DS Daily - 4th January 2010 |
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Prince's Trust fears unemployment effect on youths
A YouGov poll of more than 2,000 people aged between 16 and 25 showed one in 10 of those who had been out of work had turned to drugs or alcohol abuse [BBC, UK]
British man said to be mentally ill executed in China
A British man convicted of drug smuggling in China has been executed, the Foreign Office has confirmed. Reaction [BBC, UK]
The Death Penalty for Drug Offences
A Violation of International Human Rights Law. 33-page PDF [IHRA]
The World Tonight: Drug Policy Special
How to control the cultivation of drugs, how to smash the trade in drugs, and how to treat drug users (from 6 mins onwards) [BBC, UK]
Scots parents are UK’s biggest drug users
Survey shows that the number of drug-using parents north of the border has increased since 2004 [Times, UK]
NTA response to article: “Rattling out prescriptions writes off addicts”
NTA chief executive, Paul Hayes’ response to Guardian Society article “Rattling out prescriptions writes off addicts” [National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, UK]
US stars are falling victim to prescription drugs
Thousands of Britons are also addicted to painkillers and other pills obtained legally from GPs or on internet [Guardian, UK]
Bacteria 'could tackle cocaine addiction'
The naturally-occurring bacterial enzyme Cocaine esterase, CocE, breaks down cocaine which reduced its addictive properties [Telegraph, UK]
Parents warned on children's safety risk from alcohol
Parents in England are being warned not to under-estimate the "dangerous consequences" of under-age drinking [BBC, UK]
Bring in 50p minimum price for alcohol, MPs urge
The government was under mounting pressure last night to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol in an attempt to cut abuse as a senior Labour MP called for an urgent change in policy [Observer, UK]
Wales and alcohol
Shocking results of our nationwide survey [Wales Online, UK]
Scotland should copy Russia in war on cheap alcohol, insists Sturgeon
Scottish ministers have stepped up their campaign to introduce minimum pricing on alcohol after Russia yesterday became the latest country to introduce a floor price on spirits [The Scotsman, UK]
Too much of the hard stuff: what alcohol costs the NHS
This Briefing, produced with the Royal College of Physicians, outlines the extent of the problem and gives examples of where the NHS is managing problem drinkers effectively and efficiently [NHS Confederation, UK]
Rising alcohol addiction costs 'could cripple the NHS'
If the trend continues the burden will be unsustainable, the Royal College of Physicians and NHS Confederation say [BBC, UK]
Drunk and overdosing homeless people put strain on NHS
One drunk or drug-addicted homeless person is admitted to hospital every three hours, putting a severe strain on the National Health Service, new figures show [Telegraph, UK]
One in three parents do not talk to their children about the risks associated with drinking alcohol
Ed Balls today urged parents to talk to their children about the risks associated with drinking alcohol ahead of New Year’s Eve as research shows it is often near the bottom of their list of worries about their child’s safety [Department for Children, Schools and Families, UK]
The price we pay for our drinking culture
Alcohol seems to have an effect on government policy, causing a confusion between words and action [Guardian, UK]
Alcohol substitute that avoids drunkenness and hangovers in development
An alcohol substitute that mimics its pleasant buzz without leading to drunkenness and hangovers is being developed by scientists [Telegraph, UK]
Elton John tells how he helped Eminem quit drugs
Sir Elton John's growing status as a down-to-earth counsellor to celebrities was reinforced this weekend when the veteran singer and songwriter spoke for the first time about the help he is giving the American hip-hop star Eminem [Observer, UK]
It’s a no-brainer – bring on the pills that will make us smarter
Some of the drugs that already help patients with Alzheimer’s or ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) can also bring great benefits to healthy adults [Times, UK]
All prisoners to be tested for ADHD
Police, courts and prisons will test all adult offenders for attention deficit disorders in a bid to reduce reoffending rates and cut aggressive behaviour in prisons [Observer, UK]
Party safety
As it's Christmas week and just before New Year we've decided to do a show on how to stay safe at parties [Injecting Advice, UK]
‘Government ignores huge harm drink does to society
Not one, not two – but three major reports in the past two months have shown the chronic and harmful effects that alcohol is having on our society ... But despite this, it seems our Government has chosen to ignore all the evidence [Irish Examiner]
French clubbers win the right to party all night long
Ministers said that their aim was to harmonise closing times across France, which had previously been set by local authorities, and to bring them into line with those of other European countries [Times, UK]
Diurnal Drinking
Casting a light on circadian disruptions [Addiction Inbox, USA]
Age-period-cohort modelling of alcohol volume and heavy drinking days in the US National Alcohol Surveys: Divergence in younger and older adult trends
The decomposition of trends in alcohol volume and heavy drinking days into age, period, cohort and demographic effects offers an important perspective on the dynamics of change in alcohol use patterns in the US [NIH, USA]
Illicit Drug Use among Older Adults
An estimated 4.3 million adults aged 50 or older, or 4.7 percent of adults in that age range, had used an illicit drug in the past year, based on data from 2006 to 2008 [SAMHSA, USA]
Crackdown on alcohol seen as part of conservative moment in Iraq
Government officials, including many competing in the upcoming parliamentary election, have sought to impose stricter limits on alcohol consumption and coeducational schools [Washington Post, USA]
Drinking Nightmare Campaign Effective: Research
According to new research, the Rudd Government’s campaign to reduce harm associated with binge drinking among young Australians has achieved strong awareness [Department of Health, Australia]
The economics of drugs
The Government Action Plan on Methamphetamine is working by at least one measure – price. A gram of P, according to one Auckland drug dealer, now costs around $800, whereas a year ago the same amount set users back about $300-$400 [Stuff.co, New Zealand]
Looking back and forging ahead
10 ways UNODC makes a difference [UNODC]