DS Daily - 24th May 2011

New National Naloxone Programme information leaflets

New information leaflets have been signed off by the Scottish Government’s National Naloxone Advisory Group and the Specialist Pharmacists in Substance Misuse Group | Scottish Drugs Forum, UK

Council draws up battle plan to tackle drink and drug addiction in Lincolnshire

Drinkers and drug addicts are to be targeted separately after a revision of harm reduction services available in the county | This is Lincolnshire, UK

'Sleep rough? I don't sleep, I walk the streets all night to keep warm'

There is perhaps no greater example of the Dispossessed than the 2,226 people who, according to Homeless Link, slept rough for the first time in London last year | London Evening Standard, UK

Giving White Paper

Making it easier to take part in a bigger, stronger society | Cabinet Office, UK

A new online toolkits to tackle scandal of empty homes

Communities Minister Andrew Stunell today launched two new online toolkits to help local councils and communities better identify the empty homes in their area and bring them back into use | Communities and Local Government, UK

Doctor, alcoholic, addict in conversation - part 1

Ian, a doctor in recovery from drug dependence agreed to be interviewed for | Binge Inking, UK

Doctor, alcoholic, addict in conversation - part 2

Interview of an addicted doctor now in recovery continues | Binge Inking, UK

OTC drug addiction often tied to illegal drug use

Addiction to prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines is linked to illegal drug use in the majority of cases, a DoH-commissioned report has found | GP, UK

See your drinking in lbs and pence

5 good reasons to start using MyDrinkaware

Brewers want more dialogue over Scottish drinks’ policy

At a major European conference on the brewing industry which opened this morning in Glasgow, a leading industry figure has raised concerns over key aspects of Scottish alcohol policy and called for a new dialogue with the SNP government over key issues | British Beer & Pub Association, UK

Proposals to get prisoners into jobs and out of crime

Government proposes reforms to the adult offender education system in England, with a greater emphasis on the results that education and training in prison delivers. Download | Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, UK

Children’s experience and attitudes towards the police, personal safety and public spaces

Findings from the 2009/10 British Crime Survey interviews with children aged 10 to 15 | Home Office, UK

Where next for the NHS reforms?

Written as a contribution to the government's current listening exercise, this paper sets out the challenges facing the NHS and identifies the reforms we believe are needed to meet these challenge. Download | The King's Fund, UK

An artistic form of drug rehab

You expect a gritty methadone clinic or drab drop-in centre. But not this. It feels more like an art school or Berlin-style exhibition space | Irish Times

College final exams are upon us, and ADHD medication is in demand

Stimulant medications to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are popular pills on college campuses during finals week, according to surveys | LA Times, USA

Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths Continue to Increase

Now Second Leading Cause of Unintentional Deaths | CESAR Fax, USA

Trends in Underage Drinking in the United States, 1991-2009

This is the fourth of a series of reports to be published every two years on underage drinking and related attitudes and risk behaviors | NIAAA, USA

States cut back efforts to provide drugs for HIV, AIDS

Advocacy groups say the pullback by states is shortsighted | Washington Post, USA

Outdoor Smoking Ban Goes into Effect Today

The city's outdoor smoking ban officially goes into effect Monday, and violators who are caught puffing away at parks, plazas and beaches could get fined $50 | NBC, USA

Getting it right

Professor Nick Crofts says criminalising the use of certain drugs is doing more harm than good and a new approach to regulation is needed. Professor Crofts of The Nossal Institute for Global Health and Melbourne University's Centre for International Mental Health is one of the world's leaders in drug policy | The Age, Australia