DrugWise Daily |
1st June 2026 |
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UK news
Integrating tobacco harm reduction into drug treatment and harm reduction services
This publication offers some ideas for drug treatment and harm reduction services keen to help people reduce smoking and tobacco-related harm | GSTHR, UK [See also item below]
Smoking among people facing problems with drug use
Over the last two decades, the prevalence of smoking among general adult populations has been declining, particularly in wealthier nations. But across both high-income countries (HIC) and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), smoking has a significant and often disproportionate impact on marginalised communities. In this Briefing Paper, we consider how smoking affects one such group, people who are facing problems with their drug use | GSTHR, UK
Festival fans warned over 'pink powder' drugs
As thousands of music fans look forward to summer festivals, health experts have warned of the dangers of taking new drugs known as "pink powders". The drugs are also sometimes referred to as "pink cocaine" but according to Northern Ireland's Public Health Agency (PHA) the powders rarely contain cocaine. In reality, the powders are often a mix of very high-strength MDMA, ketamine and other substances. "We really want to highlight to people - if it's pink, stop and think," said Dr Denise O'Hagan from the PHA | BBC, UK
Thousands of young Scottish people admitted to A&E amid Ketamine crisis
Stats uncovered by the Sunday Mail by a freedom of information request show almost 1600 A&E and hospital admissions across Scotland in the last four years | Edinburgh Live, UK
Warning over suspected dangerous vape liquid
Young people are being warned to stay alert to the circulation of illicit vapes, after police seized liquids thought to contain fentanyl. Durham Police said it seized several suspected Mazza vapes and vape liquids across County Durham. Mazza is the street term for a type of liquid containing unregulated nicotine or cannabis products | BBC, UK
What are 'Mazza' vapes? - audio
Kay Davidson explains the dangers of new illicit vapes hitting the market | BBC, UK
Closure of London’s only hospital unit treating homeless patients with drug and alcohol addiction to be revisited
London’s only specialist detox unit for homeless people with drug and alcohol addictions could be saved after backlash over its closure. The unit based at St Thomas’ Hospital in Waterloo has been shutdown but the government has now said it will reconsider its position | Southwark News, UK
Why is Lidl opening a pub? - video
You may know them as a supermarket chain but in a world first Lidl is opening a pub outside Belfast. The reasons why are the consequence of a complex history of laws and licenses in Northern Ireland, that can be traced all the way back to partition | BBC, UK
Hooked by design: how social media fuels alcohol harm - podcast
On this month’s Alcohol Alert podcast, we spoke to Professor Nicholas Carah about the fast-evolving world of digital alcohol marketing - and why it matters. As debates intensify globally around social media regulation and even bans for young people, the conversation couldn’t be more timely | IAS, UK
After a hard-fought victory to legalise medical cannabis in the UK, why is it still so hard to access? – podcast
Two mothers fought British bureaucracy to obtain lifesaving cannabis medicines for their children. But most patients are having to go private – at huge cost | Guardian, UK
What are the prospects for applying MAT Standards to Alcohol in Scotland?
Monday 8 June • 12:45 PM - 2 PM GMT+1. Online. The seminar will focus on research titled "The Feasibility and Prospects for Adapting Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards for Alcohol in Scotland" which explored the applicability of MAT standards to alcohol treatment specialist services, using peer-reviewed publications as well as grey literature and direct observation of MAT standards implementation processes | SHAAP, UK
Put a £5 deposit on vapes to stop fires, say waste companies
Disposable vapes were banned a year ago, partly because of the fires they can cause in bin lorries and waste facilities when thrown away with general rubbish. But the industry body for waste companies says vape recycling has not improved enough, so a small, refundable deposit at the point of purchase is a "simple, fair, efficient and cost-neutral solution" | BBC, UK
Drug supplier linked to nitazene deaths admits also making more than 5,000 indecent images of children
A drug supplier who is linked to the deaths of at least two people from hugely powerful Class A nitazene drugs has admitted a raft of criminal charges, following a National Crime Agency investigation | NCA, UK
How drug paranoia led to the murder of a 93-year-old friend
A "cruel and calculating" cannabis user has been jailed for life after torturing his 93-year-old friend for more than 24 hours | BBC, UK
International news
Prisoners face new book ban after hundreds test positive for synthetic drugs
A new state policy that bans prison inmates from receiving hardback books and used books will curb contrabands that enter into facilities, according to state officials | Independent, UK
Men account for 84% of surviving drivers who test positive for alcohol after serious road crashes
Garda operation over bank holiday weekend to target dangerous driving, speeding and mobile use at wheel | Irish Times, Ireland
Naloxone use during cardiac arrest linked to improved survival
A new study by emergency medicine researchers at UC Davis Health set out to assess the effects of naloxone administration by first responders treating patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OA-OHCA). The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found naloxone administration during resuscitation by emergency medical service (EMS) personnel was associated with improved outcomes in patients with suspected OA-OHCA | Medical Xpress, USA
Three States Sue Trump’s DOJ to Stop “Unlawful” Marijuana Rescheduling
Three Republican state attorneys general have filed a lawsuit challenging the federal cannabis rescheduling action announced by President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice in April | Filter Magazine, USA
This group of men are drinking at risky levels
The first national in-depth study to examine alcohol use among Australian middle-aged men has found more than two million are drinking at levels that put their health at risk of harm | Flinders University, Australia
Blogs, comment and opinion
BuzzBallz, bubblegum vapes and 99p shots: Have we reached the peak ‘kiddification’ of booze and smoking?
A new alcoholic drink has raised alarm bells thanks to its fun, bright packaging and pocket money-friendly price tag. It’s time we stopped giving ‘adult’ products the CBeebies treatment, writes Helen Coffey | Independent comment, UK
The importance of good comms in the age of disinformation
Holly Wood-Blake attended a training day organised by Stempra, focused on science communication, misinformation, and public trust in research. One of the clearest takeaways from the day: science communication is not just a ‘nice to have’ alongside research | SSA blog, UK