DS Daily - 21st October 2011

In drugs, pragmatism is the only moral approach

Compared with those bound by iron rules, these are the calculations that allow us to save the most lives and disrupt the fewest others - Roger Howard, chief executive of the UK Drug Policy Commission | Independent, UK

Counselling not essential to initial impact of methadone maintenance

Is regular counselling really essential to the effectiveness of methadone maintenance treatment, or are treatment entry and the power of high-dose methadone enough in themselves for many patients? At least in the first four months, this US study suggests the latter | Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK

Crime in England and Wales

Quarterly Update to June 2011 | Home Office, UK

We ignore poverty in London at our peril

For children living in poverty, London is the worst region in England to grow up - Bharat Mehta is chief executive of Trust for London | Guardian, UK

The Role of the Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer in a changing NHS

The podcast covers his role as the Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer within the changing NHS landscape and in light of the recently published Care Quality Commission annual report for 2010 on the safer management of controlled drugs | NPC Podcast

The EU Drugs Strategy

Video - Professor Cindy Fazey, University of Liverpool; Professor Susanne MacGregor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; and Professor Alex Stevens, University of Kent | Parliament, UK

Commons committee hears call for prison needle exchanges

In the wake of the recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling allowing Vancouver's safe-injection site to remain open, should needle exchanges be introduced in Canada's prisons? | Vancouver Sun, Canada

City wants injection sites near clinics, hospitals

The city of Montreal is in favour of setting up supervised injection sites for drug addicts on its territory – but says such centres should be set up at existing medical facilities rather than establishing a single location | Montreal Gazette, Canada

Association of quantity of alcohol and frequency of consumption with cancer mortality

Light to moderate alcohol intake does not appear to increase the risk of all-site cancer (and light drinking was shown in this study to be associated with a significant decrease in risk) ... Heavier drinking is known to be associated with a large number of adverse health effects, including certain cancers, as was shown in this study | Boston University School of Medicine, USA

Teens Hear 34 Liquor Brands a Day in Rap, Hip-Hop Music

For every hour that American teens listen to music, they hear more than three references to brand-name alcohol - about 34 in the course of day | abc News, USA

An Interview with Neuroscientist Jon Simons

Brain scans, iPhone love, and state-dependent memory | Addiction Inbox, USA

Study backs substance abuse services

Some of the world's leading drug and alcohol researchers are calling on governments to carefully rethink their policy responses in light of new research. Eight scientific papers published today, have smashed some myths and confirmed others on what drives the behaviour of drug users - particularly during an economic downturn | ABC News, Australia