DS Daily - 4th October 2010 |
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Breakthrough in Britain's war on drugs and crime
The success rate among the 41,000 drug users involved in the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse and Home Office study is higher than previous government figures for reoffending rates for addicts on court rehabilitation orders [Independent, UK]
Turning Point Statement on NTA research
This new research by the NTA marks a real milestone in terms of measuring outcomes for drug treatment [Turning Point, UK]
Can lessons be learned from Portugal's drug laws?
Some analysts suggest that lessons can be learned from Portugal's drug laws. So how are things done differently there? [BBC, UK]
Vulnerable tenants targeted by drug gang 'cuckoos'
Gangs are befriending vulnerable people before taking over their homes for crack dealing [Observer, UK]
Scottish Government Minister congratulates the Recovery Academy
The Right Honourable Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Community Safety (the ministry responsible for drugs policy and related issues in Scotland) kindly gave the keynote address at the first annual Recovery Academy conference in Glasgow, 24th September [Recovery Academy, UK]
Response to the Drug Strategy Consultation 2010 from SMART Recovery UK
[SMART Recovery UK]
Information on risk from legal highs must be credible with users
People using the new generation of psychoactive substances – the so-called ‘legal highs’ – need information about the risks of use which they find credible and authoritative if they are to be protected from harm, according to drugs policy and information charity [Scottish Drugs Forum, UK]
Birmingham welcomes the city’s first residential rehab centre
A brand new Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Centre of Excellence, which is the first of its kind in the city, has been officially opened by Councillor Sue Anderson for the [Birmingham Drug and Alcohol Action Team, UK]
Hospitals battle with epidemic of party drug 'Special K' victims suffering with weak bladders
Doctors are reporting a huge rise in the number of young people being treated in hospital for the hidden effects of party drug ketamine [Daily Mail, UK]
If skiing's safe then drugs are too, says Today host Evan Davis in clash
BBC presenter Evan Davis sparked controversy last night after being accused of using a new purge of health and safety rules to promote the legalisation of cannabis [Daily Mail, UK]
Lord young, real freedom and the BBC
The hysterical way the Mail reported this probably shows Evan touched a nerve. At no time did he promote the legalisation of cannabis, he simply extended the logic Lord Young was arguing to another area of government policy which looks set to become even less libertarian [UKCIA]
Rosiglitazone and cardiovascular safety
Letters from Fiona Godlee, editor BMJ and Nigel J Keegan, Medical Practioner and the references to Cocaine [BMJ, UK]
National Conference on Injecting Drug Use - Twitter feed
As you'd expect a lot of people are now using social media like twitter to talk about the conference and to share the event with others (I'm even running a session to get more people using Twitter), so I've decided to collect together the mentions of the official 'hashtag' for the conference #NCIDU [Injecting Advice, UK]
Queen’s study focuses on mephedrone use in Northern Ireland post-ban
Researchers at Queen’s have completed one of the first studies of mephedrone use in Northern Ireland since the drug was outlawed earlier this year. They found that the ban did not deter those mephedrone users surveyed from taking the substance [Queen's University Belfast]
Problem drinking shows up north-south England divisions
There are stark geographical divisions in the toll alcohol takes on health in England, with men in the North West more likely to die prematurely than those in the South East, figures show [BBC, UK]
Thousands of children at risk due to alcohol
A children’s charity has warned that the NHS in Scotland is not doing enough to tackle drinking among parents, leaving thousands of children vulnerable [The Herald, Scotland, UK]
Where Does The Helper Go For Help?
‘The Invisible Patient’ a report published by The Department of Health earlier this year highlighted the issue of the ‘health of health professionals’ and how both the service and the individual tend to overlook the health of doctors, nurses and other professional [Inexcess TV, UK]
Light drinkers denied IVF to save NHS cash
Women who drink fewer than two glasses of wine a day are being denied free IVF as NHS trusts impose strict rules on who gets fertility treatment [Daily Mail, UK]
California Reduces Its Penalty for Marijuana
A month before California voters decide the fate of a ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill that essentially puts those caught possessing small amounts of the drug on the same level as those caught speeding on the freeway [New York Times, USA]
Prop. 19: Legalization will improve public safety
Let’s face facts: Our laws criminalizing marijuana have been a huge failure. Proposition 19 on November’s ballot is the perfect opportunity for California to get things right - Norm Stamper served as chief of police in Seattle [Sign On San Diego, USA]
Department Monitors Substance Abuse Trends
October 25 starts Red Ribbon Week for drug awareness, and this year Defense Department officials hope to shed light on what may be a disturbing new trend in substance abuse by servicemembers, according to the department’s director of health promotion and preventative services policy [U.S. Department of Defense]
Marijuana and Memory
Do certain strains make you more forgetful? [Addiction Inbox, USA]
National Drug Facts Week
National Drug Facts Week is November 8th - 14th, 2010! [NIDA, USA]
Alcohol consumers are becoming the norm, UT Southwestern analysis finds
More people are drinking than 20 years ago, according to an analysis of national alcohol consumption patterns [UT Southwestern Medical Center, USA]
War Against Drugs, or Against Doctors?
A family practice doctor trained to treat addicts sued the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, saying it suspended the certificate of registration he needs to prescribe medication, putting his patients "at imminent risk of harm, injury, and possibly, even death [Courthouse News Service, USA]
Sending a credible drugs message
The greatest flaw in Australia's War on Drugs strategy is that it treats the possession and use of illicit substances like cocaine and cannabis as a criminal justice issue instead of it being seen for what it clearly is - a matter that is more appropriately dealt with by health professionals and not police and the law courts - Greg Barns is a barrister and director of the Australian Lawyers Alliance [ABC News, Australia]