DS Daily - 31st October 2012

 

Trends and transition: a drugs scene in flux? - Martin Barnes, DrugScope

There are some who say that drug use in this country has ‘spiralled out of control’. Others suggest that the UK drug scene may be in a period of transition, rather than terminal decline. In this article, DrugScope Chief Executive, Martin Barnes reflects on the recent trends in drug use, addiction and treatment | NTA, UK

Political unity 'broken' on Scotland's drugs policy

There are "worrying signs" that political unity has broken down on Scotland's drugs strategy, the Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) has said | BBC, UK

Pseudoephedrine- and ephedrine-containing medicines

2012 review of actions to manage the risk of misuse. Download | MHRA, UK

Home Affairs Committee - Drugs

Witnesses: Lord Turner of Ecchinswell, and Tracey McDermott, Director, Enforcement and Financial Crime Division, Financial Services Authority | Parliament, UK

Early day motion 645 - Young people and substance abuse

That this House notes with concern the report for the independent UK Drug Policy Commission, Domino Effects: The impact of localism and austerity on services for young people and on drug problems, which warns that young people's services are particularly vulnerable to cuts | Parliament, UK

Growing cannabis in your own home should not be a criminal offence, says university professor

Alex Stevens, an expert on criminal justice at the University of Kent, said possession of the drug and cultivating cannabis plants for personal use, should not be a criminal offence | Daily Mail, UK

Looking behind the methadone figures

David Liddell, SDF Director, takes a closer look at the role of methadone in Scotland’s drug-related deaths and finds up some issues worthy of further attention | SDF, UK

Police seize £250k of drugs in Swansea and Neath in biggest ever raids haul

Police armed with search warrants raided properties in Llansamlet, Neath and Portmead, during which they recovered large quantities of cocaine, amphetamine, ecstasy and mephedrone - better known as meow meow | This is South Wales, UK

Drink-Driving: 'Give Us Greater Powers'

Scottish justice secretary calls for more powers to be transferred north of the border to help deal with drink-drive issue | Police Oracle, UK

Northamptonshire Police launch campaign against ‘pre-loading’ of alcohol

Four major supermarket chains have signed up to a police campaign against young people “pre-loading” with alcohol before coming in to Northampton town centre | Northampton Chronicle, UK

Implementing universal credit

Will the reforms improve the service for users? Summary or Full Report | JRF and CESI, UK

Social workers could face client anger as councils take on poverty role

As the government scraps national poverty payments under the Social Fund and devolves the budget to councils, Mathew Little finds concerns that social workers will be blamed by clients who are refused support | Community Care, UK

Committee publishes findings on securing the future sustainability of the NHS

The Commons Committee of Public Accounts publishes its 16th Report of Session 2012-13, Department of Health: Securing the future financial sustainability of the NHS | Parliament, UK

Supreme Court to revisit use of dogs as basis for drug searches

In two Florida cases, the court will decide whether a police dog's alert is cause for searches. Some caution against using canines in place of search warrants | LA Times, USA

Searching for Mexico's drug war 'disappeared'

With thousands of people missing after six years of murderous violence linked to Mexico's drugs cartels, families say they want more done to find their loved ones | BBC, UK

More airline staff fail drug, alcohol tests

Less than three months after a Qantas pilot was stood down from a flight on suspicion of alcohol use, data from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority shows more than 100 airline employees have tested positive for drugs and alcohol over a 17-month period | Sydney Morning Herald, Australia

Bid to use teens in bottle shop stings

The chief executive of the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, Michael Thorn, will today call for the introduction of ''controlled operations'' to help prosecute owners of bottle shops and other outlets who sell alcohol to minors | Sydney Morning Herald, Australia

Alcohol, drug treatment court to open

New Zealand's first alcohol and drug treatment court will open in central and West Auckland next week | Stuff.co, New Zealand

UN report: Opium cultivation rising in Burma

Opium growing has increased in Burma for a sixth year running despite eradication efforts, a UN report says | BBC, UK

From Mainlining to Methadone in Cambodia

Getting heroin addicts onto a daily dose of methadone and gradually off of heroin has been the clinic’s success. But in almost every other respects, the program is still struggling | Cambodia Daily