DrugWise Daily |
21st September 2026 |
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UK news
The Big Addiction Conversation – changing the way Britain talks about addiction
Addiction awareness week - 19th - 25th September 2026 Too many conversations about addiction never happen because of stigma, fear and misunderstanding. The Big Addiction Conversation is a new national movement from The Forward Trust, created to change that. Each year around 17,000 people die from alcohol- or drug-related causes in the UK. We’re aiming to start 17,000 conversations about addiction – one for every life lost | Forward Trust, UK
The deadly new drugs making Scotland's fight against addiction even harder
Efforts to bring down Scotland's sky-high rate of drug deaths are being frustrated by the arrival of hundreds of powerful new synthetic substances that experts warn are making the deadly drugs crisis even more dangerous. In the past three years, there has been an explosion in the supply of new synthetic cannabinoids and opioids, transforming the illicit drugs trade and increasing the risk of fatal overdoses | BBC, UK
'Children as young as 12 smoking cannabis'
Children as young as 12 years old are smoking cannabis outside Telford schools, a council meeting has heard. It seemed to be "common around the place" to smoke cannabis and vape outside of schools and that it was "almost accepted," Councillor Paul Thomas told a heath and wellbeing board meeting | BBC, UK
Psilocybin Therapy for Opioid Use Disorder: Get To Know Our Research
The session will discuss why psychedelic therapy may be helpful in the treatment of opioid addiction. The research team will explain the study aims, eligibility criteria, and how services can learn more or signpost potentially suitable clients. Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear directly from the team and ask questions during a Q&A session | Imperial, UK
Better Days Bolton opens doors to help people recover from addiction
Better Days Bolton opened on April 1 and held an official launch this month as part of Recovery Month nationally. Rachel Savchenko, director of operations for the North West at Waythrough, said: “Unfortunately, as we see up and down the country, people are dying from their drug and alcohol use. “And we're here to reduce that. That's the purpose, is to allow people to live safer, happier, healthier lives.” | Bolton News, UK
'I thought my drinking habits were normal'
Speaking ahead of Sober October, a campaign challenging people to change their relationship with alcohol, Le Luyer told BBC Radio Jersey she had been "constantly living for the weekend" and "constantly thinking about the next time I could have a drink" | BBC, UK
Engagement with a theatre-in-education intervention and change in knowledge, refusal self-efficacy, and substance use likelihood
[Open access] With one exception, the degree to which secondary school pupils in Essex felt engaged with a substance use prevention theatre production was not significantly linked to their prevention-related reactions. The exception was in the 'wrong' direction | DEPP, UK
I struggle to put down my phone - and I am 62
"In the early days of social media," Harley explained. "The creation of content and participatory interactive stuff was much more prominent. "As time's gone on, that's become less and less dominant. Now there's a lot more passive consumption and algorithmic content... that grabs attention." This has fed addiction and other problematic behaviours, he said | BBC, UK
Men who 'flooded' streets with Class A drugs jailed
Ahmed Ahmed, who played a "managerial role", and Kardo Ali, a dealer, were arrested in December after police tracked phone numbers to three separate drug lines operating in the Upperthorpe area over a 10-month period, a court heard | BBC, UK
Harry Potter and the goblet of no booze
Organisers of a Harry Potter-themed event have failed to conjure up a licence to sell booze after the plan was turned down amid residents' complaints - and a politician's swipe that "normal men" would not drink the fare on offer | BBC, UK
International news
We need compassionate access to psychedelic treatment
At ICPR 2024, we talked to Leonie Schneider and Ian Roullier, co-founders and co-directors of the Psychedelic Participant Advocacy Network (PsyPAN) in the UK, about why patient voices matter in the development of psychedelic therapy | Drug Reporter, Hungary
Reassessing the Empirical Basis and Best-Practice Communication Standards for Low-Risk Alcohol Guidelines: A Commentary on the Alcohol Intake and Health Study
[Open access] Comprehensive analysis of research relevant to low-risk drinking guidelines ending in a nuanced suggestion about guidelines | JSAT, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Mission Accomplished? Rehab in Scotland, Five Years On
When I started working in addiction treatment to reliably access residential rehab in Scotland you had to live in the right area, be wealthy or just plain lucky. I heard it too often from patients and families who could see what was needed and, despite their best efforts, couldn’t get near it. When we argued for change, we’d hear the same weary rebuttal from the doubters: ‘there’s no evidence that rehab works’. (Ten years earlier, they were saying precisely the same thing about mutual aid.) | Recovery Review blog, UK
Commentary on Tanyos et al: Alcohol policy as intimate partner violence prevention policy—Population-level implications
On the basis of a synthesis of findings linking drinking to intimate partner violence, argues that "Although alcohol does not cause domestic abuse, it can increase both its likelihood and severity. Consequently, alcohol policy should be recognised not simply as health policy, but as violence prevention policy." | Addiction comment, UK
At home drug disposal products can play an important role in keeping rural Coloradans safe
In Colorado, the state-funded Medication and Sharps Takeback program has collected over 400,000 pounds – roughly 181 metric tons – of drugs since its inception in 2016. Medications can be dropped off at over 300 state-funded or independent drop-off sites across the state | Conversation, USA