Welcome to your weekly UK drug and alcohol news from Zoom Testing. We pick the key stories that care workers and health teams need to know. Our clear updates help busy staff stay on top of changes in their field.
Monday, January 27, 2025
Studies show that tools like vapes help more than just trying to quit on your own. Most people need extra help to stop smoking for good. In the Channel Islands, folks worry about drunk people in the streets, saying it makes them feel unsafe at night. Sadly, 18 people have died from drugs in Highland this year, showing the need for more help.
People using weight loss jabs drink less, which is changing how much alcohol companies sell. The Forward Trust helps homeless people make friends over breakfast, giving them a safe place to meet others. Denise Van Outen will show us drinks without alcohol in a new TV show, looking at why more people choose them.
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Half of MPs don’t want legal cannabis, though many voters do. The split shows how views differ on drug laws. More people in Guernsey ask for help with drug and drink problems, putting pressure on local services. Plans to stop young people vaping might lead to more fake vapes being sold on streets.
Research shows people get better 25% more often when they take medicine and join support groups. This mix works better than using just one type of help. The Duckie arts group helps people talk about drugs in London through their shows. The Bristol Drug Project says cutting back beats stopping all at once, as small steps can lead to lasting change.
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Scotland has good news – fewer drug problems this past year. Their new plans seem to help. Wales checks if drink prices work well for all kinds of people. Scotland will spend £2.6 million more to help people with drugs.
Belgium says no to throw-away vapes – first in the EU to do this. A new brewery gives jobs training to adults with disabilities. A special nose spray could help when other depression treatments fail.
Thursday, January 30, 2025
One in four drug deaths in Wales link to cocaine – that’s 65 people lost last year. A new app helps people drink less and could save NHS money by stopping health problems early. Glasgow opens a centre to keep drug users safe, offering clean tools and medical help.
Four music festivals in Australia will test drugs this year to help keep people safe. They’ll tell people what’s really in their drugs so they can make better choices. CBD might help people who want to drink less, giving them a natural way to fight cravings.
Friday, January 31, 2025
Prison drug help is up – 50,000 people got support last year, 7% more than before. When doctors tell patients about the Drink Less app06784-6/fulltext), it works really well. A new pain drug could help without getting people hooked.
Leeds built a new website that makes finding help easy. It shows where to meet people and do fun things without drugs. Studies find six good ways to help recovery work better. A new study looks at ways to make alcohol-free drinks easy for everyone to buy.
Photo by Anthony Cunningham for Zoom Testing
Zoom Testing is a leading UK drug testing company and a supplier of Drug Test Kits.
