DS Daily - 23rd June 2009 |
 |
Shoot out the lights: the failure of objective reason to frame the responses to drug realities
Short, unpublished paper (1999) on drug demonologies, public attitudes to illicit drugs and the reality of drug trafficking as a major global industry [Rowdy Yates, University of Stirling, UK]
National Best Practice Award for Cambridge Street Team
CRI’s Cambridge Street Outreach Team has received a national award for best practice in dealing with street issues as part of a multi-agency team including the police and Cambridge City Council [CRI, UK]
Alcohol Summit
The forum, held on at the Radisson Hotel on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, brought together around 100 representatives from across the political spectrum, NHS, universities, alcohol producers and retailers, interest groups and government [Scottish Government, UK]
The future of alcohol treatment services
The objective of the Inquiry was to investigate and understand, using a qualitative approach, the current state of alcohol treatment services and their future. 28-page PDF [All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Misuse, via link from Alcohol Concern, UK]
Parliamentary review body highlights continuing gaps in alcohol treatment
The report estimates that on average only 0.1% of Primary Care Trusts' total annual expenditure is spent on alcohol services [Alcohol Policy UK]
Minimum prices for alcohol a step closer as Lib Dems hint at U-turn
The change of heart came as a Scottish Government conference in Edinburgh on alcohol abuse was told by an internationally renowned public health specialist that "the world is looking to Scotland to take a lead on minimum pricing" [The Scotsman, UK]
Tackling health inequalities
Targeting routine and manual smokers in support of the Public Service Agreement smoking prevalence and health inequality targets. This guidance supports the achievement of the PSA smoking prevalence and health inequality 2010 targets. 15-page PDF [NHS, UK]
Mental health units ban forces ‘smoking den’ culture underground, says report
A survey has uncovered widespread problems with the implementation of the smoking ban in psychiatric units in England [Mental Health Foundation, UK]
Death of the smoking den
The initial impact of no smoking legislation in psychiatric units in England in 2008. 41-page PDF [Mental Health Foundation, UK]
European Action on Drugs
EAD will be launched in Brussels on 26 June 2009. Any organisation or citizen willing to take responsibility for tackling the serious drugs problem in the EU can sign it [EAD, via link from Home Office, UK]
Lisbon’s light-touch drugs policy
In 2001, the Portugese government decriminalised recreational drugs including heroin and cocaine in an attempt to reduce the number of hard drug users in the country [News Online - weblog]
Drug Decriminalization in Portugal
Glenn Greenwald is a civil rights attorney is the author of a new Cato Institute policy study called “Drug Decriminalization in Portugal: Lessons for Creating Fair and Successful Policies.” The paper examines Portugal’s experiment with decriminalizing possession of drugs for personal use, which began in 2001. Nick Gillespie, editor of reason.com and reason.tv, sat down with Greenwald in April [Reason Online]
Scientists study ways to protect against fetal alcohol disorders
Drinking during pregnancy can seriously harm a baby's brain, yet thousands of mothers-to-be still do. Now scientists have begun testing whether a prenatal nutrient might offer those babies a little protection, part of a growing quest for ways to reverse the damage [USA Today]
The War Against the 'War on Drugs'
As California goes, so goes the nation. If that old adage still holds true, then the nation may soon see a gradual backpedaling from the criminal justice policies that have led to wholesale incarceration in recent decades [The Nation, USA]
National Opioid Pharmacotherapy Statistics Annual Data
2009 collection data guide [AIHW, Australia]
Community urged to view alcohol as drug
Odyssey House chief executive James Pitts says a shift in people's thinking on alcohol was needed, to reflect data showing its increasing burden on society [SMH, Australia]
New Intervention Strategy to Target Underage Drinkers
Northern Territory - Victoria - South Australia [Department of Health, Australia]
What you need to know: a plain-English guide to hepatitis C
Like the previous edition, our 84 page booklet provides a comprehensive overview of hep C but with newly added information on Fibroscan, liver surgery and transplant, rapid viral response and early viral response. 84-page PDF [Hepatitis C Council of NSW, Australia]
New website launch - Hepatitis C Council of NSW
The new site provides a wide range of hep C information and referral, aimed for people living with hep C and those working with it [Hepatitis C Council of NSW, Australia]
End the Death Penalty for Drug-Related Offenses
As the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking approaches on June 26, the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN), of which Amnesty International is a member, Human Rights Watch and the International Harm Reduction Association call upon governments in Asia to cease applying the death penalty for drug-related offenses [Human Rights Watch]
How does UNODC estimate opium cultivation and production figures?
Illicit crop cultivation is often linked to insecurity, insurgency and lack of alternative livelihood options. It is important for Governments and the international community to know where opium poppy is cultivated and how much opium and heroin can be produced in order to understand and tackle the issue [UNODC]
Drugs and Democracy: Toward a Paradigm Shift
Statement by the Latin [American Commission on Drugs and Democracy]
Ending the production of opium in Afghanistan
Baroness Rawlings presents the case for UK financial support to encourage an end to the cultivation of opium poppies, ahead of a Lords debate on Tuesday [epolitics.com]