DS Daily - 14th January 2011 |
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Health warnings for people who use heroin
The UK's informal system to warn heroin users about emerging risks is patchy and flawed, leaving this vulnerable group exposed to further dangers, say experts [The Lancet, UK]
Government unveils details for drug-driving detector
The Home Office has published the specification for a new device for police to use to test whether drivers are under the influence of drugs [BBC, UK]
UK’s dopey drug laws let us all down
Despite the stagnant situation in Britain, there is growing worldwide momentum for reconsideration of archaic drug laws [The Oxford Student, UK]
Concern over low seizures of banned drug mephedrone
MSP fears figures reveal only fraction of amount being used in north-east [The Press and Journal, UK]
Price rises will cut alcohol-related death, illness and injury
For what seems the first time, this analysis combined results from relevant studies to test whether low tax/price levels on alcohol result in poorer health and higher death rates. It found the expected relationships, but based on only the partial accounting of the harms and benefits of drinking found in most studies [Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK]
Pubs caught in underage stings should be forced to offer extra training
Pubs caught selling to children should be forced to offer extra training to staff instead of facing a business-threatening £20,000 fine, a trade chief has argued [The Publican, UK]
Less than half of adults can equate alcohol units to drinks
While more than four in five adults (85%) have heard of ‘alcohol units,’ only two in five of these (42%) can equate the term to actual drinks - according to new research published by alcohol awareness charity [Drinkaware, UK]
Unison launches 10-week campaign to promote the 'social work contract'
Unison has launched a 10-week campaign to promote the social work contract produced jointly by Unison and Community Care, which sets out the minimum conditions social workers need to practise safely [Community Care, UK]
LHA cuts to split London
Government cuts to Local Housing Allowance (LHA) will increase the segregation of rich and poor areas in London, our research confirms [Shelter, UK]
Pain clinics may require urine tests
National guidelines now in the works could lead clinics to require all patients to provide urine samples [Chronicle Herald, Canada]
Emergency Department Visits Involving Underage Alcohol Use in Combination with Other Drugs
Of the estimated 188,981 alcohol-related emergency department (ED) visits made by patients aged 12 to 20 in 2008, 70.0 percent involved alcohol only, and 30.0 percent involved alcohol in combination with other drugs [SAMHSA, USA]
Drug Policy Backfires
Controlling Meth Ingredients Fails to Cut Drug Supply [TIME, USA]
Taxing Tobacco by Risk
Cigarette taxes are meant to raise revenue and reduce smoking rates, yet these taxes are arbitrary and vary widely from state to state, says Pamela Villarreal, a senior policy analyst with the National Center for Policy Analysis - Report [National Center for Policy Analysis, USA]
United States plans to continue ban on Bolivian cultural expression
Practise of chewing coca leaf ... Rather than except that Bolivians being free to express their own culture the United States, the Russian Federation, Japan, France, the UK, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Denmark are mobilising to block the Bolivian amendment by lodging a formal objection prior to the deadline at the end of this month [Talking Drugs]
Opposing the Coca Chewing Amendment?
In two weeks time, on January 31, the deadline ends for countries to present objections to this change; without any objections the amendment would automatically enter into force [Transnational Institute, Netherlands]
Strategic Plan 2010-2014
National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre's Strategic Plan 2010-2014 [NCPIC, Australia]
Experts bolster calls for jail needle exchange
A string of academics, health experts and former politicians have lent their names in support of a trial of a needle and syringe program in Australian correctional facilities [ABC News, Australia]
As opium prices soar and allies focus on Taliban, Afghan drug war stumbles
After several years of steady progress in curbing opium poppy cultivation and cracking down on drug smugglers, Afghan officials say the anti-drug campaign is flagging as opium prices soar, farmers are lured back to the lucrative crop and Afghanistan's Western allies focus more narrowly on defeating the Taliban [Washington Post, USA]