DS Daily - 8th April 2013 |
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'Absurd' drug laws 'hinder research' - Prof David Nutt
'Absurd' laws dealing with magic mushrooms, ecstasy and cannabis are hindering medical research, according to a former government drugs adviser | BBC, UK
Magic mushrooms' psychedelic ingredient could help treat people with severe depression
Trials of psilocybin blocked by drugs law red tape, says Professor David Nutt of Imperial College London | Guardian, UK
Undercover police 'gave drugs to dealers in return for information'
Former detective Christian Plowman writes book claiming that unit targeted low-level criminals rather than criminals at top of chain | Guardian, UK
Global public health community issues warning on alcohol industry conflict of interest
More than 500 public health professionals, health scientists and NGO representatives from 60 countries have signed a joint Statement of Concern about the activities of the global alcohol producers | Alcohol Concern, UK
Further 'strong heroin' Woking alert after two collapse
Further warnings about a strong form of heroin have come from Surrey Police after two people collapsed | BBC, UK
Human trafficking victims tell of drug factory ordeal
Call to protect those forced into crime after being held prisoner on UK cannabis farms | Guardian, UK
Cocaine 'worth £12m' seized by police
Eight people have been arrested after police seized 80kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of £12m | BBC, UK
Killer pills: myth or murder
This is not just another drug scare story. ‘Ecstasy’ pills containing PMA are killing clubbers in the UK. Find out how to make sure you’re not next, and why the government should be doing something about it | MixMag, UK
The marketing of e-cigarettes: a UK snapshot
Multiple brands of e-cigarettes are being widely marketed, both online and in conventional media, as safer, ‘healthier’ and cheaper alternatives to smoking that can be used either to quit, or for dual use in places where smoking is not allowed – thereby enabling smokers to ‘take back their freedom’ | BMJ Blogs, UK
William Hague asks Indonesia to spare British grandmother convicted of drug smuggling from death penalty
Foreign Secretary William Hague has urged a court in Indonesia not to execute a British grandmother convicted of drug smuggling | Mail Online, UK
British tourists held on drug charges in Dubai 'denied UK lawyers'
A lawyer claims she was refused access to men who allege they were ‘tortured’ in jail | Independent, UK
Mexico City unveils memorial to drugs war victims - video
A monument to the victims of Mexico's drugs war has been unveiled in Mexico City | BBC, UK
Police chief backs teen crime commissioner after tweets
The police chief who hired the UK's first youth police and crime commissioner (PCC) says the 17-year-old won't lose her job | BBC Newsbeat, UK
One in ten public health director roles remain unfilled
More than one in ten public health director roles remain unfilled at local authorities, in a situation GP leaders have warned risks a leadership vacuum in the event of an outbreak or emergency | Pulse, UK
Latest newsletter to the IDHDP (PDF)
March edition fo the newsletter from International Doctors for Healthy Drug Policies | IDHP, UK
Government campaign targets alcohol abuse
This online supplement is produced and published by Rossiyskaya Gazeta (Russia), which takes sole responsibility for the content | Telegraph, UK
E-cigarettes primarily used to quit tobacco: study
Although the long-term health effects of electronic cigarettes are unknown, a new survey finds people who use the devices think of them as a safer alternative to tobacco and a means to break the smoking habit | Reuters, USA
Wars on Drugs
Last year, more active-duty soldiers committed suicide than died in battle. This fact has been reported so often that it has almost lost its jolting force. Almost | New York Times, USA
Duped into drug use
Patients are being deceived into taking drugs they do not need, that do not work and even put lives at risk, according to a scathing review of the influence big drug companies have on healthcare | Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Calls to raise drinking age
Children younger than 13 are overdosing on illegal drugs and being treated in Canberra hospitals for alcohol poisoning | Age, Australia
Kids found in unsafe Northland drug houses
A 3-month-old baby was the youngest of 17 children found by police living in unsafe drug houses during the annual cannabis blitz | New Zealand Herald, New Zealand
Man seeks answers after drug test mix up
A Blenheim man says he wants answers after "impossible" drug test results caused him to lose his job | New Zealand Herald, New Zealand