DrugWise Daily |
18th September 2026 |
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UK news
Women in Recovery
Scotland’s recovery system was not built with women in mind. The evidence is clear — women face distinct and complex barriers to recovery, shaped by trauma, inequality, caring responsibilities and a lack of gender-responsive support. Over the past year, SRC has worked alongside women with lived experience, practitioners, researchers and national partners to explore six critical themes where the system is failing women and where it can do better | SRC, UK
Women in 30s and 40s 'should be warned of alcohol risk linked to breast cancer'
Experts already know that around a quarter of breast cancers could be prevented through healthy lifestyle changes, such as taking more exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking less alcohol. But in the latest research, experts found that key life stages are linked to changes in these behaviours, potentially giving public health experts opportunities to support women at times when lifestyle changes may be easier to make | ITV, UK
Clouds House and The Bridges to open their doors as part of national campaign
Professionals working across addiction treatment, health and social care are invited to visit The Forward Trust’s two residential treatment centres this autumn | Forward Trust, UK
Bringing young people's voices to the drug policy table with Ruby Rose Lawlor - video
We are joined by YouthRise's Executive Director, Ruby Rose Lawlor, to discuss influencing drug policy change at the UN, full spectrum harm reduction and the recent recommendation to decriminalise drugs for personal use in Ireland | Barod, UK
Alcohol Action Day
The first ever Alcohol Action Day will take place on Thursday 12 November. Alcohol Action Day will be an annual event that will, over time, provide opportunities to explore different aspects of the issue, draw attention to relevant campaigns, policy ideas and initiatives, and empower people with lived and living experience to share their stories and views. The theme this year will be: Support | AFS, UK
Why caffeine makes some people buzz - and others barely notice
"Coffee just doesn't have much effect on me," says 20-year-old Emily, who is leaving a cafe in central London at 18:00 BST | BBC, UK
Three in court over county lines drug dealing
Police said drugs and cash were seized as part of an investigation into the drugs line, which was operating within Bradford and traveling into North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and the Humber | BBC, UK
Cannabis farm found beneath nail salon
Officers found 47 cannabis plants behind reinforced doors in the basement of the Regent Street premises in Leamington Spa after following up reports linked to a property on Grosvenor Road | BBC, UK
Peers call for UK to enact tobacco-style ban on gambling advertising
Lords’ report faces criticism from lobby groups after suggesting ban would be ‘most effective’ way to reduce public harms | Guardian, UK
International news
Almost 50 dead in Nigeria after drinking alcohol suspected to contain methanol
Drinking locally made alcohol is common in Nigeria, especially in rural areas where it is more affordable and poorly regulated | Guardian, UK
New HRB review to strengthen drug prevention approaches
A new HRB report launched today at an Irish EU presidency event co-hosted by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Health Research Board (HRB) will be used to inform new actions to strengthen drug prevention as part of the National Drugs Strategy | HRB, Ireland
Change in alcohol consumption among French adults participating in Dry January: A 9-month prospective cohort study
[Open access] Evidence that in 2024 drinkers who joined in the French version of Dry January made reductions in their drinking still evident nine months later. These findings are based on the 39% of the starting sample who completed the final follow-up survey | IJDP, USA
Comparative effects of different types of exercise interventions on addictive craving, negative affect, and cognitive function in substance use disorder: a substance-subgroup stratified network meta-analysis
[Corrected entry] [Open access] A synthesis of research findings which included studies published in Chinese provided a comprehensive and nuanced picture of what research tells us about the impact of different types of exercise on craving for drugs, depression and anxiety, and cognitive function | Frontiers in Psychiatry, USA
Functional Analysis and Quality Assessment of Mobile Applications for Managing Alcohol Use Disorder
[Open access] How good are phone apps intended to help people self-manage their drinking disorder? Reviewers found 33 and assessed them for functionality and technical quality, then conducted an in-depth analysis of the three highest-scoring apps | IJAN, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Quitting smoking with severe mental illness: what actually works?
Severe mental illness (SMI) (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, etc) can be characterised as long-term, complex conditions associated with substantial impairments in social, emotional and physical health. Individuals living with SMI are estimated to die 15–20 years earlier than those living without SMI. This reduced life expectancy is driven largely by cardiovascular disease and cancer, both of which are strongly associated with smoking cigarettes | National Elf Service, UK
What happens when a neighbourhood bottle store closes? We asked local residents
For people living in New Zealand’s most deprived communities, alcohol is often far too accessible. These areas have around three times as many off-licence supermarkets, grocery stores and bottle stores as the least deprived. Just within South Auckland suburbs Ōtara, Ōtāhuhu and Papatoetoe, there are 32 separate outlets | Conversation, New Zealand