DS Daily - 3rd March 2011 |
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INCB Annual Report 2010
The report highlights the Board's concerns about issues such as designer drugs, synthetic cannabinoids and precursor chemicals and also presents regional developments and recommendations for Governments [INCB]
Designer drugs are escalating out of control, according to INCB
Designer drugs are being produced faster and in growing numbers, according to the annual report of the Vienna-based International Narcotics Control Board [UNODC]
INCB Report: mixed thoughts
So perhaps these are positive signs that the INCB is starting to move away from its ideological past towards a more evidence-based and constructive role in the future [Transnational Institute, Netherlands]
Cannabis psychosis – more reefer madness or not?
Sadly the way this is usually reported by the tabloid press is far from objective, and indeed this lack of objectivity isn’t confined to the tabloid press [UKCIA]
Eric Pickles speech at NCVO Annual Conference
It is reasonable to expect that councils will not pass on disproportionate cuts to local voluntary and community groups. That they will not inflict bigger reductions to your budgets than they take on themselves ... if councils are being high-handed - I'll consider giving our reasonable expectations statutory force [National Council for Voluntary Organisations, UK]
Rough estimates: Did Labour under-report rough sleeping?
Whilst Mr Pickles may well be correct to identify a four-fold rise in rough sleeping under the new methodology, it is impossible to determine to what extent this was due to under-reporting [Full Fact, UK]
Debate on Royal Commission on drugs
My Question for Short Debate, ‘To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to establishing a Royal Commission on the law governing drug use and possession’, has been scheduled for next Wednesday (9 March). Readers are very welcome to suggest points I should cover - Lord Norton [Lords of the Blog, UK]
RCN joins forces to promote children and young people's mental health
A statement drawn up jointly by the RCN, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Division of Clinical Psychology from the British Psychological Society and the Royal College of General Practitioners recognises the common concerns of health professionals who provide services for children and calls for five key actions [RCN, UK]
Classifying offenders could lead to criminal justice revolution
Under pilot scheme offenders will be classified red, yellow or green depending on how much harm they are likely to cause [Guardian, UK]
'Proud of beer' video warns of the damage of tax increase
A video championing the 'Proud of Beer' message has warned of the dangers of increasing beer duty at the forthcoming Budget [British Beer & Pub Association, UK]
Row over handling of under 25 rule for pubs
Drinkers who look under 25 will be refused alcohol in Scotland’s pubs and nightclubs from October 1 this year if they cannot prove they are old enough to buy alcohol [The Herald, Scotland, UK]
Association of active and passive smoking with risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women
Active smoking was associated with an increase in breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women. There was also a suggestion of an association between passive smoking and increased risk of breast cancer [BMJ, UK]
Minister calls for free sterilisation for addicts
Denmark’s health minister has called for free sterilisation for female alcoholics and drug addicts to help prevent birth defects in children [Ice News, Iceland]
Alcohol deaths ‘easily’ preventable
Alcohol is responsible for around 80 per cent of deaths from liver disease, but many of these deaths are easily preventable, according to a comment in The Lancet that takes the history of alcohol policy as its evidence base [Irish Medical Times]
Spice, K2, Other “Fake Pot” Illegal as of March 1
Sixteen states have already passed a mishmash of legislation outlawing one or more of the drugs in question, which are typically sold as Spice, K2 or Red X [Addiction Inbox, USA]
Most substance abuse treatment programs accept private health insurance
Study indicates that most will be ready to adapt to greater health care coverage provided by the Affordable Care Act and Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act [SAMHSA, USA]
Some want pharmacies to fingerprint Rx customers
A new proposal by law enforcement would make Florida the first state to require customers to be fingerprinted when picking up certain drugs at pharmacies [abc Action News, USA]
Drug report: Latin American trade is worrying
The International Narcotics Control Board also criticized the Bolivian government for a lack of action in combating production of coca, the raw material of cocaine [Washington Post, USA]
Drug services forced to play system
Victoria's drug and alcohol services have been forced to ''game'' the system by treating patients multiple times because they are chronically under-funded, the state's financial watchdog has warned [The Age, Australia]
Sport under the influence
Alcohol industry sponsorship has been a gold mine for sport in New Zealand, so much that many clubs say they couldn't survive without it. But what has been the cost to the codes, the players and the general public of alcohol's high profile wherever we compete? [New Zealand Drug Foundation]
Methadone substitution therapy helps prevent new HIV infections in Belarus
According to the UNAIDS, UNODC and WHO, Opioid substitution therapy (OST), with methadone or buprenorphine, is highly effective in reducing injecting behaviours that put people who use drugs at risk for HIV [UNAIDS]