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

Statement to Parliament from Health Minister, Andrea Leadsom, at the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

• Updated: 17 April 2024

Professor Sir Chris Whitty writes for The Guardian on smoking addiction and MPs' historic opportunity to vote on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

• Updated: 16 April 2024

MPs to vote on legislation to create first smokefree generation, protecting young people turning 15 this year or younger from harms of smoking.

• Updated: 16 April 2024

As delivered by Rt Hon Victoria Atkins MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

• Updated: 16 April 2024

The Chief Nursing Officers and Senior Midwives of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have spoken out in support of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

• Updated: 16 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

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

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

Consultation launched on proposals to expand scheme to 1.6 million more people to help tackle tooth decay.

• Updated: 25 March 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

Current and former UK chief medical officers (CMOs) and current deputy CMOs write for The Times on the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

• Updated: 20 March 2024

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will deliver on the Prime Minister's commitment to create a smokefree generation, saving thousands of lives and billions for the NHS.

• Updated: 20 March 2024

Smokers in England are being urged to make a quit attempt this No Smoking Day to improve their health and wealth.

• Updated: 13 March 2024

Disposable vapes will be banned in the UK as part of ambitious government plans to tackle the rise in youth vaping and protect children’s health.

• Updated: 28 January 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 NHS is launching a brand new smokefree campaign to encourage all 5.3 million smokers in England to make a quit attempt this January.

• Updated: 28 December 2023

Minister Maria Caulfield celebrates the work of the Frank Bruno Foundation in supporting people with mental ill health get back into work.

• Updated: 21 December 2023

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