DrugWise Daily |
20th May 2026 |
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UK news
Smoking attributable hospital admissions and deaths
There were an estimated 1,107 smoking-attributable hospital admissions per 100,000 population (38,675 admissions). This is a 36% decrease since 2008 (1,735 per 100,000). Men had a higher rate of admissions (1,224 per 100,000) than women (1,006 per 100,000). As measured by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), those living in the 20% most deprived areas had a rate of admissions (2,247 per 100,000) 4.4 times higher compared to those living in the 20% least deprived areas (505 per 100,000) | PHS, UK
Local commissioning of pharmacy smoking cessation in England will improve, says LGA
The Local Government Association has said it expects commissioning of pharmacy smoking cessation services by councils in England to improve over the next year following Labour’s commitment to ringfence funding as part of a £4.4 billion public health grant for local authorities | Pharmacy Magazine, UK
Bigger Canisters, Bigger Harms: How the UK’s Nitrous Oxide Ban Backfired
Walking the streets of London on a Saturday or Sunday morning, it would almost be impossible to miss the discarded silver canisters of nitrous oxide littering the streets, remnants of the previous night. From Shoreditch to Dalston to Brixton, “NOS”, as it is commonly known, has become almost synonymous with the city’s nightlife scene | Talking Drugs, UK
Alcoholic Drinks: Delivery Services
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to minimise the risk of harm caused by alcohol sold through home delivery apps | They work for you, UK
Ketamine
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her planned timeline is for responding to (a) the report entitled Ketamine: An updated review of use and harms published by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on 28 January 2026 and (b) the recommendations therein | They work for you, UK
Clinic that offers same day treatment for problem drug users praised in evaluation
A ‘single door’ route to give problem drug users a faster road to recovery in Edinburgh has been praised in an independent evaluation. Edinburgh Medication Assisted Treatment Clinic (EdMAC) gives same day access to medications like methadone and buprenorphine. Previously people with drug dependency had to join a waiting list to be able to access treatment and were less likely to follow through | Midlothian View, UK
'Connection is opposite of addiction not sobriety'
A new group has been set up to help people living with addiction and led by a woman who had her own struggles and has been in recovery for 20 years. Chase Recovery, which has set up the group in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire, is run by Debs Bolton and other people who have addiction and recovery experiences, in an area where it is needed, she said | BBC, UK
Create Strength Group receive national recognition
Create Strength Group has received one of this year’s GSK IMPACT Awards, recognising its efforts supporting those with a history of using cannabis, opiates, and prescription medicines | Telegraph and Argus, UK
SOS!UK Survey launch
Tuesday 26 May • 2 PM - 3 PM GMT+1. Online. The Students, Alcohol and Drugs Survey is SOS!UK's annual research, designed to identify students’ relationships with alcohol and drugs at institutions across the UK and Ireland. Additionally, it provides a means to understand changes in attitudes and behaviours towards alcohol and drugs, and develop responses to support students and staff in higher education. The launch event will present the most recent research, and help you to think about how you could respond to this on your campus | DEF, UK
Drug Education Forum Event – Summer 2026
Thursday 21 May • 3:30 PM - 5 PM GMT+1. Join our online Drug Education Forum to learn, share, and connect about drug awareness. The keynote speaker is Will Lawn, senior lecturer in psychology at King’s College London who specializes in adolescent cannabis use and its impacts. Also appearing will be Agnes Wootton, head of We Are With You’s services for young people in the South region, who will be talking about Re-Frame, a police-led diversion programme for young people aged 10-17 years found in possession of Class B or C drugs | DEF, UK
"We Are Not Defined By Addiction..." | Listen UP Episode 15 - In Cahootz - podcast
In Listen UP Episode 15, creative lead Kate Black of In Cahootz, and participant Paul Byrne, share a clear path from anxiety to action, highlighting simple entry points with no referral, and steady peer support that keeps you showing up | Abbeycare, UK
Employer-supported volunteering (ESV)
Employer supported volunteering (ESV) – sometimes called corporate volunteering – is when an employer supports its workforce to get stuck into volunteering opportunities, usually during their working hours. At Waythrough, we believe that volunteering is one of the most powerful ways to connect people, build skills, and create lasting social impact. Through ESV, your organisation can give employees the opportunity to make a difference during the working day | Waythrough, UK
'Wholesale' drugs network dealers locked up
Three dealers who played their part in a "wholesale" heroin and cocaine network have been jailed | BBC, UK
International news
HRB reports continued rise in treatment for cocaine and crack cocaine use
According to the Health Research Board’s (HRB) Drug treatment demand in Ireland 2025, 15,422 cases were treated for problem drug use in Ireland during 2025. Cocaine remains Ireland’s most common drug treated (excluding alcohol), accounting for 42% of all drug treatment cases (6,535 cases). This is a 24% increase on 2024 (5,289 cases) and the highest number recorded to date | HRB, Ireland
Opioid-related infections linked to rising amputation rates across United States
Severe infections linked to opioid use often progress rapidly, particularly when access to timely medical care is limited. This can result in devastating health outcomes, including life-altering amputations. While clinicians and local researchers have reported rising numbers of amputations among people who use opioids, national data describing long-term trends has been limited | News Medical, USA
The DRAM, Vol. 22(5) – Alcohol marketing strategies targeting LGBTQ+ communities
Individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ are at increased risk for harmful alcohol use. This might be explained by the Minority Stress Theory which suggests that LGBTQ+ populations use alcohol to cope with victimization and discrimination. Another factor might be point-of-sale (POS) marketing tactics at alcohol retail locations to appeal to this population, but the extent of this marketing is unclear. This week, The DRAM reviews a study that assessed POS marketing strategies targeted towards LGBTQ+ individuals at Midwest alcohol retail locations | CHA, USA
Can GLP-1 medications prevent addiction and reduce its harms?
Medications originally developed for type 2 diabetes are now drawing attention for their possible effects on substance use craving and reward. This study examined whether people who started a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) like Zepbound or Ozempic were less likely to develop a substance use disorder, and whether people who already had a substance use disorder had fewer serious complications | Recovery Research Institute, USA
Alcohol content on social media emphasizes positives and rarely mentions cancer risk
Alcohol is a leading cause of preventable cancer, yet many people remain unaware of this link. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are major sources of health information and may shape social norms around alcohol use. This study examined how often alcohol-related posts mention cancer risk | Recovery Research Institute, USA
Contaminated illicit alcohol sold at licensed bottle shops: new study
Australians may be drinking contaminated spirits without realising it, according to new research showing illicit alcohol being sold alongside legal products at bottle shops | UNSW, Australia
Blogs, comment and opinion
Analysing Smoking Harms – New statistics using up to date evidence
The challenge of measuring smoking related diseases and deaths can be complex. Craig Collins, Service Manager, Health Harms Intelligence, explains the reason behind the change in measuring smoking harms | Public Health Scotland blog, UK
The more you look, the more you drink: how attention to alcohol adverts drives consumption
Alcohol adverts are everywhere: on television, online, at sporting events, and on billboards. We know that exposure to alcohol advertising is linked to increased drinking. But not everyone responds to adverts in the same way. So what makes some people more susceptible than others? | IAS blog, UK
Early-warning systems needed for fast-moving synthetic drugs
A new overview of existing studies and analyses from the HRB and the HSE National Social Inclusion Office shows Ireland is facing an evolving landscape with new drugs entering the market. Dr Deirdre Mongan outlines the scale and complexity of these shifts | HRB blog, Ireland