit smoking

Middle-aged women from more deprived backgrounds in Great Britain are significantly more likely to smoke and face greater challenges when trying to quit, according to a new study from researchers at UCL | UCL, UK

Concern over deadly drug more potent than heroin

The Well in Cumbria said a quarter of people using its services were being treated for opioid use alone and workers were seeing a dramatic increase in nitazenes | BBC, UK

‘Worrying’ rise of UK synthetic opioid deaths | BBC News video

Highly potent synthetic opioid drugs called nitazenes, which experts say can be many times more potent than heroin, have been linked to hundreds of deaths in the UK. Records show people are taking them by accident, as they are mixed in with other drugs as cheap substitutes. The National Crime Agency (NCA) believes nitazenes are being smuggled into the UK through the post. Due to their strength, they can be secreted in small volumes in parcels. Data obtained by BBC News shows almost all the deaths as a result of taking the substance were accidental, with Birmingham being a hotspot | BBC, UK

Rise in alcohol deaths in young people concerning, says doctor

Statistics published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, external (Nisra) show the number of deaths caused exclusively by alcohol has increased by 81% in 10 years | BBC, UK

Seizures of drugs in England and Wales, financial year ending 2025

Contains figures for seizures of drugs made by local police forces and the UK Border Force. Police forces and Border Force made the highest number of drug seizures in England and Wales since the time series began in 1973; there were 269,321 seizures in total, a 24% increase on the previous year (217,633); the rise was caused by a 14% increase in police force seizures and a 65% increase in Border Force seizures | Home Office, UK

Seizures of drugs in England and Wales: user guide

This user guide is intended as a useful reference with explanatory notes on the issues and classifications key to the production and presentation of the Home Office’s annual release Seizures of drugs in England and Wales statistics | Home Office, UK

Vaping in cars with children could be banned under new plans

Vaping could be banned in cars carrying children, as well as in playgrounds and outside schools, according to government plans to protect youngsters from second-hand smoking and vaping | BBC, UK

Smoke-free law could see use drop below 5% in young people

A law banning the sale of tobacco to anyone born after 2009 could see smoking in young people drop below 5 per cent decades earlier than expected. The government plans to introduce the “smoke-free generation" law as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which would progressively raise the age of sale so that anyone born in 2009 or later can never legally be sold tobacco, starting from 2027 | Independent, UK

Better oral health for adults in Scotland: dental health access when using drugs

This comic has been designed to support oral health improvement activity for people who are actively using drugs | PHS, UK