Weekly news - 2nd July 2010

Drug Sector Partnership treatment consensus statement

This consensus statement was drafted by four national charities (the Drug Sector Partnership) – Adfam, DrugScope, eATA and the Alliance – and is supported by many other charities and organisations [DrugScope, UK]

NTA Annual accounts 2009/10

[National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, UK]

Process Evaluation of the Drug Treatment and Testing Orders II (DTTO II) Pilots

A report about the set-up and operation of the Drug Treatment and Testing Order II (DTTO II) Pilots in Scotland, including early indications of effectiveness [Scottish Government, UK]

National drug treatment waiting times

Data from the Drug Treatment Waiting Times Information Framework [ISD Scotland, UK]

Tackling alcohol abuse

More than 50,000 Scots received an 'alcohol brief intervention' in 2009-10, helping them address their drinking before it causes lasting health damage, according to figures published today by ISD Scotland Alcohol Brief Interventions 2009/10 [Scottish Government, UK]

New appointments to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

Four new appointments to the council have been announced today by James Brokenshire, Minister for Crime Prevention [Home Office, UK]

Survival and cessation in injecting drug users: prospective observational study of outcomes and effect of opiate substitution treatment

Opiate substitution treatment in injecting drug users in primary care reduces this risk of mortality, with survival benefits increasing with cumulative exposure to treatment. Treatment does not reduce the overall duration of injecting [British Medical Journal]

Reserve heroin prescribing for methadone failures

Should heroin prescribing be a mass treatment entry route or a niche option for the few who have not done well in optimised (but still cheaper) mainstream treatments? With nearly all the latest studies to hand, this review came down firmly on the niche side of the debate [Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK]

Skills consortium agrees recovery framework

A core group of employers and providers has drafted a national skills framework, describing the competences key workers need to deliver treatment throughout a drug user's journey to recovery [National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, UK]

Vetting and Barring Scheme registration update - interim guidance issued

Whilst final requirements on individuals to register with the Scheme will depend on the outcome of the review, it is important to note that the requirements introduced by the first phase of the Vetting and Barring Scheme in October 2009 will remain in place [National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, UK]

Progress made in youth alcohol misuse, report shows

The joint report "Message in a bottle: A joint inspection of youth alcohol misuse and offending" completed with HM Inspectorate of Probation, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and Estyn, shows progress has been achieved but more improvement must be made [Care Quality Commission, UK]

Census Of Drug And Alcohol Treatment Services In Northern Ireland

This is the third census which summarises information collected from statutory and non-statutory drug and alcohol treatment services to establish the number of persons in treatment in Northern Ireland for drug and/or alcohol misuse on 1 March 2010 [eGov Monitor, UK]

Drug use and pregnancy

Challenges for public health [EMCDDA]

Dramatic Pattern Shifts in Admission to Substance Abuse Treatment among Pregnant Teens between 1992 and 2007

Admission rates for pregnant teens abusing marijuana and methamphetamines increased significantly from 1992 to 2007 -- Rates for substance abuse treatment admissions among Hispanic pregnant teens have risen while rates for Black pregnant teens have dropped [SAMHSA, USA]