With thanks to Drug Blog contributor Paul Gallagher, who posts to the ADCA update list with comprehensive links on current online news and debate in relation to AOD:
*Girls and Gangs:
They take drugs. They are sexually active. They are involved in violence. They are girls who are associated with gangs, and the perception from schools, state agencies and even families is that they are beyond help.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=68188
*Drug Laws Don’t Protect public:
The authors of a new study showing illicit drug use cost Australian business $3.3 billion in one year say the law enforcement approach to drugs has failed to protect people and commerce.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/NATIONAL/Drug-laws-dont-protect-public-study/2007/04/23/1177180511324.html
*Cannabis related Psychosis to rise:
If cannabis causes schizophrenia – and that remains the question – then by 2010 up to 25% of new cases of schizophrenia in the UK may be due to cannabis, according to a study just published in Addiction journal.
http://www.addictionjournal.org/viewpressrelease.asp?pr=59
*Aussie ‘War on Ice’ targets foreign supply:
Australian police will increase their presence overseas as part of the federal government’s new push to tackle the ice epidemic, says Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Mick Keelty.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/war-on-ice-targets-foreign-supply/2007/04/23/1177180525359.html
*Evidence based Drug Education seen as reason to be optimistic:
Findings – Most of the approaches to drug education which have been tried have failed to change young people’s drug-related behaviour, but there is reason to feel optimistic about more informed, evidence based, multi-component approaches, such as the English “Blueprint†programme.
http://drugeducationforum.blogspot.com/2007/04/drugs-education-sitting-still-on-circle.html
*Breath of Air for cannabis vapourizers:
Discussion..;
These results suggest that the respiratory effects of cannabis can decrease with the use of a vaporizer. The data reveal that respiratory symptoms like cough, phlegm, and tightness in the chest increase with cigarette use and cannabis use, but are less severe among users of a vaporizer. Because a sample this large can produce statistically significant effects that might not be clinically meaningful, a focus on odds ratios could prove fruitful. The odds ratio suggests that vaporizer users are only 40% as likely to report respiratory symptoms as users who do not vaporize, even when age, sex, cigarette use, and amount of cannabis consumed are controlled.
http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/4/1/11
*Policing Harm Reduction:
Across the world, law enforcement agencies have been actively involved in research and practice that reflects the overall spirit of harm reduction. Paradoxically, there is also a wealth of research demonstrating how irresponsible or inappropriate policing, drug law enforcement and “crackdowns” on drug using communities can actually increase drug-related harms.
http://www.ihra.net/Policing
*Parenting Through the Haze:
“I smoke pot once in a while. I have a good job, my marriage is strong and I’m in decent shape. It’s never been a problem for me. So what do I tell my kid if I think they’re smoking?” Or worse, what do I say if they find my stash?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/22/CMGD3OTD9D1.DTL&hw=drugs&sn=001&sc=1000
*Alcohol, Pregnancy – a simple gamble:
IS IT really all right to have a couple if glasses of wine every now and then if you’re pregnant? The dispute over how much alcohol is safe has left some women confused.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/even-the-experts-are-unsure-how-much-is-safe/2007/04/21/1176697155276.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
*INCB Attacks Drug Consumption Rooms:
http://www.ihra.net/News#INCBAttacksDrugConsumptionRooms(Again)
*Claims MSIC is a Failure are ‘offensive’;
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21606156-5005961,00.html