Round up

Citation

(2013), "Round up", Drugs and Alcohol Today, Vol. 13 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/dat.2013.54413baa.002

Round up

Article Type: Round up From: Drugs and Alcohol Today, Volume 13, Issue 2.

Compiled by Christine Goodair, who is Chair of SALIS, The International Organisation for Substance Abuse Librarians and Information Specialists.

Alcohol

Alcohol Learning Centre “Beginners Toolkit” – brings together the key documents and resources for those are new to the subject of alcohol harm reduction (www.alcohollearningcentre.org.uk/Topics/Browse/beginnerstoolkit/).

Effectiveness of screening and brief alcohol intervention in primary care (SIPS trial): pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial the findings from this trial report that brief alcohol interventions in primary care can significantly (www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.e8501).

European action plan to reduce the harmful use of alcohol 2012-2020 endorsed by all 53 Member States in the WHO European Region this plan includes a range of evidence-based policy options to reduce the harmful use of alcohol (The World Health Organisation www.euro.who.int/…/abstracts/european-action-plan-to-reduce-the-harmful-use-of-alcohol-20122021).

Licensing and public health: an LGA and alcohol research UK briefing. The document, co-authored by Alcohol Research UK and the Local Government Association, contains advice and guidance for health professionals on how to work with licensing teams, what kind of data to use in licensing representations, and where to find further advice (http://alcoholresearchuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/lga-aruk-licensing-public-health-briefing.pdf).

United Kingdom drug situation: annual report to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) 2012 – provides information on the drug situation in the UK, with special features on drug-related health policies and services in prison, and drug users with children. Department of Health and Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moore's University (www.nwph.net/ukfocalpoint/writedir/userfiles/file/Report%202012/REPORT2012FINAL.pdf).

Drugs: Breaking the Cycle Home Affairs Committee – Ninth Report focuses on the need to “break the cycle” of drug addiction, and highlights in particular the need for improved treatment in prisons and wider society, and for early intervention with better education and preventative work (www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmhaff/184/18402.htm).

EU drug markets report: a strategic analysis – comprehensive overview of illicit drug markets in the European Union. It covers issues such as production, consumer markets, trafficking, organised crime and policy responses, along with a review of the markets for heroin, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and new psychoactive substances (EMCDDA/EuroPol www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/joint-publications/drug-markets).

Legal highs: a guide for people in mental health units – an illustrated guide to new psychoactive substances and legal highs providing guidance on informed use and advice and information on reducing harm. Exchange supplies (www.exchangesupplies.org/shopdisp_LH3.php).

Cannabis and psychosis: what causes what? – explores the evidence about the links between cannabis use and psychosis and schizophrenia F1000 Medical Reports (http://f1000.com/prime/reports/m/5/1).

Drug- related deaths in the UK Annual Report 2012 looks at patterns of drug abuse, trends over time, and emerging issues. International Centre for Drug Policy (National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths) (www.sgul.ac.uk/research/projects/icdp/our-work-programmes/substance-abuse-deaths).

High-risk drug practices tighten grip on London gay scene – a paper reporting on the rise in use of crystal methamphetamine in London's gay scene (Lancet http://download.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS014067361360032X.pdf?id=3d35b1b5aa0ec416:58d1b5c9:13c2826cc72:-67311357883931007).

Public health briefing papers on drugs – five papers covering drugs, alcohol and youth crime; young people's drinking and health harms; alcohol drugs and sexual health; young people at risk from drugs and alcohol; and smoking prevention among young people (Mentor www.mentoruk.org.uk/2013/01/public-health-briefing-papers/).

The medical care of suspected internal drug traffickers: independent report – provides clinical advice on the medical care of suspected internal drug traffickers (SIDTs) (Department of Health www.dh.gov.uk/health/2013/01/independent-report-sidts/).

In depth: drugs of dependence – the role of medical professionals examines the harms associated with drug use – for both the individual and society – and influences on illicit drug use, and considers the doctor's role in the medical management of drug dependence (BMA http://bma.org.uk/drugsofdependence?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter).

Addiction to medicines consensus statement. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) have issued a statement aimed at reducing patient addiction to medicines such as tranquilisers and painkillers (www.rcgp.org.uk/news/2013/january/addiction-to-medicines-consensus-statement.aspx).

ACMD further advice on foil – consideration of the use of foil as an intervention to support recovery (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/acmd/).

ACMD consideration of tramadol – review of harms associated with the non-medicinal use of tramadol has been prompted by an increasing number of reports within the NHS of tramadol's misuse and harms, and the increase in tramadol related deaths (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/agencies-public-bodies/acmd1/advice-tramadol).

ACMD advice on independent prescribing of controlled drugs – advice on recommendations to extend independent prescribing responsibilities to physiotherapists and chiropodist/podiatrists (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/agencies-public-bodies/acmd1/independ-prescribing-advice).

ACMD advice on Sativex outlines the definition of cannabis-based medicine (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/agencies-public-bodies/acmd1/advice-sativex).

Khat: a review of its potential harms to the individual and communities in the UK – ACMD report about khat. It considered the available evidence and advises on the harms caused to individuals and the societal harms in the affected UK's Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities (ACMD www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/agencies-public-bodies/acmd1/ACMD-khat-report-2013/).

Tobacco

Local toolkit – ASH, the Faculty of Public Health, the Local Government Group, FRESH North East, Tobacco Free Futures (formerly Smokefree North West) and Smokefree South West have produced a set of materials for Directors of Public Health to use with key Councillors to help ensure that tackling tobacco use is high on the local public health agenda (http://ash.org.uk/localtoolkit/).

Practice briefings the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training have produced a series of briefings for healthcare professionals helping people to stop smoking that cover many of the key issues that arise when giving advice to smokers (www.ncsct.co.uk/pub_briefings.php).

Other media – web sites and videos

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has developed a new web site that is designed to help researchers navigate through the complex landscape of setting up and managing clinical trials in line with regulatory requirements (www.ct-toolkit.ac.uk/?src=jan13ct).

Christine Goodair