Chemsex myths exposed as deaths pass under the radar
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Hey, I’m Sam Leader, a digital reporter on the social team at ITV News.
Being a gay man and living in a major city like London, I’d heard of chemsex and understood something about the scene.
But, when I started to hear how a growing number of men were dying due to the issue, I knew I needed to investigate it.
Chemsex is the use of illegal drugs to enhance sex. Namely - GHB and crystal meth. While it by no means affects all gay, bisexual and trans people, it’s more prevalent among these communities - but not exclusive to them.
It was really tough to get people to speak out on this - at the end of the day it involves illegal drugs and sex… they can be awkward to discuss.
But after months of investigation, a number of brave individuals and empowered experts came forward, all calling for action.
Our investigation revealed that more men were being hospitalised, more were dying, and that it had become a national issue not just restricted to London.
Speaking to those impacted, and those on the frontline of the issue, we created a documentary called: ‘After the high: Chemsex, beyond the myths’, which you can watch on ITVX now.
And you can read more about the story, and how you can seek support if you’ve been impacted by it on the ITV Website here.
How Donald Trump shook Europe
A US ceasefire plan to pause the Ukraine war has been given a cautious welcome by Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
It would appear Donald Trump’s hardball handling could yet pay dividends - but maybe not so over his wide-ranging tariffs on world economies.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer has insisted all options to counter Trump’s tariffs are on the table - as the tit-for-tat taxes hit the US, Canada, Europe and beyond.
You can keep across the very latest on Ukraine, tariffs and Trump through our various podcasts, including:
What can the UK do to counter Trump’s tariffs - the Talking Politics team discuss
50 days of Trump 2.0 - the Talking Politics USA team examine his impact
Talking of podcasts… our brand new Q&A episode of Talking Politics launches today, where you put the questions to Tom Bradby, Robert Peston and Anushka Asthana.
The trio answer everything from how far Trump could go before the UK cut ties with the USA and why there’s more reporting on Reform than the Lib Dems, to the political buzzwords they hate and the dream jobs they’ve always wanted if they weren’t reporting on politics.
Have a listen here - and send your own questions to talkingpolitics@itv.com
Video evidence shows Israeli military obstructing paramedics in the occupied West Bank
ITV News has been shown shocking video of paramedics being shot at by Israeli troops, in the Occupied West Bank, as they tried to help a Palestinian grandmother who'd herself been shot by Israeli soldiers.
It shows four paramedics being prevented from treating an elderly woman who’s been shot through the leg.
They manage to reach the opposite side of the road to her. But despite sounding a siren, wearing bright orange uniforms and approaching the woman with a hand in the air, two shots are fired at their feet.
Catch Correspondent Rachel Younger’s report on ITVX.
Forced adoption: Women call for inquiry into breast milk drug linked to cancer
Last month, an ITV News investigation revealed that victims of the forced adoption scandal were exposed to Stilbestrol, commonly known as DES, to dry up their breast milk after their babies were taken.
However, the scale of harm caused may be much greater than first thought, as the controversial drug was also widely used across the NHS to treat several other issues, including preventing miscarriages.
As a 19-year-old in 1969, Ann Andic was forced to give up her son for adoption. She was put on DES and is now one of scores of women in a similar position calling for a full inquiry.
You can watch Social Affairs Correspondent Sarah Corker’s latest report on ITVX.
Fresh hope for long Covid sufferers, five years on from pandemic
Becky Steed is one of an estimated 2million people in the UK living with long Covid.
She was working as a GP when she contracted the virus. She’s never been the same since. No longer able to work as a GP, Becky can only perform her new job, training NHS staff, if she is lying down.
But, as ITV News Health Correspondent Rebecca Barry reports, there may be hope for Becky and the millions of others in the form of groundbreaking research.
Rebecca gained exclusive access to the trial - see the ITV News YouTube channel for more.
Exclusive: Attack victim left ‘lifeless’ wakes to apologise to family
The mother of a man who was brutally beaten in his home has said it is an ‘absolute miracle’ her son is now walking and talking.
Annmarie Dooher has spoken exclusively to UTV News about the ordeal her and her family have gone through since five masked men left her 26-year-old farmer son Charles in an “almost lifeless” state.
Charles has even apologised to his family who have maintained a constant bedside vigil throughout his time in hospital. Watch the report on ITVX.
Revealed: The spiralling cost of fighting special needs support claims
More than £13 million has been spent by councils fighting parents in tribunals over support for children with special educational needs, ITV News can reveal.
According to freedom of information data from upwards of 80 councils across England, the number of appeals being lodged has soared in recent years – from 3,571 in 2021/22 to 6,971 in 2023/24.
Responses from more than 50 local authorities reveal that upwards of £13.1 million has been spent on the costs associated with these tribunals over the past three financial years
Political Reporter Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe has more…
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'You can't just kick these people out'
Craig Collier has lived in a vehicle in Bristol for three years. He has a full-time job with an income of £60,000 a year - and believes living in a van should be a legal right.
He said rent, electricity, council tax and other bills mean more than half of his income salary would be spent on a living in a flat.
ITV News West Country has spoken to a number of people living in vans in Bristol who say that anti-social behaviour against them is increasing.
Catch up on the report on ITVX.
Food hygiene rating investigation reveals glaring holes
An ITV Wales investigation has uncovered more than 150 establishments across Wales displaying the wrong food hygiene rating or not showing a notice at all.
Using secret filming, reporters visited eateries up and down the country to ask staff about hygiene standards.
In scores of cases, they uncovered ratings were not displayed or were given erroneous information about the cleanliness.
You can watch the report on ITVX.
What’s coming up…
Monday March 17: AI UK 2025. Hosted by the Alan Turing Institute, it will showcase the latest AI advancements, from ethical AI to new machine learning applications
Tuesday March 18: Sentencing of 19-year-old Nicholas Prosper for murdering his mother Juliana Falcon, 48, and two siblings Kyle Prosper, 16 and Giselle Prosper, 13
Wednesday March 19: British Diversity Awards held in London
Thursday March 20: Astronomical spring begins. Astronomical seasons refer to the position of Earth’s orbit in relation to the Sun, considering equinoxes and solstices
And finally… Gen Z to HGV?
More than half of lorry drivers on the UK roads are over 55 - and less than two per cent are women.
But, there’s now a growing number of under 30s opting to park a career behind a desk and take HGV training for a career behind the wheel.
Reporter Sam Holder donned the hi-vis jacket and went to find out why life on the road is becoming more appealing to Gen Z-ers - check out his report on our TikTok.