The United Nations drug control conventions of 1960 and 1971 and later additions have inadvertently resulted in perhaps the greatest restrictions of medical and life sciences research. These conventions now need to be revised to allow neuroscience to progress unimpeded and to assist in the innovation of treatments for brain disorders (PLoS)
Archives for January 2015
Bibliography: All Publications
HIV sweeps across eastern Europe amid economic crisis
HIV is spreading at a dangerous rate in nations around the Black Sea, passing a record 100,000 new cases yearly (EU Observer)
Understanding the Costs and Savings to Public Services of Different Treatment Pathways for Clients Dependent on Opiates
This paper presents a summary of analysis that considered the costs and savings to public services that might be generated from those receiving treatment for opiate dependence (Department for Work and Pensions, UK)
A multi-faceted approach to new psychoactive substances
Slides from presentations at yesterday’s event in Birmingham (Public Health England)
Crime in England and Wales, Year Ending September 2014
Information on drug offences from page 78 (ONS)
Drug seizures and arrests in Northern Ireland, period ending 31 December 2014
Monthly update of class A, B and C drug seizure incidents and arrests by (Police Service of Northern Ireland)
New EMCDDA review studies the effectiveness of overdose antidote, naloxone
Can naloxone provided in the community help reduce the thousands of drug-induced deaths recorded in Europe every year? This is the question explored by the EMCDDA in a new paper
Understanding the Costs and Savings to Public Services of Different Treatment Pathways for Clients Dependent on Opiates
This paper presents a summary of analysis that considered the costs and savings to public services that might be generated from those receiving treatment for opiate dependence (Department for Work and Pensions, UK)
Trends in Opioid Analgesic Abuse and Mortality in the United States
Postmarketing surveillance indicates that the diversion and abuse of prescription opioid medications increased between 2002 and 2010 and plateaued or decreased between 2011 and 2013. These findings suggest that the United States may be making progress in controlling the abuse of opioid analgesics (NEJM)
Drug seizures and arrests in Northern Ireland, period ending 31 December 2014
Monthly update of class A, B and C drug seizure incidents and arrests by (Police Service of Northern Ireland)
Local and National Alcohol Policy: how do they interact?
The specific aim of this seminar was to explore the interaction between the local and the national in the making of alcohol policy in the past and in the present, focusing on continuities and changes over time (LSE)
Drugs and Development: The Great Disconnect
This report argues that ‘drugs’ are a development issue and must be recognised as such by development agencies (GDPO)
Census of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services in Northern Ireland 2014
This bulletin summarises information collected in the fifth census of statutory and non-statutory drug and alcohol treatment services in Northern Ireland to establish the number of persons in treatment for drug and/or alcohol misuse (Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety)
Census of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services in Northern Ireland 2014
This bulletin summarises information collected in the fifth census of statutory and non-statutory drug and alcohol treatment services in Northern Ireland to establish the number of persons in treatment for drug and/or alcohol misuse (Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety)
HIV sweeps across eastern Europe amid economic crisis
HIV is spreading at a dangerous rate in nations around the Black Sea, passing a record 100,000 new cases yearly (EU Observer)
Hard EdgesMapping severe and multiple disadvantage
Most of us understand that people who are homeless, or offenders or drug misusers must also face a wider set of challenges. It is hard to imagine a person who has fallen into a hard drug problem, for example, who isn’t dealing with early problems stemming from childhood or who isn’t facing a new set of problems as a result of their drug taking (LankellyChase Foundation)
A councillors’ guide to tackling new psychoactive substances
This guide is designed to provide councillors with an introduction to NPS, how they can raise awareness of the harm NPS use can cause and what councils can do to tackle sales of NPS in their areas (Local Government Association)
Justice Matters
Essays on improving Scotland’s justice system. Chapter on Tackling Drug Abuse in Scotland: A Record of Failure Not Success
The Smack Track
East African states are being undermined by heroin smuggling (The Economist)
DrugScope Street Drug Trends Survey 2014: UK drug scene ever more complex and dangerous
The latest Street Drug Survey reveals the ever more diverse range of illegal and legal drugs being used by vulnerable groups in society, with pregabalin, gabapentin and synthetic cannabinoid use of particular concern. Interviews with frontline workers also highlighted fears that drug-related deaths may continue to rise as street drug purities increase (DrugScope)