DrugWise Daily |
10th July 2026 |
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UK news
Ministers launch crackdown on vapes targeting kids
Ministers have launched a crackdown on vapes marketed at kids with a shift to plain white packaging | DHSC et al, UK
Vapes to have less enticing names to protect children, under UK plans
Plans to stop vapes being marketed to children have been unveiled as part of a UK-wide consultation to introduce plain packaging, stop the use of enticing flavour descriptions and move vapes out of sight in shops | BBC, UK
How to save a life: Emergency response to a drug overdose in prison
RADAR (Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response), Scottish Prison Service and NHS Scotland have worked together to create this prison resource on how to respond to a drug overdose, and how to reduce the harm from drugs | PHS, UK
Impact of drug and alcohol treatment on reoffending
Analysis of offending and reoffending by people in community drug and alcohol treatment in England, using linked NDTMS and Police National Computer data | OHID, UK
Government response to ACMD report on ethylbromazolam
Thank you for your advice of 14 April about ethylbromazalom which the ACMD has recommended be controlled under Class C of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and scheduled under Schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Given the similarities in chemical structure, cited in the report, which resemble those of bromazolam and other benzodiazepines that are subject to control under Class C of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and the assessment of the potential risk of health and social harms commensurate with other Class C drugs, I accept your recommendation. The Government will seek to implement the control and scheduling of ethylbromazalom as soon as Parliamentary time allows | ACMD, UK
The Way Ahead: our ten-year strategy
The system isn't working for everyone who needs it. Since launching as Waythrough, we’ve been determined to ‘join the dots’ between services in a smarter, more human way. And to push ourselves and the system to change. Press Release here | Waythrough, UK
Ketamine Trends in Scotland: Analysis of Police Seizure Data and Review of Early Identification Methods (PDF)
By exploring Police Scotland ketamine seizure data and a rapid literature review of ketamine testing methods, this report: i) identifies trends in seizures to raise awareness of where ketamine is generally present ii) describes drug checking technologies intended for point-of-need versus laboratory testing | DRNS, UK
NHS Grampian shares “rallying call” on Naloxone awareness
NHS Grampian, in partnership with Alcohol and Drugs Action (ADA) as part of Aberdeen’s Alcohol and Drug Partnership, is calling for greater awareness of drug harms reduction following a cluster of suspected drugs deaths in the city | NHS Grampian, UK
Psilocybin therapy shows potential as a treatment for anorexia nervosa in small trial
A small pilot study from the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London indicates that psilocybin – the active ingredient in psychedelic ‘magic mushrooms’ - may have potential as a treatment for anorexia nervosa, when combined with therapy | Imperial, UK
Steroid Drugs: Young People
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to WPQs 2849, 2850 and 2851 answered on 9 June 2026 about Steroid Drugs: Young People, if he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on considering the impact of online advertising of SARMs and IPEDs in the response to the Growing up in the Online World consultation | They work for you, UK
All lobbying should be publicly declared in transparency laws shake-up, watchdog says
Ethics and integrity commission chief says overhaul is crucial to help restore trust in standards | Guardian, UK
ASH, AHA and OHA response to the Ethics and Integrity Commission's review into lobbying, disclosure and access to government
“From tobacco and alcohol to unhealthy food, there is extensive evidence that companies profiting from products that harm our health have tried to influence public policy in ways that protect their commercial interests. For decades these industries have lobbied against, delayed or weakened measures designed to improve public health. Too often, that lobbying happens behind closed doors...| ASH, UK
Free lung cancer screenings to help save lives
NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance are encouraging those aged between 55 and 74 to attend, with checks being offered at the Priory Shopping Centre on Thursday | BBC, UK
A Day for Amy: Panel Discussion
Sun, Jul 19 • 12 PM. LABS Atrium London, England. Join representatives of the charity to hear about their work supporting children and young people. This panel chat will feature conversations around drugs, alcohol, mental health, and resilience. It will also celebrate 10 years of Amy's Place - a safe long term home for young women of 18-30 who have left drug or alcohol treatment. It bridges the gap between addiction treatment services and finding independent accomodation, creating a supportive environment for recovery | Camden Market, UK
Next day delivery: Company directors ran £1.5m drug 'distribution centre'
Two company directors worked with an organised crime gang to run “a distribution centre” for the large-scale supply of illicit drugs, leading police to seize more than £1.5 million in narcotics | STV News, UK
One of UK's biggest illegal tobacco hauls seized
Lincolnshire Police said three vans were required to remove 348,500 cigarettes and more than 280kg (620lbs) of hand-rolling tobacco discovered during a raid in Boston | BBC, UK
UPS insider jailed for helping smuggle £10m of cocaine
A UPS depot insider nicknamed "King" who helped a drugs gang smuggle cocaine worth £10m into Britain has been jailed for 12 years | BBC, UK
International news
Cancer cases expected to soar worldwide, WHO report finds
The disease will touch 92% of people globally, finds annual review, while ‘persistent’ inequities found to exist in access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care | Guardian, UK
Early trends in outpatient addiction care for cannabis use disorder following cannabis legalization in Germany: Evidence from National Monitoring Data
[Open access] From April 2024 Germany effectively legalised recreational cannabis use and non-commercial cultivation. After decades of rises, presentations for treatment of problem cannabis use fell as the legal system no longer funnelled as many young men into first-time treatment | Addiction, UK
Council worker sues employer after bosses stop her driving while taking medical cannabis
Smokers and ex-smokers in Dartford are being invited to take part in a free lung screening pilot scheme. NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance are encouraging those aged between 55 and 74 to attend, with checks being offered at the Priory Shopping Centre on Thursday | Independent, UK
Engaging parents in alcohol prevention: evaluation of the parent component in the Our Choice trial
In Denmark children can drink alcohol at age 16, meaning later high-school life is imbued with drinking. When schools arranged a meeting to equip parents to deal with childhood drinking, attendance was much higher if it was tagged on to another event at the school. Even though they may not have come for this element, parents appreciated the information | DEPP, USA
Changes in heroin-related ambulance attendances following the introduction of a medically supervised injecting room in Victoria, Australia
[Open access] Heroin-related emergency ambulance call-outs declined in the vicinity of a centre in the outskirts of Melbourne where illegal drugs could be injected under supervision, suggestive evidence of a localised harm-reduction impact | IJDP, USA
Cannabidiol shows no significant benefit for treating psychotic disorders, new study finds
Recent research published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology suggests that cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating compound found in cannabis, might not be an effective treatment for psychotic disorders | PsyPost, USA
As UK Debates Ketamine Status, Peers Are Building the Response
“I emailed him and said, ‘I think I’m dying.'” By the time Amy Massey reached out for help in 2016, years of heavy ketamine use had left her with severe bladder damage. She had a bladder removal scheduled—according to the doctors, it was the only option—and faced lifelong disability | Filter Magazine, USA
“Not a Solo Act”—The Impacts of Smoking Cessation for Loved Ones
“People often talk about how switching to a safer nicotine product can benefit the person making the change, but I don’t think we talk enough about the families,” Dal Gorley told Filter. “Partners and loved ones go through the journey too.” | Filter Magazine, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Taking bold action to improve health: what can we learn from Scotland?
It can be tempting to focus on the challenges, with healthy life expectancy in decline and large inequalities remaining. However, action has been taken in the past to tackle these challenges. It’s vital that we learn from what has worked | King's Fund blog, UK
Structural discrimination, drinking and alcohol-related harms: what does the evidence tell us?
Alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm are not distributed equally across society. Some groups face significantly higher rates of alcohol-related illness and mortality than others – even when they drink the same amount, or less, than more advantaged groups. This highlights that alcohol-related harms are shaped not only by how much people drink, but also by the wider social conditions around them | SARG blog, UK