Yesterday we shared Public Health Scotland data on Drug-Related Deaths 2021-2022. To this it has added 3 Evaluations of the National Mission on drug deaths: Added value of an ongoing national lived experience feedback survey, Exploring changes to family support…
News Archives
Coroners’ safety concerns over fentanyl patch deaths
King’s College London identified Safety concerns reported by coroners following fentanyl patch fatalities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 1997-2024. Safety events, including poor adherence, usage and administration errors of fentanyl patches, were repeatedly identified by coroners, mostly in males aged…
Nitazenes linked to 1,000 UK deaths
Synthetic opioid nitazene was linked to 1,000 UK deaths in 2.5 years, with the National Crime Agency warning that synthetic opioids are the most significant threat in the ongoing battle against illegal drugs. Half of homicides, thefts and robberies are…
1st Bromazolam quantitative analysis
University of Bath found that new psychoactive substance Bromazolam detections in deaths rose from 28 deaths in 2021 to 160 deaths in 2023, that Bromazolam was implicated in causing death in 82.8% of cases, with a median post-mortem blood concentration…
Crispin Blunt: drug offence charges
Former MP and justice minister Crispin Blunt – who publicly used his political office to call for more drug availability via legalisation – was charged with 4 drugs offences, prosecutors said. He is accused of one count of possessing a…
Malta bill recognises psychotherapy
Malta’s Parliament passed a Bill this week granting legal recognition to the profession of a psychotherapist, following a parliamentary debate that saw support from both sides. Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon said that nowadays, “no one doubts that psychotherapy is a…
Naadac 2026 webinars
2026 webinars from the National Association of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors include: Navigating Ethical Boundaries and Decision-Making in Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Strengthening Helping Professionals: Ethics, Self-Care, and Resilience and Ethical Issues and Best Practices in Substance Use…
Webinar: Trauma, SUD and treatment
The Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network will host a webinar on 16 April on How Trauma Impacts SUD and Subsequent Treatment Efforts. Explore how traumatic experiences shape neurobiological stress systems, emotional regulation and behavioral responses that influence substance use patterns, as…
Early adult drinking linked to middle-age cognitive decline
The University of Massachusetts Amherst found that, when alcoholic self-medication begins in early adulthood, negative cognitive effects start to show up in middle-age – even after long abstinence. These include less ability to cope with changing situations, increased likelihood to…
Why contingency management works
Lara Coughlin PhD of the University of Michigan Addiction Center was a guest on the American Psychological Association’s Speaking of Psychology podcast. She discussed how tangible rewards and incentives can help people experiencing addiction abstain from drug use and begin…
