DS Daily - 22nd July 2010

PRISM: sharing the ideas around

Upload your good ideas to our new Practice Sharing Model…and get inspiration from the work of your colleagues in the sector! [DrugScope, UK]

Methadone isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment

I never understand why these sorts of debates are only ever allowed to have an either/or answer to them. What's wrong with having a range of options that would include various maintenance prescribing and abstinence regimes, with decisions made on which is most appropriate to a given individual by the relevant clinical expert? - Dr Christian Jessen [London Evening Standard, UK]

How syringe type effects HIV risk

New research being presented this week at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna has made a strong link between different types of syringe and levels of HIV transmission through sharing [Injecting Advice, UK]

Ex-heroin addict critical of Bristol drug education

A former heroin addict who is now an anti-drugs campaigner in Bristol claims some of the city's schools are failing youngsters on drug education [BBC, UK]

Alcohol sales 2005-2009 (July 2010)

This report describes trends in per capita sales of alcohol in Scotland, England & Wales from 2005 to 2009 [Health Scotland, UK]

Price of off-trade alcohol, Scotland 2009

The analysis presented in this report describes the price distribution of alcohol sold through the off-trade in Scotland in 2009 and was undertaken to inform implementation of the policy proposals in the Alcohol Etc. (Scotland) Bill [Health Scotland, UK]

Home Secretary given responsibility for alcohol licensing

The Home Office now has full responsibility for alcohol licensing and enforcement which ministers hope will lead to a more consistent approach on this priority issue [Home Office, UK]

Home Office on alcohol licensing

The Home Office have responded to the decision to give the department full responsibility for alcohol licensing and enforcement saying ministers hope this will lead to a more consistent approach on this priority issue [The Institute of Licensing, UK]

At last! An end to 24-hour drinking

Victory for the Mail as ministers pledge to scrap Labour's failed licensing law [Daily Mail, UK]

Comorbid alcohol use disorders increase bipolar suicide risk

Patients with bipolar disorder are more than twice as likely to experience suicidal behavior if they also have alcohol use disorders [Journal of Clinical Psychiatry]

Study of legal high use

A research team at Dublin Institute of Technology are undertaking a study of legal high use [Ana Liffey Drug Project, Ireland]

Accessibility of HIV Prevention for People who Use Drugs and Incarcerated People

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. PDF download [Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network]