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Weekly news - 9th January 2026 |
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In date order, Monday to Friday
Press release - Lives to be saved by boosting access to drug overdose medication
Government launches consultation to help combat rising drug deaths from opioids, as part of record £3.4 billion in investment in drug and alcohol services | Department of Health and Social Care and Karin Smyth MP, UK
Open consultation - Expanding access to naloxone: supply and emergency use
This consultation seeks views on proposals to make further legislative changes to expand access to take-home naloxone supplies and naloxone for emergency use. This consultation closes at 11:59am on 9 March 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care, The Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Department of Health (Northern Ireland), UK
‘Absolutely frightening’: surge in ketamine cases hits UK urology wards
Young adults and teenagers prevalent in ‘skyrocketing’ admissions linked to class B drug, say doctors in northern England | Guardian, UK
Cannabis THC vapes a 'threat to younger generation'
The rising use of cannabis vapes is a "threat to the younger generation" in Bradford, a meeting was told. E-cigarettes containing THC, the psychoactive element of cannabis, are illegal for recreational purposes but have been found on sale in the district | BBC, UK
Dry January 2026
Get the New Year off to a flying start by taking part in the Dry January® challenge 2026. Feel fitter, healthier and happier when you take a break from the booze | Alcohol Change UK, UK
Offenders in England and Wales to have alcohol levels tracked over new year period
Sobriety tags worn by thousands released from prison or serving community sentences will monitor wearers’ sweat | Guardian, UK
ACMD annual report 2023 to 2025
An overview of work carried out by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) from January 2023 to December 2025 | ACMD, UK
White Christmas: why cocaine is everywhere in December
A seasoned drug dealer says cocaine sales rise by 50 per cent over the festive period | New Statesman, UK
Nutrition key in new alcohol abuse rehabilitation scheme to fight addiction
Addicts found eating nutritious food helped them beat their addiction, with one person in the programme saying: "I've lost a lot of weight, my skin feels better, my hair feels better" | Sky News, UK
Vaping safer than smoking – so why are people struggling to quit e-cigarettes?
With vaping now more common than smoking, experts explain addiction and what actually helps people quit | Guardian, UK
'How do I stop my 12-year-old from vaping?'
When Jane caught her 12-year-old daughter with a vape, she thought it was a one-off. But after speaking to her, Jane learned she had been vaping regularly and had used multiple vapes since the start of the school year in September | BBC, UK
'York is a party city - but attitudes to drinking are changing'
York has long been a city associated with partying - from race days to stag and hen dos and student nightlife. But a new campaign has now been launched to encourage drinkers to consider low-alcohol and alcohol-free options. Thirty-two bars and pubs feature on the NoLo Map of York, which easily signposts revellers to the venues where they can find alternative drinks | BBC, UK
New Research Shows Benefits of Psychedelic Drugs - video
New research shows psychedelic drugs - such as magic mushrooms and ketamine - could be beneficial in treating mental disorders, as regulators consider whether to ease restrictions | BBC, UK
Pouches safer than smoking but nicotine levels a concern, says government
The government has agreed nicotine pouches are both safer than cigarettes and an effective harm reduction tool, in a correspondence with 20isPlenty campaigners, but warned of their high nicotine content | Talking Retail, UK
YouGov survey shows continuing demand for Low and No-Alcohol drinks as more UK adults choose moderate consumption
The Portman Group’s eighth annual survey on low and no alcohol in partnership with YouGov shows that 86% of UK adults either abstain from alcohol or drink within Chief Medical Officer low risk drinking guidelines (up to 14 units per week), with a significant portion of the population embracing low and no alcohol alternatives. The survey found that 53% of UK adults consume 14 units of alcohol or less per week which includes 35% of adults who are drinking 5 units or less per week. A third of adults (33%) do not drink alcohol at all. Only 11% of adults exceed the Chief Medical Officer’s low risk guidelines | Portman Group, UK
‘A Historic Shift in Public Health’ - ASH Chief Executive writes to retailers as the smokefree generation law moves closer
With just under a year to go until the smokefree generation age-of-sale law is due to take effect on 1st January 2027, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Chief Executive Hazel Cheeseman has written an open letter to retailers across the UK setting out what the change will mean for businesses, communities and public health and urging the sector to treat the policy as a manageable transition with long-term benefits for business and public health | ASH, UK
Schools want help in 'lonely battle' against vapes
Teenagers in hospital, thousands of pounds spent on e-cigarette detectors and addicted students hiding in toilets – just some of the challenges schools are facing in what has been described as a "public health emergency" | BBC, UK
UK police officers given new guidance on medical cannabis
Police forces across the UK have been issued new guidance on how to handle interactions with medical cannabis patients, following concerns that outdated advice was leading to unnecessary confrontations between officers and lawfully prescribed patients | Leafie, UK
Woman detoxed alone in B&B after failing to access local treatment
A woman in addiction recovery has said she had to go through withdrawal alone in a B&B after being unable to access inpatient support within her local health trust | BBC, UK
Thousands of lives to be saved under bold new Road Safety Strategy
In 2023, 1 in 6 road fatalities involved drink driving, but a consultation will explore the use of preventative technology, such as alcohol interlock devices and new powers to suspend driving licences for those suspected of drink or drug driving offences. The government will also consult on lowering the drink drive limit in England and Wales, which has remained unchanged since 1967 and is currently the highest in Europe | Department for Transport, Lilian Greenwood MP and The Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, UK
Guidance - DATRIG housing support and rough sleeping services: privacy notice
This guidance provides information on data collected from housing support and rough sleeping services funded by the drug and alcohol treatment and recovery improvement grant (DATRIG) | DHSC, UK
'Sobriety programme helped me get my life back'
People recovering from alcoholism say a programme which uses alcohol to achieve sobriety is helping them transform their lives. Worthing-based substance misuse charity Turning Tides says its method of gradually reducing alcohol intake under clinical supervision leads to better outcomes | BBC, UK
Improving Information Supplied with Gabapentinoids (Pregabalin/Gabapentin), Benzodiazepines and Z-Drugs
The MHRA has reviewed the warnings regarding addiction, dependence, withdrawal, and tolerance for gabapentin, pregabalin, benzodiazepines, and z-drugs. The findings (detailed in the Public Assessment Report) were that it was necessary to strengthen these warnings in the product information and on packaging to better inform healthcare professionals and patients of these known risks | MHRA, UK
Household Christmas spending on alcohol in sharpest drop since lockdown
The cost of living crisis could be driving shoppers to give alcohol a miss, experts said | Independent, UK
Thousands of offenders in England to get health support at probation meetings
A recent report by the chief medical officer for England, Chris Whitty, found that half of offenders on probation smoked, many had drug or alcohol addiction issues and a majority had poor mental health. NHS clinicians will sit in on appointments in pilot scheme in four areas aimed at reducing reoffending | Guardian, UK
From alcohol-free venues to pubs: the changing city streets
Many of the buildings on high streets up and down the country have their origins in a movement that swept through Victorian England and encouraged people to give up or cut down on alcohol | BBC, UK