Weekly news - 12th 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
RecoveryWatch: Tell us what is happening in your area
For the Recovery Partnership, DrugScope is monitoring developments for drug and alcohol services in light of significant changes for the sector. We want to hear from you about your experience of what is happening locally (positive or negative) - in public health, criminal justice, services which support recovery and also young people. All responses will be treated in the strictest confidence. If it matters to you, it is relevant for us. Do get in touch. | DrugScope, UK
School based interventions to prevent the uptake of smoking among children and young people (PDF)
A summary of selected new evidence relevant to NICE public health guidance 23 ‘School-based interventions to prevent the uptake of smoking among children and young people’ (2010) | NICE, UK
Tenth of city drug addicts manage to hold down job
One in ten drug addicts in Edinburgh who seek support from health services are holding down jobs, new figures reveal today | Scotsman, UK
Legal highs 'should be sold like alcohol'
'Legal high' drugs should be sold by pharmacists in the same way as alcohol in pubs so that doctors will know what teens have taken when they overdose, the government's former chief drugs adviser has said | Telegraph, UK
Anger as tobacco firm contests benefits of plain packaging
Makers of Silk Cut and Benson & Hedges launch ad campaign in Scotland challenging restrictions | Independent, UK
Lindsay Sandiford loses Bali death sentence appeal
Briton Lindsay Sandiford has lost her appeal against her death sentence in Bali for drug trafficking, a Bali High Court spokesman has said | BBC, UK
The power of intervention: America's most successful addiction treatment has been slow to catch on here – until now
Addicts' families withdraw all support and press them into rehab | Independent, UK
Funding for drug and alcohol prevention, treatment and recovery services
Alcohol and drug misuse prevention and treatment for dependence are an important part of public health responsibilities and continue to be a key priority for the government | PHE, UK
Funding family support: new discussion paper
In late 2012, Adfam circulated a survey for family support services asking about how they are funded, how this is changing, and the impact of a challenging financial environment on how they deliver services | Adfam, UK
EU clinicians seek tougher tobacco laws
Population health must remain at the heart of plans to change the sale of tobacco in Europe, the BMA maintains | BMA, UK
National Drug Control Budget (PDF)
In support of the 2013 National Drug Control Strategy (Strategy), the President requests $25.4 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 to reduce drug use and its consequences in the United States. This represents an increase of $0.9 billion (3.7%) over the FY 2012 final level of $24.5 billion | White House, USA
The President’s FY 2014 Budget: Supporting A 21st Century Drug Policy
Across America, drug use and its consequences place obstacles in the way of the President’s plan to foster healthier, safer, and more prosperous communities. In fact, in 2007 drug use cost American taxpayers $193 billion (PDF) in lost productivity, healthcare, and criminal justice costs | White House Blog, USA
Pubs demand minimum alcohol price
The heads of pubs, nightclubs and breweries are pleading with David Cameron to stick to his plans to introduce a mininum alcohol price | Telegraph, UK
Comment: What can the UK learn from New Zealand's radical new drugs bill?
Only recently, news began to emerge of a 'ground-breaking' new approach to drugs in New Zealand – a legal framework based on the crucial principle that more control over drugs is better, safer and indeed more desirable than less control | Politics.co.uk, UK
Seminal studies of the impact of alcohol counsellor skills and support
In the alcohol treatment world, arguably studies don’t get more important than these landmarks in the relatively scarce literature about what makes some alcohol counsellors, therapists and treatment services more effective than others | Drug and Alcohol Findings, UK
Green grass of home: police crack down on cottage industry of cannabis
Over 7,000 cannabis farms were discovered last year, with a shift away from the larger scale farms set up by gangs | Guardian, UK