DS Daily - 18th April 2011

Naloxone Saves Lives

Potentially 21 deaths from heroin overdose have been prevented in Swansea since the introduction of a 'take home heroin antidote scheme' in 2009 | Safer Swansea Project, UK

Every parent's worst nightmare: how ketamine killed our daughter

Bright, popular, rebellious and creative, 21-year-old Louise Cattell had everything to live for. Then she made a fatal mistake. She took the party drug ketamine and was found dead in the bath by her flatmate | Observer, UK

Test on Arrest Implemented Across Gwent

Mandatory drug-testing on arrest is now available across Gwent following the reclassification of Caerphilly as an intensive borough from 1 March | CRI, UK

Treating drug dependence - New habits for old

The extension of “payment by results” to the treatment of drug addicts will test the method’s limits | The Economist

Treating drug dependence in Britain

Martin Barnes of DrugScope on the challenges of paying by results when helping people recover from drug addiction - Audio | The Economist

Social work guru Le Grand rejects payment by results

Policy guru Julian Le Grand has said social work is not ready for a bonus culture of payment by outcomes, in an admission that has delighted employee bodies | Community Care, UK

Social Fund changes will lead to drastic reduction of support to most vulnerable warn charities

Fifteen organisations have joined forces and written a letter to the Minister of State for Pensions, Steve Webb MP expressing deep concern about DWP proposals to abolish parts of the Social Fund | Citizens Advice, UK

Screening properties of questionnaires and laboratory tests for the detection of alcohol abuse or dependence in a general practice population

Early identification of alcohol abuse or dependence is important in general practice because many diseases are influenced by alcohol. General practitioners, however, fail to recognise most patients with alcohol problems | BJGP, UK

Parents' perceptions of their children's alcohol use

A survey in four Wirral secondary schools amongst parents and their children (aged 11-17 years) to investigate the influences of parental drinking and perceptions of alcohol consumption | Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, UK

White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report

Super-strength ciders are becoming popular among heavy drinkers as tax breaks to protect the industry make them a cheaper fix | Observer, UK

Vodka Redbull lead to more risky behaviour than just alcohol

Drinking energy drinks mixed with alcohol – such as the popular mix of Vodka and Red Bull – is riskier than drinking alcohol alone, according to a new study | Telegraph, UK

Newquay raises identification age to 25

Newquay police have raised the age at which anyone in the Cornish resort must have identification | BBC, UK

Barry Island public drinking warning as ban starts

Police enforcement of a ban on public drinking across Barry Island - the setting for TV's Gavin and Stacey - starts in time for the Easter holidays | BBC, UK

"Response of the Centre for Social Justice to 'Child Poverty and Improving Life Chances - Consulting on a New Approach'"

The Centre for Social Justice

The collapse of family life

The think-tank said a child growing up in a one-parent family is 75 per cent more likely to fail at school, 70 per cent more likely to become a drug addict, 50 per cent more likely to have an alcohol problem and 35 per cent more likely to be unemployed as an adult | Daily Mail, UK

Large-scale drug addiction threatens Russian security

A large-scale drug addiction threatens Russian security, the State Council working group said in a report on tougher measures against drug addiction among young people |ITAR TASS, Russia

The Russian Drug Czar vs. Methadone: Parcel of Lies

The Russian drug czar claims opiate substitution does not work - watch our movie! | Drug Reporter, Hungary

Reduction in overdose mortality after the opening of North America's first medically supervised safer injecting facility

A retrospective population-based study | The Lancet

New homes to open for HIV-positive Torontonians with addictions

Fife House has helped approximately 170 Torontonians and families find affordable housing in the city. And now, the foundation is rolling out a new program, geared specifically toward people also struggling with drug or alcohol addictions | Healthzone, Canada

Marijuana should not be criminalized

It is hard to understand why Canada criminalizes marijuana. Make it illegal, sure – subject to a fine, as is wearing a face veil in France – but where is the high degree of harm, to others or self, that requires criminal sanction, including jail? | Globe and Mail, Canada

Drug war: Mexico's weak rule of law

Newly appointed Atty. Gen. Marisela Morales has a window of opportunity to help reform a system that helps perpetuate the nation's drug war | LA Times, USA

Police warn 'no let-up' in drugs crackdown

Police say a $2 million drug bust on Queensland's Sunshine Coast yesterday is just the tip of the iceberg | ABC News, Australia