Daily news - 15th January 2015 |
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UK news
DrugScope Street Drug Trends Survey 2014: UK drug scene ever more complex and dangerous
The latest Street Drug Survey reveals the ever more diverse range of illegal and legal drugs being used by vulnerable groups in society, with pregabalin, gabapentin and synthetic cannabinoid use of particular concern. Interviews with frontline workers also highlighted fears that drug-related deaths may continue to rise as street drug purities increase | DrugScope, UK
Rising abuse of prescription drugs heralds epidemic, claims survey
Significant upsurge reported in the use of pregabalin and gabapentin, especially by heroin addicts and prison inmates | Guardian, UK
New warning over abuse of prescription drugs
DrugScope annual report says epilepsy drugs and painkillers being abused, as use of "legal highs" also grows | Telegraph, UK
Health statistics Wales
Includes statistics on alcohol, smoking and other drug use. See summary here (PDF) | Wales.gov, UK
Cannabis addicts 'let down' as Class A drugs get attention
A leading drugs expert says cannabis addicts are being let down because there is too much focus on helping people hooked on class A substances | BBC Newsbeat, UK
Tonight's topic is fear - inside Marijuana Anonymous
Fifty people are crammed into a small, hot, tense and brightly lit room in London discussing fear | BBC Newsbeat, UK
Cannabis addict: I would smoke before, during and after work
There are claims people hooked on cannabis aren't getting the help they need because the focus is on treating those addicted to class A drugs | BBC Newsbeat, UK
Long working hours and alcohol use: systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies and unpublished individual participant data
Individuals whose working hours exceed standard recommendations are more likely to increase their alcohol use to levels that pose a health risk | BMJ, UK
Rethinking Overdose Intervention | Jamie Bridge | TEDxBedford - video
This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. In 2011, fatal drug overdoses in the UK exceeded the number of road accident deaths. These deaths are preventable. Jamie joins us to talk about how rethinking both product design and service design have the potential to save lives in the administration of overdose medication | TEDx, UK
Commissioning for Carers: Principles and resources to support effective commissioning for adult and young carers (PDF)
LeedsThis work has been developed with input from carers, leading charities and partner organisations, to develop ten principles to help commissioners to deliver the level of care and support carers have said they need. The work draws on the latest research, case-studies and best-practice collected at four regional evidence summits held across England | Medical Directorate and Nursing Directorate, UK
Designed by experience - the new manifesto to end homelessness
We've published Let's make the difference, a new manifesto to end homelessness based on expert views from across the homelessness sector | Homeless Link, UK
IDPC response to the 2014 UNODC World Drug Report
The World Drug Report 2014 contains, as always, an impressive range of information on the global drug situation. This year, however, despite the conflicted state of international drug policy, the defensive stance of the 2013 Report is replaced by an increased willingness to confront the growing complexity of the issues | IDPC, UK
Paul Nurse accuses politicians of 'cowardice' over scientific evidence
Politicians are "cowardly" in their repeated ignorance of scientific evidence that may be unpopular with the public, Sir Paul Nurse has said | BBC, UK
E-cigarette brand, VIP, opens ‘blending boutique’ at Brent Cross Shopping Centre
A new ‘blending boutique’, where customers can design their own e-liquid flavour for e-cigarettes, has opened in Brent Cross Shopping Centre | Retail Times, UK
Homelessness, isolation, drug use: Government must form one plan to help North East people
Three council areas in the North East sit in top 25 for people facing severe and multiple disadvantages like mental health problems and poverty | Journal, UK
Drugs baron Stephen Blundell caught in Tenerife
A drugs baron who admitted a £1m heroin plot but fled the country before sentencing has been caught in Spain | BBC, UK
International news
Synthetic cannabis deaths show case for controlled sale of marijuana, expert says
Researchers say the substances in synthetic cannabis are difficult to identify and constantly changing, making both treatment and law enforcement difficult | Guardian, UK
Supreme Court rules on legal highs
The Supreme Court ruled today on the dangers of some so-called "legal highs", setting new sentencing thresholds for possession of the drugs | Local, Germany
Youth drug use - The Wireless
Research has shown a clear link between the age at which someone first tries drugs, and the likelihood they'll engage in so-called anti-social behaviour. Worryingly, both internationally and in New Zealand, the age at which people use drugs for the first time is dropping | Radio New Zealand, New Zealand
Blogs, comment and opinion
The Troubled Families Programme – Experiences from London
As the Troubled Families Programme prepares to move into its second phase Anne-Marie Pickup, Principal Policy Officer at London Councils, writes about London’s experiences of the programme to date | LDAN, UK
The Truth About Britain's Looming 'Middle-Class Heroin Crisis'
Over the last few weeks, newspapers have been handing out grim tidings about the steep rise of the powerful prescription drug oxycodone in Britain. Better known by its brand name OxyContin, Oxy or Hillbilly Heroin, the opioid painkiller that has devastated America is about to reap narco-havoc here too, according to the Times and the Daily Mail | VICE, UK
The Definition of Addiction
Addiction specialist Dr Margaret McCann explains her definition of addiction. Addiction is a complex biopsychosocial illness, involving many factors | Castle Craig Blog, UK
Will legal marijuana lead to more addicts? Probably not
At present, cannabis is fully legalized in Colorado and Washington and will soon be fully legalized in Oregon and Alaska... Will addiction rates go through the roof? | Conversation, USA