Gabapentinoids found to increase risk of drug toxicity Researchers found that patients taking gabapentinoids with benzodiazepines were at double the risk of being hospitalised with drug poisoning, while combining the drug with opioids has a 30% increase in risk.…
Pharmacy research: driving safer outcomes in substance misuse Research offers a crucial opportunity in shaping healthcare policy and practice, particularly in the developing landscape of substance misuse.…
Health news round-up: Alzheimer’s treatment, retatrutide results and kidney cancer guidelines A weekly summary of important developments in pharmacy and health news that you may have missed.…
London’s first drug-checking service could expand to more cities Under the drug-checking service, users can submit substances for testing and will subsequently receive “anonymous, non-judgemental chat”, alongside tailored harm reduction advice.…
Government pledges support for more safer drug consumption facilities in ten-year alcohol and drug strategy The Scottish government's alcohol and drugs strategic plan for 2026–2035 also sets out plans to further expand the distribution of naloxone, including through community pharmacies.…
Over-the-counter medicines are being purchased by children as young as 13 years, reveals survey Overall, more than half of the survey respondents had used over-the-counter medicines in a six-month period.…
Drug consumption room pilot records more than 1,000 injecting episodes in a month According to latest service data on The Thistle, a drug consumption facility in Glasgow, 560 people used the site's services more than 10,000 times in 2025.…
Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists recommends ‘ring-fencing’ diamorphine stock amid supply issues Medicine supply alerts sent in December 2025 and January 2026 have requested that prescribers switch to morphine sulphate 10mg/1mL injections, where possible.…
Addiction warnings on opioid and z-drug packaging to be strengthened The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said that patient information leaflets for gabapentinoids, benzodiazepines and z-drugs will include clearer definitions of dependence and addiction.…
From pain to wellbeing: why deprescribing might be the most powerful prescription of all Pharmacist Shilpa Patel shares how staff at her GP practice worked to reduce high-dose opioid prescribing among patients who had taken the drugs for years.…
