DS Daily - 2nd February 2010

Cannabis supply and young people

How do young people obtain cannabis? A snapshot view from a large city and rural villages. Summary - Full report [Joseph Rowntree Foundation, UK]

Laws ineffective in curbing cannabis use - experts

Laws against cannabis have failed to cut its use around the world and have led to policies that are intrusive, socially divisive and expensive, according to an international group of drug policy experts [STV, UK]

It's lack of balance that makes skunk cannabis do harm

This article published in the New Scientist argues that the chemical imbalance in street cannabis (skunk) makes it more harmful. If the recreational cannabis market was regulated to ensure a balanced chemical structure in cannabis it would be safer for users [New Scientist via IDPC]

'Legal highs' still easily bought

BBC Wales' X-Ray programme found goods like the Ecstasy-like pill Doves or the hallucinogenic herb salvia on sale as plant food or incense [BBC, UK]

Anthrax outbreak information

Latest update [Health Protection Scotland, UK]

Right Here Right Now conference

For those of you who do already use Twitter you can join in on the conversation by using the hashtag #RHRN any messages showing that tag will automatically appear in the conference feed [Injecting Advice, UK]

Progress at HMP Liverpool 'has stalled' says watchdog

Drugs, violence and bullying are still rife at HMP Liverpool despite its attempts to improve, an inspection by a prison watchdog has revealed [BBC, UK]

Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision regulating the sale of alcohol and licensing of premises on which alcohol is sold [Scottish Parliament, UK]

Alcohol Bill - response

Response from [Alcohol Focus Scotland, UK]

A smokefree future

A comprehensive tobacco control strategy for England. Equality impact assessment [DoH, UK]

A Smokefree Future

An ambitious new strategy will halve the number of smokers, from 21 to 10 per cent of the population by 2020, Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham announced on Monday [DoH, UK]

Citizens Council report

Smoking and harm reduction, with invitation to comment [NICE, UK]

Smoking and harm reduction

Report on NICE Citizens Council meeting PDF [NICE, UK]

Experts send out warning over alcohol ads

Switzerland - A group of addiction prevention experts has said that alcohol adverts on television - allowed since February 1 - must not target youths and children [Swissinfo]

Under the Skin: A People’s Case for Prison Needle and Syringe Programs

What do people in prison have to say about the Canadian government’s unwillingness to permit the distribution of clean needles in prison? How has this policy, that denies the realities of injection drug use in prison, affected individuals who are struggling with drug addiction? And what does this mean for the community as a whole? PDF [Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network]

Competencies for Canada’s Substance Abuse Workforce

Under the leadership of the National Advisory Group on Workforce Development (NAGWD)—a working group composed of subject matter experts/senior managers from across Canada—undertook a Competencies Project to detail the technical and behavioural competencies needed by the substance abuse workforce to perform effectively to ensure quality client care [CCSA, Canada]