Weekly news - 15th February 2013 |
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Cynon Valley heroin collapses prompt police warning
Police have urged heroin users in south Wales to get advice and help after two men collapsed after taking the drug | BBC, UK
Thai Valium warning issued after Dorset men taken ill
Two men were taken to hospital after taking what police said was a "controlled drug" on a night out | BBC, UK
US-style court to offer help to Scots addict parents
Scotland's first US-style family drug and alcohol courts are being planned to protect children from abuse and neglect at the hands of addicts | Scotsman, UK
Cigarette display ban date announced
BMA Scotland has welcomed an announcement that a ban on cigarette displays and vending machines will be brought in by the end of April | BMA, UK
Making recovery real - the public health future of drug and alcohol treatment (PDF)
In October last year, the NTA held a series of events for service providers, commissioners, service users and others on Making Recovery Real: the public health future of drug and alcohol treatment. Here are the key messages from these events | NTA, UK
ACMD further advice on foil (2013)
Read the ACMD's advice to the Home Secretary on foil (2013) (PDF) | ACMD, UK
UK's largest drugs inquiry leads to seven more sentences
Seven more people have been sentenced for their part in what is thought to be one of the largest drugs operations carried out in the UK | BBC, UK
General Practitioner Engagement with the Scottish National Naloxone Programme: A Needs Assessment Project
The Scottish National Naloxone Programme's aim is to reduce Scotland’s high number of drug-related deaths (DRDs) caused by opiate overdose. This needs assessment (PDF) was commissioned to ensure GPs’ views and knowledge are considered to maximise engagement of GPs in the Scottish National Naloxone Programme | Health Scotland, UK
Are E-cigarettes safe? Video
Increasing numbers of smokers have started using electronic cigarettes since the first ban on smoking in enclosed public places, introduced almost seven years ago | BBC, UK
Reaching drug users: a tool for outreach services
This guide provides tips on how to do outreach work among communities of people who use drugs, in particular among injecting drug users. It includes suggestions on how to optimise the number of clients served by each outreach worker, in order to ensure cost effectiveness | Community Action on Harm Reduction, UK
The public health reforms: What they mean for drug and alcohol services (DrugScope) (PDF)
In April 2013, most of the current funding for drug and alcohol services will transfer to Directors of Public Health employed by local authorities, who will be statutory members of new Health and Wellbeing Boards. Important and far-reaching changes will impact on the planning, commissioning and delivery of services. This DrugScope briefing for the Recovery Partnership provides a summary of the public health reforms and aims to inform and guide thinking about how your organisation can most effectively prepare for this new environment | DrugScope, UK
ACMD advice on tramadol
Report (PDF) covering pharmacology, toxicology, dependence liability, deaths attributed to tramadol, conclusions and recommendations | ACMD, UK
ACMD advice on independent prescribing of controlled drugs
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is pleased to provide
the advice (PDF) on the recommendations to extend independent prescribing
responsibilities to physiotherapists and chiropodist / podiatrists (allied health
professions)| ACMD, UK
ACMD advice on Sativex
Letter (PDF) outlining definition of cannabis based medicine | ACMD, UK
Plain packs limit marketing power
Anti-smoking campaigners are calling for the government to commit to plain packaging for cigarettes and other tobacco products | BMA, UK