At Zoom Testing, we track key news in UK drug and alcohol testing. This week brings mixed news with Scotland’s drug deaths rising by 12%, while their new overdose centre has helped 1,400 people in just two months. The UK government has stepped up action against illegal tobacco and vapes with more officers patrolling our streets, and Suffolk now uses health data to restrict alcohol sales in problem areas.
Our daily updates cover Parliament’s debate on preventing drug deaths and Torbay’s efforts to teach naloxone use for stopping overdoses. We look at the £5 pint becoming standard in UK pubs alongside the growing trend of alcohol-free drinks. Research shows ending tobacco sales will create more jobs, not fewer. From Stoke’s £2 million quit-smoking fund to new insights on how teens view alcohol ads, we bring you the news that matters to you.
Monday, March 24, 2025
The UK government announced a crackdown on illicit tobacco and vapes with more trained officers on the streets. A new study in Addiction shows alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks are gaining popularity in Great Britain. Alcohol Change UK has published a handbook for treatment services to help deliver cooking and food sharing activities for people experiencing alcohol harm.
Internationally, a Cochrane review found that combining drug treatments with therapy helps people with alcohol use disorder recover better than using either approach alone. On a lighter note, the BBC reports on Britain’s changing nightlife as Sheffield’s Hope Works club prepares to close, highlighting the end of the UK’s hedonistic clubbing era.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Suffolk County Council now uses health data to limit alcohol sales in high-risk areas. The new Tobacco Bill aims to stop cigarette sales to anyone born after 2009. Good news from Scotland where drug education reached over 3,600 students thanks to local funding.
Many UK pubs now charge £5 per pint, causing worry that fewer people will go out. France has set up wine vending machines on roadsides that follow all safety rules. A 12-week drug and alcohol program in Australia has helped cut crime rates among those who finish it.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
A UK Parliamentary debate on drug death prevention is scheduled for tomorrow in Westminster Hall. The latest Scottish data shows over 9,400 people were referred to drug and alcohol services last quarter, with half seeking help for alcohol problems. Research indicates that remote interventions can reduce relapse when they supplement in-person treatment rather than replace it.
The public health chief in York has called for stricter gambling ad regulations after finding that more than 10% of young people in the city have gambled. A convenience store was fined nearly £5,000 for selling a vape to an undercover 15-year-old. In the US, a national study found one in four adults misuse prescription stimulants, with almost 10% meeting criteria for stimulant use disorder.
Thursday, March 27, 2025
UK Parliament meets today to discuss ways to prevent drug deaths. In Torbay, local teams are now teaching people how to use naloxone, a drug that stops opioid overdoses. Scotland’s new overdose center has helped over 1,400 people since it opened two months ago.
Research shows that ending tobacco sales will create more UK jobs. The NHS spent £2 million less on addictive medicines at the end of 2024. In a first, Lucky Saint has joined the Portman Group as its first alcohol-free drink maker.
Friday, March 28, 2025
UK MPs passed a new law to ban tobacco sales to the next age group. Drug deaths in Scotland went up 12% last year. Sadly, 1,172 people died. The city of Stoke will use £2 million to help people stop smoking.
A TV actor from Scot Squad told his story about fighting alcohol on a new show. He hopes to help others who drink too much. A new study finds teens see no real gap between ads for real drinks and fake ones with no booze.
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