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Weekly news - 20th February 2026

In date order, Monday to Friday

Children to be better protected from second-hand smoking and vaping

The government is launching a consultation on extending smoke-free places and introducing vape-free and heated tobacco-free spaces | DHSC, UK

[Open access] As the UK did later the same year, in 2023 The Netherlands outlawed supply and possession of nitrous oxide (‘laughing gas) for recreational purposes. “Overall, the impact on public health and police incidents appears positive,” concluded this study | IJDP, UK

Action on drug precursors: first EU-level precursor assessment reports published

Illicit drug production poses a growing threat to public health and security in Europe. Monitoring drug precursor markets helps detect emerging risks and enables timely EU-level responses to disrupt supply and prevent diversion and trafficking into illicit drug production. On Friday, the EUDA published nine reports resulting from the first ever precursor assessments conducted at EU level | EUDA, Portugal

Drug production and precursors — ongoing activities

New web page. Illicit drug production in the European Union is a persistent and evolving phenomenon, encompassing a wide range of substances and production methods. The EUDA supports EU-level understanding of illicit drug production by bringing together information on dismantled production sites, production methods and related incidents. On this page you can find more information on the EUDA’s work in this area | EUDA, Portugal

New technology to help combat drug and alcohol addiction

Innovators across the UK are being offered £20 million in grants for technology designed to reduce harm and death from Drug and alcohol addiction | DHSC, UK

Why are synthetic opioids on the rise?

Bob, whose name we've changed to protect his identity, says his addiction began in 2019 when he was prescribed pain killers for a health condition. He says he then 'manipulated' the health system by exaggerating his pain to get the stronger drugs | ITV, UK

Fourth person dies after suspected drug overdoses

A fourth person has died and several more people have become ill in a spate of suspected drug overdoses in Grimsby, police have said. Over the weekend, the force said it received a further eight reports of people becoming unwell and they were suspected to have overdosed on the same type of drug | BBC, UK

Ketamine high NOT related to treatment success for people with alcohol problems, study finds

The psychedelic effects recreational users often seek from taking ketamine do not predict the therapeutic benefits for people being treated for alcohol use disorder | University of Exeter, UK

Drug-related hospital statistics

This annual release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) reports on inpatient or day case admissions (stays) that occur within NHS Scotland hospitals in relation to controlled drug use (substances for which manufacture, possession and use are regulated by government, due to their potential for abuse or harm). This release includes information on stays in general acute and psychiatric specialties for financial years 1996/97 to 2024/25. The topics covered include: the number of inpatient stays, the number and characteristics of patients admitted to hospital, substances used and geographical variations | Public Health Scotland, UK

AMV BBDO and the Department for Health and Social Care put the Power to Quit in smokers’ hands with new campaign

AMV BBDO and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) have today launched a new national campaign, The Power To Quit Is In Your Hands, to promote the NHS Quit Smoking app and Personal Quit Plan, highlighting that help to quit is never far away | Marketing Communication News, UK

'Supermarket car park health scan saved my life'

A man who had lung cancer after smoking 40 cigarettes a day over 40 years has said he owes his life to a health screening in a supermarket car park | BBC, UK

‘Game-changer’ jab for opioid dependency treatment linked to lower NHS demand, report suggests

A ‘game-changer’ jab to treat opioid dependence could ease pressure on healthcare services, outperforming other standard treatments, a new report involving University of Hertfordshire academics suggests. But the injection, known as Buvidal, should be offered as part of a wider, person-centred treatment system, integrated with psychological support and meaningful social activities rather than positioned as a standalone solution, authors of the report recommend | University of Hertfordshire, UK