Research shows that from the 1st January 2010 almost half of all smokers in England will attempt to quit. In order to aid their quests the NHS have launched a free stop-smoking kit, reported BBC News. Figures show that more than half of smokers (54%) believe they need help in managing their cravings with seven read more »

Recent surveys investigating peoples drinking habits found that most people grossly underestimate how many units of alcohol they consume, reveals BBC News. The Health Survey for England has revealed that 225 million litres of alcohol go unaccounted for each year. This amounts to drinkers in the UK consuming the equivalent of a bottle of wine read more »

According to The Times, the number of young women in their teens or early twenties requiring treatment for cocaine addiction is on the increase. Despite heroin addiction declining, the number of women under 35 who are entering treatment has increased by 60 per cent in the past four years. A survey undertaken by the National read more »

Smokefree United is an NHS piloted scheme, which provides coaching and support to help football fans and players to stop smoking. Upon signing up to the virtual club of quitters, the members will receive weekly contact over a four week period via emails and texts, entry into competitions which gives them a chance of winning read more »

Male, white-collar, mid thirties is the new typical gambling addict according to the NHS. The typical patient now seen in the National Problem Gambling Clinic (NPGC) is a white-collar male in his mid 30’s who has one or sometimes two jobs to further his addiction. Psychiatrists reported an alarming number of city workers and graduates read more »

Subtle branding on cigarette packets is misleading smokers into thinking some products are less harmful than others, reports the BBC. Despite the EU ban on any claims that some cigarettes are safer than others, a number of brands have found a loophole to exploit. A survey of 1,300 people has found that products using the read more »

According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of women dying drug-related deaths in England and Wales rose by 17% in 2008, and the number of men rose by 8%. The increase in female drug-related deaths came after a period of decline during 2005 and 2007. The figures include both legal and illegal drugs read more »

A recent survey investigating underage drinking has found that the excessive alcohol consumption of many teenagers can be put down to boredom, reports the BBC. When questioning a number of teenagers between the ages of 16 and 17 year olds the charity Drinkaware found that 8% admitted when questioned that their drinking is purely down read more »

Tranquilisers and over-the-counter drugs are too readily available, causing over two million people to develop addictions to them, reports the Independent. Drugs such as benzodiazepines (tranquillisers) and opiate-based painkillers (such as morphine and codeine) can have serious side-effects, as well as being habit-forming. There has been a huge rise in addiction to these legal drugs, read more »

Over one million people in the UK are now taking cocaine, the largest figure for 12 years, reports the Times. The figure comes from the British Crime Survey, which also reveals that around 125,000 people are taking ketamine, a horse tranquiliser. Over half of those taking cocaine are aged between 16 and 24, possible due read more »