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The Latest Breaking News from Opioids

Synthetic opioid may have caused hundreds more deaths than recorded

Synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, methadone, and buprenorphine have been linked to 524 deaths in England since the end of September 2025

The Independent UK

Synthetic opioids may have caused hundreds more UK deaths than thought

Study find nitazenes, which are up to 500 times stronger than heroin, can degrade significantly in portmortem blood samples

The Guardian - UK

Three die in north London borough from new synthetic opioid as expert warns: 'We are staring into the abyss'

Cychlorphine is thought to be 100 times stronger than heroin

Evening Standard

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Belgian drug chief warns illegal vapes could hook children on 'spice'

The majority of illegal refillable vape capsules seized in Belgium are laced with synthetic cannabinoids, Belgium's drug commissioner warned. This risks addiction from a young age.

Euronews

Drug use is changing in England – with more adults showing signs of dependence

Drug use appears to be changing in England – both in the types of drugs people take and their potency, according to our latest survey of adult mental health and wellbeing.

The Conversation

How does Narcan work? Mapping how it reverses opioid overdose can provide a molecular blueprint for more effective drugs

Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, is one of the most important drugs in the United States’ fight against the opioid crisis. It reverses an opioid overdose nearly instantly, restarting breathing in a person who was unresponsive moments before and on the brink of death. To bystanders witnessing…

The Conversation

Judge to explain why he's approving Purdue Pharma settlement plan, which calls for $7B from Sacklers

A judge is set to explain why he's approving a plan for OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to settle thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids

The Independent UK

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Purdue Pharma's deal means money for some victims, end of Purdue company name. Here's what to know

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma's efforts to settle thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids is on the verge of approval

The Independent UK

Latest opioid settlement plan with OxyContin maker Purdue and Sackler family getting few objections

The company that makes OxyContin, members of the Sackler family who own it and many groups that sued over its role in the opioid crisis are asking a judge to approve a settlement plan

The Independent UK

Taking prescription opioids for too long can be harmful. Here’s how to cut back and stop

Opioids, such as oxycodone, morphine, codeine, tramadol and fentanyl, are commonly prescribed to manage pain. You might be given a prescription when experiencing pain, or after surgery or an injury.

The Conversation

US appeals court overturns West Virginia landmark opioid lawsuit decision

A federal appeals court has overturned a landmark decision in an opioid lawsuit in West Virginia

The Independent UK

New record high drug deaths as killer nitazene opioid ravages UK streets

Nitazenes can be 100 times more potent than heroin and bring a high risk of overdose

The Independent UK

New record high drug deaths as nitazene opioid fatalities almost quadruple

A total of 195 deaths registered last year involved nitazenes, a figure almost four times that of the 52 deaths registered in 2023.

Evening Standard

Rise in young people being harmed by ketamine sparks new awareness campaign

Ministers said there were also growing concerns about THC vapes laced with ‘spice’, as well as synthetic opioids being sold in medicines online.

Evening Standard

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Saving Advice

Managing Chronic Pain Without Relying on Heavy Drugs

Chronic pain affects nearly one in five adults over 65, yet many are searching for safer alternatives to prescription opioids. While opioids can temporarily relieve...

The Guardian - AU

Highly potent synthetic opioids found in teddy bear-shaped pills linked to a death in Queensland

Public health warning issued after drugs known as nitazenes detected amid move to ban pill testing

Saving Advice

How Opioid Prescriptions Are Being Overused in Senior Care Settings

Opioid medications were once hailed as breakthrough pain relievers—but for seniors in care settings, they’ve quietly become a growing concern. Long-term prescriptions, often written for...

Evening Standard

UK’s first nitazene drug lab found in Ayrshire, police board told

The high-strength synthetic opioids sometimes mixed into other drugs can be dangerous due to their potency.

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The Independent UK

Police uncover first UK lab producing new type of deadly opioids

Nitazenes were involved in 38 drug deaths in Scotland in the space of just a few months

The Conversation

10 times stronger than fentanyl, nitazenes are the latest, deadly development in the synthetic opioid crisis

At the end of 2023, the health crisis caused by fentanyl use in the United States set alarm bells ringing. However, the situation may get even worse with the emergence of another family of synthetic opioids: nitazenes.

The Conversation

What correctional officers think about harm-reduction services for incarcerated people with drug addictions

Opioids, including the best known — morphine, heroin and fentanyl — have been gaining popularity over the last few decades. Although officially banned, these painkillers still find their way into prisons either via drones or with visitors. The result is that more and more prisoners are using opioids.

The Guardian - UK

‘Crisis on top of crisis’: Scotland faces threat from dangerous form of opioids, experts warn

Synthetic opioids known as nitazenes, linked to more than 100 deaths, can be hundreds of times stronger than other drugs

The Conversation

New data shows a jump in older people dying from drug overdoses

When we talk about drug overdose deaths, many of us imagine a problem that affects young people.

The Conversation

Balancing kratom’s potential benefits and risks − new legislation in Colorado seeks to minimize harm

David Bregger had never heard of kratom before his son, Daniel, 33, died in Denver in 2021 from using what he thought was a natural and safe remedy for anxiety.

The Conversation

Running is a substance-free pleasure that supports addiction recovery

Addiction is a widespread health issue that will affect about one in five Canadians over their lifetimes. For example, addiction to opioids has led to opioid and overdose crises in many cities, which has brought the social question of addiction to the forefront.

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