DS Daily - 27th June 2011

BBC attacked over coverage of 'misleading' methadone report

DrugScope charity says BBC's failure to check thinktank's findings risks stigmatising recovering heroin addicts | Guardian, UK

New drugs testing kit gets results at Glastonbury

An off site drugs testing facility for Glastonbury Festival has been hailed a success by | Avon and Somerset Police, UK

Drug death 'capital' Brighton to put treatment ahead of punishment

Green MP says the coalition's 'localism' policy enables seaside town to follow Portugal's decriminalisation strategy | Observer, UK

Could localism allow Brighton's Greens to decriminalise drugs?

Interesting report in The Observer today with a suggestion from Green MP Caroline Lucas that localism should extend to decisions on drug decriminalisation | ConservativeHome

Drugs csar reveals sophisticated new techniques smugglers are resorting to

Kenny Simpson from the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency says criminals go to "extreme lengths" to bring cocaine into Scotland | STV, UK

The Impact of Research on Policy in the Drugs Field

The article uses examples of UK drugs research (1980-2010) to illustrate the complex relationship between research, policy and politics - Susanne MacGregor | Methodological Innovations Online

Leading for outcomes

Leading for outcomes: parental substance misuse seeks to explore how staff can be supported to effectively practice an outcomes-focused approach with families affected by substance misuse | IRISS, UK

The impact of alcohol in Greater Manchester

Biannual report number 8 | Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, UK

Addressing the harmful use of alcohol

A guide to developing effective alcohol regulation. PDF | World Health Organisation

Caring and Campaigning

Members of Manchester Carers Group share their thoughts and experiences of caring and campaigning for those affected by addiction | Inexcess TV, UK

Criminalising squatting will hit homeless, charities warn

Cameron legal crackdown 'not protecting families' says Crisis as charities challenge image that squatting is a lifestyle choice | Guardian, UK

End homelessness? Where will they go?

Boris Johnson has pledged to end rough sleeping in London, but funding and the supply of suitable housing is shrinking | Guardian, UK

Re-designing local welfare services – a call for evidence response

Local communities will be at the heart of re-designing local welfare services, according to evidence published by the Government. The response | Department for Work and Pensions, UK

Ireland has EU’s highest level of drugs fatalities

Ireland has the highest mortality rate from drugs in the EU and the third highest across the whole of Europe, according to the UN | Irish Examiner

Dutch may label some cannabis as a hard drug

The Netherlands, famous for its liberal soft drugs policies, said on Friday it may label some highly concentrated forms of cannabis as a hard drug on a par with cocaine or heroin, because of the risk of addiction | Reuters

Alcohol marketing regulations in Europe

How effective are they? | EUCAM

Ontario Mental Health and Addictions Alliance Encouraged by Province’s Mental Health and Addictions Strategy

An alliance of mental health and addictions organizations welcomed the Ontario government’s mental health and addiction strategy as a key step to building better, more comprehensive care and support for people living with a mental health condition or addiction | CAMH, Canada

Treatment up for prescription drug, alcohol abuse

More people are getting treatment for prescription drug abuse than a decade ago, and alcohol treament is on the rise after declining for several years, a new government analysis shows | USA Today

Lung cancer victim's deathbed image sends potent message

The photo of Barb Tarbox didn't make the cut for the FDA's new cigarette warning labels, but she wanted people to see the truth | LA Times, USA

Bolivia fights for its natural narcotic

Bolivia is set to withdraw from an international narcotics convention in protest at its classification of coca leaves as an illegal drug | SMH, Australia

Victorian Pharmacotherapy Review

The purpose of the review was to develop an evidence-based options paper ‘to ensure pharmacotherapy services in Victoria remain responsive to current and future demand while improving accessibility for clients and reducing service gaps’ | DPMP: NDARC, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre: Eastern Health, Australia