DS Daily - 16th August 2010 |
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ChildLine calls prompted by parents' drink and drugs
More than 100 children a week are contacting the ChildLine helpline with worries about their parents' drinking or drug use, according to the NSPCC [BBC, UK]
The war on drugs
Letters [Observer, UK]
A drug addict doctor speaks out
As a government study reveals one in six doctors have been addicted to alcohol or drugs at some point during their career, one London A&E doctor speaks about her experiences of injecting herself in the surgery, writing false prescriptions and not knowing where to turn for help [Daily Express, UK]
Afghanistan’s deadly drugs trade must be tackled now
Nine years on, the armed conflict continues in Afghanistan, yet the deadly harvest remains unchecked in the country’s poppy fields. Afghanistan now supplies 98% of the heroin that blights the streets of Scotland [The Herald, Scotland, UK]
The trail of destruction
In the first of a major two-part investigation David Pratt follows the flood of heroin from Afghanistan to scotland and asks: why has the war made it worse? [The Herald, Scotland, UK]
Call for prison tattoo parlours
According to the report, Hepatitis C affects 16% to 20% of Scottish inmates and 45% to 54% of prisoners who have been, or currently are, intravenous drug users [The Herald, Scotland, UK]
'Life-saving' alcohol treatment centre will no longer be used by NHS Notts County
GPs have been told to stop sending patients to The Priory Clinic Nottingham, in St Ann's [Nottingham Post, UK]
Edwina Hart to ask for powers on alcohol licensing for Wales
Health minister Edwina Hart intends to ask for licensing powers to be devolved to Wales in a bid to address the nation’s love affair with alcohol [Wales Online, UK]
Government reforms will fall short in protecting young people and children from alcohol harms
We are concerned that the government’s proposals will have very little effect in reducing the number of young people drinking alcohol. There is value in targeting retailers who irresponsibly sell alcohol to underage drinkers, but the government need to go much further [Mentor, UK]
IDS wins his battle
IDS has secured a £3bn fund to meet the upfront costs of his benefit reform [Spectator blog, UK]
Cuts, Spending and Society
New microsite on public spending decisions [Joseph Rowntree Foundation, UK]
It's simplistic to blame bad health on 'recklessness'
Professor Steve Field's article on how the public should take responsibility for their health drew a large postbag, including views from other professionals in the field [Observer, UK]
France says no to drug consumption rooms
Prime Minister François Fillon has refused to consider the idea of opening drug consumption rooms in France against the advice of his Health Minister, Roselyne Bachelot [Irish Needle Exchange Forum]
Docs warn head-shop ban has little effect
Party drugs worse than 'ordinary decent heroin' [Independent, Ireland]
Undercover action leads to 37 arrests as drug gangs targeted
Gardaí believe their surveillance activities have broken up two criminal gangs which have been major distributors of drugs throughout the city of Dublin for years [Irish Times]
Top doctor urges ban on alcohol sponsors in sport
The head of AE at one of the country’s busiest hospitals has called for a ban on sports sponsorship by drinks companies [Irish Times]
Substance Use Disorders in Substate Regions
Data collected from more than 200,000 people between 2006 and 2008 show that substance use disorders vary extensively among regions within each State and throughout the country [SAMHSA, USA]
Researchers Uncover Early Step in the Cascade of Brain Events Leading Up to Addiction
In the NIH-funded study the findings represent additional clues to help predict vulnerability to drug abuse [NIDA, USA]
Australian Drug Foundation new website
Featuring our new logo, and a fresh, contempory look, the new website provides easier access to our programs, services and sub-sites [Australian Drug Foundation]
Cannabis tactics wrong, says former top cop
A recently retired senior police officer who once headed the National Drug Intelligence Bureau says police have made a "tactical mistake" in the way they deal with cannabis offences [Stuff.co, New Zealand]
Goff pushes for alcohol law reform
Labour party leader Phil Goff has called on the Government to translate the Law Commission's report on alcohol law into legislation [Stuff.co, New Zealand]
Archbishop calls for qualified debate on legalization of drugs in Mexico
Archbishop Jose Luis Chavez Botello of Antequera-Oaxaca, Mexico stated that in the country’s discussion on the legalization of drugs, the most qualified voices must be heard and the truth must prevail [Catholic News Agency]