DrugWise Daily |
1st July 2026 |
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UK news
National drug and alcohol treatment waiting times
This quarterly release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) reports on waiting times for people accessing specialist drug and alcohol treatment services between 1 January and 31 March 2026. In 2011, the Scottish Government set a Standard that 90% of people referred for help with problematic drug or alcohol use will wait no longer than three weeks for specialist treatment that supports their recovery | PHS, UK
Alcohol consumption and harms dashboard
In 2025, 10.7 litres of pure alcohol were sold per adult drinker in Scotland, equivalent to 20.7 units per adult drinker per week. Throughout the period 2017 to 2025 the volume of pure alcohol sold per adult drinker per year has fallen from 12.7 litres in 2017 to 10.7 litres in 2025. The majority (76%) of alcohol sold in 2025 in Scotland was sold in off-trade premises such as supermarkets and other off-licenses. Throughout the period 2008 to 2024 the percentage of adult Scottish Health Survey respondents who identify as being non-drinkers has increased from 12% in 2008 to 20% in 2024 | PHS, UK
How Have Alcohol Producers Changed the Alcohol Content of Their Products? A Descriptive Analysis of Reformulation in the Off-Trade Alcohol Market in Great Britain, 2018–2025
[Open access] In August 2023, the United Kingdom introduced alcohol taxation reforms designed to encourage alcohol producers to lower the alcoholic strength of their products. This study aims to quantify the extent of reformulation of alcoholic drinks sold in the off-trade in Great Britain between 2018 and 2025 and explore the role the tax reforms may have played | Addiction, UK
Londoners turn to late-night support as all 33 local authorities back 24-hour digital stop smoking service
More than half of users of the 24 hour Smoke Free service contacted advisors outside standard clinic hours, with many reaching out in the evening, overnight and at weekends, via remote in-app messaging. This demonstrates strong demand for flexible, round the clock support that complements existing services | London TV, UK
Alcohol and cancer: fighting back against misinformation - podcast
Cancer Prevention Action Week in June put a spotlight on one of public health’s most stubborn problems: the gap between what the science says about cancer and what the public actually knows, including on alcohol and cancer. Melissa Dando from the World Cancer Research Fund explains the scale of the challenge | IAS, UK
Prisons: Addictions
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to improve the provision of addiction treatment in prisons | They work for you, UK
Protocol for a qualitative mechanistic study of MDMA with a sample of psychoanalytic psychotherapists: A phenomenological investigation
[Open access] In this study of MDMA’s potential mechanisms-of-action, we treat psychotherapists as expert observers of their own psychological processes. By examining first-hand experience in participants selected for their well-developed capacity for self-reflection, meta-awareness, and advanced theoretical and clinical frameworks for understanding mental phenomena, psychopathology, and psychological treatment, we anticipate generating novel insights into MDMA’s therapeutic mechanisms-of-action | PLOS One, UK
Pride Reflections 2026
In June, Forward marked Pride month 2026 by upskilling staff on Chemsex and exploring the intersection of LGBTQ+ identities and neurodivergence. Forward have also attended several Pride events in June and will be present at further events in the coming weeks | Forward Trust, UK
International news
Beyond abstinence: Redefining success in cannabis use disorder treatment
[Open access] Argues that reductions in how often someone uses cannabis is the core treatment goal and metric for outcomes in research trials. Abstinence should still be assessed, but not made the overriding objective | Addiction, UK
EUDA marks World Drug Day with annual diplomatic reception
The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) today welcomed members of the diplomatic corps in Portugal, representatives of international organisations and the Portuguese authorities to its annual diplomatic reception in Lisbon | EUDA, Portugal
A Behavioral Economics Substance-Free Activity Session (SFAS) Approach to Reducing Substance Use: Narrative Review and Intervention Manual
[Open access] Counselling substance users towards rewarding activities incompatible with substance use or intoxication has enhanced the effectiveness of other treatment and prevention elements. Research has focused on heavy-drinking college students, leaving doubts about wider applicability | APA Psyc Net, USA
Everyday and healthcare discrimination and polysubstance use among U.S. adults
[Open access] Interpersonal discrimination represents a clinically relevant and potentially modifiable social determinant of polysubstance use. Efforts to reduce everyday discrimination and improve patient experiences within healthcare settings may play an important role in preventing higher-risk substance use patterns and advancing equity in substance use-related outcomes | DADR, USA
EU Nicotine-Tax Doubts After Parliamentary Rejections
The European Parliament has rejected two different plans to set minimum taxation rates for safer nicotine products | Filter Magazine, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Applying behavioural insights to cut alcohol with no- and low-alcohol drinks
In recent years, No-and Low- alcohol (NoLo) drinks have become increasingly popular. If handled well, this could have the potential to reduce alcohol harm making it easier for consumers to switch from higher alcohol drinks to NoLo alternatives. The NHS’ 10-year plan for England highlights NoLo alternatives as part of its approach to tackling harmful alcohol consumption | IAS blog, UK
The Growing Momentum Behind Europe’s Psychedelic Industry
There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen. At the risk of sounding dramatic, European psychedelic therapy may have just lived through one of those times | Talking Drugs, UK
MDMA and psilocybin therapy rules have been relaxed. Here’s what might happen next
In 2023, Australia became the first country to allow authorised psychiatrists to deliver psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression and MDMA for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that hadn’t responded to other treatments | Conversation, Australia