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Weekly news - 1st May 2026 |
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In date order, Monday to Friday
Drug use in England spikes during heatwaves and big sports events, research finds
Project that tested traces of illicit drugs in wastewater also found higher use during Eurovision song contest | Guardian, UK [Study here]
Drug alert: Spice sold in Bristol causing a surge in hospital admissions
Bristol’s Local Drug Information System (LDIS) has shared that spice purchased in Bristol over the last 2 weeks has resulted in one suspected death and multiple hospital admissions | Forward Trust, UK
We thought Gen Z weren't drinking. But these cocktails in a ball may suggest otherwise
In one viral TikTok, a grandmother is seen sprawled out on a carpet, drunk, next to a Christmas tree. The video cuts between her necking an alcoholic drink and gazing up at the camera from the floor, happy but bemused | BBC, UK
'I used delivery apps to hide the shame of alcoholism' - video
"It took away the shame of going to the shop and feeling that there were eyes on me..." | BBC, UK
University secures grant for research into reducing harmful effects of ketamine use
The award from UK Research and Innovation, in collaboration with the Office for Life Sciences’ Addiction Healthcare Goals, will fund the project with the University of South Wales, which aims to improve treatment and recovery services for people seeking support with their ketamine use | Nation.Cymru, UK
Impact of later trading hours for bars and clubs on alcohol-related ambulance call-outs and crimes in Scotland: a controlled interrupted time series study
[Open access] Later alcohol trading hours had a significant negative impact on alcohol-related ambulance call-outs and reported crimes in Aberdeen (where more premises had longer extensions) but not in Glasgow, suggesting the number, capacity and type of premises moderated outcomes. This is important for the design of future national and local licensing policies and regulations | BMJ Public Health, UK
Longer pub hours bring 'more crime and ambulance call-outs'
When 38 bars were given permission to sell alcohol up to 03:00 between March 2017 and October 2020 there was a 11.4% increase in ambulance calls on weekend nights | BBC, UK
The Silence Ends With Us: National LGBTQ+ Campaign and Theatre Tour Launch to Address Suicide and Drug-Related Harm
A major new national campaign aimed at tackling rising levels of suicide, loneliness and drug-related harm within LGBTQ+ communities has been launched across the UK. The Silence Ends with Us, is led by the non-profit You Are Loved and is combining a nationwide theatre tour, digital outreach and a new support platform designed to connect people with vital services | Forward Trust, UK
Gear has changed
‘Gear Has Changed’, an unapologetically hard-hitting public health campaign launching in April 2026, aims to protect drug users from accidental overdose caused by street drugs adulterated with lethal illicit substances such as nitazenes. Press release here (PDF) | Ethypharm, UK
People in UK spend fewer years in good health than a decade ago, study finds
Exclusive: Health Foundation says Britain is ‘going backwards’ compared with most other rich countries | Guardian, UK
Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly report
Drug-related harms remained at a high level in the most recent quarter (December 2025 to February 2026). Contamination of drugs with toxic substances is both common and widespread. Detections of nitazene-type opioids in post-mortem toxicology remained high overall, although they decreased slightly in the most recent quarter. The benzodiazepine market continued to shift, with growing reports of novel substances and changing tablet types. Cocaine remained the most frequently reported drug across treatment and toxicology data | PHS, UK
Tobacco and Vapes Bill becomes law
The next generation will be smoke-free as Tobacco and Vapes Bill is granted Royal Assent | DHSC, UK
Historic Smokefree Generation Law Will Protect 4 million Young People from Tobacco Addiction in Just 5 Years
On 29th April 2026, the UK became the first country in Europe to pass a new law to phase out the sale of tobacco to the next generation, as the Tobacco and Vapes Act received Royal Assent | ASH, UK
Seventh addendum to the ACMD report on the use and harms of 2-benzylbenzimidazole (‘nitazene’) and piperidine benzimidazolone (‘brorphine-like’) opioids (PDF)
In July 2022, the ACMD published its advice on 2-benzyl benzimidazole (nitazene) and piperidine benzimidazolone (‘brorphine-like’) opioids. The report recommended that a number of named materials should become controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) 1971. Since the report’s publication, the ACMD have published a series of addenda recommending the control of additional nitazene variants and adjusting the scope of the proposed nitazene generic control | ACMD, UK
Organised crime gangs using staggering number of UK vape and candy shops as fronts, warns report
In some parts of the UK, the groups may be operating through as many as half of all vape retailers | Independent, UK