Weekly news - 20th August 2010 |
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Temporary bans to fight back against ‘legal highs’
Swifter action to tackle new ‘legal highs’ through temporary bans was promised today by James Brokenshire, Minister for Crime Prevention [Home Office, UK]
Decriminalisation the wrong approach
The Home Office has restated its position on drugs, after the outgoing president of the Royal College of Physicians called for a review of the law [Home Office, UK]
Response to comments about decriminalisation of illicit substances
The RCP has responded to comments about decriminalisation of illicit substances made by the former president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), Professor Sir Ian Gilmore [RCP, UK]
Leading doctor urges decriminalisation of drugs
Former president of the Royal College of Physicians says blanket ban has failed to cut crime or improve health [Guardian, UK]
Drug Related Deaths in Scotland in 2009
NHS Board and Council statistics for certain drugs for 2009, on the 'all drugs found present in the body' basis [General Register Office of Scotland, UK]
Drug addict benefit withdrawal considered
People dependent on drugs and alcohol who refuse treatment could have their welfare benefits withdrawn under plans being considered by the Home Office [BBC, UK]
DrugScope's submission to the Spending Review
We argue that significant public spending to tackle drug and alcohol harms (including prevention, education and rehabilitation) should continue, and well resourced and innovative drug and alcohol treatment should be a priority for public health. Investment in drug and alcohol treatment is also key to achieving other Government policy objectives, not least in reducing crime and re-offending. PDF [DrugScope, UK]
DrugScope responds to media reports on use of ‘new’ legal high ‘Ivory Wave’
The last week has seen an increase in media reports of incidents involving an apparently ‘new’ legal high drug sold under the brand name ‘Ivory Wave’ (or in some areas ‘Vanilla Sky’) [DrugScope, UK]
Commercial cultivation of cannabis report released by ACPO
A new report from the Association of Chief Police Officers into the cultivation of cannabis in the UK [ACPO, UK]
Merseyside DIP Re-presentation Report 2008/09
This report examines which client characteristics are associated with those who re-presented through both DIP and the drug testing data in 08/09 and compares them to those who did not re-present [Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, UK]
HIV & AIDS In the North West of England 2009
The fourteenth annual report of the North West HIV/AIDS Monitoring Unit, presenting data on HIV positive individuals accessing treatment and care in the region [Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, UK]
Drug treatment 'consensus statement'
Updated with latest signatories [DrugScope, UK]
Statistics on Smoking in England 2010
This statistical report presents a range of information on smoking which is drawn together from a variety of sources [NHS, UK]
The Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010
The Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 (No. 22 of 2010) will come into operation next Monday, 23 August 2010 [Drugs.ie, Ireland]
An Evaluation of the Compulsory Drug Treatment Program
The evaluation was limited to assessing the impact of the CDTP on the health and wellbeing of participants, measuring changes in perceived coercion, affective reactions, treatment readiness and therapeutic alliance, gauging participant satisfaction with various aspects of the program, and monitoring participants’ drug use whilst on the program [NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Australia]
Drugs and Disordered Choices
Are drug addicts helpless in the face of their addiction, compelled by cravings too strong to resist? Or is drug taking voluntary activity that can be ceased at will? [Australian Review of Public Affairs]