DS Daily - 28th February 2011 |
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RCGP guidance on opioid substitute prescribing in primary care - Response from Professor John Strang
We will examine this report along with other materials in the Recovery-Oriented Drug Treatment expert group that I am chairing at the request of the NTA, in order to develop protocols and guidance for the whole substance misuse field [Professor John Strang, National Addiction Centre, UK]
Young offenders leaving custody for life of homelessness and reoffending
Children as young as 13 released from custody without a safe place to live, Barnados study finds [Guardian, UK]
Real-world study of emergency department alcohol advice
A few minutes with specially hired interventionists can curb the intake of heavy drinking emergency patients, but in routine practice hospital staff will usually have to do this work. A US study tested this real-world scenario and found the modest drinking reductions were short-lived [Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK]
Social ties and recovery go together like ham and eggs
How nice then to find this little gem of a paper published in the March 2011 edition of Addictive Disorders and Their Treatment [Binge Inking]
David Cameron shows his ignorance about cannabis
David Cameron showed just how badly politicians can mislead when he answered a question about cannabis law reform this week [UKCIA]
Mayor’s proposal to develop a compulsory alcohol sobriety scheme for London
The proposed scheme advocates an enforcement approach providing specific powers for the courts to mandate sobriety as an order for alcohol related violence offences [Metropolitan Police Authority, UK]
Stupefied in the gutters of the new Gin Lane, we’re just where our leaders want us
In the space of about ten years, a subtle and elaborate system for keeping us out of Gin Lane was dismantled. But why? [Daily Mail, UK]
Tobacco smoking can contribute to the development of dementia
A study has found evidence of a link between heavy and prolonged smoking tobacco and dementia [Institute of Psychiatry, UK]
The Net's virtual lynch mob is addicted to outrage
Several hundred emails later, it would appear that I am somewhat to the right of Hitler and have been openly compared to the aforementioned Adolf, Stalin, Goebbels and Mao - Ian O'Doherty [Irish Independent]
Teen pill-poppers on the rise: survey
Recreational use of painkiller OxyContin jumps in Eastern Ontario, even as it levels off in rest of province [Ottawa Citizen, Canada]
Prescription pill addiction ruining lives
Ever-increasing cases of Canadians who abuse prescription painkillers - also called opioids — sedatives and stimulants [Toronto Sun, Canada]
Outlawing 'Legal Highs'
Can Emergency Bans Hinder Drug Development? [TIME, USA]
End of needle exchange leaves thousands at risk
The District's largest needle exchange program, Prevention Works, closed its doors on Feb. 25 after exchanging about 100,000 needles for 2,200 people last year. Its closure leaves many without a resource for clean needles [Washington Post, USA]
Science Weekly podcast: AAAS 2011, drugs
The highlights of this year's AAAS science festival in Washington DC, professor David Nutt explains his latest research on reclassifying drugs [Guardian, UK]
Government sets up drug policy advisory group
The Queensland Government has announced it is setting up an advisory group to help develop and monitor drug policies [ABC News, Australia]
Synthetic marijuana widely used at Naval Academy, some midshipmen say
A synthetic form of marijuana is widely used at the U.S. Naval Academy because it cannot be detected in routine drug tests, according to several former midshipmen who have been removed from campus for using or possessing the substance [Washington Post, USA]
WHO Report on Alcohol Violence Significant Says Police
Police across Australia and New Zealand are demonstrating their united determination to improve community safety by promoting responsible consumption of alcohol through joint police operations [Scoop, New Zealand]
'Whoonga' threat to South African HIV patients
HIV patients in the South African township of Umlazi live in fear of being robbed of their live-saving anti-retroviral drugs [BBC, UK]
Drug war anniversary - A time for refection and action
Some anniversaries provide an occasion for celebration, others a time for reflection, still others a time for action. This June will mark forty years since President Nixon declared a "war on drugs," identifying drug abuse as "public enemy No. 1." [IDPC]
The drug trade
The politicisation of criminals and the criminalisation of politicians [IDPC]
Drug policy
Lessons learned and options for the future [IDPC]