Addiction
Substance abuse led me to homelessness. Now I’m 20 years sober and in love with giving back
Substance abuse led me to homelessness. Now I’m 20 years sober and in love with giving back
Peter Merrifield explains what drove him to set up his social enterprise, and how his own story of survival informs the help he’s giving to others like
him – with support from Big Issue Invest
More people are dying from nitazenes – we risk repeating the US fentanyl crisis
More people are dying from nitazenes – we risk repeating the US fentanyl crisis
America holds a warning for how bad the synthetic opioid crisis can get. It’s time to act before we sleepwalk into an emergency, writes Cranstoun’s Ant Lehane
Number of deaths from nitazenes increases fourfold in two years – but true number may never be known
Number of deaths from nitazenes increases fourfold in two years – but true number may never be known
Official statistics show 271 deaths from nitazenes in 2024. But those on the frontline tell Big Issue the true scale of the emergency could be even worse
Opake on his boundary-pushing art: ‘I don’t think there’s anything more taboo than hentai porn’
Opake on his boundary-pushing art: ‘I don’t think there’s anything more taboo than hentai porn’
GambleAware is closing down. Here’s why we decided to put our charity out of action
GambleAware is closing down. Here’s why we decided to put our charity out of action
Revealed: Why Greater Manchester Police refuses to give life-saving overdose drug to officers
Revealed: Why Greater Manchester Police refuses to give life-saving overdose drug to officers
I was drinking three bottles of wine a day and totally losing control. Here’s how I got my life back
I was drinking three bottles of wine a day and totally losing control. Here’s how I got my life back
Pressure grows on police forces to reverse their refusal to equip officers with life-saving naloxone
Pressure grows on police forces to reverse their refusal to equip officers with life-saving naloxone
The excuses don’t wash. All police officers must be allowed to carry naloxone
The excuses don’t wash. All police officers must be allowed to carry naloxone
Police could stop opioid deaths with this drug. So why do some UK forces stop officers carrying it?
Police could stop opioid deaths with this drug. So why do some UK forces stop officers carrying it?
‘I’m so lucky’: How one man went from drinking himself to death to rescuing thousands of stray dogs
‘I’m so lucky’: How one man went from drinking himself to death to rescuing thousands of stray dogs
I quit booze aged 30 to impress a beautiful girl. It’s the best thing I ever did
I quit booze aged 30 to impress a beautiful girl. It’s the best thing I ever did
Dozens use UK’s first drugs consumption room in opening weeks – but ‘barriers’ still remain
Dozens use UK’s first drugs consumption room in opening weeks – but ‘barriers’ still remain
Inside the UK’s first drugs consumption room – and how it can save lives amid soaring drug deaths
Inside the UK’s first drugs consumption room – and how it can save lives amid soaring drug deaths
‘Alcohol felt like home to us’: A mother and daughter’s story of alcoholism – and how they overcame it
‘Alcohol felt like home to us’: A mother and daughter’s story of alcoholism – and how they overcame it
My son died after taking deadly nitazenes, aged 33. Why did nobody save his life?
My son died after taking deadly nitazenes, aged 33. Why did nobody save his life?
‘Love is the most powerful emotion there is’: Artist Opake on homelessness, addiction and Christmas
‘Love is the most powerful emotion there is’: Artist Opake on homelessness, addiction and Christmas
Nitazenes are claiming homeless lives. Here’s how one group is fighting the deadly threat
Nitazenes are claiming homeless lives. Here’s how one group is fighting the deadly threat
Meet the only scientist who knows just how bad the UK’s drug deaths crisis truly is
Meet the only scientist who knows just how bad the UK’s drug deaths crisis truly is
Nitazenes: Harm reduction advice to help keep safe
Nitazenes: Harm reduction advice to help keep safe
MPs on all sides call for action on nitazenes after Big Issue exposes Britain’s drug deaths crisis
MPs on all sides call for action on nitazenes after Big Issue exposes Britain’s drug deaths crisis
Nitazenes: Use of life-saving overdose drug surges by 50% amid synthetic opioid crisis
Nitazenes: Use of life-saving overdose drug surges by 50% amid synthetic opioid crisis
So-called ‘deaths of despair’ are rising in the UK. Labour must act on this silent epidemic
So-called ‘deaths of despair’ are rising in the UK. Labour must act on this silent epidemic
Former vendor Earl John Charlton returns to his old pitch as Big Issue arrives in Newcastle
