Daily news - 1st April 2016 |
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UK news
Statement on MEAM and Collective Voice
We are pleased to announce that Collective Voice has become an associate of Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM), the national coalition of Clinks, Homeless Link and Mind working to improve policy and services for people with multiple needs | Collective Voice, UK
Introducing change, grow, live
As of today, Crime Reduction Initiatives (CRI) has rebranded to become change, grow, live. Take a look at their new and improved website | CGL, UK
Have you got what it takes? Tackling alcohol misuse (PDF)
Important facts about alcohol, the Licensing Act and the Alcohol Strategy | Home Office, UK
Public awareness of link between alcohol and cancer 'worryingly low'
Nine out of ten Britons do not associate drinking with cancer, according to research by Cancer UK | Guardian, UK
Nanny State Index: 'Excessive' regulation and 'sin taxes' make UK the worst place in the EU to be a wine drinker or smoker
The report ranks the UK as the bloc’s third most meddling country - below Finland and Sweden - when it comes to regulating citizens private lives | Independent, UK
Why e-smoking is flourishing
Britain's “vape” market is puffing along nicely these days. In 2012 there were 340 tobacconists—a category that includes vape stores—in England, Scotland and Wales. There are now 1,552 | Economist, UK
Stop and search (consultation)
The College of Policing is currently developing authorised professional practice (APP) on the subject of stop and search. This work is being undertaken on behalf of the National Policing Lead for stop and search. The focus of this consultation is to obtain feedback on the proposed content of this APP | College of Policing, UK
Fears over closure of alcohol unit
The decision to close a unit that offers specialist help to people who have problems with alcohol could put lives at risk, it's being claimed tonight. The Brian Hore unit in Didsbury has treated people in Manchester for more than 40 years. But a court has decided that the unit can be closed, as part of the redesign of drug and alcohol care in Greater Manchester | ITV, UK
Alcohol support for former soldiers
A new service is being launched in Liverpool to help military veterans affected by alcohol problems. Figures show addiction is far more common in those who have served in the army. Partner organisations in Liverpool have now been awarded a 4 hundred thousand pound grant to help veterans detox and recover | ITV, UK
Paul Gascoigne says he is 'back on track' after recent 'blip' in struggle with alcohol
'I'm not perfect and don't want to be either but I am trying my best always,' says Gascoigne | Independent, UK
Cannabis farm worth £2.8m found in Allerton
A cannabis farm with an estimated street value of £2.8m has been uncovered at a property in Liverpool following an attempted burglary nearby | BBC, UK
Man jailed over Eaglesfield motorway drug haul
A man caught with cocaine with a street value of £240,000 on the A74(M) in Dumfries and Galloway has been jailed for three-and-a-half years | BBC, UK
Six-times drink drive limit man Graeme Smith jailed for four months
A Dundee man was found sleeping in a car at the side of a dual carriageway while he was six times over the legal alcohol limit, a court heard | BBC, UK
International news
Seven die amid wave of overdoses from suspected counterfeit painkillers
Dozens in Sacramento suffer overdoses of drug believed to be fentanyl | Guardian, UK
Whoopi Goldberg announces weed startup for women dealing with painful periods
Comedian and actress Whoopi Goldberg is the latest celebrity to weigh in on the medical marijuana business. She is now the co-founder of a new startup, which is aimed at providing relief for women who suffer from painful menstruation symptoms | IBTimes, UK
'We go rotten': man granted clemency describes life in the US prison system
Norman Brown served 24 years of a life sentence for distributing cocaine, until his became one of 248 Obama has commuted during his presidency | Guardian, UK
CDC’s Opioid Guidelines Advance Efforts to Prevent Opioid Misuse and Overdose
Across HHS, SAMHSA and our sister agencies are marshaling resources to support Secretary Burwell’s initiative to address the opioid crisis in this country. One of the key strategies in this Department-wide effort involves changing prescribing behavior | SAMHSA, USA
AP-NORC Poll: Most Americans see drugs as a big problem
Sharon Johnson calls herself an addict, although she's been sober for three years now. She started by smoking pot and eventually moved to crack cocaine. Her daughter has tried heroin and "I believe I'm going to pull her out of the gutter someday," Johnson laments | Medical Xpress, USA
Addiction associated with poor awareness of others, study shows
Study with adolescents finds dose-response relationship between substance use, sensitivity to others | Science Daily, USA
Opioids could be dangerous, deadly at high doses
Most people know that heroin is a dangerous drug, but its cousins, the legal, pharmaceutical opioids, such as codeine or hydrocodone, must be safe, right? | News Medical, USA
"I Want People to See the Way I Am"—Meet the "Junkies of Instagram"
Warning: This article contains images and video of injecting drug use and self-harm. If you do not wish to view such material, please do not continue reading | Influence.org, USA
Snoop Dogg Launches Video Series 'To Dispel Lazy Stoner Stereotype'
In the fall of 2015, music artist, businessman, and cannabis-enthusiast Snoop Dogg launched Merry Jane, a web site and platform to offer “resources on culture, news, video, food and style dedicated to expressing a new cannabis mentality.” | Forbes, USA
Vermont Is Considering a 92 Percent Tax on Vaping to Protect the Children
Vermont is currently considering a new bill that would nearly double the cost of e-cigarettes in the state, giving it one of the steepest vaping taxes in the country | Motherboard, USA
New alcohol, drug and venue recording to trial at Calvary Hospital
Calvary Hospital's emergency department will record every patient's drug and alcohol intake and the venues that intoxicated people have attended in an Australia-first study. Eight hospitals are taking part in the national pilot study that aims to reduce the cost of drugs and alcohol on society, provide intervention with problem drinkers and determine the licensed venues that aren't serving patrons responsibly | Age, Australia
ADF Breaking the Ice in our Community Jay Morris Story - video
Jay Morris talks about his problems with using ice and how he got help | ADF, Australia
Blogs, comment and opinion
The Commission on Narcotic Drugs on the final road to UNGASS 2016: Progress made, but a long way still to go
One year ago, the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) elaborated five main “asks” for the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on drugs – developed through consultations with our membership and partners. The UNGASS in New York is now just a few weeks away – so how close have we come to realising these demands? | IDPC, UK
Dear Graham Norton: 'I found a box of cannabis in my garden'
Walking up the back garden path recently, I found a lovely silver cigarette case in the middle of the path. But when I looked inside it, I realised it contained all the necessary paraphernalia for smoking cannabis – including the cannabis | Telegraph, UK
Efforts grow to tackle America's heroin crisis
Rob Demeo underwent multiple hand surgeries after he was injured in a car accident. His doctors prescribed powerful painkillers during recovery, but by the time they wanted to take him off the drugs, Mr Demeo was addicted. He turned to dealers for pills, became addicted to heroin, and moved in and out of a treatment centre 14 times in his attempt to get clean. As America’s heroin crisis has grown, stories like Mr Demeo’s have become disturbingly common | Economist Blog, UK
New Zealand study: Dissuasive cigarette sticks – the next step in standardised (‘plain’) packaging?
A study published by Tobacco Control in December 2015 by a team of New Zealand and Australian researchers explored extending the concept of plain packaging one step further – to the cigarette stick itself. New Zealand is moving towards introducing plain packaging; incorporating dissuasive cigarette sticks would put it at the forefront of innovative tobacco control measures | BMJ Blog, UK
Drug Users Need Treatment,' Says President Obama. Not So Fast, Says Dr. Carl Hart
Politicians today, whether Republican or Democrat, are comfortable with saying that we don't want to send people to jail for drugs; we will offer them treatment." Hart said in Austin. But "the vast majority of people don't need treatment. We need better public education, and more realistic education. And we're not getting that." | Hit and Run Blog, USA
The Kid That Sold Crack To The President
On September 1, 1989 two disparate worlds within the same nation briefly overlapped | Points: Blog of the alcohol and drugs history society, USA
How to market alcohol where alcohol marketing is banned
An article published on the alcohol industry website Just-Drinks.com provides an interesting insight into how alcohol companies may respond to increased restrictions on alcohol marketing in order to “continue to connect with consumers and achieve brand saliency in these so-called ‘dark’ markets” | Drink Tank, Australia