DS Daily - 7th March 2013 |
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Fall in heroin and crack use as drugs lose appeal, particularly for the young
The number of heroin and crack cocaine users in England has fallen below 300,000 for the first time. The latest estimates (PDF) support the continuing shift away from the most harmful drugs, particularly among younger people. Independent research published today by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) reveals a significant fall in use among the under 25s and under 35s in the last year | NTA, UK
DrugScope responds to new figures on heroin and crack cocaine users
DrugScope has today responded to the publication of new research by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, showing that the number of heroin and crack cocaine users in England has fallen below 300,000 for the first time | DrugScope, UK
DrugScope podcast: Public health reforms: what they mean for drug and alcohol services
Dr Marcus Roberts, DrugScope's Director of Policy talks about our new briefing (PDF) on Public Health Reforms produced on behalf of the Recovery Partnership, looking at how these reforms are likely to impact on drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services | DrugScope, UK
DrugScope/LDAN response to the (London) Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) draft (PDF)
DrugScope/London Drug and Alcohol Network has responded to the MOPAC consultation on a Police and Crime Plan for London for 2013-17. MOPAC is effectively responsible for the Police and Crime Commissioner role in London.
The plan commitments to building on the legacy of the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) and proposes piloting new abstinence-based approaches for offenders. We welcome the commitment to drug and alcohol treatment and outline the need for caution in the development of abstinence orders | DrugScope, UK
Drug treatment 'prevents five million crimes a year'
The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) said its drug treatment programmes, which reach around six in 10 heroin and crack cocaine users, prevented 4.9 million offences, including burglaries, shoplifting and robbery, in 2010/11 | Telegraph, UK
Number of heroin and crack cocaine users falls to record low, figures show
National agency says number of users has dropped below 300,000, and drug treatment has prevented 5m crimes | Guardian, UK
Heroin and crack use falling says National Treatment Agency
The number of people aged under 35 using heroin and crack in England is "plummeting", research suggests | BBC, UK
Britain winning fight against heroin and crack cocaine - but use of synthetic drugs such as mephedrone soars
Fewer than 300,000 people of any age now use the drugs in England | Independent, UK
Drug help action call after rise in deaths
Doctors, nurses and pharmacists may be contributing to the rising toll of drugs deaths, experts said | Herald, Scotland
Downview Prison report: Drugs 'readily available'
A women's prison in Surrey has been criticised in a report (PDF) for the "ready availability" of illegal drugs | BBC, UK
Liverpool clubs issued with torches to test for cocaine
Nightclubs in Liverpool have been given a new weapon in the fight against drugs. Specialist torches, which illuminate cocaine traces, have been distributed free of charge, to 40 bars | JuiceFM, UK
Methadone diversion as a protective strategy: The harm reduction potential of ‘generous constraints’
Full text available for a limited time: In our qualitative London-based study with 37 people who inject drugs, 35 on substitution therapies, we found that methadone self regulation and diversion played a prominent role in helping participants to manage their drug use, prevent withdrawal, cement social relationships, and inadvertently protect against hepatitis C transmission | IJDP, UK
Nottingham alcohol ban zone 'should cover city'
A city-wide ban on street drinking in Nottingham is being proposed | BBC, UK
Alcohol—a universal preventive agent? A critical analysis
In observational studies, moderate drinking is associated with a reduced risk of more than twenty different diseases and health problems. However, it would be premature to conclude that there is a causal relationship. This paper critically reviews the evidence for such associations | Addiction, UK
High times: drugs as an alternative to alcohol?
British psychiatrist and neuropsychopharmacologist Professor David Nutt ... has recently revealed that tests on human subjects are underway to determine whether or not a newly identified substance is safe to be made available to the public as a synthetic alternative to alcohol | Yorker, UK
‘What works’ in supporting young people’s development – making evidence useful for schools and practitioners
This seminar looks at how commissioners, teachers and practitioners can access and use evidence of what has been shown to work in improving young people’s outcomes. How can this evidence be collected and disseminated to be most useful to those working with young people? | Mentor, UK
Why a chimp smuggled between sacks of marijuana is not a joke
The lurid discovery illustrates the strong link between wildlife crime and drug and gun smuggling gangs | Guardian, UK
Now heroin users inject MCAT - and it started it Barnsley
Heroin users in Barnsley are injecting MCAT instead because it is more available, according to drug charity Addaction | Barnsley Chronicle, UK
Column: Mental health and alcohol – the elephant in the room
Mental well-being is finally getting some of the attention it warrants – but the dark relationship between psychological health and alcohol continues to be largely ignored, writes Anne-Marie Flynn | Journal, Ireland
Mayors nationwide given stop and search powers
Parliament on Tuesday passed legislation allowing local mayors to impose 12-hour stop and search controls if they fear public order may be under threat | Dutch News, Netherlands
A New Global Drug Problem
The United Nations warned in a report released Monday that permissive new drug laws permitting the use of medical marijuana in American states like California and Washington could endanger public health | NY Times, USA
Fed’s policy on Washington’s marijuana law still under wraps
At 7:13 a.m. Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont popped the question to federal Attorney General Eric Holder that so many in Colorado and Washington have been anxious about | Seattle Times, USA
A Day at the Drug Court
Treatment-based drug courts are more widespread than ever; advocates say they humanely cut crime and save cash. So why are they controversial? The Fix sits in on some hearings | Fix, USA
Harvard Professor Details His Radical Vision Of Legalizing All Drugs
In 2010 we wrote about Harvard economics professor Jeffrey Miron's stance that all drugs should be legalized because prohibition wastes money and doesn't work | Business Insider, USA
Alcohol one of Canada’s top health threats: Study
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health published a new report Wednesday which marks alcohol as one of the greatest public health threats in Canada | Star, Canada