DrugWise Daily |
7th November 2025 |
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UK news
Carisoprodol: review of the evidence on its use and harms
This report considers the use, harms and control of carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant previously prescribed in the UK to treat muscle spasms. After reviewing the evidence, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) recommends: 1) making carisoprodol a Class C drug; 2) testing for carisoprodol and its metabolite in all overdose cases; 3) creating resources for health professionals about the dangers of carisoprodol and 4) providing clear information to the public about the risks of carisoprodol, including addiction and overdose | ACMD, UK
The health of people in prison, on probation and in the secure NHS estate in England
The Chief Medical Officer for England identifies areas of good practice and areas of risk, and recommends actions to improve health outcomes for this population | Department of Health and Social Care and Ministry of Justice, UK
Reluctant risk-takers: how law enforcement practices at festivals can obstruct safer drug use
[Open access] On-site observations at festivals in the UK and elsewhere plus interviews and surveys show how “punitive policing at festivals discourages and obstructs safer party drug use”, contributing to evidence that “police crackdowns in recreational settings exacerbate rather than reduce harm” | IJDP, UK
Comparison of Office for National Statistics (ONS) and National Programme on Substance Use Mortality (NPSUM) data suggests that opioid-related deaths in England & Wales have been systematically underestimated
[Open access] Comparing Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures with voluntary reports from coroners “demonstrates that opioid-related deaths have been underestimated by ONS for over a decade … deaths involving other substances may also be underreported.” | IJDP, UK
Young people’s views of nicotine pouches in the UK
This paper is the first qualitative study in the UK to explore the views of 14-16 year olds’ awareness of, access to and use of nicotine pouches | NatCen, UK
Why are alcohol-free drinks so expensive? Some fake spirits cost over £25 a bottle!
In this new series, our money and consumer editor considers the often perplexing reasons items cost what they do. As a new report suggests booze-free booze can cost 25% more than the alcoholic equivalent, what could possibly explain this? | Guardian, UK
Drug-related Deaths
I extend my thanks to Mr Speaker for providing the opportunity to discuss the crucial matter of drug-related deaths. I declare an interest as the unremunerated chair of the Centre for Evidence Based Drug Policy, a think-tank in this policy space. The Office for National Statistics reported last month that deaths related to drug poisonings have increased for the 12th consecutive year, and have consequently reached an all-time high once again | They work for you, UK
Electronic Cigarettes and Smoking
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to introduce a ban on (a) vaping and (b) smoking outside (i) pubs, (ii) restaurants and (iii) nightclubs | They work for you, UK
Alcoholic Drinks: Labelling
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress his Department has made on introducing mandatory health information on alcohol labels; and when he plans to publish a consultation on this matter | They work for you, UK
Licensing Laws
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment of trends in the level of post-pandemic changes to (a) drinking patterns and (b) resulting health harms were (i) requested by and (ii) provided to the Licensing Taskforce by his Department to inform their proposed licensing reforms | They work for you, UK
Psilocybin
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of asking the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to review their scheduling of Psilocybin | They work for you, UK
The Manifesto Sessions: Equality Act alcohol exclusion clause
Monday 8th December 2025 - 14.00pm. Our 7th webinar within our Manifesto Sessions webinar series will focus on the specific alcohol exclusion clause within the Equality Act (2010). As part of our ‘Setting the blueprint for a more equal and prosperous Wales for people who use substances’, We want an alcohol-related exclusion clause removed within the Equality Act 2010. The Equality Act 2010 is legislation that legally protects people from discrimination, both in the workplace and in wider society | Barod, UK
Drugs gang jailed over £3m cocaine haul
The gang were taking part in a conspiracy to traffic cocaine with an estimated street value of between £2.4m and £3m from Liverpool to Skegness, Lincolnshire | BBC, UK
International news
From cigarettes to snuff to nicotine pouches: the unusual Icelandic model for tobacco harm reduction
During the last few decades, Nordic countries have played host to dramatic falls in smoking rates. They are leading the way in Europe, and each showcases the potential for tobacco harm reduction to rapidly reduce cigarette use. But while snus has provided an increasingly popular off-ramp for those looking to switch away from smoking in Sweden and Norway, Icelanders have taken to a different selection of safer nicotine products, and this Briefing Paper uncovers the story of their rise | GSTHR, UK
Afghan opium crop plummets after Taliban ban - UN report
Opium farming in Afghanistan has dropped significantly following a ban imposed by the Taliban government in 2022, the United Nations said. The total area of land for growing opium poppy shrank 20% since last year, while the amount of opium has fallen by 32% over the same period, the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime said in a survey | BBC, UK
Why Are Some European Drug Gangs Burying Cocaine Instead of Selling It?
Wholesale prices are in the gutter across much of Europe, forcing drug smugglers to try to manipulate the market. OCCRP explains the factors affecting Europe's cocaine supply in 2025 | OCCRP, UK
Illegal tobacco burns $3.3bn hole in Australia’s tax revenue, crime agency says
ACIC report says total impact of illicit trade on economy amounted to $4bn in a year amid debate over cigarette excise | Guardian, UK
Proposed policy calls for reduced nicotine levels in cigarettes
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has endorsed a federal policy that would make cigarettes far less addictive. The proposed policy by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets a maximum nicotine product standard, limiting nicotine levels in combustible cigarettes and related tobacco products to 0.7 milligrams per gram (mg/g)—about 95% less than what is currently allowed | Medical Xpress, USA
The 'hard, slow work' of reducing overdose deaths is having an effect
Illicit drug overdoses and the deaths they cause are trending down this year, despite spikes in a handful of states, according to a Stateline analysis of data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Medical Xpress, USA
Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (PAP) using MDMA or Psilocybin
MDMA and psilocybin are psychedelic drugs and are strictly controlled by the Australian Government. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has recently approved the funding of MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psilocybin for treatment resistant depression (TRD), where these are used in combination with intensive psychotherapy. This is called psychedelic assisted psychotherapy (PAP) | Australian Government, Department of Veteran's Affairs, Australia
Blogs, comment and opinion
Q&A: What to know about vaping risks for young people
While vaping has been touted by manufacturers as a safer smoking alternative, the public health community is careful to point out the risks. Since the introduction of e-cigarettes to the U.S. in 2007, vaping has taken hold among young people, with approximately 6% of surveyed middle and high school students reporting using e-cigarettes in 2024 | Medical Xpress, USA