DS Daily - 20th June 2011 |
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Drugs strategy in England 'grossly imbalanced'
Government policies for treating drug addicts in England are flawed and "doomed to failure", according to the Centre for Policy Studies | BBC, UK
Benefits and treatment for drug addicts cost £3.6 billion a year
Treating problem drug users and keeping them on benefits costs £3.6 billion a year, a report has revealed | Telegraph, UK
Failure to help drug addicts is costing Britain £3.6bn a year
Residential rehab units are in 'near-terminal crisis', says scathing think-tank report | Independent, UK
Breaking the habit: Stop pushing drugs and start pushing rehabs
A paper by the Centre for Policy Studies grabbed headlines on TV, radio and press | Addiction Today, UK
Skunk cannabis addiction 'growing' across South East
Growing numbers of people in the South East are using a form of cannabis believed to put users more at risk of psychosis than other forms of the drug | BBC, UK
Is a specific therapy needed to tackle dependence plus PTSD?
Seeking Safety is a prominent therapy designed for the common combination of substance dependence and post-traumatic stress disorder, yet in this study of imprisoned women in the USA it did not significantly augment outcomes from a prison substance use treatment programme | Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK
The road to recovery
While celebrities may check themselves into an expensive rehab clinic for a 'miracle cure', recovery for most people struggling from an addiction is long and hard - which is why they need all the support they can get | Addaction, UK
Chris Ford retires as SMMGP Clinical Director
Chris has worked tirelessly in the role from the moment she set up the organisation in 1996 | SMMGP
SMMGP Newsletter
May 2011 | SMMGP, UK
Elite drug crime unit at serious risk as Government cuts funds
An elite police unit in Yorkshire which helps drug-addicted offenders to get clean and steer clear of crime faces an uncertain future in the wake of deep Government spending cuts | Yorkshire Post, UK
MP calls for action over drugs tests
Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price has persuaded the Government to bring in tighter controls on workplace drug-testing | Echo, UK
Young people, alcohol and influences
A study of young people and their relationship with alcohol. Full report - Summary | Ipsos MORI, UK
FA Cup to be sponsored by Budweiser beer
US beer company Budweiser has been named as the first US sponsor of English football's FA Cup, in a three-year deal | BBC, UK
In denial about the dangers of drink
As alcohol-related hospital admissions rise to record levels, the experts stress it’s ordinary drinkers who may be risking their health | The Press and Journal, UK
Women and Alcohol
Alcohol-addicted women are also quicker to develop cirrhosis, fatty liver, and cognitive impairment, and have a greater risk of dying in alcohol-related accidents than men do | Harvard Magazine, USA
Mind responds to statement by Philip Davies MP
Conservative MP Philip Davies suggested that disabled people should offer to work below minimum wage so they get a job when competing with able-bodied people. He quoted a visit to a Mind association in his statement | Mind, UK
Cigarette vending machines will be removed from all pubs after top judge backs ban
The measure, drawn up by the Department of Health to combat under-age smoking, will come into force in October | Daily Mail, UK
Drug seizures and use at lowest level since before boom
Seizures for last year show the drug market has completely collapsed, mirroring the rest of the economy | Irish Times
Consultation on Proposed Improvements to the Marijuana Medical Access Program
In response to concerns heard from Canadians, the Government of Canada announced on June 17, 2011 that it is considering improvements to the Program. The proposed improvements would reduce the risk of abuse and exploitation by criminal elements and keep our children and communities safe. Press release | Health Canada
America losing the war on drugs on the home front
Since President Nixon began the battle, a trillion dollars and 40 years have been spent trying to end it. So why is the government losing so badly? | The Herald, Scotland, UK
Army Takes Steps to Curb Prescription Drug Abuse
Following a 2010 report on health promotion, risk reduction and suicide prevention in the Army that cites prescription drug abuse as a growing issue, the Army is making changes to reduce the misuse of prescription pain medications | Join Together, USA
Promoting rehabilitation for criminals
You don't have to be soft on crime to believe in the rehabilitation of criminals. But a federal judge who tried to ensure that a convicted defendant would participate in a drug rehabilitation program had his wrist slapped last week by the Supreme Court | LA Times, USA
A Drug-War Plan Goes Awry
Frustrated ATF agents testify that their bureau's 'Operation Fast and Furious' let weapons get into the hands of Mexican drug cartels | Wall Street Journal, USA
Inquiry into the adequacy of aviation and maritime security measures to combat serious and organised crime
Appendix4: International and Domestic Illicit Drug Prices | Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement, Australia
Australian illegal drugs among world’s most expensive
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement reported that there is an: “extreme difference between Australian and international drug prices | Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Kids blighted by alcohol damage
Thousands of Australian children are likely suffering from undiagnosed alcohol-related birth defects | The Australian
Russia's punitive drug laws
Life is especially difficult for the 6 million drug addicts living in Russia because methadone is banned, and they are reluctant to use the few available needle and syringe exchange programmes for fear of being exposed | The Lancet, UK
Therapeutic interventions for users of amphetamine-type stimulants
WHO Technical brief on ATS No.4 | World Health Organisation via IDPC
The WHO Policy Guidelines for Controlled Substances
WHO Policy guidelines ensuring balance in national policies on controlled substances, guidance for availability and accessibility for controlled medicines | World Health Organisation via IDPC
Global status report on alcohol and health
A continuing effort by the World Health Organization (WHO) to support Member States in collecting information in order to assist them in their efforts to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, and its health and social consequences | World Health Organisation