DS Daily - 3rd June 2011 |
 |
DrugScope responds to Global Commission on Drug Policy report
DrugScope has consistently supported an evidence-based and incremental approach to drug law reform and supports calls for the government to consider different ways of using the criminal justice system, including the evidence for the decriminalisation of drugs for possession offences | DrugScope, UK
A report that dares to tell the truth to power
What are the chances of this commision on drug policy influencing political leaders? Vanishingly slim | Independent, UK
Calls to legalise cannabis and ecstasy
Panel of distinguished world figures wants an end to 50-year war on drugs | Independent, UK
War on drugs can't be won, say international experts
The row was sparked by the report from the Global Commission on Drug Policy, which said the war on drugs "cannot be won" and called for legalisation to end the criminalisation of substance abusers and "undermine the power of organised crime" through the illicit trade | The Scotsman, UK
Radical drugs reform holds risks all of its own
That an alternative strategy is necessary seems to be beyond argument, but we need to know how it might work. A legalised system of distribution will bring security and protection problems all of their own and more attention has to be paid to genuine rehabilitation | The Scotsman, UK
'We would end up with a problem of a similar scale to the one that we have with alcohol'
It's extraordinarily simplistic for the Global Commission to advocate that decriminalising drugs will lead to reduced addiction rates and less crime - Neil McKeganey | The Scotsman, UK
The liberalised country: Relaxed laws led to fall in deaths
Portugal decriminalised drugs for personal use in 2001 ... the number of heroin-related deaths was halved and the number of people in drug treatment programmes more than doubled | Independent, UK
Luvvies for legalisation
You're being naive in the extreme, celebrities told after drugs plea to PM | Daily Mail, UK
Eastern Recovery Month June 2011
Last October's Eastern recovery week was such a great success that we have designated June 2011 Eastern recovery month and have even more ambitious plans to celebrate local recovery | NTA, UK
More keys to recovery
The last seven articles complete a Findings bulletin devoted to the conclusions reached by a high-level US task force on the relationships between how therapists relate to their clients and the progress clients make in therapy. Arguably nothing is more vital to promoting recovery from addiction | Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK
'We can improve addicts' lives and health, and stop them using dirty drugs'
In helping people battle substance misuse, Paul Thompson has learnt it’s not just the patients who need educating | Nursing Times, UK
Convictions for lobster pot cocaine plotters
Men who plotted to smuggle high-purity cocaine handed prison sentences totalling 104 years | Home Office, UK
GPs use Boots vouchers to help drug misusers stay clean
An incentive scheme to help Class A drug misusers was among the winners of this year's GP Enterprise Awards, organised by GP newspaper and the RCGP, and supported by the Medical Defence Union | GP, UK
Supply and demand
The argument over treatment is being won. Now for the battle over supply | The Economist
Parent binge-drinking fears
Nearly one in three children - around 330,000 in total - under the age of 16 in Scotland lives with a binge-drinking parent, according to alcohol campaigners | The Herald, Scotland, UK
Racy adverts which use sex to sell to be banned from sites near schools
The proposals are contained in a hard-hitting report by Reg Bailey, the first male chief executive of the Mothers’ Union | Daily Mail, UK
Cigarette machine sales
A ban on sales of tobacco products from vending machines was to be implemented from October 1. However, due to the ongoing legal challenges, the Scottish Government has reluctantly come to the conclusion that it is no longer possible to introduce the ban on that day | Scottish Government, UK
The other side of the tracks
In the second of a two-part investigation into Ireland’s drug treatment services, Aoife Connors hears from those at the other end of the treatment protocol and finds out what they think needs to change | Irish Medical Times
Drink fuels rise in sex diseases
Alcohol has been a key contributory factor in the dramatic increase in the incidence of sexually transmitted disease among young people in Kerry and Cork over the past 10 years | Alcohol Action Ireland
Alcohol will be included in drugs strategy, says minister
Alcohol abuse is a "serious social problem" and a "gateway" to the abuse of other substances, the new drugs minister has said | Irish Examiner
Succesful drug policy reform advocacy in Poland
Drug policy reform is possible in countries with Conservative public attitudes and repressive policies | Drug Reporter, Hungary
The consumer country: Millions of Russian addicts face HIV
Many rights groups and user support networks say Russia needs a humane drugs policy to counter the epidemic, allowing substitution therapy and providing safe injecting equipment to addicts to stop the spread of HIV | Independent, UK
Canadian Groups Welcome International Report Condemning Failed “War on Drugs”
With signatories | Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
The Global Commission Report on Drug Legalization
Setting the Record Straight | Of Substance Blog, ONDCP, USA
Dr. Nora D. Volkow Interview
Many of NIDA's top grantees studying the link between substance abuse and HIV/AIDS were interviewed at the International AIDS Society conference in Vienna, Austria in July 2010. Hear NIDA director Dr. Nora Volkow discuss their research | NIDA, USA
Medical marijuana superstore opens in Arizona
WeGrow's store in Phoenix opens as state begins to accept applications to operate medical marijuana dispensaries | Guardian, UK
Inquiry into the Impact of Drug-related Offending on Female Prisoner Numbers
The Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee tabled its Interim Report of the Inquiry into the Impact of Drug-Related Offending on Female Prisoner Numbers on 6 October 2010. An electronic copy of the Final Report can be downloaded via the this link | Parliament of Victoria, Australia
Should ibogaine be an approved drug treatment?
A growing network of doctors, researchers and activists – many of whom are active in ‘underground’ ibogaine treatment centres because its use is illegal in many countries – say this substance is the new wonder drug for treating opiate addiction. It may also be effective for addictions to alcohol and nicotine and the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorders | New Zealand Drug Foundation
Hepatitis C
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Interventions to Prevent Hepatitis C Virus Infection in People Who Inject Drugs | Journal of Infectious Diseases
1,500 followers on Twitter
Why not follow DrugScope on Twitter for the very latest drug and alcohol news?