What are synthetic drugs?
New, synthetic versions of harmful drugs, including synthetic opioids and synthetic cannabinoids, are increasingly found in UK’s illegal drug markets.

This reading list provides links to various publications considering the causes and impact of loneliness, as well as possible interventions to deal with the issue in society.
Loneliness: a reading list (762 KB , PDF)
Around 47% of adults in England experience loneliness occasionally or more often, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) Community life survey 2019/20 (2020).
Office for National Statistics (ONS) analysis in 2016/17 suggests that people with a long-term disability, widowed homeowners, unmarried middle-agers and young renters, experience the greatest likelihood of feeling some degree of loneliness.
Some academic research has suggested that loneliness or social isolation is linked to poorer health outcomes, including early death, higher rates of depression and cognitive decline. Loneliness may lead to higher costs in the public and private sector due to greater service usage, absences and productivity losses. One 2017 report, by the New Economics Foundation, estimated that loneliness costs UK employers £2.2-£3.7 billion per year.
This reading list is a companion to the Library’s Tackling loneliness (CBP 8514) briefing, which sets out in greater detail the incidence and impact of loneliness and strategies adopted to tackle it across the UK.
The reading list includes academic, third-sector and official reports and statistics on:
The bibliography also includes the incidence and impact of loneliness on different groups of people, including:
The paper also cites material on strategies to tackle loneliness, its financial costs, and the health impacts of loneliness.
Please note that the Library is not responsible for either the views or accuracy of external content cited in the paper.
Loneliness: a reading list (762 KB , PDF)
New, synthetic versions of harmful drugs, including synthetic opioids and synthetic cannabinoids, are increasingly found in UK’s illegal drug markets.
On 8 July 2025, there will be a Commons debate on alcohol and cancer. The debate will be led by Cat Smith MP. The Library will publish a briefing ahead of the debate.
The Controlled Drugs (Procedure for Specification) Bill 2024-2025 had its second reading on Friday 7 March 2025. It was considered by a Public Bill Committee on 25 June 2025 and report stage is scheduled for 11 July 2025. This is a private members' bill.