Jeremy Palmer’s transformation tells a powerful story about overcoming addiction against all odds. The 48-year-old now leads the very facility where he once fought for his own sobriety, demonstrating that beating substance abuse can lead to remarkable second chances. As a result, he has become a beacon of hope for others struggling with similar challenges. As Supported Housing Team Leader...
Community Voices
When Policy Fails Our Children: The Hidden Toll of Drug Policy on Australian Families
By Geraldine Casey From the ‘Broken Communities’ Special Series The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing has, under both Labor and Liberal administrations, deliberately suppressed every fact about cannabis since 1993. As Brisbane Cannabis Expert Doctor Stuart Reece can attest. I am constantly aware of the hundreds of Australian mothers whose hearts are broken because their son, daughter or...
Grieving Mums Call for Child Rehabs
Three mothers who lost their teenage sons to drug addiction have spoken out about the devastating failures in Britain’s child rehab facilities and treatment system for young people. Anita Morris, Nicola Howarth and Kate Roux never expected to share the same heartbreaking story. Each watched helplessly as their boys battled addiction, fighting for years to secure proper support that never...
Drug Driving Beyond “Normalisation”
The Turning Point report reveals something crucial about drug driving behaviour: people describe it not as aberrant, but as embedded in everyday routines (work, socialising, stress management). This apparent ordinariness, however, must be understood within a broader policy environment where harm reduction has been promoted in relative isolation from robust prevention and supply reduction. The unintended consequence is a perception...
Two Europeans Share Powerful Journeys From Alcohol Dependency To Sober Living
Alexandre Béhier’s mornings once began with vomiting blood. The 37-year-old Belgian had been drinking three, four, sometimes five bottles daily. Hospital doctors delivered stark news: early stage liver cirrhosis. Stop drinking or face death. His journey to alcohol free living wasn’t just about survival. It became a complete transformation. Today, Alexandre describes his sober existence as beautiful, purposeful and life...
Rethinking Drinking Habits: New Year Brings Fresh Perspective on Alcohol
As the festive season draws to a close, many people find themselves rethinking drinking habits and questioning their relationship with alcohol. Recent data reveals a significant cultural shift, with fewer Americans consuming alcohol and more recognising its health risks. Sobering Statistics The Surgeon General’s report released on 3rd January 2025 delivered stark findings about alcohol’s impact on public health. The...
Quitting Alcohol Benefits: Month-by-Month Health Improvements Revealed
Recent data reveals a troubling surge in alcohol-related deaths across the United Kingdom following the COVID-19 pandemic, with rates climbing to unprecedented levels. As millions of Britons participate in Dry January, new statistics underscore why reducing alcohol consumption has never been more critical for public health. The average UK adult now consumes 10.2 alcoholic drinks per week—well above the NHS-recommended...
Kratom Risks and Regulation Debate in the US: What Communities Need to Know
Holly Trouville stood before the Lowell City Council in autumn 2025 holding a green can of seltzer. This seemingly innocuous beverage, she told the assembled officials, had killed her 25-year-old son, Tyrell Njuguna Trouville. “I was aware he drank kratom seltzer,” she said, “but I was not aware of the dangers.” Tyrell’s death in Florida was attributed to toxicity from...
Recent North Hollywood Incident Highlights Growing Concerns About Pet Drug Exposure
A November incident in North Hollywood has drawn renewed attention to the dangers of pet drug exposure in urban areas. A couple’s dog became violently ill after apparently ingesting methamphetamine during a routine morning walk. Karla Vicuña said her dog Atreyu started acting erratically, crying and whimpering after their Sunday morning walk. “His eyes were like just moving around, so...
New Policy Brief Links Alcohol Harm to Violence Against Women and Children
Leading Australian organisations have issued a strong call for governments to address alcohol and violence against women through integrated national strategies, following the release of a comprehensive policy brief in late 2025. Our Watch and the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) released their joint brief calling for alcohol harm minimisation strategies to become central to efforts preventing violence...
Mental Health Benefits of Reducing Alcohol: Five Real Stories of Transformation
When Courtney walks into the gym now, she’s a different person. Three years ago, she made a decision that would transform her life completely. The 40-year-old stopped drinking alcohol entirely, and the changes have been profound. “I’m back. The me that hasn’t existed for a long time, it’s who I’m supposed to be now,” Courtney explains, her smile reflecting the...
America’s Dramatic Retreat From Cannabis Legalisation as Reality Bites
American attitudes towards cannabis are undergoing a dramatic reversal, with new Gallup polling data revealing that marijuana legalisation support has plummeted nearly 9% since its 2023 peak. The shift challenges industry narratives that portrayed legal cannabis as a “settled political inevitability” and suggests voters are reassessing their stance after witnessing the consequences firsthand. The data paints a striking picture across...
Why Public Opinion on Marijuana Is Shifting as New Evidence Emerges on Cannabis
Public opinion on marijuana is undergoing a notable reversal as mounting evidence reveals serious concerns about the substance’s health implications. What was once championed as a harmless alternative is now facing increased scrutiny from medical researchers, policymakers and communities grappling with the consequences of widespread cannabis use. A recent study in Ohio uncovered alarming statistics: 42 percent of deceased drivers...
UK Prison Drug Ban Triggers Violence Surge, Study Reveals
A blanket prohibition on synthetic drugs in UK prisons has backfired spectacularly, fuelling unprecedented levels of violence and self-harm among inmates, according to groundbreaking research from the University of Sussex. The 2016 Psychoactive Substances Act, which outlawed so-called “legal highs” across England and Wales, succeeded in reducing availability of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) by an average of 32 per cent....
How Scotland Is Being Softened Up for Legalisation (and Why the Taxpayer Was Never Asked)
On the day headlines announced that suspected drug deaths in Scotland had risen by almost 20 per cent, two things happened simultaneously. The public was alarmed. And an explanation was helpfully provided. The headline itself was technically accurate. Between July and September this year, Police Scotland recorded 291 suspected drug deaths, compared with 244 in the same quarter the year before....
Pope Leo XIV Addresses Global Rise of Addiction: “Dependence Becomes Obsession”
Pope Leo XIV has issued a powerful call to action on the escalating global addiction crisis. In a video message to the 7th National Conference on Addictions in Rome, the pontiff warned that modern society faces unprecedented challenges. These range from traditional substance dependencies to emerging digital addictions that threaten the wellbeing of millions, particularly young people. The Expanding Landscape...
Alcohol-Free Drinks for Recovering Alcoholics: Should Clinicians Allow Them?
Walk into any supermarket and you’ll find an expanding shelf of alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks. Heineken 0.0, Guinness 0.0, alcohol-free spirits that cost more than their alcoholic counterparts. These products are increasingly popular with the general public, but they’re also being used by people recovering from alcohol use disorder and those with serious alcohol-related health conditions. This has created a...
E-Cigarettes Harm Children: How Vaping Compromises Young People’s Rights
Children are now vaping at alarming rates that exceed adult usage, with some pupils missing lessons to feed their nicotine addiction and struggling to concentrate in classrooms. New research published in The BMJ argues that this crisis isn’t just a health concern but represents a fundamental violation of children’s human rights, demanding urgent regulatory action. The Shocking Scale of Youth...
Belgium Faces Drug Trafficking Crisis as Judge Warns of ‘Narco-State’ Transformation
An Antwerp judge issued a stark warning last month that Belgium drug trafficking has reached crisis levels, with organised crime undermining the nation’s institutions and threatening the rule of law. The alarming assessment, delivered in an anonymous letter to Belgium’s Justice Committee in October 2025, paints a picture of a country where mafia-like structures operate as a parallel power. The...
Bereaved Mother Calls for Drug Deaths Crisis to Be Declared Public Health Emergency
A Plymouth mother who lost both her sons to substance misuse has delivered a powerful petition to Downing Street. She demands that the government recognise escalating fatalities as a public health emergency for drug deaths. Liz Brown, 61, handed The Salvation Army’s petition to Number 10 yesterday. Nearly 1,700 signatures backed her call for urgent government action on rising substance-related...
French Anti-Drugs Activist Vows to Continue Fight After Second Brother Murdered
A courageous anti-drugs activist has pledged to continue his campaign against narcotics trafficking despite losing his second brother to drugs-related violence in just five years. Amine Kessaci, 22, wrote a defiant opinion piece in Le Monde newspaper following the funeral of his younger brother Mehdi, whose murder has been described by the French government as a turning point in the...
What the Stevens UN Paper Really Reveals About Drug Policy
Recovery sits beyond the binary. It is neither permissive nor punitive. It is simply the stubborn belief that people can change, and that we owe each other the chance to do so Every so often a piece of academic work arrives that unsettles the furniture a little. It does not tell you anything wildly new, but it rearranges what you...
Crisis in England’s Addiction Services: One in Five Staff Leave Every Year
England’s drug and alcohol treatment sector faces a critical workforce crisis. New NHS figures reveal that 19% of addiction staff leave their positions every year. This alarming addiction staff turnover threatens the capacity to respond to escalating substance misuse deaths across England and Wales. The National Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Services Workforce Census, published in August 2025, exposes...
Overwhelming Support for Alcohol Interlocks to Combat Drink-Driving in UK
An overwhelming 82% of UK drivers support introducing alcohol interlocks to reduce repeat drink-driving offences, new research reveals. Only 7% oppose the technology, whilst 12% remain unsure, according to RAC Report on Motoring 2025 figures. The findings come as admitted drink-driving rates return to pre-pandemic levels. More than one in 10 respondents (12%) confess they’ve driven when they thought they...
New York’s Legal Marijuana: Examining the Public Health Impact Four Years On
When New York legalised recreational marijuana in March 2021, policymakers promised that regulation would improve public safety, reduce crime, and protect vulnerable populations through proper oversight. More than four years later, data reveals a complex picture of how legal marijuana in New York has affected usage patterns and public health. Rising Usage Patterns Across Demographics According to New York’s Behavioural...
The Hidden Danger Lurking in Health Shops: Why Experts Are Sounding the Alarm on Kratom
Walk into any vape shop or browse online wellness stores, and you’ll likely spot it: kratom, the herbal supplement being touted as nature’s answer to pain relief and stress. But what many don’t realise is that kratom dangers in health shops are real, and this seemingly innocent botanical has medical experts increasingly worried. The numbers tell a concerning story. Between...
Drug Poisoning Deaths in England and Wales Reach Record High in 2024
12th Consecutive Year of Rising Fatalities Drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales reached a historic high in 2024, with 5,565 fatalities registered—the highest number since records began in 1993. This marks the 12th consecutive year of record-breaking figures, whilst alcohol-specific deaths across the UK totalled 10,473 in 2023, also the highest on record. Males Account for Two-Thirds of Deaths...
Teen Impaired Driving in the United States Linked to Alcohol and Cannabis Use
Teen impaired driving in the United States remains a serious road safety concern. In 2020, nearly 30 percent of drivers aged 15 to 20 who died in crashes had been drinking, with 17 percent recording a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher. Underage impaired driving is also increasingly linked to cannabis, now the second most common substance associated with...
Robert L. DuPont: The Psychiatrist Who Transformed American Drug Policy
When a young psychiatrist walked into Washington DC’s Department of Corrections in 1968, he had a straightforward goal: use medicine to reduce crime. Inspired by his heroes John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., Dr Robert L. DuPont sought to apply public health principles to work directly with convicted criminals. What he discovered there would reshape American approaches to...
Kolkata Assault Highlights Growing Concerns Over Drink Spiking Dangers
A horrifying incident in Kolkata has brought renewed attention to drink spiking dangers, after three men forcibly dragged a 28-year-old woman into a vehicle, made her consume drugged alcohol, and sexually assaulted her on Friday night. The Attack on Eastern Metropolitan Bypass The assault occurred around 9pm on Friday when the married woman waited for a ride-sharing service at a...
Featured Stories
From Addiction to Leadership: Jeremy Palmer’s Journey from Patient to Rehab Manager
Jeremy Palmer’s transformation tells a powerful story about overcoming addiction against all odds. The 48-year-old now leads the very facility...
When Policy Fails Our Children: The Hidden Toll of Drug Policy on Australian Families
By Geraldine Casey From the ‘Broken Communities’ Special Series The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing has, under both...
Grieving Mums Call for Child Rehabs
Three mothers who lost their teenage sons to drug addiction have spoken out about the devastating failures in Britain’s child...
Drug Driving Beyond “Normalisation”
The Turning Point report reveals something crucial about drug driving behaviour: people describe it not as aberrant, but as embedded...
Two Europeans Share Powerful Journeys From Alcohol Dependency To Sober Living
Alexandre Béhier’s mornings once began with vomiting blood. The 37-year-old Belgian had been drinking three, four, sometimes five bottles daily....
Rethinking Drinking Habits: New Year Brings Fresh Perspective on Alcohol
As the festive season draws to a close, many people find themselves rethinking drinking habits and questioning their relationship with...
Quitting Alcohol Benefits: Month-by-Month Health Improvements Revealed
Recent data reveals a troubling surge in alcohol-related deaths across the United Kingdom following the COVID-19 pandemic, with rates climbing...
Kratom Risks and Regulation Debate in the US: What Communities Need to Know
Holly Trouville stood before the Lowell City Council in autumn 2025 holding a green can of seltzer. This seemingly innocuous...
Recent North Hollywood Incident Highlights Growing Concerns About Pet Drug Exposure
A November incident in North Hollywood has drawn renewed attention to the dangers of pet drug exposure in urban areas....
New Policy Brief Links Alcohol Harm to Violence Against Women and Children
Leading Australian organisations have issued a strong call for governments to address alcohol and violence against women through integrated national...
Mental Health Benefits of Reducing Alcohol: Five Real Stories of Transformation
When Courtney walks into the gym now, she’s a different person. Three years ago, she made a decision that would...
America’s Dramatic Retreat From Cannabis Legalisation as Reality Bites
American attitudes towards cannabis are undergoing a dramatic reversal, with new Gallup polling data revealing that marijuana legalisation support has...