DS Daily - 31st March 2011

Next open meeting of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

The next open meeting of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs will occur on 12 April 2011. The meeting is free to attend, but you must register beforehand [Home Office, UK]

Scots drug deaths 'may be far higher' than figures show

Statistics show there were 545 drug abuse deaths recorded in 2009. But Edinburgh University researcher Dr Roy Robertson said the total would be much higher if deaths from related diseases and violence were included [BBC, UK]

Greater flexibility for drug testing in police stations

Police forces will now have greater freedom and flexibility to drug test people on arrest, Minister for Crime Prevention James Brokenshire announced today [Home Office, UK]

New powers to drug test on arrest

Police are to be granted new powers making it easier for them to carry out drug tests on arrest [The Scotsman, UK]

Rule by the right-wing press dooms any sensible debate on drugs

The primary issue here is one of political courage, or rather, its absence under fire. Any politician who dares to stand against the tabloids quickly undares - Matthew Norman [Independent, UK]

Charity leaders' confidence levels hit rock bottom

97 per cent of charity leaders expect economic conditions within the sector to be negative over the next 12 months, according to our latest Charity Forecast survey [National Council for Voluntary Organisations, UK]

Charities 'poised to axe staff'

A third of charities say their level of service will decrease, according to the report by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations [Press Association]

Health and social care services opened up to big society

NHS staff and patients will get more control of their services thanks to a package of measures announced by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley at the social enterprise conference, VOICE 11 in London [Department of Health, UK]

Public sector cuts

What we know so far [Guardian, UK]

How have the cuts affected the homelessness sector?

Charities and housing associations predict a rise in rough sleeping because of the cuts [Guardian, UK]

How have the cuts affected drugs and alcohol services?

Funding for some young people's drug and alcohol projects is down as much as 50% [Guardian, UK]

NHS staff encouraged to form John Lewis-style organisations

Treatment for eating disorders, alcohol and drug detox programmes and sexual health services could all be run by NHS employees under the new “right to provide” [Telegraph, UK]

TV alcohol advertising ban proposed

A bid to impose a total ban on alcohol advertising on television has been launched in Parliament. The legislation, proposed by GP and Tory MP Sarah Wollaston, would also prevent alcohol brands being used to sponsor sporting and cultural events [Independent, UK]

Obesity and alcohol misuse costs NHS £140m in Wales

The research, commissioned by the assembly government, put the cost of obesity to the NHS in Wales at £73m and excessive alcohol consumption at between £69.9m and £73.3m [BBC, UK]

Dealer is caught with £50,000 of cocaine, crystal meth, cannabis and ecstasy... and judge frees him

In an astonishing ruling Judge Holt said MacDonald was an ‘exceptional’ case as he had started taking drugs following a family tragedy, had admitted his guilt and been on a successful rehab programme [Daily Mail, UK]

Drink and drugs rife at new year riot prison, report finds

Ford open prison inspectors told drugs and alcohol easy to get hold of a month before disturbances [Guardian, UK]

Schoolboys, 8, caught showing off 'bags of cannabis' to classmates

Stunned: Teachers at Stanley Primary in Marton, Blackpool, made the shocking discovery after two Year Three boys were seen showing packets of cannabis to their friends [Daily Mail, UK]

Nick Herbert - speech to the IPPR

The role of commissioners will be greater than that of the police authorities they replace…They will have a broad remit to ensure community safety, with their own budgets to prevent crime and tackle drugs [IPPR, UK]

Government criticised by drugs crisis groups

Two Northside-based drugs services have accused the new Government of showing a “lack of commitment” to the fight against drugs [Dublin People, Ireland]

What should the new government’s priority be on drugs and/or alcohol?

For this feature, we posed the following question to various individuals working for drug and alcohol agencies within the community/voluntary sector: What should the new government’s priority be on drugs and/or alcohol? Please watch the following video for more infomation... [Drugs.ie, Ireland]

Drug Courts Save Lives and Money

And for that they are attacked by decriminalizers [National Association of Drug Court Professionals, USA]

Drug Courts Are Not the Answer

Response to NADCP Statement [Drug Policy Alliance, USA]

New strategic initiatives paper for advancing the nation’s behavioral health

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) published its strategic initiatives paper - an overview of SAMHSA’s goals, priorities and action steps for accomplishing its mission of reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities [SAMHSA, USA]