DS Daily - 19th December 2012

Britain has not simply fallen out of love with illegal drugs

The government has based its refusal to set up a royal commission on the shaky premise that drug use is falling | Guardian, UK

European drug prevention quality standards: a manual for prevention professionals

These first European standards on delivering high quality drug prevention may be assumed to be dry and technical, but could transform prevention practice if implemented | Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK

Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SDMD) Report on People in Treatment 2011/12 (PDF)

This report presents data on individuals entering drug treatment services in Scotland during 2011/12 and, using person level ‘follow-up’ data, explores their treatment outcomes three months after initial assessment | ISD, Scotland

National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Waiting Times Report (PDF)

This publication presents data from the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Waiting Times database (DATWT). It includes details on the number of people waiting, the time waited to start drug or alcohol treatment, and information on specific interventions being accessed | ISD, Scotland

Drug addicts entering treatment centres sooner to seek help

Drug addicts are entering treatment centres sooner to seek help and accessing a range of treatments, according to new figures | STV News, Scotland

Three probes into illegal drug sales by pharmacists

Pharmacies caught illegally selling addictive drugs to undercover reporters face three separate investigations - including a criminal probe | BBC, UK

MP: Ban benefit claimants from buying alcohol

A Conservative MP has proposed creating a welfare cash card to ensure that benefits are spent on "essential" items only | BBC Democracy Live, UK

Addicted to Pleasure - BBC iPlayer

Brian Cox delves into the history of Scotland's national drink, revealing its origins, the rise in addiction in the 19th century and what it did for Scotland's reputation | BBC, UK

Government should stick by its commitment to introduce minimum alcohol pricing

It is time to regulate the supply and price of alcohol to encourage a reduction in alcohol consumption particularly by those who drink more alcohol than is recommended in health guidelines | Blenheim CDP, UK

Skills Consortium Road-show 3: Birmingham

The event will run on 06 Feb 2013 at The Bond Company, Birmingham, from 2.00pm until 4.30pm and all are welcome to attend | Adfam, UK

Skills Consortium Road-show 2: Leeds

The event will run on 01 Feb 2013 at St George's Centre, Leeds, from 2.00pm until 4.30pm and all are welcome to attend | Adfam, UK

Police Commissioner's alcohol warning for Cumbria

Alcohol sellers in Carlisle are gearing up to supply drinkers who are expected to pour into the city from north of the border once a law on minimum alcohol pricing comes into force in Scotland | News&Star, UK

New Legal Highs Phone App Game “Life is a Dance Floor” Launched by SMST

A new phone app has been developed for Apple and Android to highlight risks of legal highs and alcohol. The game developed by Realistic Digital on behalf of Leicestershire Substance Misuse Strategic Team is available to download FREE and signposts gamers to help and support both locally and nationally | SMST, UK

Cannabis worth £175,000 recovered in Derrylin

A man has been arrested after two factories, containing cannabis believed to be worth £175,000, were discovered in Derrylin, County Fermanagh | BBC, UK

Mexico to create new police force in drugs policy shift

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, has announced the creation of a new national police force as part of efforts to tackle crime and violence | BBC, UK

Mexico changes stance in drug war – but little difference seen from Calderón

Mexico's President Enrique Peña Nieto talks of end to military crackdown against drug cartels that has left up to 100,000 dead | Guardian, UK

Tijuana leads the way as Mexico heads for the big league

City that was once notorious for drug violence is now the world hub for flat-screen television production | Guardian, UK

Minister announces changes to drugs task forces

Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Alex White, today announced the conclusions of a Department of Health review of Drugs Task Forces | Irish Examiner, Ireland

The color of money shouldn’t be blood red

HSBC’s $1.92 billion payment to U.S. authorities to avoid prosecution for money-laundering practices, including transferring funds for Mexican drug cartels, raises serious questions about the flow of narco-cash in the international banking system | Reuters

National Institute on Drug Abuse to Announce Results of 2012 Monitoring the Future Survey

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will hold a press conference on Wednesday, December 19, to announce the results of its 2012 Monitoring the Future survey. The survey, funded by NIDA -- part of the National Institutes of Health -- tracks annual drug abuse | NIDA, USA