DS Daily - 14th September 2011

Government endorses work of Recovery Partnership

Baroness Browning, Minister of State at the Home Office, has endorsed the Recovery Partnership as a voice for the drug and alcohol sector in achieving the successful implementation of the Drug Strategy. In a letter endorsing the group and its work on behalf of the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on Drugs Baroness Browning said: “I see the role of the Recovery Partnership as one of the core strands in helping us to understand the impact our work is having and I am grateful for (their) commitment to this.” | The Recovery Group, UK

Recovery Partnership survey - for providers

The Recovery Partnership is preparing a paper for the Inter-Ministerial Group on Drugs on residential rehabilitation provision and support. We will be producing different surveys to inform the paper and will be consulting with service providers, service users, membership bodies and others | Recovery Partnership, UK

Turning the Tide Vision Paper

Turning the Tide is a joint publication by | Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) and Revolving Doors, UK

Response to Liberal Democrat Conference motion on drug harms

Motion to be debated Sunday 18 September | UKDPC

Experts back Liberal Democrat calls for drugs decriminalisation

Drugs Policy Commission says proposal to scrap criminal penalties for personal possession would not increase use | Guardian, UK

Draft EADP Commissioning Plan: Commissioning for Recovery 2011-2014

We want to get the views from service users and their families, service providers, other decision makers and the general public on the draft plan - online survey | NHS Lothian

Watchdog launched to police local commissioners

The ‘Concordat’ of residential rehab providers decided to take the dramatic step of launching the watchdog as evidence mounts that commissioners around the country are going against government policy and underinvesting in abstinence-based recovery, the goal of government | Addiction Today, UK

New feedback function available for service users to report difficulties in accessing residential rehabilitation

Rehab Watch has been set up so that we can be aware of any difficulties that service users have experienced in accessing rehab | NTA, UK

ACMD advises that legal high desoxypipradrol (2-dpmp) - sold as ivory wave - should be illegal

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has recommended that the substance desoxypipradrol (2-DPMP), identified in samples of 'Ivory Wave', should be controlled as a Class B drug. Report | Home Office, UK

Amphetamine-type stimulants ranked world's second most used drug after cannabis

A new report released today (2011 Global ATS Assessment) the ranks amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) such as ecstasy and methamphetamine as the world's second most widely used type of drug after cannabis | United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Christina Patterson: Isn't it time politicians came clean about drugs?

Drugs, like stories about Tory politicians and dominatrixes, will always be with us. If we can't get rid of them, we can find ways to reduce their harm. Only a masochistic society wouldn't | Independent, UK

Hideously diverse Britain: think you know what a drug dealer looks like?

The case of Errol Henry proves that real life does not mirror TV cop shows | Guardian, UK

Price of alcohol is 'obscenely low'

Heavy drinkers are being subsidised by ordinary shoppers in supermarkets, according to medical experts | Guardian, UK

Alcohol and calories: briefing

This joint BDA (British Dietetic Association) and Alcohol Concern Cymru briefing paper looks at how alcohol is contributing to increasing levels of overweight and obesity, and makes recommendations for ensuring consumers are able to make healthier choices when including alcohol in their diet | Alcohol Concern, UK

Alcohol was Amy Winehouse's downfall, says father Mitch

Amy Winehouse's father has said his daughter was trying to overcome an addiction with alcohol, but not drugs, before her death | BBC, UK

Public accounts committee's question welfare reforms

Concerns raised about Whitehall's ability to deliver welfare reforms, while at the same time cutting £2.7bn from the DWP | Guardian, UK

Government encouragement 'deters people from volunteering'

The public are resistant to the politicisation of participation, according to National Council for Voluntary Organisations report (Pathways through Participation) | Third Sector, UK

Helping to stub out smoking

Guidance from | NICE, UK

Is the FA right to keep the names of recreational drug takers secret?

Is going after those who may have used cocaine socially a sideshow – or is zero tolerance the only way forward? | Guardian, UK

Stalemate in bid for extra drug tests for top players

A stalemate over the drug testing of England's top players has still to be resolved - more than three years after the Football Association started talks with testing authorities | The Scotsman, UK

Europeans 'heaviest drinkers in world'

The World Health Organisation have announced an "action plan to reduce the harmful use of alcohol" in Europe, which they say is the heaviest drinking region in the world | Irish Times

Call for one agency for homeless

A single agency to meet the multiple needs of homeless people is essential if their mental health issues are to be properly addressed, one of the foremost campaigners on the issue will say today | Irish Times

Suboxone for Short-term Detoxification

A Review of the Clinical Evidence | Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Drug addicts should be sent to isolated work camps

An addict chooses to be an addict. Sure, some of them have had a rough or even tragic life, some not, but escaping into drug addiction is the action of an amoral fool - Brian Purdy, Q.C., retired general counsel with the federal Department of Justice and lives in Calgary | Vancouver Sun, Canada