Weekly news - 7th May 2010

A new conversation about drugs

Government needs to address drugs not simply as a matter of public protection, crime reduction or public health, but as a multi-dimensional complex social problem affecting some of its most vulnerable citizens [RSA, UK]

Attitudes towards alcohol: segmentation series report 1

This report, published by NWPHO, is part of a series of four reports utilising segmentation tools to discuss attitudes towards alcohol. Together the reports aim to synthesise the different data sources that identify at-risk groups as well as to provide an insight into related motivations and attitudes. This report concentrates on attitudes and motivations in relation to alcohol, highlighting which groups and types of groups are most likely to have specific attitudes and/or motivations [Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, UK]

Alcohol consumption: segmentation series report 2

This report concentrates on consumption, highlighting which groups and types of groups are most likely to drink in certain patterns [Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, UK]

Alcohol-attributable hospital admissions: segmentation series report 3

This report concentrates on hospital admission relating to alcohol in order to highlight which groups and types of populations are most at risk [Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, UK]

Alcohol pen portraits: segmentation series report 4

This report, the final in the series, is a summary document, bringing together the intelligence gathered to provide an in-depth understanding of the groups. The report provides suggestions for the nest steps in developing a truly insightful understanding of the groups through qualitative research [Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, UK]

New research shows cheap alcohol is bought by all income groups

An analysis of household income and expenditure patterns undertaken by Professor Anne Ludbrook, Aberdeen University. PDF of the paper [Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems, UK]

Alcohol and Older People event pt.1

Alcohol and mental health event for social care [Alcohol Policy UK]

Alcohol and Older people event pt.2

Taking notice in the South West [Alcohol Policy UK]

Cross-sectional measures and modelled estimates of blood alcohol levels in UK nightlife

A public health approach to nightlife is needed to better understand and take into account the chronic effects of drunkenness, the damages arising after drunk individuals leave city centres and the costs of people avoiding drunken city centres at night [Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy]

Jar wars: the question of schools-based drug testing

This briefing paper examines the use of schools-based drug testing, analysing its underlying assumptions, its ethical dimensions and the research so far conducted into its practical application [IDPC]

Standards and guidelines for practices

This page contains a listing of national drug treatment guidelines in Europe [EMCDDA]

Limited impacts in seven-nation European drug education trial

After the disappointment of the English Blueprint trial come results from a seven nation drug education trial. EU-Dap probably registered some real successes, but these were few and small and may have been artefacts of the implementation and analysis of the study [Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK]