DS Daily - 15th February 2011

The latest news from Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM)

Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) was formed to influence policy and practice change for this group, locally and nationally. MEAM is a coalition of [Clinks, DrugScope, Homeless Link and Mind]

Family Support in Times of Economic Hardship

In December 2010, Adfam called together an expert group for a seminar exploring some of the issues facing families affected by drugs and alcohol during economic hard times. This report summarises the discussions and findings from this work and sets out some of the challenges that were identified for local and national policy makers, and for those who support families [Adfam, UK]

What’s left of the big society?

Regardless of whether the big society has failed in practical terms, one element of the project remains: its effective criticism of New Labour’s approach to policy. Whatever the future holds for Cameron’s version of the ‘big society’, the left cannot ignore the challenge it poses to its own way of doing government [Independent, UK]

Big Society Bank could back social ISAs for everyday savers

Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude and Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd have unveiled a new strategy to grow the social investment market giving charities and social enterprises access to new, potentially multi-billion pound, capital [Cabinet Office, UK]

How dependent is the Big Society on the Big State?

A working paper from the Third Sector Research Centre utilising evidence from the National Survey of Third Sector Organisations also found that the larger the organisation, the greater the likelihood of it drawing on at least some public funding [Full Fact, UK]

The housing safety net is being dismantled at the time it’s going to be needed most

Over the next few months, changes will come into force that will drastically reduce the protection people have if their home comes under threat [Independent, UK]

Suffolk drug treatment team says it is safe from cuts

Suffolk's drug action team says frontline treatment will not be affected by proposals to cut the county council's budget by £42.5m [BBC, UK]

Five arrested after huge drug bust in Weymouth

Detective Inspector Marcus Hester of Weymouth CID said the raid was part of an ongoing operation to stamp out the supply of drugs in the area [Dorset Echo, UK]

Proposals for the reform of legal aid in England and Wales

Response to Ministry of Justice consultation [Shelter, UK]

Funding for NHS Boards Scotland

Health boards across Scotland are set to share in £8.584 billion in revenue funding in 2011-12. This funding includes a £70 million Change Fund to work with local authorities on the redesign of health and social care services [Scottish Government, UK]

Ecstasy 'does not damage brain power'

Study contradicts previous research on effects of class A drug [Guardian, UK]

Strip-searching of young offenders is preferred search technique, finds YJB

Strip-searching is used on young offenders to check if they are carrying items such as drugs, mobile phones or weapons. YJB Review [Children & Young People Now, UK]

9% prevalence of hepatitis C co-infection among UK HIV patients

Although injecting drug use is a well-established risk factor for hepatitis C, only 50% of individuals with a history of injecting drug use had been tested for the virus [Aidsmap, UK]

One in 11 children impacted negatively by parental alcohol problems

One in every six cases of child abuse attributed to alcohol: new government has opportunity to make the difference [Alcohol Action Ireland]

One in 12 young Scotsmen in trouble linked to alcohol

Shocking new figures show the number of young Scots reprimanded by police for drinking has reached a record high [The Herald, Scotland, UK]

Warning to heroin users after deaths

Heroin users across the State are being urged to exercise extreme caution with the drug after three more people died as a result of overdosing on it over the weekend [Irish Times]

Calgary police chief Hanson urges 'safe jails' for drug addicts, alcoholics

Drug addicts and alcoholics who commit crimes should be sentenced to detox and rehab, and leave the prisons for hardcore criminals, says Calgary's police chief [Calgary Herald, Canada]

Substance Abuse Policy Research Program

In this chapter (7) leaders of the Substance Abuse Policy Research Program look back at the program, which ended in 2009, and reflect on how the program operated and on what its policy research on tobacco, alcohol, and drugs accomplished [Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, USA]

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