DS Daily - 11th October 2010 |
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Concern at Scots rehab referral numbers
Peter McCann, from Castle Craig in Peebleshire, said NHS referrals were at a "pitiful level" and patients faced obstacles to get in-patient treatment [BBC, UK]
NTA publish 2009/10 drug treatment figures
Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, said “Though overall the signs are encouraging, with more young people moving away from Class A drugs, it is important to consider the other implications of the findings [DrugScope, UK]
Crime and punishment
A decade after Portugal abolished criminal sentences for personal drug possession, there are mixed reports of the initiative’s success - plus other magazine features [Drink and Drugs News, UK]
Anger as Blair's former drugs tzar takes part in talks with Government
Mike Trace, former director of a shadowy foundation dedicated to scrapping laws on mind-altering drugs, met officials in No10 two weeks ago to contribute to a far-reaching shake-up of the treatment of drug addicts [Daily Mail, UK]
Daily Mail hysteria rides again!
Readers of the Daily Mail have been treated to more than the usual amount of cannabis shock horror stories this week, and the paper has gone into overdrive to misreport things [UKCIA]
I'm nine years old... and I sold drugs
Confessions of a primary school playground dealer [Daily Mail, UK]
Kate Moss's drugs 'boost'
Although several massive companies including Chanel and Burberry dropped the model it was later revealed her annual profits went up from £2 million to £4 million [News of the World, UK]
Rehab, recovery, relapse; rehab again …
For those who have recovered from their addictions, one of the biggest problems is sustaining it. Relapse rates for alcohol and drugs can be as high as 90%, and for many people it can be a revolving door of rehab, recovery, relapse; and rehab again [Inexcess TV, UK]
Tobacco companies accused of promoting cigarette brands online
Pro-tobacco content on Facebook and YouTube is glamorising smoking among the young, warn health groups [Guardian, UK]
New potent street drug available in Ireland
The blue tablet, which has Chinese writing on one side and the number “10” on the other, resembles a 10mg diazepam tablet in appearance and is extremely potent, consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr Seán Ó Domhnaill said [Irish Medical News]
Parents are 'hopelessly ignorant about drugs'
A leading social campaigner has warned there is little point in trying to educate teenagers about drugs because it is too late by then [Independent, Ireland]
Facebook founder donates to California marijuana vote
Facebook co-founder Sean Parker has donated $100,000 (£62,000) to support the US state of California's ballot measure to legalise marijuana [BBC, UK]
An appeal to humanity
Legal victory in favour of North America's only supervised injection facility: Insite [Harm Reduction Journal]
The Financial Burden of Substance Abuse in West Virginia: The Welfare System
The cost of drug and alcohol use is astronomical in every societal sector [WV’s Governor-Appointed Substance Abuse Prevention & Intervention Planning Body, USA]
Proposed tax on alcohol could help curb alcoholism rates
Recent research by the University of Florida suggests that increasing taxes on alcohol could help curb America’s alcohol addiction problem [TransWorldNews, USA]