News

25th May 2026

Scientists Confirm Alcohol Causes Widespread Health Damage

Researchers reviewing decades of evidence conclude that alcohol plays a major role in disease and injury, affecting everything from the immune system to the brain and heart. A major new review published in Addiction paints a sobering picture of alcohol’s impact on health, linking drinking to dozens of diseases, infections, and injuries that affect nearly every organ system in the body. Researchers say some of alcohol’s harms may lessen after people reduce or stop drinking, but many effects of long-term heavy use can persist for years — and in some cases may never fully reverse. This underscores the importance of early addiction treatment, recovery and rehab support.

Read the Scitech Daily article Here

23rd May 2026

Man in £80,000 of debt after harrowing cocaine addiction explains what finally made him quit

A man who ended up in £80,000 worth of debt following a cocaine addiction has spoken about the moment he quit and what pushed him to make the change. Alex Powell, 32, started using the class A drug to help him cope after he split from his partner, however he soon started taking coke to aid with his studies and shifts as an engineer apprentice. Before he knew it, he was spending chunks of his monthly salary on the drug, shoplifting and maxing out credit cards. Alex received the necessary addiction treatment, rehab and recovery support to help him overcome his problem.

Read the LAD Bible article Here

22nd May 2026

Study reveals brain changes linked to alcohol addiction recovery

Scientists say they’ve uncovered striking new evidence of how alcohol addiction impacts the brain’s learning systems—and how those systems may slowly adapt during recovery—in a new study  published in Clinical Neurophysiology today.Lead author Dr. Mica Komarnyckyj from The University of Manchester, said, “Alcohol dependency is a complex and challenging health condition, and many  have difficulties maintaining recovery despite treatment and support. “We believe our findings offer fresh insight into how alcohol dependence can influence the brain systems involved in learning and reward. This could have important implications into how addiction treatment, rehab and recovery interventions are delivered.

Read the Medical Xpress article Here

21st May 2026

Harm Reduction for Behavioural Addiction in the Digital Age

Colon-Rivera framed behavioural addiction as a rapidly evolving clinical domain driven by the proliferation of digital technology, encompassing gaming disorder, gambling disorder, internet addiction, and emerging presentations related to AI dependency and social media use. He situated exercise addiction within this landscape, characterizing it not as a primary disorder but as one that consistently presents with psychiatric comorbidities—most commonly anxiety disorders, body image concerns, and depressive episodes—frequently precipitated by injury or driven by social media-related performance pressures. This underscores the need for tailoried addiction treatment, rehab and recovery services.

Read the Psychiatric Times article Here

20th May 2026

Rising use of a drug called ‘kratom’ among young adults is sparking serious addiction and mental health concerns

Most people who know about kratom think they know who uses it. Adults, mostly. People managing chronic pain or trying to step off opioids. This is not the kind of substance that ends up in a 14-year-old’s backpack. A new US national survey just changed that assumption. The numbers are bigger, younger, and more entangled with addiction than anyone had imagined before. It is very important that addiction treatment and rehab support is available to people who develop problematic use with Kratom

Read the Earth.com article Here

19th May 2026

‘Connection is opposite of addiction not sobriety’

A new group has been set up to help people living with addiction and led by a woman who had her own struggles and has been in recovery for 20 years. Chase Recovery, which has set up the group in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire, an addiction recovery and treatment support facility, is run by Debs Bolton and other people who have addiction and recovery experiences, in an area where it is needed, she said. “I’ve come back to my roots and want to give the people of this area what I got,” Bolton explained. “It’s about having a community, and that’s what I lacked when I came out of treatment.”

Read the BBC News article Here

18th May 2026

GPs speak out about AOD stigma

GPs have joined other health professionals as the faces of a new campaign shining a light on stigma linked to alcohol and other drug (AOD) use. The ‘Raise It’ campaign, launched last month by the North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network, focuses on the lived experiences of clinicians working within an imperfect system. Stigma can prevent people from accessing addiction rehab and treatment services.

Read the RACGP.org article Here

15th May 2026

The evidence clearly shows that the ‘war on drugs’ was a failed experiment

This Saturday marks the 49th anniversary of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 being signed into law by Ireland’s then President, Patrick Hillery. As I have written previously, the development of Ireland’s drug laws can be traced as far back as the late 1800s, but our modern drug legislation begins in earnest with the 1977 Act. This wasn’t a response to a perceived need, but was Ireland meeting UN treaty obligations?Since its passage, the Act hasn’t been subject to significant amendment or updating, despite societal understandings of drug use, addiction and public health advancing significantly in the intervening decades.

Read the Journal.ie article Here

14th May 2026

More help, not more handcuffs: RaY director on Winnipeg’s addictions crisis

Resource Assistance for Youth executive director Kate Sjoberg says when it comes to addressing addiction in Winnipeg, expanded policing could do more harm than good. Sjoberg, whose non-profit provides addiction treatment, recovery and rehab support services and resources for people age 15 to 29, tells host Marcy Markusa the city desperately needs more social supports to address the root causes of addiction.

Watch the CBC News article Here

13th May 2026

Drug addiction counsellor sentenced in Matthew Perry’s overdose death

A man involved in the overdose death of Friends star Matthew Perry has been sentenced to two years in prison, US media report. ​Erik Fleming, one of five people charged after Perry’s death, sourced the surgical anaesthetic ketamine from a Los Angeles woman dubbed the “Ketamine Queen” and supplied it to the actor. The addiction treatment and rehab counsellor, 56, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. A federal judge also sentenced Fleming to three years of supervised release and a $200 penalty.

Read the BBC News article Here

12th May 2026

Treatment centre outside Halifax designed to help first responders with PTSD, addiction

A new comined PTSD and addiction treatment and recovery facility has opened on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore that was designed specifically to offer support for first responders and veterans. The treatment centre in the Head of Jeddore, N.S., is the first of its kind in the region and will help members living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), trauma and addiction. “If you spent your life carrying the load for others, you no longer have to carry it alone. Help is here in a place built for you,” said Joe Manget, the CEO of EHN Guardians during the grand opening on Tuesday.

Read the Global News article Here

11th May 2026

Alcohol is wreaking havoc on U.S. public health. American society looks the other way

It is a drug that kills nearly 500 Americans every day, and causes more deaths in a typical year than every infectious disease combined. It is manufactured abroad and domestically, then sold by powerful multinational organizations with a vast network of distributors. Its promoters can appear indifferent to its addictive and ruinous properties. For decades — for centuries, really — it has destroyed lives, torn apart families, stunted the economy, and caused millions of deaths. Yet alcohol, by far the most popular and most harmful mind-altering substance in the U.S., is not seen as a public health emergency. Early addiction treatment and recovery interventions are essential to reduce the toll of alcohol problems

Read the Stat news article Here

10th May 2026

She told the truth too late: ‘I have lied, I have an addiction’

Ellen Mulvey was fighting her gambling addiction behind closed doors. The managing director was using services to block access to accounts on licensed gambling sites and apps in a bid to save herself from the habit. With an accomplished career in recruitment, the 44-year-old to the outside world was successful. She had moved from Cheshire to London at a young age and built a life and career in the financial sector. But she kept the extent of her battle with gambling a secret from those around her and found other excuses for her spiralling financial struggles. Her sister said the ‘stigma and shame’ around the issue meant she felt could never truly admit the extent of her problems and receive the addiction rehab and recovery support she so desperately needed, until it was tragically too late.

Read the Manchester Evening News article Here

9th May 2026

B.C. mom highlights need for more support for mothers facing addiction

As people around the world celebrate Mother’s Day, one B.C. mom is speaking out about the stigma of substance use. As the CBC’s Janella Hamilton reports, it comes after a Vancouver Coastal Health report found drug-related overdose is now the leading cause of maternal death. There is a call by one mum for greater addiction recovery support for mothers.

Watch the CBC News article Here

8th May 2026

Addiction Experts Develop Best Practices for Treating Opioid Use Disorder in the Hospital

A new study published in JAMA Network Open on May 7, 2026 engaged 42 national experts in hospital-based addiction treatment in a consensus-building process to develop best practices for hospital-initiated medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Hospitalization offers a critical opportunity for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) to begin treatment with evidence-based medications, such as buprenorphine and methadone. However, clinicians have faced challenges with beginning treatment with these medications with patients who are using fentanyl and other high potency synthetic opioids (HPSOs).

Read the Yale School of Medicine article Here

7th May 2026

Drugs crisis: Deprived areas have 13 times the addiction treatment rates of affluent areas

Addiction treatment rates are 13 times higher in the country’s most disadvantaged areas than the most affluent. New research shows it rises to 41 times higher for heroin and crack cocaine. The study says that while problem drug use is “ubiquitous” across all communities it is “disproportionately concentrated” in more disadvantaged communities. The report, written by the Health Research Board and Pobal, says the findings provide evidence for aligning funding with deprivation.

Read the Irish Examiner news article Here

6th May 2026

Trump’s Drug Strategy Aims To Bolster Addiction Services — Despite Gutting of Government Support

The White House’s newly released strategy for tackling the nation’s drug and addiction crisis calls for a number of ambitious public health approaches that some experts say are laudable but will be hampered by the administration’s own actions The sweeping 195-page National Drug Control Strategy, published May 4, advocates for making access to treatment easier than getting drugs, preventing young people from developing addictions in the first place, increasing addiction treatment and rehab support for people in recovery, and reducing overdose deaths.

Read the KFF News article Here

5th May 2026

Saskatchewan government passes law forcing drug treatment for those with addictions

 Saskatchewan’s government has passed a law that can force drug addiction and rehab treatment on those battling drug addiction. Addictions Minister Lori Carr says the province still needs to develop regulations and that there is no timeline on when involuntary treatment services would begin. The legislation passed with Premier Scott Moe’s Saskatchewan Party government holding the majority vote.

Read the St Albert Gazette news article Here

4th May 2026

Cork addiction services braced for a rise in crack-cocaine as treatment centre issues latest report

A Cork-based drugs counsellor warns that the rise of crack cocaine use is the next big threat, as one of the country’s largest addiction centres published its quarterly report for 2026. The report from Coolmine, Ireland’s national drug and alcohol treatment centre, shows that while alcohol remains the most common primary substance with which service users present, there is an ongoing increase in cocaine use, particularly among women.

Read the Independent.ie article Here

3rd May 2026

Addiction to over-the-counter item leaves 31 year old partially paralysed

A 31-year-old woman has described how her addiction to an easy to access product left her partially paralysed. The use of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, as a recreational drug has been on the rise since Covid, with inhalation of the chemical compound inducing momentary feelings of euphoria. However, the colloquial name of the gas belies its dangers and misuse can cause significant health impacts including lasting nerve and neurological damage, spinal degeneration and death. Cartridges of nitrous oxide, also known as “nangs”, are sold in some tobacconists and online, with legitimate uses ranging from sedation in dental and medical clinics, to filling balloons and aerating whipped cream. At the height of her addiction, 31-year-old Lu was inhaling between 1200 and 2400 small aluminium canisters of nitrous oxide a day to horrifying effect. The numbers presenting for addiction rehab treatment in recent years has increased.

Read the Herald Sun news article Here

2nd May 2026

My shopping addiction hijacked my life. Now I realise what caused it

When children’s author Sally Gardner’s career first took off, friends assumed her extravagant spending was a byproduct of her newfound success. Lavish spending sprees included a £3,000 bathtub, prints by English pop artist Peter Blake, and trips to Parisian boutiques. Sally was in her early 40s when her debut book was published, setting her on a path to sales of 2.5 million copies and major literary prizes such as  the Carnegie Medal. “Suddenly, I am in a different place,” Sally says, “and for the first time in my life, earning really well.” She says she felt “ashamed” by the amount of money she was splashing out – but was hooked on the dopamine hit. Compulsive Buying Disorder or oniomania is a little recognised phenomenon that requires a tailored addiction rehab and treatment approach.

Read the BBC News article Here

1st May 2026

Impacts Of Cocaine – The Human Cost

A powerful new awareness film highlighting the devastating effects of cocaine use and addiction on individuals, families and communities, was premiered at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry at an event hosted by former GAA footballer and mental health advocate Oisín McConville. Entitled Impacts of Cocaine – The Human Cost, the film was developed by Aftercare Addiction Services charity Davina’s Ark, in partnership with Newry Mourne and Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP), and places people at the centre of the conversation around drug addiction, challenges perceptions and confronts the misconception that cocaine use is a victimless activity. The numbers in Ireland that have presented for cocaine addiction rehab and treatment have hugely increased in recent years.

Read the Down News article Here

30th April 2026

Cocaine Addiction is a Biological Rewiring, Not a Choice

Relapse isn’t a failure of willpower—it’s a biological “rewiring” of the brain. A new study reveals how chronic cocaine use hijacks the connection between the brain’s reward center and its memory hub (the hippocampus). Researchers identified a specific protein, DeltaFosB, that acts like a genetic master switch. As cocaine use continues, this protein accumulates, turning certain genes on and off to create a permanent, compulsive drive for the drug. By using CRISPR technology to pinpoint this mechanism, scientists have opened the door to a new class of “addiction-breaking” medications that could one day reset the brain’s circuitry and prevent relapse. This has important implications in delivering addiction rehab and treatment support.

Read the Neuroscience News article Here 

29th April 2026

Dublin retail group ‘open’ to helping fund supports for people in addiction carrying out thefts

Irish retailers are being urged to help fund addiction treatment and supports for people committing retail theft to sustain drug use, as a former senior UK police officer said similar schemes are having a “transformative” impact in Britain.  Richard Guiney, CEO of Dublin Town, said retailers are open to new approaches, and support the benefits of expanding the availability of long-lasting once-a-month injections that act as an alternative to Methadone.

Read the Journal.ie article Here

28th April 2026

Confronting addiction: ‘I knew I had to stop buying things’

“I knew I had to stop buying things.” The thought was always lingering in the back of his mind. But for Ryo Hanamori, a man in his 30s from Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, that awareness was never enough. Once consumed by compulsive buying disorder, Hanamori’s life spiraled into debt and crime. While the buying urges have since subsided, he recalls himself in that period as being “truly out of control.” Hanamori’s father died when he was just 2 years old, and his mother, emotionally unstablewould sometimes lash out at him without explanation. As a child, he found joy in the same pastimes as his peers — video games and fishing — but even those small pleasures were often criticized or dismissed at home. He recalls that he felt as if his very existence was being denied. Compulsive Buying Disorder or Oniomania is an under recognised condition that requires a tailored addiction treatment and rehab approach.

Read the Japan Times news article Here

27th  April 2026

New addiction support website for Longford

The County Longford Drug and Alcohol Forum (CLDAF) – launched a valuable website CLDAF.ie for those affected by alcohol and drug misuse as a form of addiction support. The launch took place on Tuesday, April 14 in the Longford Arms Hotel. The site also connects visitors to information such as up-to-date drug names – a valuable resource for parents and professionals dealing with young people and who wish to familiarise themselves with the ever changing database of narcotic nicknames.

Read the Longford Leader news article Here

26th April 2026

The Secret Drug Addict: ‘You cannot quite understand the power of addiction until you’ve seen it eat like acid through everything you are’

Having succumbed to Britpop excess, the now sober – 6,854 days and counting –  Secret Drug Addict is on a mission to help others escape the cycle of addiction. He talks to Stuart Clark about his new book, working for Creation Records, people dying in front of him and his eventual road to recovery. Twitter may have become the digital equivalent of a septic tank but in among the bigoted, divisive turds there are still gems like The Secret Drug Addict, who for the past nine years has been having an honest, non-judgmental discussion about addiction and how best to beat it.

Read the Extra.ie article Here

25th April 2026

Opening date announced for Hamilton HART Hub’s long-awaited residential treatment site

A year after an Ontario-funded homelessness and addictions recovery treatment (HART) hub was announced for Hamilton, the organization approved to run the centre has announced an opening date for the bed-based site. Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre (Hamilton Urban Core), says the Hamilton HART hub will open on July 6 at 276 Aberdeen Ave. Sandy Ezepue, Hamilton Urban Core’s executive director, says the hub — designed to “support individuals on their path to healing and long-term stability” — will have 14 beds, allowing Hamilton Urban Core to add “residential treatment and recovery services” to the list of what they provide.

Read the CBC news article Here

24th April 2026

Replacing prison sentences with drug treatment plans would cut crime and tackle addiction, a Fianna Fáil Senator has argued. 

Drug Treatment Courts have existed in Dublin for many decades; offenders are all non-violent and must have pleaded guilty in the District Court. They must also demonstrate a clear desire to remain drug free.  On Newstalk Breakfast, Senator Mary Fitzpatrick described the court as a “very serious process”. 

Listen to the Newstalk piece Here

23rd April 2026

Travellers disproportionately impacted by substance abuse – study

The Traveller community experiences significantly higher levels of drug-related harm, barriers to treatment, and poorer outcomes compared to the general population, according to a new study. Traveller Substance Use in Ireland: A National Study was conducted by researchers in Trinity College Dublin and has been described as the most comprehensive study of Traveller substance use in over 15 years. It shows that the substance use is growing and significantly impacting Travellers across the country. Despite representing less than 1% of Ireland’s population, Travellers account for 2.5% of all recorded addiction treatment and rehab episodes.

Read the RTE.ie News article Here

22nd April 2026

Scourge of drug addiction is sweeping through Offaly’s farming community

The scourge of drug addiction is sweeping through Offaly’s farming community, a Councillor told the April monthly meeting of Offaly County Council. Cllr Hughie Egan told the meeting that he wanted to highlight this serious issue “because in rural Ireland it has taken off big time. Over the last six months or so I have gotten a bit of a shock about this in terms of some of the stuff which has come before my attention. It has opened my eyes to what is going on out there at the moment among young farmers.” The Councillor said some farmers get deep into debt because of their drug addiction and as a result they have to sell their assets such as machinery and livestock. He said he is keenly aware of the adverse consequences which this scourge is having on the families of those suffering from drug addiction. He pointed out that it is very important that this serious subject is highlighted and focussed on in our society and in our media. This undercores the need for timely addiction rehab and treatment interventions.

Read the Offaly Express news article Here

21st April 2026

Man jailed for string of thefts while in throes of ‘insatiable’ drug addiction

A man charged with a string of thefts from various Athlone businesses while he was in the throes of an “insatiable addiction” has been jailed. Paul O’Connor (49), with addresses at St Brendan’s Terrace, Ballinasloe, and River Village, Tuam Road, Athlone, County Roscommon, as well as Cúlán Eiscir Riada, Dunlo, Ballinasloe, appeared before Athlone District Court, where he was sentenced. In January, he pleaded guilty to a number of theft charges for clothing, groceries, tools and crystal ornaments, amounting to a total value of €522.88. Timely addiction rehab and treatment can greatly reduce the risk of an addiction spiralling out of control.

Read the Roscommon Herald news article Here

20th April 2026

Hengoed Park first in Shropshire to offer SMART Recovery programme

Residents at Hengoed Park Residential Care Home in Whittington, near Oswestry, are set to benefit from an internationally recognised addiction treatment and rehab programme designed to help people manage addictive behaviours, after the home was awarded a SMART Recovery licence. Co-home manager Emma McFie said the licence marks an important step forward for the home and for residents needing additional support around addiction and wellbeing. She said: “We are delighted to receive our SMART Recovery licence. We believe we are the first residential care home in Shropshire to hold this licence, signifying our commitment to innovation and evidence-based approaches in care.”

Read the Rayo news article Here

19th April 2026

Training to help Meath councillors deal with addiction and substance misuse issues

Training aimed at helping councillors respond to alcohol and substance misuse issues has received unanimous backing at a meeting of Meath County Council. The motion, brought forward by Fianna Fáil councillor Caroline O’Reilly, calls on the local authority to liaise with the North Eastern Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force to provide SAOR II training for elected members who wish to participate. The training, delivered through the HSE, provides guidance on recognising substance use issues, engaging in constructive conversations and directing people towards appropriate addiction rehab and treatment supports.

Read the Independent.ie news article Here

18th April 2026

Alberta gov’t, Blood Tribe celebrate new Indigenous-led addiction recovery community

An Indigenous-led addiction recovery community has opened its doors on a First Nation in southern Alberta. Alberta’s UCP government and the Blood Tribe celebrated the occasion Friday. The newly-built Blood Tribe Iitakamotsiipiohsopi Recovery Community and addiction rehab and treatment facility offers 75 beds at no cost. The Blood Tribe’s Department of Health will operate the community. Marcel Weasel Head, Blood Tribe councillor and Department of Health board chair, called the opening “the realization of a dream.” “Iitakamotsiipiohsopi means ‘a place to recover,’ and we honour those who advocated tirelessly for safe, stable aftercare support on the Blood Reserve,” he said in a release issued Friday.

Read the CTV News article Here

17th April 2026

Hundreds turn out to oppose plans for addiction recovery center in San Pedro

San Pedro residents are fighting plans for a drug addiction rehabilitation and treatment center in their neighborhood, in a dispute pitting the concerns of community members against the need for facilities to treat people with drug addiction and mental health challenges.The nonprofit Fred Brown Recovery Services is seeking to acquire the five-acre property at 2100 Western Ave. and turn it into Serenity Recovery Campus, a 122-bed inpatient recovery facility that would serve “veterans, the justice-involved, the unhoused, and those with co-occuring conditions,” the organization said in a two-page information notice sent to area residents. The facility also would serve about 1,000 people on an outpatient basis.

Read the Los Angeles Times article Here

16th April 2026

Draft National Drug Strategy a backwards step, campaign group says

The Government’s draft National Drug Strategy has been described by the Network of Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (LDATF) as a backwards step. Chairpersons of the 14 task forces have said that the proposed strategy is as “at odds” with the recommendations of the 2024 Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs. The 2026-2029 draft National Drug Strategy was published by Minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor last February. The Citizens’ Assembly noted the crucial role of the LDATF and community groups in responding to drugs-related policy challenges and in the implementation of the new strategy.

Read the RTE.ie News article Here

15th April 2026

When reputation prevents addiction recovery

When you get injured, medical professionals will often prescribe drug medications to relieve and ease symptoms. However, there remains a fine line between the doses prescribed and excessive drug intake that may lead to the unfortunate outcome of addiction. These lines often get blurred when people have reputations to uphold, thus hiding the true tragedy underneath success and imagined stability. When generalizing opioid addictions in particular, many automatically imagine the stereotypical, bustling streets of Oakland or San Francisco, large metropoles with a prominent history in drug abuse. However, what they don’t realize is that such crises might be right in front of them; affluent users only conceal it much better from the public eye when their image is at high stakes.

Read the Pleasanton Weekly news article Here

IMO motions underline need for establishment of an Office for Alcohol Harm Reduction

Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate to reduce alcohol harm, welcomes the vote by members of the IMO to carry three motions relating to alcohol at the IMO Annual General Meeting at the weekend. AAI CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany said: “The successful IMO motions are each important in their own right and would go a long way to help tackle harm from alcohol if the respective Ministers were to implement them. “A 15% increase in alcohol excise duties would have the dual benefit of helping reduce population-level consumption and therefore its associated harms, while at the same time raising much needed revenue to help cover the cost of cleaning up the mess alcohol causes. “Targeted increases in the number of roadside breath tests carried out every year is essential when you consider that research shows drink drivers have a mere 1.3% chance of being caught at a checkpoint in Ireland. Sensible alcohol policy as well as ready access to alcohol addiction rehab and treatment services will drive down the toll caused by alcohol in Ireland.

Read the Alcohol Ireland press release Here

13th April 2026

Manitoba ‘cautiously optimistic’ about sustained drop in suspected substance-related deaths in 2025

A previously reported drop in the number of people suspected of dying from substance use in Manitoba in the first half of 2025 appears to have held up through the rest of the year — a shift one addictions expert says is a positive sign, but represents only “one piece of the puzzle” in addressing preventable drug deaths. Preliminary provincial data shows a total of 354 suspected substance-related death recorded from January to November 2025, the most recent month for which numbers are available. That marks a significant drop from the 530 substance-related deaths recorded from January to November 2024. The statistics underscore the need for timely addiction rehab treatment.

Read the CBC news article Here

12th April 2026

Psychosocial and Drug Therapies Show Promise for CUD

A network meta-analysis (NMA) showed that dialectical behavioral therapy/acceptance and commitment therapy (DBT/ACT) and cognitive behavioral therapy with motivation enhancement therapy (MET-CBT) combined with contingency management (CM) reduced the frequency of cannabis use in people with cannabis use disorder (CUD). This is an exciting finding which can add to the menu of options for people with CUD in need of addiction rehab and treatment interventions.

Read the Medscape article Here

11th April 2026

3 in 4 people attending addiction services in North West struggling with alcoholism

The HSE has today released the HSE North West Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force Annual Report, which shows that in the North West, alcohol remains the primary drug of choice and accounts for over 70% of all referrals in the region to addiction rehab and treatment programmes, with cannabis being the secondary drug of choice. Of the total 919 people in the North West who attended addiction services, 538 were from Donegal, 295 from Sligo, and 86 from Leitrim. Most were men (593), compared to 319 women.

Rad the Donegal Daily news article Here

10th April 2026

New campaign to combat gambling addiction

A public health campaign warning young people about the risks of gambling is being rolled out across Bradford. “If I only knew” shares insights from those recovering from addiction and their families and is targeted at 18 to 34 year olds. It has been developed by national gambling-harm prevention group Chapter One in partnership with Bradford City Council after a report revealed “problem” gambling costs the city £13.7m each year. The campaign runs until the end of April and is backed by the NHS Northern Gambling Service, which has a clinic in Leeds delivering gambling addiction and rehab treatment.

Read the BBC News article Here

9th April 2026

‘There’s always a way back’ – GAA stars not immune to struggle of drug addiction

There is cocaine use in “every village and every town in Ireland”, according to Cuan Mhuire addiction rehab and treatment services. Meanwhile, one in five male inter-county players surveyed by the Gaelic Players Association say they know a teammate struggling with drug misuse. Cian McCormack has been looking at the issue.

Read the RTE News article Here

8th April 2026

Poor Sleep Linked to Emotional Struggles in Sobriety

Sleep problems may play a larger role in alcohol addiction recovery than previously understood, according to new research examining how rest, mood, and brain activity are connected. A study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that people living with alcohol use disorder who struggle with sleep tend to experience more emotional struggles, including stronger negative emotions and distinct patterns of brain activity linked to stress and repetitive thinking. The findings suggest that improving sleep could help stabilize mood during recovery, even if it does not directly reduce cravings for alcohol. This could have very exciting implications for addiction rehab and treatment interventions.

Read the Legal Reader article Here

7th April 2026

BBC Report Highlights Links Between Depression Drugs and Gambling Addiction

The fast-paced world of today has resulted in rapid developments in the addiction therapeutics field, with humans sometimes finding themselves unable to keep up. As a result, many have been experiencing mental health issues, varying from minor ones to more serious ones. While there is medicine available, studies show that some of it could have serious side effects, including excessive gambling. In the latest episode of its The Global Story series, BBC explored the matter.

Read the Gambling News article Here

6th April 2026

The DJ course bringing light to people in addiction recovery

A new DJ course for former addicts, a novel form of addiction rehab, has been helping them to foster connections and community – something participants said was “paramount” to their recovery. Alex Mac, who took part in the six-week course at sober bar Arc Bristol, said it had been a “fantastic” addition to his recovery and had inspired him to get back into making music. “I feel uplifted by music. It just lights up something in me,” he said. The course was started by the charity Bristol Drugs Project and led by DJ Milly, better known as Milly on Air, who came up with the idea following a boom of sober spaces across the city.

Read the BBC News article Here

5th April 2026

Youth drug use is down, but overdoses have risen. One town’s schools have a possible solution

Michael Robertson struggled in school almost from the very beginning. But it was in seventh grade, when he started smoking cigarettes and drinking, that school seemed to become nearly unbearable to him. “There was always an excuse for why he couldn’t go to school,” said his mother, Danielle Forino. “Every morning, he would say he was too tired or didn’t feel good.” At 13 years old, he was prescribed Vicodin following dental work and, his mother said, quickly started abusing it. By his sophomore year of high school, in 2017, he couldn’t get through the school day without nicotine, she recalled. By his junior year, he was addicted to oxycodone. His senior year, he enrolled at the district’s alternative schooling program, which allows students more flexibility in their learning, but was kicked out for vaping nicotine. Throughout this time, he fell further behind academically and became disengaged from school, his peers and other activities he previously enjoyed.

Read the Maine Monitor news article Here

4th April 2026

People in addiction recovery recount rescue from drug street life

“I was depressed with the life I was living in the streets and at different times, I attempted suicide.” These were the words of Donatus Ikechukwu, a former drug addict and cult member who had suffered harsh realities of life on the streets. The 38-year-old was among the converts reached through the Explosive Evangelism Initiative organised by the Evangelism Ministry of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, headquartered in Yaba, Lagos. Founded in 1989 by Dr Daniel Olukoya, the MFM is a massive international church with a large, rapidly growing global membership. On Tuesday, no fewer than 12 converts who were rescued by the team from lives of destitution, street dwelling, cult involvement, and drug addiction gathered at the church’s Prayer City camp along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to share their experiences. This ecclesiastical form of addiction rehab and treatment is immensely important in people’s lives

Read the Punch news article Here

3rd April 2026

New drug and alcohol support service launched

A new service has been set up to support people affected by alcohol or drug use who are in need of addiction rehab and treatment services. Inspire started operating for residents across the West Northamptonshire Council area on Wednesday, and it offers free and confidential help to those in need. Several specialist organisations including Turning Point, Bridge, Family Support Link, Double Impact and Framework, have helped create the service. Laura Couse, cabinet member for adult care and public health at the Reform UK-led local authority, said it wanted to make sure anyone could “get the right support at the right moment”.

Read the BBC News article Here

2nd April 2026

‘Pregnancy doesn’t cure addiction’: Overdose is top cause of death for new Indiana mothers

Dana Cahill, peer recovery specialist for the Community Health Network’s CHOICE program, said she helps women feel human again. It’s a voluntary 24-7 addiction rehab and treatment program that helps mothers detox from heroin, methamphetamine, and other addictive substances. When she’s not giving out pastel-colored toys or maternity clothes, Cahill helps patients rebuild their lives. Sometimes that means getting a driver’s license or applying for jobs. Other times, Cahill helps mothers find an inpatient treatment center.

Read the Indiana Public Media News article Here

1st April 2026

Mullan to present addiction services petition to health minister

Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan will present a petition to the health minister on Monday calling for more addiction rehab and treatment services in Derry.  Speaking after meeting with Tamzin White, who set up the petition after her mother passed away in January, the Foyle MLA said: “I want to commend Tamzin for her courage and bravery and her inspiring campaign for detox services and increased support for people battling addiction.  “Her petition has now been signed by over 8,000 people from across the city and on Monday I will present it to health minister Robin Swann. “There is a clear need for more investment in addiction services in the city to support the amazing work already being carried out by the Northlands Centre. “Substance addiction is a serious problem in the north west and we must ensure that every avenue is explored to deliver the best possible service for those in need.”

Read the Sinn Fein press release Here

31st March 2026

Stress and addiction: New research reveals what connects them

Why do stressful moments so often push people toward habits like drinking? A new study from Texas A&M University offers one of the clearest answers yet, identifying a direct connection inside the brain that links stress to addiction‑related behaviors. The work shows how alcohol disrupts the natural stress‑response system, making it harder for the brain to adapt or make good decisions. These findings are impactful because if scientists understand where a system breaks, they can start figuring out how to fix it and tailor addiction rehab and treatment accordingly.

Read the Texas A&M stories article Here

30th March 2026

‘I nearly broke trying to help my partner with addiction issues’

When Claire Harkin met her husband 11 years ago she didn’t know he was hiding a secret that would tear her world apart. For years Michael Harkin’s life was consumed by a cocaine and alcohol addiction and he was spiralling out of control. Over time, Claire watched him change, and said witnessing the effects of addiction was one of the hardest things she has experienced. “It’s hard because you always saw that glimmer of hope in him that he was still there, but it got to a point… I ended up nearly breaking myself to trying to help Michael.” It’s a far cry from the settled family life they now share with their children. With right addiction rehab and treatment support Michael got his life back on track.

Read the BBC News article Here

29th March 2026

MP calls for more help for monkey dust addicts

An MP has called on the prime minister to help tackle the “significant problems” in her constituency caused by the drug monkey dust. Allison Gardner, who represents Stoke-on-Trent South, said a lack of joined-up working between services in the city was making it harder for addicts to recover. She said she had launched a task force aimed at addressing service gaps and asked for a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer to discuss the problem of synthetic cathinones such as monkey dust. The prime minister acknowledged the threat posed by drugs such as monkey dust and said the government was investing in addiction rehab and treatment services for addicts. “Alongside deploying new detection methods at the border to seize drugs, we are investing in better mental health support and drug addiction treatment, with almost £26m for Stoke-on-Trent,” he said.

Read the BBC News article Here

28th March 2026

USF, Pasco Opioid Taskforce seek feedback to fight addiction

The Pasco County Opioid Taskforce and the University of South Florida have partnered up to analyze the gaps in access for residents in behavioral health and opioid addiction treatment and rehab. They are holding two meetings on March 31 and April 2 to listen to public feedback on what should change. Painkillers are at the center of the nation’s opioid crisis, and Florida received a $3 billion settlement a few years ago from manufacturers, distributors and dispensers of opioids. That money is going back into our communities to fight addiction, with the latest part of that work involving the Pasco County Opioid Taskforce and University of South Florida.

Read the AOL news article Here

27th March 2026

‘Like a drug’: SF man says he got hooked on betting at age 11 as teen gambling addiction surges

 “Those games, it felt like crack cocaine. It was like ridiculous.” A surge in online gaming is leading to problem betting by young people, especially teenage boys. Parents we interviewed had no idea how bad their child’s gambling addiction had become; in some cases, years passed before they found out. The ABC7 Eyewitness News I-Team has been working on a joint project with ABC News called “In On The Action: The high stakes of youth gambling.” Kurt Freudenberg tells us the first seeds of his gambling addiction were planted when he was just 11 years old. He didn’t sneak into some casino, roll the dice or hit the slots. Kurt found a way to make money selling the cosmetic upgrades he won on a first-person video game, called “skins. Luckily, with the right addiction treatment and rehab support, Kurt overcame his gambling problem.

Read the Eyewitness News article Here

26th March 2026

The Hidden Financial Cost of Addiction: Warning Signs, Debt Risks, and Recovery Steps

Job loss, deaths, and other transitions interrupt cash flow, often leading people to struggle with their day-to-day finances or future financial goals. The same goes for those facing addiction or helping a loved one through their recovery, though it may not be as obvious. It can have grave and long-term financial consequences, such as debt, depleted savings, legal costs, and strained family finances. With the right and timely support through addiction rehab and treatment services, this toll can be minimised.

Read the Investopedia article Here

25th March 2026

Treating addiction

Addiction is a serious public health problem in the United States. Nearly 80,000 people nationwide died of drug overdoses in 2024 alone. But drug overdoses are just one of the many harms caused by addiction and substance use disorders. About 178,000 people in the United States die from excessive drinking each year. Alcohol use disorder increases the risk of unintentional injuries, car accidents, and suicide. It also contributes to cancer, heart disease, liver disease, birth defects, and developmental disabilities. Cigarette smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans each year. Tobacco and nicotine addiction contribute to cancer, heart disease, respiratory diseases, and diabetes. This underscore the need for timely addiction rehab and treatment for anyone suffering symptoms of dependence.

Read the National Institute of Health article Here

24th March 2026

A Haven from Addiction in Rural Georgia

Your Haven, an addiction recovery community organization in Buchanan, Georgia, sits on a quiet side street—a small, beige building against a stand of Loblolly pines. But its unassuming façade belies its impact here as a place of deep connections, second chances and new beginnings. Opened in 2020 in response to the opioid crisis in rural Haralson County, Your Haven’s services include community outreach, peer-led recovery groups and 12-step addiction programs. Staffed by people who have taken the journey from addiction to recovery, the organization brings empathy and understanding to its work with community members seeking help.

Read the Saporta Report Article Here

23rd March 2026

Substance abuse and addiction workshop for seniors in Maple Ridge

A free wellness workshop is taking place for seniors in the community covering substance abuse and addiction. The workshop, presented by the Seniors’ Health and Wellness Institute, will be covering a multitude of topics including: seniors vulnerability; misuse, abuse, and addiction; gambling; medication; alcohol; warning signs of addiction; helping with substance abuse and addiction; and treatment. “Whether for yourself or to help a loved one, come learn about the signs and the help available,” said the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society online.

Read The News article Here

22nd March 2026

‘The only thing left for me was death’: meet the meth-addict long jumper who has been to hell and back

Sprawled prone in the dirt, the cold metal of a baseball bat cracking against his skull, spine and down to the legs that had once propelled him to glory, Luvo Manyonga experienced an epiphany. This existence could not continue; he must change his life or die. Manyonga had been a drug addict for as long as he could remember, seeking recreational highs that provided the opposite of the performance-enhancing shortcuts that some of his deceitful athletics rivals might have pursued. At times, he just about kept his habit in check. Never for long periods – not even when at his sporting peak. Thankfully he was able to recover with the right type of addiction treatment and rehab support.

Read the Guardian News article Here

21st March 2026

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Opioid Addictions Share Genetic Roots

A massive study of over 2.2 million individuals has fundamentally redefined how we understand the genetics of addiction. The research reveals that most genetic risk for substance use disorders (SUD) isn’t about how the body reacts to a specific drug, but how the brain is “wired” for behavioral disinhibition. By analyzing alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and opioid use together, researchers identified that a broad “externalizing” pathway—linked to reward processing and impulse control—is the primary driver of addiction across the board. This could have significant implication for how addiction rehab and treatment support services are delivered.

Read the Neuroscience News article Here

20th March 2026

Women in Türkiye face rising addiction barriers, expert warns

Addictions increasingly affect women in Türkiye, with societal pressures discouraging them from seeking timely treatment, according to Dr. Mehmet Güllüoğlu, vice president of the Turkish Green Crescent and secretary-general of the International Federation of Green Crescents (IFGC). Speaking at the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), Güllüoğlu highlighted that addiction issues, ranging from tobacco, alcohol and drugs to gambling, technology and shopping, pose growing threats, particularly for young people and women. “Women often hesitate to seek help due to societal expectations, delaying treatment and increasing vulnerability,” he said. Addiction rehab and treatment services are often generic and don’t often tailor their services to meet women’s needs.

Read the Daily Sabah article Here

19th March 2026

Nuns help rebuild lives of Nigerians recovering from drug addiction

Behind the high walls of the Mater Christi Human Development and Religious Formation Centre, recovery does not announce itself through dramatic breakthroughs or sudden transformations. Instead, it unfolds slowly, through routines, discipline, and the daily work of rebuilding bodies and minds strained by prolonged substance use. At the center’s Counselling and Rehabilitation Department, most clients arrive physically depleted and emotionally vulnerable, uncertain whether lasting recovery is still possible. Years of substance use have left deep marks not only on their health, but also on their relationships and sense of self. Addiction rehab and treatment can take many forms and this facility has saved and changed many lives.

Read the Global Sisters Report Here

18th March 2026

Draft National Drugs Strategy ‘fundamentally flawed’

The draft National Drugs Strategy has been described as “fundamentally flawed” by a number of groups representing people who use drugs, as well as communities and families that are affected by drug use. The 2026-2029 draft National Drugs Strategy was published by Minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor last month. The document was informed by trends in drug and harmful alcohol use, the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use, the previous drugs strategy and the views of stakeholders, including Oireachtas committees. However, Citywide, Family Addiction Recovery Ireland (FARI) and UISCE, who took part in the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use and have been before Oireachtas Committees; have said the proposed strategy has failed to reference the link between poverty, inequality and drug-related harms.

Read the RTE News article Here

17th March 2026

UCLA Health is leading the effort to treat and destigmatize addiction

Dr. Julio Meza lost two family members to addiction-related illnesses when he was a child. Now, as a UCLA Health physician, he leads a program providing doctors with addiction-specific training. Meza, and dozens of other researchers and clinicians, are working across the UCLA Health system to destigmatize and treat addiction. Addiction impacts tens of millions of people in the United States annually, according to the National Institute on Drugs and Addiction. UCLA ranks as one of the top institutes in the U.S. for federal research funding in addiction medicine, which is a medical subspecialty designed to prevent, diagnose and provide addiction rehab and treatment support.

Read the Daily Bruin article Here

16th March 2026

Afghanistan Special Fund Supports Addiction Treatment Through Mobile Centers

The Afghanistan Special Fund has announced its support for mobile centers providing addiction treatment, enabling drug-dependent individuals to access testing, counseling, and treatment services. These programs have helped a number of patients begin their recovery process and return to normal life. According to program officials, individuals seeking employment or better life opportunities who faced addiction issues can now benefit from specialized services at these centers. These services include initial screenings, psychological counseling, and ongoing treatment plans.

Read the Atlas Press News article Here

15th March 2026

“I almost lost myself… trying to save him” – Khloe Kardashian on the toll of Lamar Odom’s addiction battle

Lamar Odom’s drug and alcohol addiction has been well-documented. The former Los Angeles Lakers star admitted using recreational substances even before he met Khloe Kardashian in 2009, even calling himself “a real addict” in a recent podcast interview. Things began to spiral out of control once more when Odom’s basketball career went south. After learning he was supposed to be shipped out in a deal that would have brought Chris Paul to Los Angeles, Odom requested a trade, to which the Purple and Gold gladly obliged. That development, according to him, effectively ended his career and sense of purpose. Odom eventually accepted the addiction rehab and treatment support he needed as part of his recovery programme.

Read the Basketball Network article Here

14th March 2026

Ketamine should be a Class A drug, says ex-user

A former drug addict said that ketamine should be a Class A drug as data revealed the number of people being treated in Suffolk for using it has risen by 251% since 2022. Drawing from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System’s figures, Suffolk County Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board said there were currently 183 ketamine users being treated in the county, which has a population of about 760,000. The government has been consulting with experts on whether to reclassify the drug from a Class B to a Class A controlled substance. Tony Pascall, from Ipswich, said he used ketamine daily for 22 years before stopping 18 months ago, adding it was “definitely” one of the most dangerous drugs. People with Ketamine problems need ready access to addiction rehab and treatment support services.

Read the BBC News article Here

13th March 2026

Repeat offender is told to undertake treatment programme for drug addiction

A father-of-four who was found in possession of cannabis valued at €1,800 has been told by a judge that he needs to address his addiction by undertaking an addiction treatment and rehab programme. Darren Mulcahy, aged 55, of 51 An Sruthan, Castlebar, pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court to the possession of drugs for sale or supply at his home. The court was told the defendant had a number of previous convictions for possessing drugs, including for sale or supply. Last July, he appealed a District Court conviction for the possession of cannabis to the Circuit Criminal Court where he was given a jail sentence of nine months, suspended for two years.

Read the Western People article Here

12th March 2026

Problem Gambling, Mental Health Orgs Back POINTS Act Dedicating Federal Funds to Gambling Addiction

US Representatives Erin Houchin (R-IN), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and Troy Carter (D-LA) have introduced H.R. 7875, the Providing Opportunities for Individuals in Need of Treatment and Support (POINTS) Act, to expand prevention, addiction rehab and treatment, and recovery services for those experiencing gambling addiction.  The Bill is the first bipartisan, gambling addiction-focused legislation introduced in Congress in over 15 years. It has endorsements from the National Council on Problem Gambling, Mental Health America of Indiana, and the Indiana Council on Problem Gambling. 

Read the Gambling Insider article Here

11th March 2026

No more daily clinics: New methadone alternative will give patients more freedom

Clinicians are hoping that an opioid substitution drug that works as an alternative to methadone, but only involves once-a-month injections, is set to transform how addiction services work in Ireland. Budival, a long-acting injectable form of buprenorphine, is already being taken by over 1200 patients, while nearly 10,000 received methadone treatment last year. Leading psychiatrists working within HSE addiction services say that following a successful pilot addiction treatment programme and additional funding in this year’s budget, they are hoping that eventually the number of patients using Budival will far outnumber those on methadone.

Read the Journal.ie article Here

10th March 2026

The Changing Face of Opioid Use Disorder

Jason Kirby, MD, discussed the evolving landscape of opioid use disorder (OUD) and addiction medicine. Kirby described the past decade as a period of substantial growth in the recognition and professionalization of addiction medicine, noting its establishment as a subspecialty under the American Board of Preventive Medicine and the expansion of ACGME-accredited fellowships.1 He expressed optimism that broader workforce development would improve national access to board-certified addiction specialists that can provide addiction rehab support to sufferers of addiction.

Read the Psychiatric Times article Here

8th March 2026

Drug Addiction Rises Sharply, Especially Among Young Adults

The number of drug addiction patients, entering addiction rehab and treatment support services, in South Korea has risen sharply in recent years, highlighting a growing public health concern as President Lee Jae-myung’s administration moves to intensify a crackdown on drug-related crime. According to data released Sunday by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of patients treated for drug addiction under the national health insurance system climbed from 557 in 2020 to 828 in 2024, an increase of 48.7 percent. The figures count unique patients who received medical treatment, excluding repeat visits. They include individuals diagnosed with mental or behavioral disorders related to the use of narcotic substances such as opioids, cannabis, cocaine and hallucinogens.

Read the Korea Bizwire article Here

7th March 2026

The silent addiction on college campuses: Online prediction betting and the next public health crisis

On a typical evening in a college dormitory, a student scrolling through his phone may not be browsing social media or watching videos but instead placing small wagers on whether inflation will rise, whether a political candidate will win a primary election, or whether a geopolitical event will occur within a specified time frame. What begins as casual curiosity—an experiment in predicting the future—can quickly evolve into a pattern of repeated bets placed throughout the day, each one accompanied by the same anticipation and adrenaline once associated with casino gambling. Online gambling is a pervasive problem that requires tailored addiction rehab and treatment supports.

Read the American Bazaar article Here

6th March 2026

Research highlights sharp rise in gambling addiction help requests in Ontario following online market growth

The number of young men contacting Ontario’s mental health addiction support helpline for gambling-related issues has skyrocketed by more than 300% since the province expanded its online gambling market, a new study reveals. Published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the study analyzed data from ConnexOntario, the province’s mental health and addictions helpline, covering the period from January 2012 to September 2025. During that time, the service logged over 745,700 contacts, with roughly 37,000 related to gambling.

Read the Yogonet article Here

5th March 2026

Rethinking how we measure recovery from substance use

Nearly 50 million people in the United States struggle with substance use disorders, and nearly three in four use more than one substance. People with polysubstance use disorders are more likely than single drug users to suffer poor health, relapse from treatment, and overdose. They’re also three times more likely to die.Emerging evidence suggests that successfully recovering, with addiction rehab and treatment support, from using one substance helps people develop strategies they can use to take on their use of other substances.

Read the EurekAlert article Here

4th March 2026

Opioid settlement funds and philanthropy expand adolescent addiction care in Georgia

The Addiction Alliance of Georgia (AAG), a collaboration between Emory Healthcare and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, has opened a new 7,000-square-foot Adolescent Outpatient addiction rehab and treatment Program at the Emory Addiction Center in Atlanta, expanding access to specialized substance use prevention, early intervention and treatment services for youth and families across Georgia. The expansion is supported by $2.5 million in philanthropic gifts and a $4.4 million Georgia opioid abatement grant awarded through the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust as part of the state’s allocation from the 2022 national opioid settlement with pharmaceutical companies. 

Read the Emory University article Here

3rd March 2026

Responding to urgent substance use and addictions needs across Ontario

Communities in Canada continue to experience disproportionate harms due to the toxic drug supply, alongside intersecting challenges related to addiction, mental health and housing insecurity. This crisis is complex and has many faces, and we need to work together at all levels to coordinate our efforts to save lives and make communities safer. The Government of Canada recognizes that municipalities and Indigenous communities are best placed to understand the realities on the ground and respond with care, compassion, and culturally appropriate addiction rehab and treatment and wider social supports supports through trusted local organizations and frontline partners.

Read the Yahoo Finance article Here

2nd March 2026

Creating awareness of addiction

The time has come to move from raising awareness of addiction towards providing support for those affected by the disease – and to equip young people with the tools to avoid addiction in the first place. That’s according to Killererin-based advocate Olivia Rooney who recently organised the ‘Sure Look, I’m Grand’ event in Barnaderg seeking to facilitate open and honest conversations around mental health and addiction. Olivia, who is herself in recovery from alcohol addiction, says stigma hampers efforts to support those who ‘fall into its jaws’ – and curtails parents’ ability to broach the topic with their children.

Read the Connacht Tribune article Here

1st March 2026

Drugs Information Night Confronts Addiction Crisis in Drogheda

The full horrors of addiction and the addiction rehab and treatment services there to help were outlined at a special drugs information meeting organised by Councillors Pio Smith and Paddy McQuillian on Thursday night in conjunction with the Red Door Project. Among the guest speakers before a large audience was the crime journalist Paul Williams. The meeting heard that cocaine and alcohol are the main drugs of choice both in Drogheda and the country. Most addicts also have mental health issues and some have diagnosed disorders. It was also revealed that most women who are heroin addicts were sexually abused as a child and that 70pc of prisoners are addicted to drugs.

Read the Drogheda Life article Here

28th February 2026

Nearly 8,000 drug addicted children and youths under 21 arrested in 2024

A total of 7,950 school-going children and youth below the age of 21 have been arrested within the 2024 over addiction to heroin and ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine), according to Sri Lanka Police. Speaking at a press briefing at the Govt. Information Department today (28), DIG of the Police Narcotics Bureau Ashoka Dharmasena stated that the number of drug raids and arrests carried out by the police and security forces in 2025 are very high compared to the previous year. He stated that compared to the 832 kg of heroin seized in 2024, a much higher quantity of 1,831 kg of heroin was taken into custody within the year 2025.  At the same time, the quantity of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine) seized in 2024 was 1,364 kg while this has increased to 3,865 kg the following year. 

Read the Adadarena news article Here

27th February 2026

Paramedic calls for suspected drug overdoses nearly double in Sudbury

Calls to paramedics for suspected drug overdoses in Greater Sudbury nearly doubled in January compared to the same month last year, according to a new report from Public Health Sudbury and Districts. The public health unit’s latest drug toxicity surveillance report shows Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services responded to 60 calls for suspected opioid-related overdoses in January 2026. During the same period in 2025, paramedics responded to 36 such calls. Eighteen people also died from a suspected drug overdose in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts last month, up from 11 deaths in January 2025. This underscores the importance of readily available harm reduction and addiction treatment and rehab services.

Read the CBC News article Here

26th February 2026

‘There’s no shame in having an addiction’, Prince Harry tells recovered users on Jordan trip

Prince Harry has told a group of recovered addicts “there’s no shame in having an addiction”, as he urged them to go back to their communities and help others. During the second day of their Jordan trip, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the country’s National Centre for addiction rehab and treatment which they called “incredible”. The couple listened to a group of men describing the emotional toll of substance abuse and the assistance they have received from the facility in the capital Amman. It has a holistic approach to helping patients, providing activities like a gym and yoga classes.

Read the Sky News article Here

25th February 2026

Over 270 non-fatal overdoses have been treated in Ireland’s first supervised injection centre

Over 270 NON-FATAL overdoses have been treated in Ireland’s first supervised injection facility since it opened over a year ago, an Oireachtas committee will hear today. The assistant secretary at the Department of Health will tell TDs and senators that over 1,500 people have visited the facility over 17,000 times between December 2024 and November last year.  The injection facility, which cost about €5 million, is over halfway through an 18-month pilot after being licensed by the Department of Health. It is operated by Merchants Quay Ireland, the national homelessness and addiction charity. MSIC have been shown to save lives and also have the potential to link vulnerable drug users with traditional addiction rehab and treatment services.

Read the Journal.ie article Here

24th February 2026

Rural drug addiction project expands collaborations, reach

The Rural Drug Addiction Research Center, founded at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2019, brings together scientists from a variety of disciplines to address the etiology, assessment, prevention and addiction treatment of drug misuse in rural America. It received a five-year, $11.6 million renewal grant in 2024 from the National Institutes of Health’s Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence Program to continue its work. Rick Bevins, center director, said the project encompasses a holistic “synapse to society” approach to understanding drug use.

Read the Nebraska Today news article

23rd February 2026

‘I was a cocaine addict, sex addict, Man City groupie – but now I help others to see recovery can happen’

“I am a multi-addict, my nickname in rehab was the multi-addicted git,” says Mike “Woody” Wood wryly as he details the varying addictions he has succumbed to in his lifetime.”I’ve done alcoholics anonymous, narcotics anonymous, I set cocaine anonymous up in Manchester with two of my mates… I’ve done sex addicts anonymous, I’ve done gamblers anonymous, co-dependent anonymous, I’ve done nine different fellowships – all 12 steps – a really great way to live”, proving that with right kind of addiction rehab and treatment supports, recovery can happen.

Read the Manchester Evening Standard article Here

22nd February 2026

MP accuses Stormont of ‘wriggling out’ of addiction centre commitment

An MP has accused Stormont’s Department of Health (DoH) of trying to “wriggle out” of funding a new addiction treatment centre in Londonderry. The SDLP MP for Foyle Colum Eastwood said funding for a new centre in Derry was outlined in the New Decade New Approach (NDNA) agreement which restored Northern Ireland’s power-sharing executive in 2020. Six years on, plans for Northlands to relocate to a new site on the Culmore Road as an addiction centre of excellence have not happened. The DoH previously said NDNA only referred to potential funding for the project but did not include a specific commitment to it and they continued to engage with the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).

Read the BBC article Here

21st February 2026

‘That’s me!’: Hundreds tell BBC how medication triggered gambling and other addictions

Emma couldn’t understand why she had suddenly developed a gambling problem, until she read a recent BBC News article. Over the course of the past year, she had lost tens of thousands of pounds – but had never imagined that her medication might be responsible. Emma is one of more than 250 people who have now contacted us about addictions – gambling, but also sex and shopping – caused by a family of drugs prescribed for movement disorders. Those who got in touch include people with responsible jobs – a police officer, nurses, doctors, and even a director of risk for a bank. It is very important that people who develop these problems are able to access addiction rehab and treatment support.

Read the BBC article Here

20th February 2026

Alcohol addiction quadrupled in Portugal

The data is contained in the Executive Summary of the Annual Reports for 2024 of the Institute for Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (ICAD), which aggregates information from a set of surveys and barometers from recent years, in Portugal and at European level, on consumption and dependencies among young people and the general population, and is being presented today in the Assembly of the Republic. According to the 2022 national survey, among current consumers, “daily/almost daily consumption of some alcoholic beverage was 37% (20% of respondents), with 30% of consumers drinking wine daily, 12% beer and 2% spirits.”

Read the Portugal News article Here

19th February 2026

More than 3,200 seek addiction support as services warn high demand now ‘new normal’

More than 3,200 people accessed addiction treatment and recovery support through Coolmine Therapeutic Community over the past year, as the organisation warned that sustained high demand has become the “new normal” for services. The end-of-year analysis, highlighted at a graduation ceremony in Blanchardstown, shows that 3,282 individuals engaged with treatment nationwide, reflecting consistently high need alongside increasingly complex presentations linked to mental health, housing instability and family pressures. Men accounted for 58pc of presentations, with women making up 42pc, as the service reported “continued growth in female engagement with addiction services”.

Read the Independent.ie article Here

18th February 2026

£20 million in government grants on offer for innovators tackling drug and alcohol addiction

£20 million in government funding is being made available in the form of grants for innovators tackling drug and alcohol addiction, looking to develop digital tools such as wearables, apps, and VR as part of the Addiction Healthcare Goals programme. The grants are being made available through Innovate UK, for innovations and technologies focusing on improving treatment, aiding recovery, and reducing harms associated with addiction. Applications for grants of up to £10 million are already open for late-stage innovations that can demonstrate market readiness and progress toward regulatory approval, with a second strand catering for earlier-stage innovations, offering up to £1.5 million to help demonstrate initial effectiveness.

Read the HTN news article Here

17th February 2026

Northlands Centre has been ‘transforming lives and challenging shame and stigma of addiction’ for 50 years in Derry

The Northlands Centre in Derry has ‘transformed lives and challenged the shame and stigma of addiction’ over the past 50 years, Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has observed. “This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Northlands centre in Derry. For half a century, it has carried a simple but life-changing message: recovery is possible, people matter and no one should face addiction alone. “What began in the 1970s as an education initiative has grown into something far greater. Northlands became a community of support and, ultimately, a regional addiction rehab and treatment centre that has helped people from across the North.

Read the Derry Journal article Here

16th February 2026

I needed help for addiction – 30 years later I’m running the service

Tommy Canning was 22 years old when he first arrived at an addiction support centre battling alcohol and drug abuse problems – 30 years later he’s still there. Now head of treatment at the centre he once attended as a patient, Canning helps people who are in similar situations to his. “It is an incredible chain of events that the young man who needed the service is now looking after Northlands Centre and carrying the responsibility for it,” he said. Canning said his first-hand knowledge and personal perspective means he understands what people are facing when they arrive on the same doorstep he did all those years ago.

Read the BBC News article Here

13th February 2026

Alarm over ‘hollowing out’ of community sector in new National Drugs Strategy

Members of the Oireachtas Drugs Committee have expressed alarm at the “centralising” of control on drug policy in the draft National Drugs Strategy (NDS). There were also warnings of a “hollowing out” of the community sector. The proposed NDS, published last week, will set the State’s response on drugs for the next three years. It is due to go out for public consultation in the coming weeks. The committee has previously heard concerns from community organisations at what they see as a dilution of their role, including in the consultation for the preparation of the NDS.

Read the Irish Examiner article Here

12th February 2026

Instagram boss says 16 hours of daily use is ‘problematic’ not addiction

The head of Instagram has defended his platform against claims it caused mental health damage to minors, arguing in a California court that even seemingly excessive use of social media does not equal an addiction. Adam Mosseri, who has led Instagram for eight years, testified in the landmark trial that began this week in Los Angeles, making him the first high-profile executive to appear. It is expected to last six weeks, and serve as a test of legal arguments aimed at holding tech firms accountable for impacts on young people. Excessive internet use is becoming more prevalent and the treatment of this problem requires a tailored addiction rehab approach.

Read the BBC News article Here

11th February 2026

Addiction consults improve care for drug-related eye infections

People who use injection drugs are at a higher risk for eye infections, particularly endogenous endophthalmitis-a medical emergency caused by bacteria or fungi entering the bloodstream to reach the inside of the eye. These individuals may present to eye clinics or emergency rooms with severe, vision-threatening disease. However, the underlying substance use disorder that led to their infection is often not addressed in a systematic way. Evidence shows that linking in with an addiction rehab and treatment programme can improve eye health.

Rad the News Medical Life Sciences article Here

10th February 2026

I grew up in a happy home but tried drugs at 11 – it sparked 23-year heroin & crack addiction, now I look unrecognisable

Charlotte Seaman, from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, has now been sober for over a year, shares her experience on social media to warn others about the dangers of drugs. In a recent clip, she revealed: “Everything that I speak about on here is to spread awareness on addiction and the reality of what addiction does and where it can take you and the fact that addiction doesn’t discriminate. “I come from a beautiful home and I still ended up on the streets, homeless.” In the clip, Charlotte shared images and videos of herself at the height of her addiction to heroin and crack cocaine. Heroin and cocaine addiction sufferers need timely addiction rehab and treatment to help them overcome their problem.

Read The Sun news article Here

9th February 2026

Alcohol addiction linked to major brain gene changes

Chronic alcohol consumption majorly alters gene expression in key brain regions involved in reward, impulse control and decision-making, according to a study led by researchers at the Miguel Hernandez University of Elche in Spain. The study  offers new insight into the biological basis of alcohol addiction and identifies molecular changes that could guide future drug development. Alcohol use disorder is among the leading causes of disease and death worldwide, yet there are few effective treatments. High relapse rates underline the need for addiction rehab and treatment therapies that target the underlying biology of addiction rather than its symptoms alone.

Read the Drug Target Review article Here

6th February 2026

New York lawmakers propose alcohol tax funding for addiction treatment programs statewide

New York lawmakers are considering adding alcohol tax as a new way to pay for addiction rehab and treatment care at the same time the state is making alcohol easier to buy. Over the past few years, alcohol rules have loosened across the state. Drinks can now be ordered to go from restaurants, alcohol can be shipped directly to homes, movie theaters can sell beer and wine, and lawmakers are still debating whether grocery stores should be allowed to sell alcohol. As access grows, some state leaders say it is time to deal directly with the harm that often follows increased drinking.

Read the Legal Reader article Here

5th February 2026

Government has no plans to raise minimum unit price for alcohol

The Government has no plans to increase the minimum unit price for alcohol, as the health minister awaits the findings of a review into the measure. Minimum unit pricing (MUP), which sets a floor price for alcohol under which retailers cannot charge, was first introduced in January 2022, with officials describing it as a health measure to reduce serious illness and death from alcohol consumption. It’s based on the strength of the drink and the quantity in the bottle or can, but it sets a floor price of €7.40 for a typical bottle of wine and €1.70 for cans of beer or stout. MUP is one of the strategies, along with addiction rehab and treatment, designed to reduce the burden of alcohol related problems in Ireland.

Read the Irish Examiner article Here

4th February 2026

‘Alcohol recovery programme changed my life’

Overcoming alcohol addiction can be a difficult cycle to break but a charity in West Sussex is highlighting a new programme supporting people wanting to get sober. Turning Tides has helped dozens of people withdraw from alcohol gradually under clinical supervision. Unlike some other methods, they don’t use medication, as is often the case with traditional rehab and treatment methods, which can become addictive in itself. Mark was helped by the Recovery Project in Worthing, which is a residential service within Turning Tides, providing a safe, trauma-informed environment for people experiencing homelessness and alcohol addiction who are ready to begin recovery.

Read the ITVX story Here

3rd February 2026

Understanding Addiction As A Growing Public Health Challenge

Addiction is a complex health issue that touches families, workplaces, and schools. It affects how people think and act, and it strains emergency rooms and public budgets. Behind every data point is a person trying to cope. Treating addiction like any other chronic condition, with prevention, timely care with addiction rehab and treatment and long-term support, which helps people rebuild their health and their lives.

Read the Eye on Annapolis article Here

2nd February 2026

‘No politics, just keep people alive’: Syringe services hope legality continues

Six Indiana counties operate a syringe service program, often acting as a bridge to health care, overdose prevention education and addiction treatment and rehab. But the programs could end in July. The Indiana Recovery Alliance has come a long way since its founding about a decade ago. Like other Indiana syringe service programs, the alliance does more than just provide sterile supplies and safely dispose of used needles. Staff say their work goes beyond basic addiction services; they’re a human rights advocacy organization. “Our biggest motto is we meet people where they’re at and try not to leave them there,” said Scott Pietrovich, syringe services program coordinator.

Read the Louisville Public Media article Here

30th January 2026

Number of teenagers with mental health issues attending drug addiction services ‘through the roof’

Eight out of 10 adolescents attending an addiction treatment and rehab service have both a drug problem and mental health issue, an Oireachtas committee has heard. Sara Cassidy, head of clinical services at treatment organisation Aiséirí, said “dual diagnosis” — drug and psychiatric issues — was “through the roof”. Parallel with this, she said 40% of their adolescent clients were diagnosed with ADHD and other forms of neurodiversity. Aiséirí, set up in 1983, is located in four counties in the South-East and operates Aislinn — the only residential addiction treatment service for young people aged 15-21.

Read the Irish Examiner article Here

29th January 2026

Advancing brain-based therapeutics to the forefront of addiction care

As our understanding of the neurobiology of addiction evolves, so do opportunities to develop more precise, brain-based interventions for co-occurring disorders. In our free webinar, “Advancing Brain-Based Therapeutics to the Forefront of Addiction Care,” on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET., Victor Tang, M.D., MSc, FRCPC, Psychiatrist & Clinician Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and the recipient of a 2022 Young Investigator Award, will discuss his recent research on addiction and concurrent disorders (when mental illness and addiction co-occur).

Read the eurekalert.org article Here

28th January 2026

Trump signs executive order to combat drug addiction, substance abuse

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is launching a new federal effort to combat drug addiction and substance abuse, calling the issue one of the most serious challenges facing the nation. “Today, I’m signing a historic executive order to combat the scourge of addiction and substance abuse,” he said at the signing ceremony at the White House. The initiative will be known as the “Great American Recovery Initiative,” to help people who need addiction rehab and treatment. Trump noted that substance abuse continues to exact a heavy toll across the US. “We lose an estimated 300,000 people to drug and alcohol abuse (every year), and the real number is probably much, much higher than that,” he said.

Read the aa.com article Here

27th January 2026

24-year-old Sligo man with 30 previous convictions told to get help for his alcohol addiction

A 24-year-old man was told that he needs to get addiction rehab and treatment help for his alcohol addiction in Sligo District Court. Mark Sweeney of Beechlawn, Magheraboy, was charged with being intoxicated at Rathbraughan Park, on August 11, 2025. Sergeant Derek Butler told the court that Gardaí received a report from residents of Rathbraughan of a man trying to fight everyone. Upon arrival, Gardaí spoke to residents who described the defendant. Gardaí then noticed Sweeney staggering along a nearby footpath.

Read the Independent.ie article Here

26th January 2026

Meta, TikTok and YouTube heading to trial to defend against youth addiction, mental health harm claims

Los Angeles – For years, social media giants have argued against claims that their platforms harm young people’s mental health. Starting Tuesday, they will for the first time have to defend against those claims before a jury in a court of law. A 19-year-old identified as KGM and her mother, Karen Glenn, are suing TikTok, Meta and Google’s YouTube, alleging that the companies knowingly created addictive features that harmed her mental health and led to self-harm and suicidal thoughts. (Snap, also a defendant, settled last week under undisclosed terms.)

Read the CNN article Here

20th January 2026

Drug treatment courts can jam addiction’s ‘revolving door’

Calls to expand New Zealand’s Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court rang out across the country this month, and for good reason. Recent Ministry of Justice figures show that people who complete the drug treatment court programme are 50 percent less likely to reoffend in their first year than comparable high-risk, high-needs offenders who go through the District Court. Even four years after graduating, they are 20 percent less likely to reoffend. In the criminal justice world, these statistics are significant. More than 400 people came together at a two-day conference at the University of Auckland to discuss these specialist courts, the significant research that underpins them, and to hear compelling stories of graduates of these courts who have turned their lives around with this form of addiction rehab and treatment support.

Read the Auckland.au.nz article Here

19th January 2026

Risk of gambling addiction is higher in people whose family members have betting problems

Having a family member or a close friend with a gambling problem puts people at greater risk of developing one, too, a new study finds. The findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that “when gambling is seen as normal by others, it can increase a person’s own risk of gambling,” the researchers wrote in the Journal of Gambling Studies. “It has long been known that alcohol-related problems run in families – this study demonstrates that this is also the case with gambling,” Richard Velleman, one of the study’s authors, said in a news release. “This is an important discovery, as many people don’t see gambling problems as equivalent to alcohol or drug problems, as gamblers don’t ‘ingest’ anything, yet gambling can equally lead to serious problems which cause serious harm to individuals and families.” Sufferers need a tailored addiction rehab and treatment approach.

Read the Phillyvoice.com article Here

16th January 2026

Dublin injection centre sees zero deaths despite 179 overdoses in nine months

The Medically Supervised Injecting Facility (MSIF) located on Merchants Quay opened its doors in December 2024 to provide a place where those addicted to injectable drugs, mainly heroin, can do so in a safe, medically supervised facility. While some objected to the centre opening, Green Party Councillor Michael Pidgeon has highlighted the overdose figures as a sign that these centres work. The centres can also provide a pathway to traditional addiction treatment and rehab services.

Read the Dublin Live article Here

15th January 2026

Drug addict ‘trying his best to move forward’

A Castlebar man with a long history of addiction has been given a suspended jail term for possessing cannabis. Eamon Hanrahan, of Spencer Street, Castlebar, appeared before Castlebar District Court in connection with offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The court heard that the matter had been before the court on a number of previous occasions, during which no one had appeared on behalf of the defendant. On this occasion, solicitor Cathy McDarby said she was prepared to finalise the case on Hanrahan’s behalf. The court heard that Hanrahan is engaging with an addiction counsellor, as part of an addiction rehab and treatment programme, and is not being asked to stop abruptly, but rather to reduce his usage in a managed way. He has also undertaken studies in social studies, psychology and addiction at Atlantic Technological University and is attending regular counselling sessions.

Read the Western People article Here

14th January 2026

 ‘Laughing gas’ may be added to list of drugs tested for at roadside Garda checkpoints

Nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas, may be included among the drugs tested for at roadside checkpoints. Minister of State for Transport Sean Canney has confirmed his department is considering adding nitrous oxide to the substances drivers will be tested for when stopped by Gardai. There were 190 road deaths last year, the highest annual number of fatalities since 2014. The Minister, who has responsibility for road safety, said the deaths were “a sobering call to action for all of us to do more to make our roads safer”.

Read the Irish Times article Here

13th January 2026

Inside the Battle for the Future of Addiction Medicine

Elyse Stevens had a reputation for taking on complex medical cases. People who’d been battling addiction for decades. Chronic-pain patients on high doses of opioids. Sex workers and people living on the street. “Many of my patients are messy, the ones that don’t know if they want to stop using drugs or not,” said Stevens, a primary care and addiction medicine doctor specialising in the care of patients with addiction problems.

Read the kkffhealthnews.org article Here

12th January 2026

Rise in young people with ketamine-related bladder issues

Doctors have warned of a rise in the number of young people seeking help for ketamine-related bladder issues. Ketamine, originally intended as an anaesthetic, has become increasingly popular as a recreational drug. The HSE says its research indicated that ketamine is one of the most commonly used substances in nightlife and at festivals. A review of waste water from the Ringsend treatment facility indicated that it was the third most used drug, after cocaine and cannabis. Ketamine addiction requires a tailored addiction treatment and rehab approach.

Read the RTE News article Here

9th January 2026

I stopped paying for food and heating to spend it gambling – my period made it worse

She didn’t go food shopping or have gas to heat her home, but Kiki Marriott made sure she still had electricity and wi-fi to gamble online – and said the addiction got worse around her period. Kiki has sought help for her gambling addiction but is not alone in feeling a greater urge to gamble on her phone at certain times of her menstrual cycle. Now academics are working with a leading gambling harms charity to establish whether there is a link between hormonal fluctuations – caused by periods, ovulation, menopause and childbirth – and gambling addiction. The study has been welcomed by the body which licences and regulates commercial gambling in the UK.

Read the BBC News article Here

8th January 2023

‘Shame trapped me in addiction for 30 years, destroying my life, family and relationships’

A Cork publican who battled alcohol and drug addiction is launching an exhibition to cast light on that darkness and pain and on the redemption of recovery. Michael Droney will launch his exhibition ‘Finding Beautiful’ in an alcohol-free section of one of his pubs, Aye on Anglesea Street in Cork City, this weekend. “Shame trapped me in addiction for 30 years, destroying my life, family and relationships,” Mr Droney said. “Finding Beautiful attempts to show loved ones why the hurt is caused and attempts to lessen the shame of those in addiction or early recovery”.

Read the Irish Examiner article Here

7th January 2026

Merchant’s Quay: Temporary supervised drug injection facility in Dublin to become permanent

Ireland’s first supervised drug injection facility, which opened on a temporary basis at MQI just over one year ago, has secured permanent permission from Dublin City Council. The amenity operated by homeless and addiction charity Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) has been used in excess of 10,000 times by more than 1,000 individuals since it opened on the south Liffey quays in December 2024. Legislation to allow for the facility was enacted in 2017, but permission to operate the service was granted on a temporary basis only and was due to expire in June of this year. Last October MQI applied for planning permission to operate the service on a permanent basis. Permission was granted by the council last month, despite it having refused to approve the temporary facility in 2019. Injecting centres can also link service users in with more traditional addiction rehab and treatment support services.

Read the Irish Times article Here

6th January 2026

One in five vape shops selling addictive products to children, inspections reveal

More than a fifth of vape shops tested are selling the highly addictive vaping devices to children despite a ban on sales to under-18s since 2023. Between January and October last year, 51 retailers were caught selling vapes to children. This represented more than 22 per cent of the 224 shops where inspectors carried out tests to see if the devices would be sold to under-18s. Inspections were carried out by the HSE National Environmental Health Service, which is responsible for enforcing a 2023 law that banned the sale of nicotine-inhaling vaping products to children. 

Read the Irish Times article Here

5th January 2026

One doctor’s experience shows the battle for the future of addiction medicine

Dr. Elyse Stevens had a reputation for taking on complex medical cases, including people who’d been battling addiction for decades. Some were chronic-pain patients on high doses of opioids; others were sex workers and people living on the street. “Many of my patients are messy, the ones that don’t know if they want to stop using drugs or not,” said Stevens, a primary care and addiction medicine doctor.While other doctors avoided these patients, Stevens — who was familiar with New Orleans from her time in medical school at Tulane University — sought them out. She regularly attended 6 a.m. breakfasts for homeless people, volunteered at a homeless shelter clinic on Saturdays, and, on Monday evenings, visited an abandoned Family Dollar store where advocates distributed supplies to people who use drugs. This is such a brilliant way to provide addiction rehab and treatment to a vulnerable group of people.

Read the VPN PBS article Here

2nd January 2026

New weekly addiction recovery meeting starting in Laois

The ARC Project (Addiction Recovery Community) is launching a new weekly community based recovery meeting in Portlaoise, offering a welcoming space for people in recovery from addiction, and anyone seeking to strengthen their recovery, in a supportive community setting. ARC’s approach blends peer support with practical tools including creativity, embodiment practices, journaling, and guided self-reflection, giving participants something real to take into everyday life. All ARC meetings and workshops are free to attend, confidential, and open to the wider community. ARC advises a level of commitment where possible so participants can get the full benefit of the addiction recovery programmes.

Read the Laois Live article Here

1st January 2026

A Narrative Review of Digital Addiction and Health: A New Challenge for Modern Medicine

Digital addiction, encompassing problematic use of the internet, smartphones, gaming, and social media, has emerged as a growing global public health concern. This narrative review synthesises current evidence on the epidemiology, neurobiological underpinnings, diagnostic challenges, health consequences, and management strategies for digital addiction. Addiction treatment services need to be tailored to meet the needs of people who are developing problems.

Read the Cureus.com paper Here 

31st December 2025

Nutrition key in new alcohol abuse rehabilitation scheme to fight addiction

Researchers at the University of Bournemouth have partnered with a drug charity to launch an alcohol addiction rehabilitation scheme that emphasises the importance of healthy food in recovery. The project – Nourish the New You – looks at the science behind how better nutrition can prevent relapses during withdrawal and is the brainchild of Dr Chloe Casey.

Read the Sky News article Here

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