News and communications

Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire promotes the UK’s balanced approach towards tackling drug use, with a focus on the challenge of synthetic opioids.

• Updated: 23 April 2024

The government commissions the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to review the fees applicable under the hemp licensing regime.

• Updated: 9 April 2024

• Reform to the fees applicable under the hemp licensing regime (accessible)

  Professor Owen Bowden-Jones, Chair, Advisory Council on the Misuse of…

ACMD work programme 2024 letter to the Home Secretary from the Chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD).

• Updated: 5 April 2024

• ACMD work programme 2024 (accessible)

  ACMD Chair: Professor Owen Bowden-Jones ACMD Secretary: Zahi Sulaiman 1st…

• Government response to the ACMD work programme 2024

  Professor Owen Bowden-Jones, Chair, Advisory Council on the Misuse of…

The expansion of testing on arrest across England and Wales has seen nearly 100,000 drug tests on suspects whose behaviour was believed to have been driven by their drug abuse.

• Updated: 3 April 2024

Government response to the report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on xylazine, medetomidine and detomidine.

• Updated: 21 March 2024

Draws attention to 2 statutory instruments which amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and associated regulations to control and schedule 20 new drugs.

• Updated: 20 March 2024

The latest annual report from the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) shows a marked increase in activity related to nitrous oxide and ketamine.

• Updated: 9 January 2024

The government responds to advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) on preventing drug misuse among vulnerable groups of people.

• Updated: 15 December 2023

Every local authority across England to be allocated additional funding to help combat drug and alcohol misuse.

• Updated: 13 November 2023

The government responds to a report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and commissions Part 2 of work on barriers to research.

• Updated: 23 October 2023

Watch the moment an immigration offender tries to escape cannabis farm before arrest.

• Updated: 5 October 2023

The government responds to a report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) regarding NHS England proposals on electronic prescribing.

• Updated: 29 September 2023

The Home Secretary has today announced the reappointment of Professor Owen Bowden-Jones as the chair of the ACMD.

• Updated: 4 September 2023

Call for evidence from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on the prevalence and drivers of powder cocaine use by young people and adults.

• Updated: 30 August 2023

Twelve projects awarded a share of £5 million to reduce rates of fatal drug overdoses, as part of Vaccine Taskforce style approach to tackle health challenges.

• Updated: 29 August 2023

Government response to the ACMD review of the evidence on the use and harms of diphenidine.

• Updated: 10 August 2023

The Home Office is looking for 16 new members to join the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD).

• Updated: 2 August 2023

Letter commissioning the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to work on a project to prevent drug use in children and young people.

• Updated: 27 July 2023

Government response to the ACMD's review of the evidence on the use and harms of Cumyl-PeGaClone.

• Updated: 25 July 2023

The government commissions the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to review the harms of Xylazine and 2-Methyl-AP-237.

• Updated: 19 June 2023