DS Daily - 19th July 2010 |
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Limits to methadone prescription proposed by drugs agency
National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse wants open-ended heroin substitute use ended [Guardian, UK]
Diversity rules
Different groups for different folks - Editorial and other features - virtual magazine [Drink and Drugs News, UK]
Service user group directory
A listing of all the different groups around the country as well as features on the different types of groups operating [Drink and Drugs News, UK]
Britain 'floundering' in online mephedrone crackdown
A BBC investigation has found that the illegal drug is still widely sold through websites despite the ban [BBC, UK]
'Drug law enforcement has entirely failed'
Dr Evan Wood, founder of the International Centre for Science in in Drug Policy, explains why he is calling for a "dramatic reform of drug policy" [BBC - Radio 4, UK]
Chairman of the Bar calls for decriminalisation of drug use
Nick Green QC is chairman of the Bar Council, the professional organisation of barristers in the UK. Writing in the organisation’s magazine this month, Green called for the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use, arguing (rightly) that a growing body of evidence supports the proposition that decriminalisation can have a number of positive consequences for drugs users and society [Release, UK]
SPS Framework for the Management of Substance Misuse in Custody Strategy
To provide staff with strategic direction and guidance in the management of prisoners with substance misuse problems [Scottish Prisons Service, UK]
Gadgets help in prison drugs fight
Equipment able to detect minute quantities of drugs on clothing and skin is being used to prevent them being smuggled into prisons [The Herald, Scotland, UK]
Prison and probation expenditure, 1999-2009
The report, part of a three part series of briefings on criminal justice spending supported by the Hadley Trust will be required reading for policy makers, journalists and anyone with an interest in public finances and the proper use of taxpayers' money [Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, UK]
Drugs trouble doubles for city medics
Hospital admissions for heroin and cocaine overdoses have more than doubled in Glasgow in just four years, according to official figures [Evening Times, Scotland, UK]
Heroin overdose figure doubles in four years
Hospital admissions for heroin and cocaine overdoses have more than doubled in Glasgow in four years, official figures show [The Herald, Scotland, UK]
Hard-up NHS spend £20 on junkie art
The costly pieces will decorate the walls of the crèche at a £12 million methadone treatment centre in Aberdeen [News of the World, UK]
Digital cannabis shock horror
OK, it’s the silly session – the time of year when “real” news stories are a bit thin on the ground and so ... perhaps it’s no surprise to hear of a new craze sweeping teenage kids in America – where else? – which parents need to be worried about: Digital drugs [UKCIA]
Review of alcohol taxation and pricing
The review of alcohol taxation and pricing is being jointly led by the Home Office and HM Treasury. The Home Office will lead work on pricing and the Treasury on taxation matters [HM Treasury, UK]
Drinks industry has learnt from tobacco companies, study says
Alcohol and tobacco companies have worked closely to share information and strategies in their fight against public health initiatives, a new Australian study says [British Medical Journal]
So how much can you really drink before you drive?
We test a range of motorists... with surprising results [Daily Mail, UK]
Tobacco manufacturers target major music festivals to reach young audience
Health experts condemn 'edge-of-the-law' tactics that use glitzy sales teams to promote brands at major events [Guardian, UK]
Statistical bulletin 2010
The Statistical bulletin is published yearly by the EMCDDA and provides access to the most recent statistical data relating to the drugs situation in Europe [EMCDDA]
Drugnet Europe 71
EMCDDA's quarterly newsletter, provides regular information on the Agency's activities to a broad readership [EMCDDA]
Why is Ukraine reversing HIV policy?
In eastern Europe's HIV epidemic Ukraine was a bright spot; now doctors offering methadone are being arrested for trafficking [Guardian, UK]
Designer Drugs Baffle Europe
Europe is grappling with a flood of powerful and sometimes lethal new narcotics that are often legal when they first appear because authorities have never seen or banned them before [Wall Street Journal, USA]
Does Teen Drug Rehab Cure Addiction or Create It?
Increasingly, substance-abuse experts are finding that teen drug treatment may indeed be doing more harm than good. Many programs throw casual dabblers together with hard-core addicts and foster continuous group interaction [TIME, USA]
New York's drink drivers to face forced breath test before turning on car
New Yorkers with drink driving convictions will be forced to pass a breath test every time they start their cars from next month, according to reports [Telegraph, UK]
Selling addictions
The findings of this study have implications for advancing public health measures for the control of alcohol by confirming the parallels between tobacco and alcohol industry operations and strategies to delay public health advances [Australasian Medical Journal]
Patients wait in line for marijuana
New Mexico has been so cautious in licensing and regulating growers under its 3-year-old medical marijuana law that the small number of providers can't grow enough, creating a shortage that has forced some patients to the street to buy illegal drugs [The Age, Australia]
Mental Health of Young People, 2007
Including: Alcohol, drug and tobacco use and social contact [Australian Bureau of Statistics]
Indigenous Family Safety Agenda
Including Action Area One: Addressing Alcohol Abuse [Australian Government]
Shocking impact of booze on babies
Australia has fallen behind in recognising and diagnosing ''completely preventable'' foetal alcohol syndrome and wider spectrum disorders, researchers warn [SMH, Australia]
Fetal alcohol study set up
Australia's first study into the prevalence and impact of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder on indigenous children will be launched today [The Australian]
Alcohol Use - From NZ Association Of Counsellors
As Counsellors working with people in the community we are not surprised by either the alarming figures published in the Summary of the Issues Paper or the hugely destructive impact of the excessive consumption of alcohol as described in the paper [Scoop, New Zealand]
Alcohol In Our Lives: Curbing the Harm
Published 27 Apr 2010 [Law Commission, New Zealand]
New alcohol-free zones draw criticism
The City of Sydney is planning to create another 19 alcohol-free zones in Surry Hills and Redfern, despite criticism the zones simply force people with drinking problems into places where help from social service agencies is not available [SMH, Australia]
Analysis of national programmes on HIV and drug control
Accessibility of HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care Services for People who Use Drugs and Incarcerated People in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan: Legislative and Policy Analysis and Recommendations for Reform - Download PDF report [Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, UNODC]
Pakistan and UNODC join forces to respond to the threats of drugs and crime
The UNODC programme comes at a critical time, as it is estimated that Pakistan is now the destination and transit country for approximately 40 per cent of opiates produced in Afghanistan (equal to one third of global production) [UNODC]
Countering illicit trafficking in Cambodia
UNODC supplies vital communications and office equipment to border liaison offices [UNODC]