Weekly news - 15th January 2010 |
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New sponsor for DS Daily
DrugScope is pleased to announce that Conference Consortium are the latest sponsors for DS Daily - Comment from Conference Consortium Director Paddy Costall
They join Phoenix Futures, CRI, Concateno and the Home Office who are all supporting our work. If you wish to enquire about DS Daily sponsorship, please email Harry Shapiro at harrys@drugscope.org.uk
Appointment of a new interim chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
Home Secretary Alan Johnson today announced the new interim chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) [Home Office, UK]
Rival to government drug advisory panel launched
It has been set up by the government's former chief drugs adviser, David Nutt, who was sacked last October for criticising government policy [BBC, UK]
New NTA and Society Guardian microsite promotes benefits of recovery and reintegration
The NTA together with Society Guardian has launched a new microsite promoting the benefits of recovery and reintegration from drug addiction [Guardian, UK]
Further Anthrax Cases Confirmed
Two additional cases of anthrax, one of whom has died, have been confirmed in drug users in Scotland, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in this outbreak to fourteen. The number of deaths is now at seven [Health Protection Scotland, UK]
A Question of Harm
Anthrax - if we know that providing substitute prescribing can save the lives of drug users currently at risk of dying from contaminated heroin, we should do it? Surely we are doing it? Well, kind of. Its not much of a secret that waiting times for drug treatment are significantly higher in Scotland than in England [Sara McGrail, UK]
Minister praises drugs outreach programme helping the fight against burglary
A drugs outreach programme tackling burglary and robbery by helping rehabilitate addicts who often steal to fund their habit has been praised by Home Office Minister Alan Campbell [Home Office, UK]
Mephedrone – an update on current knowledge
This briefing presents information on the substance Mephedrone (also known as: 4-MMC, ‘Meow’, ‘M-Cat’) and other related drugs. This substance has received recent media attention concerning its legality and (largely unconfirmed) speculations around its contribution to the deaths of several young people [Centre for Public Health, UK]
Spice - Mephedrone - GHB - BZP
New DrugSearch pages published on Spice, Mephedrone, GHB and BZP [DrugScope, UK]
The number of cautions given for possession of a controlled drug
Information provided by the Ministry of Justice showing the number of cautions given for possession of a controlled drug, by class, England and Wales, 1997 to 2007 [TheyWorkForYou, UK]
Government campaign asks parents and young people, 'Why Let Drink Decide?'
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls will today join forces with comedian Bill Bailey to launch a new national advertising campaign ‘Why Let Drink Decide?’ to raise awareness of how alcohol can make young people vulnerable to problems such as unwanted pregnancies, road traffic accidents and poor marks at school [Department for Children, Schools and Families, UK]
The Societal Cost of Alcohol Misuse in Scotland for 2007
The study uses a cost of illness approach to derive estimates of the cost of alcohol misuse in Scotland for 2007 [Scottish Government, UK]
The Societal Cost of Alcohol Misuse in Scotland for 2007 - Research Findings
Summary of findings from a study that uses a cost of illness approach to derive estimates of the cost of alcohol misuse in Scotland for 2007 [Scottish Government, UK]
For debate:
The alcohol industry and public interest science [Addcition]
The Past, Present, and Future of Medical Marijuana in the United States
This article seeks to place the attorney general’s action in historical, medical, and legal context [Psychiatric Times, USA]
Screening and Brief Interventions (SBI) for Unhealthy Alcohol Use
A Step-by-Step Implementation Guide for Trauma Centers [CDC, USA]
Partner or Foe?
The Alcohol Industry, Youth Alcohol Problems, and Alcohol Policy Strategies [American Medical Association Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse]
Drug and alcohol lecture series
This lecture series covers core drug and alcohol topics and has been developed by leading experts. The series is directed towards GPs, students, nurses, and other healthcare workers [University of Sydney, Australia]
Access to Confidential Alcohol Industry Documents: From ‘Big Tobacco’ to ‘Big Booze’
These once confidential internal documents provide new evidence on the drinks industry’s concerns [Australasian Medical Journal]
The Past, Present, and Future of Medical Marijuana in the United States
This article seeks to place the attorney general’s action in historical, medical, and legal context [Psychiatric Times, USA]