DS Daily - 8th June 2009 |
 |
Youth drug treatment hits record
A record number of young people in England sought treatment for drug or alcohol problems in 2007/8, according to figures obtained by the [BBC, UK]
Measuring the harm from illegal drugs
A summary of the Drug Harm Index 2006 [Home Office, UK]
Doctor's diary: Binge drinking
People are dying in front of my eyes through excessive drinking [BBC, UK]
Didcot mother hits out at police policy on drugs arrests
Officers charged 310 people and cautioned 401 for possessing drugs. They released 259 without charge [Didcot Herald, UK]
Tripping over red tape
After 10 years of development, Wiltshire-based GW Pharmaceuticals is hoping that its third attempt to gain approval from UK regulators for its cannabis-based drug Sativex will be successful [Royal Society of Chemistry, UK]
Royal College Of Psychiatrists “Cannabis and mental health” leaflet - a crtitique
Continuing the series of critiques of cannabis information offered by various organisations, this weeks wooden spoon award goes to The Royal College of Psychiatrists for their “Cannabis and Mental Health” leaflet [UKCIA]
Synthetic [DELTA]-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Dronabinol) Can Improve the Symptoms of Schizophrenia
We are reporting improvement of symptoms of schizophrenia in a small group of patients who received the cannabinoid agonist dronabinol (synthetic Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Before this report, cannabinoids had usually been associated with worsening of psychotic symptoms [Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology]
THT launches ‘Fastest’ one-hour HIV testing in central Birmingham
In a bid to reduce levels of undiagnosed HIV in Birmingham, HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is launching a new service offering one-hour HIV testing [THT, UK]
Poor results for addicts from €140m drugs scheme
An examination into the €140 million spent by State agencies on drug treatment services has found a very small proportion of heroin-users on methadone maintenance ever get off the drug [Irish Times]
Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation
This examination looked at all the main publicly-funded treatment and rehabilitation services provided for persons with addiction to illegal drugs. In particular, it looked at the extent to which the demand for treatment and rehabilitation services is met, and the timeliness of access to treatment. It also looked at the extent to which the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation services are evaluated, and the effectiveness of the arrangements for coordination of treatment and rehabilitation at an individual case level, and nationally. 96-page PDF [Comptroller and Auditor General, Ireland]
Submission to the Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions
This submission provided advice to the Ontario Legislature’s Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions. 38-page PDF [Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada]
Clean Switch: The Case for Prison Needle and Syringe Programs in Canada
This paper outlines the available evidence and the legal rationale, under federal Canadian and international human rights law, for Canada to implement PNSPs without delay. 44-page PDF [Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network]
Drug control - Report to the Co-Chairman, Caucus on International Narcotics Control, U.S. Senate
Better Coordination with the Department of Homeland Security and an Updated Accountability Framework Can Further Enhance DEA’s Efforts to Meet Post-9/11 Responsibilities. 80-page PDF [GAO, USA]
Obama Administration Announces National Strategy to Reduce Drug Trafficking
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, U.S. Department of Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano, and Director of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske released President Obama's strategy to stem the flow of illegal drugs and their illicit proceeds across the Southwest border and reduce associated crime and violence in the region [ONDCP, USA]
Interview - Drug czar calls for end to 'war on drugs'
The Obama administration's top drug cop plans to spend more money on treating addiction and scale down the "war on drugs" rhetoric as part of an overhaul of U.S. counternarcotics strategy [Reuters, USA]
The Effects of Substance Use on Workplace Injuries
This paper describes associations between substance use and occupational injuries and proposes reasons that substance use may be linked to work-related accidents. 55-page PDF [RAND, USA]
Impact of Alcoholism and Alcohol Induced Disease on America
This paper documents the deleterious impact of heavy drinking,
alcohol abuse and
alcoholism on the United States [The Research Society on Alcoholism, USA]
Rise in addiction prompts call for painkiller policy
Doctors groups are urging a radical rethink of how opioid drugs are supplied and controlled, amid evidence of a surge in the number of people addicted to prescription painkillers [SMH, Australia]