Addiction

Substance abuse led me to homelessness. Now I’m 20 years sober and in love with giving back
Big Issue Invest

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
Ant Lehane

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
Drug deaths

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 takeover

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
Anna Hargrave

GambleAware is closing down. Here’s why we decided to put our charity out of action

Advertisement
Why I cut ties with my alcoholic dad
Addiction

Why I cut ties with my alcoholic dad

Revealed: Why Greater Manchester Police refuses to give life-saving overdose drug to officers
Drugs

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
Nicky Wake

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
Drugs

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
Meg Jones

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?
Drug deaths

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
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
Tommy Stewart

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
Drugs

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
Drugs

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
Alcoholism

‘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?
Drug deaths

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
Art

‘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
Opinion

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
Drugs

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
Drugs

Nitazenes: Harm reduction advice to help keep safe

Advertisement
MPs on all sides call for action on nitazenes after Big Issue exposes Britain’s drug deaths crisis
Nitazenes

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
Social Justice

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
James Rose

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
Big Community

Former vendor Earl John Charlton returns to his old pitch as Big Issue arrives in Newcastle