DS Daily - 25th February 2010

Heroin on NHS plans to go before council

A specialist clinic could be established in the north-east to treat addicts by injecting them with a pure form of the drug [STV, UK]

Anthrax fears mean more methadone

The Scottish Government has sanctioned an increase in methadone programmes across the country to halt the spread of anthrax among injecting drug users [The Scotsman, UK]

Boy(14) 'died after taking methadone overdose at party'

Gardai were last night investigating the death of a 14-year-old boy who is understood to have died of a suspected methadone overdose [Independent, Ireland]

As the anthrax situation worsens and we get the first cases appearing in England (London and Blackpool) there is still a lot of confusion over the finer details of the outbreak, especially the details on the routes of drug administration [Injecting Advice, UK]

Why we turn our backs on drug addicts at our peril

Yet according to a forthcoming presentation by Professor Gerry Stimson, executive director of the International Harm Reduction Association, globally just three US cents a day is spent per injecting drug user in low and middle-income countries on measures to prevent the spread of HIV [Global Health Blog, Guardian, UK]

Drugs finds in Scottish prisons

The following tables illustrates the number of suspected drug finds from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2009 [Scottish Parliament, UK]

Escort girl drug doctor suspended by GMC

A doctor who falsified a prescription for a cocaine-addicted escort girl has been suspended for six months by the General Medical Council [BBC, UK]

City schools are getting DrugAware

Schools across Nottingham are on their way to getting DrugAware, a new approach to tackling substance and alcohol misuse which brings schools and communities together for the first time [My Nottingham, UK]

Alcohol use disorders - clinical management: pre-publication check

Pre-publication check documents [NICE, UK]

NOMS Alcohol Interventions Guidance

The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has developed best practice guidance for probation staff on the effective commissioning, management and delivery of a range of interventions for alcohol misusing offenders [Alcohol Policy UK]

Home Secretary Praises Alcohol Arrest Referral Scheme in Cleveland

Home Secretary Alan Johnson has praised the success of the alcohol arrest referral scheme in Cleveland during a visit to Middlesbrough [Police News, UK]

Understanding illicit drug markets, supply-reduction efforts, and drug-related crime in the European Union

In this study we reviewed literature and RAND’s previous work in this area, and we gathered insights from European experts and policymakers. Full report - Summary [RAND, USA]

Are Doctors Too Reluctant to Prescribe Opioids?

Patients who ask for more pain drugs are eyed as potential addicts; doctors who prescribe pain medications too frequently fear being arrested for it [TIME, USA]

Ad Campaign Launched to Confront Illicit Drug use

The Rudd Government today launched the next stage of its hard-hitting $17 million advertising campaign to combat illicit drug use in Australia [DoH, Australia]

Abbott plans crackdown on alcohol abuse in Aboriginal communities

Tony Abbott wants a nationwide ban on takeaway alcohol sales in Aboriginal communities and has threatened a referendum on the issue if the states refuse to give him the power to impose it [SMH, Australia]

Parliamentary Handbook on HIV and AIDS

Drug abuse is a predisposing factor in HIV transmission because it impairs judgment, often leading to risky sexual behavior. Injecting drug use involving the use of needles and syringes carries even greater risks [Cambodian Parliament]

INCB's Annual Report oversteps mandate and interferes with countries' sovereignty

The UN's International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) annual report released today pointedly criticizes Argentina, Brazil and Mexico for moving to decriminalize the possession of drugs for personal consumption, cautioning that such moves may "send the wrong message." [IDPC]

INCB Interferes with Countries' Sovereignty

The criticisms overstep the INCB's mandate and constitute unwarranted intrusions into these countries' sovereign decision-making [Transnational Institute]

Stronger efforts are needed to prevent people slipping into drug abuse

Society has to give urgent attention to preventing drug abuse, the Vienna-based International Narcotics Control Board said today, underlining the need for more actions and commitment [International Narcotics Control Board]