DS Daily - 15th June 2009 |
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Child Poverty Bill published
Government publishes a landmark child poverty bill that enshrines in law a duty to eradicate child poverty by 2020 - so that all children have the best start in life and have the opportunities to flourish [Department for Children, Schools and Families, UK]
What impact do drugs, alcohol and mental health have on employment?
As National Tackling Drugs Week passes, The HR and Training Journal gets five specialists' views on how employers can offset the damage created to both employee and employer from substance abuse [Public Service, UK]
Intercept relapse by checking how former patients are doing
In the USA two studies have shown that quarterly check-ups on former patients help identify the need for and motivate further treatment. Gains in substance use/problem reductions only became evident when improved procedures were introduced [Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK]
Leap Confronting Conflict honoured as overall winner
A charity that supports and trains young people to resolve conflicts among their peers involved in gangs and violence has been crowned overall winner of the Charity Awards 2009 [Charity Awards, UK]
Signing on for treatment
Why the minister must stay in touch with his troops. Editorial - Claire Brown. Also a list of magazine Features [Drink and Drugs News, UK]
Heroin addicts’ families in Southampton get emergency drug kits
Families of heroin addicts in Southampton are to be given emergency overdose kits to help cut the number of drugrelated deaths in the city [Daily Echo, UK]
Attitudes to mental illness 2009
This report presents the findings of a survey of attitudes towards
mental illness
among adults in England. 61-page PDF [TNS UK for the Care Services Improvement
Partnership, Department of Health]
‘Legal highs’ brought low by drug raids
Nimo Ahmed, head of intelligence at the medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency, said: “It’s a misconception that because these types of drugs are not class A, like cocaine or heroin, they must be legal – clearly this is not so [Financial Times, UK]
Police test special 'drug torch'
A special drug torch used by police to catch people who snort cocaine is now being used by door staff at pubs and clubs in Blackburn [Radio 1 Newsbeat, BBC, UK]
Threat of beer bellies and man boobs scaring men into moderation
Men are worried that drinking too much alcohol will give them a beer belly or man boobs according to a new survey for the Know Your Limits [DoH, UK]
The ladette legacy
A third more women fined for being drunk in the last three years [Daily Mail, UK]
Britain's losing its bottle
health fears drive consumers away from wine [Independent, UK]
Drug Use in Ireland and Northern Ireland
2006/2007 Drug Prevalence Survey: Polydrug Use Results [National Advisory Committee on Drugs, Ireland]
Estimating incidence trends in regular heroin use in 26 regions of Switzerland using methadone treatment data
It has been demonstrated that even with incomplete data the General Inclusion Function method allows to calculate accurate regional incidence trends [Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy]
Time for Canada to “Grow Up” About Drugs
Canada’s leading advocacy organization on HIV-related legal issues is calling on the federal government to commit to national policies on drugs that are based on evidence 3-page PDF [Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network]
Canadian House of Commons Passes Mandatory Minimum Drug Sentencing Bill
Bowing to the wishes of Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper, Liberal Party Members of Parliament (MPs) joined Monday with Harper's Conservatives to pass the controversial C-15 mandatory minimum sentencing drug offense bill [Drug War Chronicle, USA]
Cocaine study that got up the nose of the US
In areas of moral and political conflict people will always behave badly with evidence, so the war on drugs is a consistent source of entertainment [Guardian, UK]
Drugs Won the War
This year marks the 40th anniversary of President Richard Nixon’s start of the war on drugs, and it now appears that drugs have won [New York Times, USA]
Preventing Overdose, Saving Lives
By expanding the availability of low-risk, low-cost overdose interventions and improving education and outreach for people at high risk of overdose, policymakers can help to prevent the tragic and unnecessary loss of life. 24-page PDF [DPA, USA]
Mexico at war
In Juarez, A Trail of Drugs and Violence [Washington Post, USA]
Schools call in police drug dogs
Wellington schools have called in police sniffer dogs to search for drugs in a "desperate" move to tackle a growing problem that is "destroying" lives [Dominion Post, New Zealand]
Drug Foundation supports end to alcohol conscience voting
The New Zealand Drug Foundation has endorsed the Law Commission's call to all political parties to end their practice of conscience voting on alcohol law [New Zealand Drug Foundation]
Sky-high baby boomers yet to get off cloud
Ilicit drug use is as high as ever among baby boomers. Experts fear the numbers will climb higher in the next 20 years as people continue to use the drugs of their youth [The Age, Australia]