An evaluation of peer mentoring in the drug dependency treatment sector (Howard League)
Archives for September 2015
Bibliography: All Publications
Cannabis-smoking teens less likely to complete education
UNSW-led research finds teens who smoke cannabis at least once a week are less likely to finish school, enrol in university or obtain a degree (NDARC)
Minimum quality standards for drug demand reduction interventions in the EU
This innovative initiative lists 16 standards that represent a minimum benchmark of quality for interventions in: drug use prevention, risk and harm reduction, treatment, social integration and rehabilitation (EMCDDA)
Helping local areas address public health issues relating to alcohol, drug and tobacco use
Public Health England
Medications to treat opioid use disorders
New guideline from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (EurekAlert)
EMCDDA–Europol Joint Report on a new psychoactive substance: 1-phenyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-1-pentanone (α-PVP)
The two organisations concluded that sufficient information had been accumulated to merit the production of a Joint Report on α-PVP as stipulated by Article 5.1 of the Council Decision
David Best: Why the UK lags behind in recovery for drug users
It’s rare that you’ll see Blackpool praised by a professor of criminology, but when it comes to leading the way in changing how the powers that be handle recovery from substance abuse and dependency, it is certainly a shining example of success
Homelessness: an unhealthy state
Mental health issues were very common, with over half reporting a diagnosis of depression. Almost half of the sample had both a mental health problem and an addiction problem (Partnership for Health Equality, Ireland)
Alcohol Related Deaths Registered in Northern Ireland, 2004-2014
Tables include data on cause of death, gender, age group, geographical area and deprivation quintile (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency)
Recovery
Phoenix launches new report describing how communities can work together to provide friendly environments for people in recovery
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment resources for alcohol, drugs and tobacco
PHE has published the latest alcohol, drugs and tobacco joint strategic needs (JSNA) resource pack to help local areas develop joint strategic needs assessments and local joint health and wellbeing strategies that effectively address public health issues relating to alcohol, drug and tobacco use
Penalties for drug law offences in Europe at a glance
This tool lets you examine and compare the penalties or rehabilitative responses for the core offences of drug use, possession for personal use, and supply-related offences, across countries in Europe (EMCDDA)
Alcohol’s cost to society Vs taxpayer: politics and the £21 billion
The debate over the cost of alcohol to society – not to be confused with the cost to the taxpayer – has been reignited by a report from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and critical response from the Institute of Alcohol Studies (Alcohol Policy UK)
Breaking boundaries: Towards a ‘Troubled Lives’ programme for people facing multiple and complex needs
Reviewing previous reforms to public services for socially excluded groups, this report makes the case for a locally-led and coordinated programme to support people with multiple and complex needs (IPPR)
International experts back Irish drug injection centre plan
An international group of experts has welcomed plans to introduce medically supervised injection centres in Ireland, saying the move will help to tackle the problem of public injecting as well as facilitating access to treatment (The Journal Ireland)
Drug-related infectious diseases in Europe. Update from the EMCDDA expert network
This report provides an update on infectious diseases related to injecting drug use in Europe for the period up to June 2015 (EMCDDA)
French Senate Gives Green Light to Drug Consumption Rooms
After a heated debate, Senators have decided to approve an experimental project to provide a safer environment for drug users, in order to prevent death and disease (Drug Reporter)
Forensic early warning system (FEWS) annual report
Annual report on the Home Office forensic early warning system, which identifies new psychoactive substances in the UK
Oral evidence: Psychoactive substances, HC 361
Tuesday 15 September 2015 (Home Affairs Committee – Parliament UK)
Ministerial response to ACMD report on cocaine misuse
Letter from Jane Ellison, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health, and Mike Penning, Minister of State for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Victims to Professor Les Iversen regarding the ACMD’s report ‘Cocaine powder: review of the evidence of prevalence and patterns of use, harms and implications’ (Home Office)