Weekly news - 23rd January 2015 |
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In date order, Monday - Friday
‘Superman’ pill deaths spark calls for dangerous-drugs alert system
The Netherlands issued early warnings about lethal pills believed to have subsequently killed four in UK over the festive break | Guardian, UK
Prison drug seizures increasing, Ministry of Justice says
The number of drug seizures in prisons in England and Wales has significantly increased, figures from the Ministry of Justice show | BBC, UK
New drugs in prisons are a 'huge problem'
More drugs are being seized in prisons in England and Wales with a particular problem emerging with substances such as spice - chemicals made to act like the active ingredients in cannabis. The composition of these synthetic drugs keeps changing - some are legal in the UK but banned in prison, where they are believed to contribute to violence, drug debts and bullying | BBC iPlayer Radio, UK
The Blue Light project
The Blue Light project is Alcohol Concern’s national initiative to develop alternative approaches and care pathways for treatment resistant drinkers who place a burden on public services. It is supported by Public Health England and 23 local authorities across the country. Download Report here (PDF) | Alcohol Concern, UK
Poor sleep 'early warning sign' for drink and drug issues
Poor sleep in teenage years could be an early warning sign for alcohol problems, illicit drug use and "regretful" sexual behaviour, research suggests | BBC, UK
Hard Edges: Mapping Severe and Multiple Disadvantage in England (PDF)
This new report draws together previously separate datasets from homelessness, offending and substance misuse treatment systems. It also takes into account available data around mental health and poverty. It delivers the latest and most comprehensive statistics on people facing severe and multiple disadvantage | Lankelly Chase, Heriot-Watt University, UK
Peer Support Toolkit (PDF)
The Skills Consortium has been running a project with, and for, those people often known as Recovery Champions, Peer Mentors etc who are involved in the supporting of their peers through their recovery journey | Skills Consortium, UK
Children's Healthcare Services National Occupational Standards Review - updated 19.01.15
Skills for Health is pleased to inform you that the revised Children’s Services NOS have been approved. These NOS were revised against their applicability for those working in Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and those working in Substance Use services for children and young people. A context and tracking document has been produced and can be found on the Skills for Health website here Context and tracking document. | Skills for Health, UK
Professor Virginia Berridge - new FEAD contributor
Virginia Berridge is Professor of History at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is Director of the Centre for History in Public Health. Her research interests range from smoking, illicit drugs, alcohol and HIV/AIDS, to the recent history of public health and the relationship between evidence and policy | FEAD, UK
Youth treatment in England improving but contracting
Judged by ‘successful’ completions, report documents improved treatment of children with alcohol and drug problems in England. In line with general population trends, patient numbers have fallen - but do falling numbers also reflect contracting services? | Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK
Scotland’s war on drugs is a ‘record of failure’
The Scottish Government’s flagship “Road to Recovery” strategy has not had any “marked impact” on drug abuse, according to Dr Neil McKeganey, director of the Centre for Drug Misuse research [see also Blog section below] | Herald, UK
Ecstasy and tragedy: how to prevent recreational drug deaths – podcast
Four recent deaths in the UK have been linked to a batch of 'Superman' ecstasy pills. Should public facilities for testing drugs without fear of prosecution be made available? | Guardian, UK
Higher cot death risk around smokers, report finds
Smoking has been singled out as posing a particular risk of sudden unexplained infant death, according to a new report (PDF) | BBC, UK
Latest additions to the Effectiveness Bank 21 January 2015
Official reports tell a tale of improving alcohol, drug and youth treatment systems in England, albeit with the alcohol caseload going up, the drug one down - but for how long? In Scotland alcohol-related death rates have fallen but remain almost twice those in England and Wales; without the national strategy, it might have been worse | Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK
News story: Government backs standardised packaging of tobacco
Cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco will have to be sold in standardised packs in the UK from May 2016 | DoH, UK
Plain cigarette packs to be introduced in UK before general election
Government seeks to push though legislation by May after dropping previous proposal following tobacco industry lobbying | Guardian, UK
Chemsex and hepatitis C: a guide for healthcare providers
In partnership with Roche, 56 Dean Street have produced a booklet to aid clinicians who wish to better understand the contexts and language associated with ChemSex, to better inform their patients about the HIV/hepatitis C (HCV) risks encountered in a ChemSex environment | ChemSex Support, UK
Consultation on how we regulate specialist substance misuse services
We're changing the way we regulate, inspect and rate substance misuse services. Please tell us what you think of our plans | Care Quality Commission, UK
Crime in England and Wales, Year Ending September 2014 (PDF)
Information on drug offences from page 78 | ONS, UK