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LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · 2d

‘Cocaine carnage is coming to Britain’

www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...

Cocaine carnage is coming to Britain

Budget blow has exploded beyond control

www.newstatesman.com

LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · 10d

“Deaths involving ketamine have increased twenty-fold since 2014, according to research by King’s College London, the University of Hertfordshire and Manchester Metropolitan University.”

www.drinkanddrugsnews.com/ketamine-dea...

Ketamine deaths increase twenty-fold in a decade - Drink and Drugs News

Deaths involving ketamine have increased twenty-fold since 2014, according to research by King’s College London, the University of Hertfordshire and Manchester Metropolitan University.

www.drinkanddrugsnews.com

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LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · 11d

‘US war on “narco-terrorists” violates the right to life, warn UN experts after deadly vessel strike’

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

US war on “narco-terrorists” violates the right to life, warn UN experts after deadly vessel strike

GENEVA – UN experts* today condemned the extrajudicial execution by the United States of 11 people when it sank a civilian vessel in the Caribbean Sea on 2 September 2025, and three people on another ...

www.ohchr.org

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LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · 14d

“All door staff should carry life-saving drug”

‘A door supervisor has said a life-saving drug should be carried as standard by security staff, after he helped a man during an overdose’

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Sheffield doorman says all security staff should carry naloxone

Sheffield doorman Charlie Smith says all security workers should be trained to administer naloxone.

www.bbc.co.uk

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LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · 23d

‘Thousands of opioid deaths missed off official figures’

More than 13,000 heroin and opioid deaths have been missed off official statistics in England and Wales, raising concerns about the impact on the government's approach to tackling addiction.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Thousands of opioid deaths missed off official figures - BBC News

The error - affecting England and Wales - raises concerns about the impact on the government's approach to drug deaths.

www.bbc.co.uk

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LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · 24d

‘Health, Not Handcuffs, Are the Path to Ending Opioid Crisis’

“Drug addiction does not exist in a vacuum. It stems from underlying trauma and mental health issues, which require proper treatment to manage.”

www.newsweek.com/health-not-h...

Health, Not Handcuffs, Are the Path to Ending Opioid Cris...

Every overdose death is preventable. It's time to end the war on drugs and begin a new chapter.

www.newsweek.com

3

LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · 28d

‘Ukrainian Government adopts National Drug Policy Strategy until 2030 and approves its implementation plan’

idpc.net/news/2025/09...

Ukrainian Government adopts National Drug Policy Strategy until 2030 and approves its implementation plan

Ukraine has approved a new National Drug Policy strategy, which aims to improve access to controlled medicines, expand harm reduction programmes, and provide support to marginalized populations.

idpc.net

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LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · 29d

‘Half of Guernsey's deputies support decriminalising cannabis, according to research by the BBC.’

“Eleven of the island's 38 politicians have said they are either undecided on the issue, or will wait to see any proposals before making a decision.”

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Cannabis decriminalisation backed by half of Guernsey's deputies

A major review is under way looking at reforming the island's drug laws.

www.bbc.co.uk

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LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · Sep 2

‘Scottish drug deaths fall but remain worst in Europe’

We need to do so much more. If we’re serious about saving lives then we need drastic changes to policies and attitudes.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Scottish drug deaths fall but remain worst in Europe

The number of drug deaths is expected to have dropped slightly, but experts warn that any fall will most likely be a blip.

www.bbc.co.uk

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LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · Aug 12

Crucial study & findings released regarding the hotly contested decriminalisation process in Oregon:

“many claimed that Measure 110 was responsible for rising crime and overdose deaths. However, our findings offer little to no support for those claims,”

www.pdx.edu/news/psu-res...

PSU Researchers Release Final Report in Landmark Project Exploring Impacts of Measure 110 Decriminalization

Portland State University researchers have released the final findings in a three-year project examining the impacts of multiple drug policy shifts including Measure 110 which decriminalized drug poss...

www.pdx.edu

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LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · Jul 31

‘A future on our own terms: The 2025 Support. Don’t Punish Global Day of Action’

This is a wonderful and inspiring roundup of events and advocacy across the globe, collated by @idpc.net

idpc.net/blog/2025/07...

A future on our own terms: The 2025 Support. Don’t Punish Global Day of Action

For the 2025 Global Day of Action, thousands took action in 262 cities across 80 countries — demanding policies that ensure access to systems of care and support, not punishment.

idpc.net

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LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · Jul 18

Police-led diversion schemes, what do we know?

In this interview from Ben Twomey for Policing TV, Ben speaks to Matthew Bacon, Senior Criminology Lecturer at Sheffield University.

policing.tv/videos/matth...

Drugs policing and diversion with Matthew Bacon, senior lecturer in criminology.

Does policing exist just to enforce laws, or is it bigger than that? Presenter Ben Twomey is joined by Matthew Bacon, Senior Criminology Lecturer at Sheffield…

policing.tv

LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · Jul 17

“How can it be possible that seven years have passed since my son Ben died…”

‘Let’s stop judging and start listening.’ By Hilary Mills, a very personal testimony of how our attitudes towards people and drugs impacts families from @anyoneschild.bsky.social

anyoneschild.org/2025/07/how-...

Let's stop judging and start listening

How can it be possible that 7 years have passed

anyoneschild.org

LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · Jul 10

“former Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales has criticised his successor for lack of provision of support for offenders who use drugs.”

Arfon Jones, advocate of reform and a member of LEAP continues to make the case for support over punishment:

www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/2529953...

Ex-police chief hits out at successor over lack of drug support for offenders

The former Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales has criticised his successor for lack of provision of support for offenders who use drugs.

www.northwalespioneer.co.uk

LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · Jul 9

With news this week of senior police officers calling for Class A penalties, here’s a different police perspective from LEAP Scotland representative and former undercover operative, Simon McLean:

‘We’ve talked long enough – change the law on cannabis now’

www.thenational.scot/comment/2529...

We’ve talked long enough – it's time to change the law on cannabis

Discourse on the drug market often centres on the dangers substances pose to our young people

www.thenational.scot

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LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · Jun 20

‘Rise in drug taking and self-harm at women's jail’

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

HMP Styal: Rise in drug taking and self-harm at women's jail - inspection

One woman at HMP Styal harmed herself 400 times in one year, inspectors find.

www.bbc.co.uk

LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · Jun 18

“LAST week, I had the privilege of attending the Association of Scottish Superintendents Annual Conference, accompanied by my former colleague and retired inspector Ian Andrew.”

'We have to stop criminalising people who need help.’

www.thenational.scot/comment/2521...

'We have to stop criminalising people who need help,' says ex-drug squad officer

LAST week, I had the privilege of attending the Association of Scottish Superintendents Annual Conference, accompanied by my former colleague…

www.thenational.scot

LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · Jun 11

We’re in a state of shock and grief to learn of the passing of Peter, a friend of us here and someone we’ve worked with many times.

Rest well Peter - you’ve most certainly earned that rest.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Drugs campaigner Peter Krykant dies, aged 48

Peter Krykant, a former addict, set up a supervised facility from a van which he took around Glasgow.

www.bbc.co.uk

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LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · Jun 11

‘Rough sleeping to finally be decriminalised with scrapping of 'cruel' 200-year law.
The Labour government has pledged to scrap the Vagrancy Act which has criminalised rough sleeping since the Napoleonic Wars in 2026’

www.bigissue.com/news/housing...

Rough sleeping is finally being decriminalised after 200 years

The Vagrancy Act that has criminalised rough sleeping in England and Wales for more than 200 years is finally set to be scrapped in 2026.

www.bigissue.com

LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · Jun 9

‘Britain must decriminalise cannabis – or remain in the dark ages’

“Criminalising drugs ruins lives and wastes police resources. Other countries realise this – when will UK politicians wake up?”

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Sadiq Khan is right: Britain must decriminalise cannabis – or remain in the dark ages | Simon Jenkins

Criminalising drugs ruins lives and wastes police resources. Many other countries have realised this – so when will UK politicians, asks Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

www.theguardian.com

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LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · Jun 2

‘A whole-system response to drug prevention in the UK’

“Report on the long-term prevention of drug use and related harms among young people.”

www.gov.uk/government/p...

A whole-system response to drug prevention in the UK

Report on the long-term prevention of drug use and related harms among young people.

www.gov.uk

LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · May 28

New report is out today from the Independent London Drugs Commission, with recommendations for cannabis, including decriminalisation.

news.sky.com/story/sadiq-...

Sadiq Khan says some cannabis possession should be decriminalised

Cannabis is a Class B drug and people found in possession can face a fine or imprisonment.

news.sky.com

LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · May 20

One way of reducing burdens on prisons is simple and sensible reforms around drug policy.

‘New prisons to be built and inmates released early, justice secretary says, as MoJ warns men’s jails could run out of space – as it happened’

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

New prisons to be built and inmates released early, justice secretary says, as MoJ warns men’s jails could run out of space – as it happened

MoJ says male prisons currently operating at 99% capacity

www.theguardian.com

LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · May 6

‘Our two sons died on the same night after taking a Class A drug young people love... here is why I want it legalised’

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Our two sons died on the same night after taking a Class A drug

One night in December 2014, two policemen knocked on the front door of Ray Lakeman and his wife Sarah.

www.dailymail.co.uk

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LEAP UK @ukleap.bsky.social · May 1

‘As a senior police officer I saw first hand how the war on drugs fails’

www.thenational.scot/politics/251...

LEAP’s Simon McLean once more on the case.

As a senior police officer I saw first hand how the war on drugs fails

IN the past policing was clear cut. Guard, watch and patrol – that was our role, our mantra, our mission. We protected life and property. That was…

www.thenational.scot