The cost of punitive drug legislation On March 10, at the 69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, UNAIDS, the UN Development Programme, and the International Network of People who Use Drugs launched a joint guidance note: Decrim...

The Lancet, one of the most respected journals in the world, addressing the consequences of punitive policies and the need for harm reduction.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Politicians Must Stop Mocking a Crisis That Is Killing Tens of Thousands - Anyone's Child Politicians Must Stop Mocking a Crisis That Is Killing Tens of Thousands - Anyone's Child -

“When political leaders mock d**g use or attack opponents over it, the message travels far beyond Westminster. It deepens the stigma that surrounds drug dependency, stigma that prevents people from seeking help when they need it most.”

anyoneschild.org/2026/04/poli... by @anyoneschild.bsky.social

Exposed: how drug gangs deal without fear as the law can’t keep up Police focus on heroin and crack allows criminals to peddle cannabis and MDMA to middle-class users on encrypted messaging apps, Times analysis shows

We’ve been saying this for how long? We cannot keep up with the illicit trade under current methods. We need alternatives.

www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...

Mental health benches: A simple idea helping people through 'a very dark place' The 100th suicide prevention bench has been unveiled by charity 'Legend on the Bench' - each carrying details on how to access immediate support.

‘The 100th suicide prevention bench has been unveiled by charity 'Legend on the Bench' - each carrying details on how to access immediate support.’

A simple but wonderful initiative to help us connect with one another.

news.sky.com/video/mental...

VICE: I Spent Years Policing Glasgow’s Drug Wars — The Real Victims Were Never the Dealers, They Were the Ones We Chose to Ignore Naked City Crime & Vice By Simon McLean

‘I Spent Years Policing Glasgow’s Drug Wars — The Real Victims Were Never the Dealers, They Were the Ones We Chose to Ignore’

Valued LEAP speaker and retired undercover operative Simon McLean:

nakedcitymagazine.substack.com/p/vice-i-spe...

What's inside these big yellow boxes? A life-saving world-first for Aberdeen A Balmedie paramedic is behind a public-access trial of anti-overdose drug naloxone, which could guard against a coming influx of dangerous synthetic opioids.

‘What’s inside these big yellow boxes? A life-saving world-first for Aberdeen’

Naloxone access now on the streets in a similar fashion to defibrillators.

www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/lifestyle...

Record drug seizures driven by jump in cannabis and ketamine haul Border Force officials made 65 seizures of herbal cannabis that contained 100kg or more.

‘Record drug seizures driven by jump in cannabis and ketamine haul.

Border Force officials made 65 seizures of herbal cannabis that contained 100kg or more.’

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

I lost my brother James twice – once to addiction, then t... When he died, police didn’t even call to tell me – a symptom of our indifference to a problem that claims so many lives in the UK. This is what it’s like to know and love a drug addict

“When he died, police didn’t even call to tell me – a symptom of our indifference to a problem that claims so many lives in the UK...”

‘I lost my brother James twice – once to addiction, then to overdose’

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

UK police officers given new guidance on medical cannabis - leafie New guidance, approved by The National Police Chiefs Council, instructs police officers to treat medicinal cannabis users as "patients first, suspects second".

UK police have been issued new guidance on how to handle medical cannabis cases. This is an important step as there has been an ongoing legacy in this area whereby patients have been treated poorly by services in some reported cases.

www.leafie.co.uk/news/uk-poli...

By @teamleafie.bsky.social

This, from Canada, says a lot. It’s also representative of most countries and regions.

‘Commissioner releases statement on toxic drug crisis, calls on government to put politics aside to save lives’

bchumanrights.ca/news-and-eve...

Zack Polanski Has Pledged to Legalise Drugs. So Should All Leftwing Leaders | Novara Media The left in Britain has mostly kept shtum about drugs, even though their criminalisation is inextricably linked to several of its key issues. The Green leader is finally breaking the silence, writes K...

A look at the left-leaning parties and the pledge to reform drug laws. The Green Party are pushing forward with actual policy proposals and the Lib Dems historically have been progressive but what about other left-leaning parties?

novaramedia.com/2025/11/03/z... by Kojo Koram

“England’s Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, has called for the immediate closure of all young offender institutions (YOIs), warning that youth custody has become a ‘holding pen’ for children failed by the state...”

www.thejusticegap.com/a-holding-pe... via @justicegap.bsky.social

Searches for lorazepam surged after release of The White Lotus, data shows Third series of TV drama spiked interest in anti-anxiety drug amid warnings over illicit production of ‘benzos’

‘Searches for lorazepam surged after release of The White Lotus, data shows’

“Third series of TV drama spiked interest in anti-anxiety drug amid warnings over illicit production of ‘benzos’”

www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Police and crime commissioners to be abolished Home secretary says PCCs, in England and Wales, were ‘failed experiment’ – and scrapping them will save £100m over this parliament

Interesting news that the role of Police and Crime Commissioner is to be abolished, with it stated by the current Home Secretary that it has been “a failed experiment”.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Black Londoners nearly three times more likely to be strip searched Met Police accused of discriminatory practices as force remains under scrutiny after strip search of 15-year-old Child Q at school in east London

‘Black Londoners nearly three times more likely to be strip searched than white suspects’

www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...

Cocaine carnage is coming to Britain Budget blow has exploded beyond control

‘Cocaine carnage is coming to Britain’

www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...

Ketamine deaths increase twenty-fold in a decade - Drink and Drugs News Deaths involving ketamine have increased twenty-fold since 2014, according to research by King’s College London, the University of Hertfordshire and Manchester Metropolitan University.

“Deaths involving ketamine have increased twenty-fold since 2014, according to research by King’s College London, the University of Hertfordshire and Manchester Metropolitan University.”

www.drinkanddrugsnews.com/ketamine-dea...

US war on “narco-terrorists” violates the right to life, warn UN experts after deadly vessel strike GENEVA – UN experts* today condemned the extrajudicial execution by the United States of 11 people when it sank a civilian vessel in the Caribbean Sea on 2 September 2025, and three people on another ...

‘US war on “narco-terrorists” violates the right to life, warn UN experts after deadly vessel strike’

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Sheffield doorman says all security staff should carry naloxone Sheffield doorman Charlie Smith says all security workers should be trained to administer naloxone.

“All door staff should carry life-saving drug”

‘A door supervisor has said a life-saving drug should be carried as standard by security staff, after he helped a man during an overdose’

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Thousands of opioid deaths missed off official figures - BBC News The error - affecting England and Wales - raises concerns about the impact on the government's approach to drug deaths.

‘Thousands of opioid deaths missed off official figures’

More than 13,000 heroin and opioid deaths have been missed off official statistics in England and Wales, raising concerns about the impact on the government's approach to tackling addiction.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Health, Not Handcuffs, Are the Path to Ending Opioid Cris... Every overdose death is preventable. It's time to end the war on drugs and begin a new chapter.

‘Health, Not Handcuffs, Are the Path to Ending Opioid Crisis’

“Drug addiction does not exist in a vacuum. It stems from underlying trauma and mental health issues, which require proper treatment to manage.”

www.newsweek.com/health-not-h...

Ukrainian Government adopts National Drug Policy Strategy until 2030 and approves its implementation plan Ukraine has approved a new National Drug Policy strategy, which aims to improve access to controlled medicines, expand harm reduction programmes, and provide support to marginalized populations.

‘Ukrainian Government adopts National Drug Policy Strategy until 2030 and approves its implementation plan’

idpc.net/news/2025/09...

Cannabis decriminalisation backed by half of Guernsey's deputies A major review is under way looking at reforming the island's drug laws.

‘Half of Guernsey's deputies support decriminalising cannabis, according to research by the BBC.’

“Eleven of the island's 38 politicians have said they are either undecided on the issue, or will wait to see any proposals before making a decision.”

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Scottish drug deaths fall but remain worst in Europe The number of drug deaths is expected to have dropped slightly, but experts warn that any fall will most likely be a blip.

‘Scottish drug deaths fall but remain worst in Europe’

We need to do so much more. If we’re serious about saving lives then we need drastic changes to policies and attitudes.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

PSU Researchers Release Final Report in Landmark Project Exploring Impacts of Measure 110 Decriminalization Portland State University researchers have released the final findings in a three-year project examining the impacts of multiple drug policy shifts including Measure 110 which decriminalized drug poss...

Crucial study & findings released regarding the hotly contested decriminalisation process in Oregon:

“many claimed that Measure 110 was responsible for rising crime and overdose deaths. However, our findings offer little to no support for those claims,”

www.pdx.edu/news/psu-res...

A future on our own terms: The 2025 Support. Don’t Punish Global Day of Action For the 2025 Global Day of Action, thousands took action in 262 cities across 80 countries — demanding policies that ensure access to systems of care and support, not punishment.

‘A future on our own terms: The 2025 Support. Don’t Punish Global Day of Action’

This is a wonderful and inspiring roundup of events and advocacy across the globe, collated by @idpc.net

idpc.net/blog/2025/07...

Drugs policing and diversion with Matthew Bacon, senior lecturer in criminology. Does policing exist just to enforce laws, or is it bigger than that? Presenter Ben Twomey is joined by Matthew Bacon, Senior Criminology Lecturer at Sheffield…

Police-led diversion schemes, what do we know?

In this interview from Ben Twomey for Policing TV, Ben speaks to Matthew Bacon, Senior Criminology Lecturer at Sheffield University.

policing.tv/videos/matth...

Let's stop judging and start listening How can it be possible that 7 years have passed

“How can it be possible that seven years have passed since my son Ben died…”

‘Let’s stop judging and start listening.’ By Hilary Mills, a very personal testimony of how our attitudes towards people and drugs impacts families from @anyoneschild.bsky.social

anyoneschild.org/2025/07/how-...

Ex-police chief hits out at successor over lack of drug support for offenders The former Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales has criticised his successor for lack of provision of support for offenders who use drugs.

“former Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales has criticised his successor for lack of provision of support for offenders who use drugs.”

Arfon Jones, advocate of reform and a member of LEAP continues to make the case for support over punishment:

www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/2529953...

We’ve talked long enough – it's time to change the law on cannabis Discourse on the drug market often centres on the dangers substances pose to our young people

With news this week of senior police officers calling for Class A penalties, here’s a different police perspective from LEAP Scotland representative and former undercover operative, Simon McLean:

‘We’ve talked long enough – change the law on cannabis now’

www.thenational.scot/comment/2529...