DS Daily - 12th March 2012

Joint statement: Working together to build and promote recovery

In the spirit of the 2010 Drug Strategy, the umbrella organisations that represent the majority of residential drug and alcohol treatment providers in England are working together to build and promote recovery. In particular, the Recovery Partnership (Drugscope, Recovery Group UK and the Substance Misuse Skills Consortium) and eATA are helping residential providers adapt to a new outcomes-focused public health system, in conjunction with the National Treatment Agency | NTA, UK

Proposals to introduce new discharge codes to the NDTMS

The NTA is now seeking stakeholder views on proposals to introduce new codes to the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) in order to record additional discharge data specifically for residential treatment providers. Read the proposals here - We would be grateful for any comments on the proposals before the closing date of 9th April | NTA

Mephedrone more popular since being banned – survey

Four in 10 club-goers questioned say mephedrone is their drug of choice | Observer, UK

Health secretary Sturgeon urges drinks industry not to stop booze law

Scotland's health secretary has called on opponents of minimum pricing for a unit of alcohol not to hold up the legislation in the courts | BBC, UK

Below-cost ban would stop fewer than 1 in 50 alcohol discount offers

As the British government reportedly tussles over whether to set a minimum per unit price for alcohol, evidence from Newcastle that their (so far) preferred alternative of a below-cost ban would have prevented less than 1 in 50 discount offers | Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK

Let’s Call Alcohol Poisoning What It Really Is: Drug Overdose

Alcohol poisoning affects about 50,000 Americans each year. The people most likely to suffer from alcohol poisoning are college students, chronic alcoholics and those taking medications that interact with alcohol | Psych Central, USA

Street homelessness rises by 23%

Latest Government statistics have shown a rise of 23% in street homelessness in England, between autumn 2010 and autumn 2011 | Shelter, UK

Swansea: Living on the Streets

The first episode of a new hard-hitting documentary series on homelessness. Told through extraordinary and compelling personal stories in the run-up to Christmas, a unique insight into the day-to-day life of those living on Swansea's streets | BBC iPlayer

Cannabis cafe owners go to court in last-ditch bid to stop pass system

Lawyers representing a number of cannabis cafe owners and workers in Maastricht are going to court in an effort to halt government plans to turn them into members' only clubs | Dutch News, Netherlands

Effort to put marijuana legalization measure on ballot is in disarray

After Proposition 19 received 46% of the vote in 2010, proponents took heart. They vowed to put a measure to fully legalize marijuana on the 2012 ballot. Instead, four camps vie for funding | LA Times, USA

Familiarity With Drugs Helps a Group Speak for Users

he San Francisco Drug Users’ Union, has more on its mind than simply turning on, tuning in and dropping out. The union is one of several groups in the United States and Canada that advocate for the rights of drug users, following the lead of older European drug user organizations | New York Times, USA