DS Daily - 15th January 2010 |
 |
Rival to government drug advisory panel launched
It has been set up by the government's former chief drugs adviser, David Nutt, who was sacked last October for criticising government policy [BBC, UK]
New NTA and Society Guardian microsite promotes benefits of recovery and reintegration
The NTA together with Society Guardian has launched a new microsite promoting the benefits of recovery and reintegration from drug addiction [Guardian, UK]
Drug and alcohol treatment for young people
Regional media releases [National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, UK]
Teenagers receiving drug and alcohol treatment where you live
New figures from the NHS National Treatment Agency show the number of teenagers in England being treated for drug dependency, by region - spreadsheet [Guardian, UK]
Clinical Update
December 2009 [SMMGP, UK]
Gordon Brown responds to Transform's call for Impact Assessment
I received a letter from Downing Street this week, in response to my meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown to call for an Impact Assessment of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Here is the briefing that I gave him [Danny Kushlick, TDPF, UK]
A poisoned spliff for the Tories?
Iverson’s appointment means that the stage is now set for yet another major push by the ACMD for drug liberalisation/legalisation, and possibly another epic confrontation with the next government [Melanie Phillips, Spectator, UK]
Government campaign asks parents and young people, 'Why Let Drink Decide?'
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls will today join forces with comedian Bill Bailey to launch a new national advertising campaign ‘Why Let Drink Decide?’ to raise awareness of how alcohol can make young people vulnerable to problems such as unwanted pregnancies, road traffic accidents and poor marks at school [Department for Children, Schools and Families, UK]
Cutting Crime: the case for justice reinvestment
Browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee [Justice Committee, House of Commons, UK]
Sainsbury Centre welcomes 'visionary' House of Commons report on justice reinvestment
Too many people with mental health problems are in prison or hospital custody for lack of community alternatives. This is both a waste of money and a waste of lives [Sainsbury Centre, UK]
Finland in plan to stub out smoking
The government in Finland has become the first in the world to say it intends to phase out smoking completely [BBC, UK]
Inquest probes methadone deaths at Manitoba prison
An inquest this week is examining why three prisoners died inside Manitoba's Stony Mountain Penitentiary after they took methadone. [Canada.com]
Methadone Research Web Guide
Contents page [NIDA, USA]
US youth anti-drug campaign boomeranged say official evaluators
Could the biggest ever media campaign by the US government aiming to turn US youth away from cannabis actually have done the reverse? At best it was a disappointment; at worst, it counterproductively fostered the impression that cannabis use was commonplace and hard to resist [Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK]
The Past, Present, and Future of Medical Marijuana in the United States
This article seeks to place the attorney general’s action in historical, medical, and legal context [Psychiatric Times, USA]
NSDUH Report - Substance Use Treatment Need and Receipt among People Living in Poverty
Combined 2006 to 2008 data indicate that 3.7 million persons aged 12 or older living in poverty were in need of substance use treatment in the past year [SAMHSA, USA]
Nasa launches investigation after cocaine is found in space shuttle hanger
Nasa has launched an investigation to find out which of its employees breached a zero-tolerance policy on drugs after cocaine was found in a space shuttle hangar [Daily Mail, UK]
FDA can't block importing of 'electronic cigarettes'
In court papers, the FDA said it considers the devices, also known as e-cigarettes, to be unapproved drug-delivery gadgets. E-cigarettes are the size of regular cigarettes and deliver a vaporized nicotine mixture to users [Washington Post, USA]
Accepting drug use does not mean condoning it
It is disappointing that proactive measures to protect our youth from drug-related harm continue to be met with resistance from the public and politicians [SMH, Australia]
Big Day Out teens face alcohol checks
Under 18s going to the Big Day Out music festival on the Gold Coast are being warned that simply holding an alcoholic drink could cost them a fine [SMH, Australia]
Alcohol permanently changes foetus genes - study
The changes were an indication of the changed epigenetic state of genes, caused by the alcohol.Epigenetic information is an extra layer of information attached to DNA that helps regulate gene activity, turning them on or off and affecting one's physical traits [The Herald Sun, Australia]
Narco-Jihad
Drug Trafficking and Security in Afghanistan and Pakistan [NBR]
Afghan town evicts addicts in desperation
Tired of watching their young people descend into drug addiction, village elders in a remote Afghan region are taking action to get them to kick the habit -- or get kicked out of town [Ariana, Afghanistan]