Skip to content

Monthly Archives: January 2012

Alcohol Concern urges action on minimum pricing ahead of new national alcohol strategy

Alcohol Concern are calling on the public to urge MPs to push for minimum pricing ahead of the forthcoming national alcohol strategy. Alcohol Concern state: The next few weeks will be our last chance to influence the shape of the alcohol strategy, which will shape public policy on reducing alcohol harm for years to come.

Controlling new drugs under marketing regulations

ABSTRACT Aims  The rapid emergence of myriad substances openly marketed as legal highs’ is straining traditional drug control systems which require time and basic scientific data on harms to react, presenting governments with the dilemma of no response or a disproportionate response. Some countries have side-stepped this using novel policy and legislative approaches. Should other countries consider them

Small rise in alcohol-related death in 2010

A slight rise in alcohol-related deaths has been reported for 2010 according to the ONS ( report here ). Figures show a rise of 126 to 8,790 from 8,664 in 2009. Last year a slight fall was reported , though Alcohol Concern Chief Executive Don Shenker attriuted the drop to a fall in consumption triggered by the recession.

An examination of injection drug use trends in Victoria and Vancouver, BC after the closure of Victoria’s only fixed-site needle and syringe programme

Conclusions: The closure of Victoria’s fixed site NSP has likely resulted in increased engagement in high-risk behaviours, specifically needle sharing.

Events and updates: Alcohol Research UK 72nd symposium & studentships; rolling out brief inteventions in Scotland; last call for New Directions…

Forthcoming events The 72nd Alcohol Problems Research Symposium is calling for abstracts or other presentation suggestions for the Spring 2012 meeting to take place Stonecross Manor Hotel in Cumbria on the 14th and 15th March. The meeting is part of a long-running series of friendly events in which Alcohol Research UK is helping to organise with Professor Moira Plant, Emerita Professor of Alcohol Studies at the University of the West of England.

Understanding the drug treatment community’s ambivalence towards tobacco use and treatment

Abstract: Background: Most clients in drug treatment smoke cigarettes, but few facilities provide treatment for tobacco dependence. We identify subjective experiences and social processes that may influence facility adoption of tobacco treatment policies and practices.Methods: Cross-sectional, semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff, directors and clients of 8 drug treatment facilities in the Midwestern U.S. We assembled a purposive sample stratified by ownership, methadone provision, and treatment service provision.

Scale-up of opioid substitution therapy in India: Opportunities and challenges

The National AIDS Control Programme of India (NACO) has been delivering targeted interventions for high risk groups since 1996. Surveillance data for 2008–2009 confirms declining HIV infections amongst female sex workers but there has been an increasing trend in many states amongst injecting drug users (IDUs); the current national HIV prevalence amongst IDUs is 9.2% ()

Primary healthcare outlets that target injecting drug users: Opportunity to make services accessible and acceptable to the target group

Six experts from different regions of the world commented on our original paper () and despite their different opinions and perspectives, all agree that providing anonymous, non-judgmental and free-of-charge services under a harm reduction framework can increase the accessibility and acceptability of primary healthcare (PHC) for injecting drug users (IDUs). and point out that the conventional model of healthcare will fail if we presume the needs of IDUs based on our own understandings; we must listen to and observe our clients and adapt services accordingly. Both Nasiri and Bruce recommend integrated, accessible services for IDUs, a notion supported by the literature ()

Lower strength drinks heralded as Stella Artois, Becks and Budweiser switch to 4.8% & ‘mid-strength’ 2.8% Guinness announced

Brewing giants AB InBev will reduce the strength of popular lagers in the UK from the end of this month to keep line with “evolving UK category trends”. The world's largest brewer will reduce the % Alcohol By Volume (ABV) of its popular lagers Stella Artois, Budweiser and Becks from 5% ABV to 4.8% ABV. See Daily Mail report .

Continuing to wear nicotine patches after smoking lapses promotes recovery of abstinence

Abstract Aims: Smokers who lapse during a cessation attempt are at particularly high risk of relapse, so interventions to help smokers recover from lapses are urgently needed. Two recent studies have suggested continuing to use nicotine patches following a lapse may be a beneficial relapse prevention strategy.