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Weekly news - 27th February 2026 |
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In date order, Monday to Friday
Accessing digital harm reduction services —exploring the impact of the “Here4UScotland” application
The unique challenges faced by vulnerable drug users highlight the urgent need for accessible, immediate digital interventions which people can access anywhere and at any time. This study explores the impact of the Here4UScotland virtual supervised consumption app, examining relationships between service users and providers, their separate relationships with harm reduction digital solutions and the app’s effects on personal and collaborative service engagement | Harm Reduction Journal, UK
Study reveals insidious impact of alcohol marketing on young people
A University of Stirling study has laid bare the insidious impact of alcohol sponsorship of major sporting events on young people in Scotland. It comes ahead of the men’s Six Nations Championship and FIFA World Cup 2026, major tournaments which are both sponsored by multinational alcohol companies | University of Stirling, UK
Playgrounds would become ‘crack dens’ if Greens were in power, policing minister says
Sarah Jones, the policing minister, branded the Greens’ position "reckless" during a public spat with Zack Polanski | Independent, UK
30 years ago Trainspotting shone a stark spotlight on Scotland’s drug problem – so why hasn’t anything changed?
Fuelled by a blistering soundtrack and a dark sense of humour, when Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting landed in cinemas on February 23, 1996, it was a box office hit like no other. Based on Irvine Welsh’s book of the same name, the film followed Ewan McGregor’s self-assured addict Renton and friends, as they drifted through drink, drugs and petty crime, making various attempts to escape the clutch heroin had on them | Metro, UK
Correspondence: Government response to 3 medicines reports
The government accepts the ACMD’s recommendations in relation to the classification and scheduling of the 5 medicines featured in the ACMD’s reports: Somapacitan, lonapegsomatropin and somatrogon; Ganaxolone and Zuranolone | ACMD, UK
More than 2,500 motorists caught drink-driving three or more times in the last 11 years
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the RAC found 2,553 accrued three or more DR10 or DR20 endorsements for drink-driving since 2014.** DR10 endorsements apply to those driving or attempting to drive above the legal alcohol limit, while DR20 endorsements are issued to motorists deemed unfit to drive because of alcohol | RAC, UK
Health leaders call for minimum unit pricing after record alcohol deaths in Northern Ireland
The Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), an alliance of more than 60 organisations including medical Royal Colleges, treatment providers and health charities, has written to Ministers expressing “deep concern” at the latest statistics, calling for the urgent introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP) in Northern Ireland | AHA, UK
“It gives people a purpose. It gives them hope”: The DWP peer mentoring pilot transforming lives
The DWP Peer Mentoring Service is a life-changing initiative to bridge the gap between job centres and recovery services. By supporting people to move forward with their recovery and achieve their goals, it is tackling stigma and transforming lives. Danielle Diovisalvi was the Strategic Manager of the service when it first launched at Change Grow Live. She explains how the project is changing lives and helping people move forward with their recovery | Change Grow Live, UK
Government edges closer to landmark generational smoking ban despite Tory challenge
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will prevent anyone born on or after January 1 2009 from smoking legally | Independent, UK [Hansard report of the parliamentary debate here]
750,000 UK vapers could return to smoking if flavours restricted, data shows
Elfbar published the most recent findings from its UK vaping study following a significant year for the industry | Talking Retail, UK
Daily drinks diary - Your guide and record to success
This diary helps people who are cutting down their drinking to focus on what they are trying to achieve. The diary runs over seven weeks. This means it will let people see if their drinking follows any patterns. They can then think of ways to break these habits. People can also note what their mood was like before they started drinking. They can then see what any consequences of their drinking were | Public Health Scotland, UK
Smoking and drinking among the Gypsy and Traveller communities: A population study in England
[Open access] Gypsy and Traveller communities in the United Kingdom (UK) face substantial health challenges. Smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol likely contribute to health disparities, but there is little national data on the prevalence or heaviness of smoking and drinking among these communities. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and heaviness of smoking and drinking among the UK Gypsy and Traveller communities compared with people from other UK ethnic groups | Addiction, UK
Drug kits handed out to prevent overdoses
Drug overdose prevention kits are being given out in North East Lincolnshire. They contain Naloxone, a first aid medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, the council said. It comes after four people died and others were injured in a recent spate of suspected drug overdoses in Grimsby | BBC, UK
£1 million for drug support projects in Scotland
28 project across Scotland are to share £1 million to support those dealing with substance use. The funding comes from the Scottish Government's five-year National Drug Mission Funds, administered by the Corra Foundation | Health Business, UK
Advancing innovation in drug and alcohol addiction healthcare - funding opportunity
Organisations can apply for a share of £20 million across two competitions. Projects will advance development of pharmaceutical, digital and medtech tools to improve treatment recovery and prevention of harm and deaths from drug and alcohol addictions | UKRI, UK
Criminal Justice Committee Inquiry into Substance Misuse in Prisons
Alcohol is the forgotten crisis for those in the justice system – 63% of people in prison have alcohol use disorder and 40% of prisoners were drunk at the time of their offence with 41% who would accept help if offered. Yet the treatment gap is massive: only 167 individuals (roughly 1.1% of the prison population) were referred to specialist alcohol services in 2024-25 | SHAAP, UK