DrugWise Daily |
31st July 2026 |
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UK news
National Mission on Drugs: annual monitoring report 2024-2025
This third annual monitoring report provides an analysis of the progress made between April 2024 and March 2025 on the National Mission to reduce drug deaths and improve lives | Scottish Government, UK
Patient death prompts concerns about clozapine and smoking cessation awareness
A patient died in October 2025 from fatal clozapine toxicity after he suddenly stopped smoking | Pharmaceuitical Journal, UK
Vow to tackle city problem of nitrous oxide misuse
A city council has unanimously approved a motion aimed at tackling nitrous oxide misuse through a combination of public education and stronger enforcement measures | BBC, UK
Alcohol Brief Interventions – next steps for Scotland
SHAAP brought together researchers, policymakers, clinicians and other stakeholders at a pivotal point as the Scottish Government considers how to reinvigorate its ABI programme. Participants were given the opportunity to hear the latest research – including the findings of the recent Public Health Scotland review – and discuss the way forward | SHAAP, UK
Why is everyone ditching alcohol? - audio
You might have heard Gen Z being called the “sober generation” - the data suggests that we’re less likely to drink than older generations, that alcohol-free brands are getting more popular with under-30s and there’s a huge push towards sobriety and wellness culture more generally. At the same time, pre-mixed cocktails are flying off the shelves - and new figures suggest that binge drinking has gone up | BBC, UK
The Forward Trust wins London Talent Pathways contract to help Londoners build skills and access good work
We are delighted to announce that The Forward Trust has been awarded funding to deliver the new London Talent Pathways programme, commissioned by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and supported by the Mayor of London | Forward Trust, UK
UK Recovery Walk 2026
The UK Recovery Walk 2026 will take place on Saturday, 12th September 2026, Hosted in the vibrant city of Bradford, this year’s walk promises to be a powerful celebration of recovery, resilience, and hope. Together, we will gather to demonstrate the strength and unity of the recovery community, raise awareness, and advocate for improved support and services for those affected by addiction | FAVOR, UK
Cannabis plants arrive as police raid shop
Officers raiding a shop in Lincolnshire were interrupted when a fresh delivery of cannabis plants arrived at the scene | BBC, UK
International news
The Representation Crisis: Who is the Psychedelic Revolution Really For?
This is Part 1 in a two-part series about the lack of representation in psychedelic research. This first part explores the history of medical bias that continues to systematically exclude women, minorities, and gender diverse people from clinical trials. Part 2 explores the structural issues within the medical model and imagines community-based alternatives | Talking Drugs, UK
EUDA webinar: Preventing opioid-related deaths in Europe — continuity of care, peer naloxone and rapid overdose alerts
31 Aug 2026. Online. To mark International Overdose Awareness Day on 31 August, this webinar convenes policy, practice, research and community voices to discuss compassionate, evidence-informed and practical actions that can prevent opioid-related deaths across Europe | EUDA, Portugal
EUDA webinar: Cannabis and mental health
23 Sep 2026. Online. This webinar will provide an overview of mental health risks associated with cannabis use. Participants will hear about the findings on how cannabis use is linked to anxiety, depression, psychotic symptoms and cannabis use disorder, and how cannabis type, potency, and use patterns might increase the risks. The session will cover recent evidence from European and international research, supporting a better understanding of cannabis-related mental health harms and implications for prevention and care | EUDA, Portugal
Cannabis Use Climbs As Alcohol And Cigarette Use Decline, Survey Shows
A new federal survey reveals a significant shift in American substance use, with cannabis consumption rising while alcohol and cigarette use decline. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows past-month cannabis use increased to 15.1% by 2025, even as alcohol and cigarette use fell | Forbes, USA
Buprenorphine-Naloxone vs Extended-Release Naltrexone Following Opioid Withdrawal Treatment
What was striking in this study from Massachusetts was after medically managed opioid withdrawal, how few patients went on to longer term treatment, and even if they did, how many suffered fatal or non-fatal overdose. In comparison, differences between overdose/fatality risk among those who started treatment with buprenorphine versus naltrexone were minor | JAMA Network Open, USA
BAT must face class-action litigation over cigarette labels, US appeals court rules
A divided U.S. appeals court ruled on Wednesday that British American Tobacco (BATS.L), opens new tab must face class-action litigation claiming it misled consumers into believing Natural American Spirit cigarettes were safer than other cigarettes and contained no additives | Reuters, USA
Social networks of Oxford House residents: Family and friend roles in recovery
Social support is important to initiating and sustaining recovery over time. Studying social networks in recovery residences may shed light on which types of relationships are most helpful, and in which ways they help. This study examined the links between social networks and individual changes in recovery at Oxford Houses in the United States | Recovery Research Institute, USA
Buprenorphine is associated with reduction in overdose risk, even in the era of fentanyl
Despite buprenorphine’s proven effectiveness in treating opioid use disorder and reducing opioid overdose risk, some providers have voiced concerns about prescribing buprenorphine in the fentanyl era, given the need for higher doses to counter fentanyl’s potency. This study evaluated whether buprenorphine reduced opioid overdose during a period of fentanyl proliferation | Recovery Research Institute, USA
Experts say it's time to include nicotine e-cigarettes in smoking cessation conversations
Cigarette smoking kills nearly half a million Americans each year, yet most people who smoke are unable to quit despite multiple attempts. Helping more people quit smoking remains one of the greatest opportunities to reduce tobacco-related disease and death | Medical Xpress, USA
For veterans with severe PTSD, psilocybin-assisted therapy may help
The first U.S. clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy in veterans with PTSD who got no relief from conventional treatments found that the protocol was safe, with no serious adverse events or increases in suicidal thinking or behavior | Medical Xpress, USA
Blogs, comment and opinion
Yvette Cooper is Health Secretary: A look back at her work on tobacco control
Yvette Cooper has been appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care by the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. While her appointment marks a new chapter following her time as Foreign Secretary, it is also something of a homecoming | ASH blog, UK
Treatment and recovery services should be a basic human right
Keith Keller is an addiction nurse who understands the addiction treatment landscape, and knows how screwed up it is. In his younger years he was mired in problematic drinking and substance use himself, much of it while playing as a drummer in rock bands on Boston’s North Shore | Ben Westhoff, USA
Alcohol’s hidden calories: product labels could help fight obesity in South Africa
South Africa is grappling with an obesity crisis. Nearly half of adults are overweight or obese. Public discussion often focuses on ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks as reasons for weight gain. But there’s another source of calories that’s often overlooked: alcoholic drinks | Conversation, South Africa