DS Daily - 7th February 2013

Work Programme pilots aimed for people affected by drug and / or alcohol dependency (PDF)

In a speech at Kids Company on 31st January 2013, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced two pilots to be delivered through the Work Programme, aimed at improving employment outcomes for people with drug and / or alcohol dependency | DrugScope, UK

Alcohol use disorders: harmful drinking and alcohol dependence Evidence Update - January 2013 (PDF)

A summary of selected new evidence relevant to NICE Clinical Guideline 115 "Alcohol use disorders: diagnosis, assessment and management of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence" | NICE, UK

Recovery Partnership Residential Rehabilitation Definition consultation - survey

The Recovery Partnership's residential rehabilitation expert group is currently developing quality standards for residential rehabilitation services. As an initial part of that work they are conducting a survey to support the development of an agreed definition of residential rehabilitation services, and responses from services would be appreciated. Developing an agreed definition will help progress work on developing quality standards | Recovery Partnership, UK

Talking to Frank: Do anti-drugs adverts work?

Talk to Frank is the longest running anti-drugs campaign the UK has had. But has it stopped anyone taking drugs? | BBC, UK

Study claims minimum pricing cuts alcohol related-deaths

Research published in Canada has linked the introduction of minimum pricing with a significant drop in alcohol-related deaths | BBC, UK

Top-level evidence-based advice on national illegal drug policy

Review of relevant research by an international team of leading researchers offers policymakers guidance on the interventions most likely on the evidence to achieve national policy aims in respect of illegal drug use | Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK

Young treatment refusers can be engaged in treatment

Comprehensive US review addresses the need to enrol more young problem substance users in treatment even if they at first refuse, validated methods for identifying and engaging them in treatment, and ethical and financial considerations involved in implementing these methods | Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK

Leading alcohol charity: If we are to tackle the UK’s drink problems, we need to look at more than just price

[Yesterday] (6th February, 2013) marks the end of a consultation between government, health professionals and the drinks industry on whether or not there should be a set minimum price per unit of alcohol | Addaction, UK

What difference do young drinkers think MUP will make to their behaviour?

SAB Millar have commissioned an opinion poll (PDF) to find out whether drinkers think that price will change their behaviour and in what way | MentorThinks, UK

Terrorists and drug lords targeted HSBC, bosses admit

The top two executives at HSBC today admitted it had become a target for international terrorists and cocaine barons as they sought to insist that Britain’s biggest bank was in the midst of serious reform | Independent, UK

Paul Gascoigne's lonely road to the last chance saloon

Despite his many victories over his demons, there was a horrible sense of inevitability about the great footballer's latest relapse | Guardian, UK

Australian doping inquiry finds drugs rife in country's sport

Professional codes rocked by official findings that many athletes use illegal substances, sometimes supplied by gangs | Guardian, UK

Deadly risks run by Pakistan's cough syrup addicts

Siddiq used to sell homemade crackers on his bicycle in Gujranwala in north-east Pakistan. On 26 December last year, he had made good money and to celebrate, he brought his recreational drug on the way home - a cough syrup known in his circle by the code name "counsel" | BBC, UK

Rough sleeping in England: autumn 2012

Third annual statistical release (PDF) evaluating the extent of rough sleeping | Dept for Communities & Local Gov, UK

Alcohol causes half of all drug fatalities

Deaths caused by alcohol are increasing and account for neary half of all drug fatalities, while fatalities from illegal drugs are dropping dramatically | Irish Examiner, Ireland

On the Way Home? (PDF)

FEANTSA Monitoring Report on Homelessness and Homeless Policies in Europe reporting on the extent and nature of homelessness in the EU’s Member States | FEANTSA, Belgium

France to trial first drug ‘safe house’ in Paris

The French government has given the green light to open a 'safe house' for drug addicts in Paris, where they will be able to inject using clean needles and without fear of landing in trouble with the police | Local, France

February bulletin of the World Health Organization

This special issue includes: Wu & Clark introduce the theme of opioid substitution therapy. Sheena Sullivan explains why methadone maintenance programmes are needed. Fiona Fleck interviews Robin Room about harm reduction and prohibition of illicit substances and Gary Humphreys reports on progress and obstacles to effective opioid substitution therapy in Ukraine | WHO, USA

Drug Laws: Why Do We Have them, and Do They Work?

It’s a question often raised in today’s heated discussion about the efficacy of drug policy in America: Do regulations outlawing certain drugs actually work? | ONDCP, USA

How Ending the War on Drugs Could Curb Gun Violence

On the same day that the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on assault rifles, background checks, and gun rights, 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton was shot to death on the South Side of Chicago | Huffington Post, USA

Critique 102: Possible prevention of myocardial infarction from alcohol’s effects on periodontal disease: An hypothesis

A cross-sectional analysis among more than 5,000 Norwegian men was designed to determine if the frequency of alcohol consumption related to the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) is associated with infectious periodontal disease | Boston University School of Medicine, USA