DS Daily - 30th May 2011 |
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Leading world politicians urge 'paradigm shift' on drugs policy
Kofi Annan, George Shultz and Richard Branson among those urging public health approach | Observer, UK
Global Commission on Drug Policy to present concluding report to Ban Ki Moon
The Global Commission will present its conclusions to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in New York, on 2 June. The event will be accompanied by a major international campaign led by Avaaz, which aims to gather 500,000 signatures for its new petition 'End the war on drugs!' | IDPC
A 'war' we should fight no longer
Before he was President, Obama called the war on drugs an "utter failure" and said we should think about decriminalising cannabis. Before he was Prime Minister, Cameron said Britain's drug policy was an "abject failure" and called for a debate on legalisation of all drugs. Now that they're in power, though, both men have had an utter and abject failure of nerve | Independent, UK
Fury over guide to cannabis
Experts and politicians have branded the brochure "perverse", and claim it could encourage youngsters to experiment | The Sun, UK
New Department of Health campaigns funded
The coalition government has announced funding for new public health campaigns, despite a previous freeze on all marketing and advertising | BBC, UK
Andrew Lansley forced to make U-turn on public health campaign cuts
Health secretary attacked after calls to smoking, drugs and lifestyle helplines plunged following spending freeze | Guardian, UK
Drug scanner checks Aberdeen pub-goers' hands
A device to detect traces of drugs on people's hands has been used on pub-goers by police in Aberdeen | BBC, UK
The rise and dangers of 'party drug' ketamine
In the wake of the ban on party drug mephedrone last April, ketamine has swiftly filled the void | Telegraph, UK
Twelve arrested in police dawn drug raid
Seven men and five women were held as part of Operation Camel, the culmination of weeks of intelligence carried out by uniform and plain clothes officers in Govan Cross, Glasgow | The Herald, Scotland, UK
Therapist-client relationships which promote wellbeing and recovery
Bulletin devoted to a special issue of the journal Psychotherapy recording the conclusions reached and evidence gathered by a high-level US task force on the relationships between how therapists relate to their clients and the progress clients make in therapy | Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK
Drink, drugs and bullying: BBC forced to reveal its disciplinary record
A total of 410 disciplinary procedures have been recorded by the corporation since April 2006, with 11 employees rebuked for drug abuse - believed to be cocaine - and alcohol dependency. A spokesman said: ‘These instances are extremely rare, given the number of people who work for the BBC.’ | Daily Mail, UK
Residential rehab briefing: Evidence base
There is a paucity of research about residential rehab in the UK. This is due to a lack fo research interest and funding in this area of drug treatment. However, that which does exist is supportive of the merits of residential rehab in supporting people into recovery | Addiction Today, UK
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley demands supermarkets take action on alcohol
Andrew Lansley has written to the UK's leading supermarkets demanding action after Department of Health officials said that the retail giants had failed to follow through on commitments to remove alcohol promotions from the front of their stores | Telegraph, UK
Alex Salmond declares war on Scotland's scourges
In his opening statement to the Scottish Parliament, following his relection at the beginning of the month, Mr Salmond said early legislation would address sectarianism and Scotland's alcohol problem | The Scotsman, UK
Bionic brains: we have the technology to rebuild you
Therapist Sarah Graham offered up her brain for a battery of tests – and was shocked to find that her memory systems were damaged not so much by years of using cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis and LSD but by her teenage binge drinking | Addiction Today, UK
Hospitals admit 32 alcohol patients each day
NHS feels strain as booze cases soar | This is Hull & East riding, UK
Graphic warnings on cigarette packets DO help smokers to kick the habit
The results of the poll called the the Global Adult Tobacco Survey were published by the US Centers for Disease Control | Daily Mail, UK
Improving health services for vulnerable children and young people
Health services aimed at vulnerable children and young people in the secure estate are set to improve, following changes announced by Care Services Minister Paul Burstow | Department of Health, UK
Voluntary sector faces value-for-money test
Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has warned that the Government cannot continue to support community and voluntary organisations that fail to demonstrate value for money | Irish Times
Inequality to worsen and bring variety of social ills, forum told
Inequality is likely to increase during the recession, prompting a corresponding rise in social problems such as teenage pregnancies and drug abuse, an international expert on health and income inequality has warned | Irish Times
Cannabis cafes set to become private clubs, no entry for tourists
The cabinet is pressing ahead with plans to turn all cafes selling small amounts of cannabis into members’ only clubs, accessible only to people officially living in the Netherlands | Dutch News, Netherlands
Special Series: The faces of addiction in our community
One in 11 hit by substance abuse | Vancouver Sun, Canada
Most aren't treated for illness, doctors say
For doctors, an addiction is an illness | Vancouver Sun, Canada
Fighting addiction
Trying to beat a dependence on drugs or alcohol is tough enough. But a lack of resources, beds and facilities on Vancouver Island means many of those seeking help just won't get it | Vancouver Sun, Canada
Public vs. private treatment
The hard road to recovery | Vancouver Sun, Canada
Criminal Law and HIV
A series of five info sheets on the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure in Canada | Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
The Economic Argument for Legalization
If stripped down to simply an economic concern, the argument for decriminalization and legalization of marijuana and other narcotics is rather compelling | Politonomist, Canada
Is lowering the drinking age a good idea?
Read on for two views on this topic | LA Times, USA
Junkies to help police North Richmond laneways in bid to ease 'perfect storm' of heroin dealing
Illicit drug users will be trained to police North Richmond's entrenched drug trade in order to minimise its impact on residents and businesses | The Age, Australia
Heroin a hit in migrant centres
Heroin addicts are being held in immigration detention centres and provided with methadone | Telegraph, Australia
Polish President approves new drug law
Ahead of a visit from Barack Obama, Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski has signed an amendment to his country's drug law. The newly amended law, approved on Wednesday, May 25, is a small step forward in liberalizing Poland's drug policy | IDPC
Marijuana factsheet - Information sheet for professionals
This factsheet, written by the Albanian organisation Stop AIDS, provides information about the attributes and effects of marijuana use | IDPC