Weekly news - 8th March 2013 |
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The Contribution of Clinical Psychologists to Recoveryorientated Drug and Alcohol Treatment Systems
The British Psychological Society have published a guide for service commissioners and service managers (PDF), that describes the unique contribution of clinical psychologists to effective recovery-orientated drug and alcohol treatment systems. It details clinical psychologists' competences and how these can be deployed to enhance recovery outcomes for service users and their families | BPS, NTA, UK
Police and Crime Commissioners: giving local people a voice on cutting crime
Ron Ball, was elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire, and here, after three months in the job, he shares some of his insights and thoughts about how the system will work and how alliances may need to be forged to tackle competing priorities and limited resources | NTA, UK
National Forum on Drug-Related Deaths in Scotland - Annual Report 2011/12
This is the fifth report from the National Forum on Drug-Related Deaths. The Forum is an independent expert group which examines trends and disseminates good practice on reducing drug-related deaths in Scotland | National Forum on Drug-Related Deaths, UK
'Rockstar' drug hospitalises seven in Lanarkshire
Taking a drug called "Rockstar" has led to seven people in the Glasgow area being hospitalised over the weekend - and to a public warning from police | BBC, UK
Scottish experts voice concern over impact of inappropriate healthcare stigma on action to prevent drug deaths
Efforts to reduce Scotland’s “tragic” toll of drug-related deaths may be being hindered by healthcare workers offering “less sympathetic and supportive” services to people with drug problems because of inappropriate stigma associated with addiction, the National Forum on Drug-related Deaths in Scotland has suggested | SDF, UK
SRC launch advertising campaign to promote recovery
A new pilot public information campaign to promote recovery is being launched today by Scottish Recovery Consortium in Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh and Aberdeen | SDF, UK
INCB Annual Report 2012
Based on its activities, INCB publishes an annual report that is submitted to ECOSOC through the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the drug control situation in various parts of the world | INCB, Austria
DrugScope blog - Poverty: the state of being extremely poor?
A recent government consultation has been looking afresh at the issue of child poverty - DrugScope, Adfam and Alcohol Concern submitted a joint response | DrugScope, UK
Relaxation of US cannabis laws 'violates UN drug conventions'
International Narcotics Control Board criticises decision by some US states to legalise use of cannabis | Guardian, UK
UK falls behind Europe for healthy life expectancy
Smoking, physical inactivity and alcohol consumption among biggest risk factors for illness and disease in Britain | Independent, UK
UK health performance: findings of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010
The UK has had universal free health care and public health programmes for more than six decades. Several policy initiatives and structural reforms of the health system have been undertaken | Lancet, UK
Government to legislate for plain cigarette packaging this year
UK to follow example of Australia, where cigarettes must be sold in drab packets with graphic health warnings | Guardian, UK
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
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
Government response to the Home Affairs Committee report on drugs (PDF)
This Command Paper is published in response to the Home Affairs Select
Committee’s Ninth Report of Session 2012-13 entitled ‘Drugs: Breaking the Cycle.' | UK Parliament, UK
Driving under the influence of drugs (PDF)
Report from the Expert Panel on Drug Driving | Dept of Transport, UK
Liberal Democrat minister on drugs fact-finding mission
A Liberal Democrat minister is to visit Portugal on a fact-finding mission to study the nation’s softer drugs laws | Telegraph, UK
Drinking (General Lifestyle Survey Overview - a report on the 2011 General Lifestyle Survey)
The General Household Survey (GHS) and the General Lifestyle Survey (GLF) have, between them, been measuring drinking behaviour for over 30 years. This chapter presents information on recent trends over time in drinking behaviour and detailed data for the 2011 survey year | ONS, UK
Smoking (General Lifestyle Survey Overview - a report on the 2011 General Lifestyle Survey)
The General Household Survey (GHS) and General Lifestyle Survey (GLF) have been monitoring smoking prevalence for over 35 years. The 2011 survey included questions on cigarette consumption, type of cigarette smoked, how old respondents were when they started smoking, and dependence on cigarettes | ONS, UK
ONS survey: Smoking halves in 40 years
Smoking in Britain has more than halved and people are drinking on fewer nights of the week, according to a snapshot survey covering the past 40 years | BBC, UK