PENALTY POINTS
A new tool to instantly compare the
penalties for drug possession and supply
across Europe has been developed by
EMCDDA. Searches can also be refined
according to drug type, quantity and the
‘addiction or recidivism of the offender’.
Penalties for drug law offences in Europe at a
glance at
BOUNDARY CHANGE
‘Locally-led and coordinated’ action is vital to
support people with multiple and complex
needs, according to a new report from the
Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
Public spending on individuals experiencing
problems like addiction, homelessness and
offending is still ‘largely reactive’, says the
document – preventative support would
deliver better results and save money by
avoiding duplication and the need for
expensive crisis care.
Breaking boundaries:
towards a ‘troubled lives’ programme for
people facing multiple and complex needs at
BBV BOOST
A new briefing to support local authorities
and drug services in reviewing their BBV
prevention and treatment interventions has
been published by PHE.
Preventing blood-
borne virus transmission among people who
inject drugs
draws together published
evidence and guidance, as well as feedback
from treatment services.
Available at
News
PRICING PROBLEM
THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
’s attempts to
introduce minimum unit pricing could breach
EU free trade laws, according to an initial
ruling by the European Court of Justice’s
advocate general. The move would only be
legal if it could be proven that it was the most
effective public health measure available, he
stated. A final response is needed from the
European Court of Justice before the case can
return to the Scottish courts.
EMERGENCY INQUIRY
AN INQUIRY
into the impact of alcohol-related
incidents on the emergency services has been
launched by the All Party Parliamentary Group
on Alcohol Harm. Alcohol-related harm costs
the NHS an estimated £3bn per year and puts
intense pressure on services, particularly at
weekends. A central objective of the inquiry
will be to ‘build a clear picture’ of the time and
resources lost to alcohol, said group chair
Fiona Bruce MP.
AN INVOLVING
DOCUMENT
A NEW GUIDE
detailing the benefits of
involving recovering drug and alcohol users
in treatment design has been published by
PHE. The guide sets out the different levels of
user involvement, with useful examples of
good practice. ‘Those who have recovered
from addiction themselves have the
experiences, and often the expertise, to help
others and can make an important
contribution to the development of
successful services,’ said PHE’s director of
alcohol, drugs and tobacco Rosanna
O’Connor.
Service user involvement: a guide
for drug and alcohol commissioners, providers
and service users at
Read the full stories, and more, online
DRUG POISONING DEATHS
HIT HIGHEST LEVEL EVER
LAST YEAR
saw England and Wales register the highest number of drug
poisoning deaths since records began more than two decades ago,
according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
There were 3,346 drug-poisoning deaths registered in 2014, almost
70 per cent of which involved illegal drugs. The figures came just over a
week after Scotland also recorded its highest ever number of drug-
related deaths for the same period (
DDN
, September, page 4).
Deaths involving heroin and morphine increased sharply between
2012 and 2014 – from 579 to 952 – while deaths involving cocaine also
jumped dramatically, from 169 to 247 in the space of a year. Cocaine-
related deaths have now increased for three years in a row, reaching an
all-time high of 4.4 per million population. However, while England saw
a 17 per cent increase in its drug misuse mortality rate – to 39.7 per
million population – Wales saw its proportion drop by 16 per cent to
39.0 per million, the lowest figure for almost a decade.
In England, the north east had the highest mortality rate and London
the lowest. As was the case in Scotland, most deaths occurred among
older people, with the highest mortality rate in the 40-49 age group,
followed by those aged 30-39.
Treatment charity Addaction said the stark figures meant the
government now needed to rethink its proposed cuts in local authority
health spending (
DDN
, September, page 4). ‘Drug treatment services
across the country have seen an increase in the number of people seeking
help for opiates and/or crack cocaine, and this is only likely to increase
further as the effect of increased opiate availability and purity is felt,’ said
chief executive Simon Antrobus. ‘Meanwhile, the Department of Health
are proposing a £200m reduction to the public health grant, which will hit
the capacity of drug services commissioned by local authorities.’
The government needed to ensure local authority health spending
was given the same amount of protection as that promised to NHS-
commissioned services, he stated. ‘The stakes are simply too high to
do otherwise.’
Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales, 2014
registrations at
‘Drug treatment
services across the
country have seen
an increase in the
number of people
seeking help for
opiates and/or crack
cocaine, and this is
only likely to
increase further...’
SIMON ANTROBUS
GÖTZ
GOES
ALEXIS GOOSDEEL
has
been appointed as
the new EMCDDA
director, the agency
has announced. He
takes up the position
next January,
replacing Wolfgang Götz,
who has held the post
since 2005. Mr Goosdeel
has been at the EMCDDA
since 1999, before which
he co-founded Belgian
harm reduction NGO
Modus Vivendi.
Lisbon
Addictions 2015 conference
report on page 10
4 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| October 2015
Mr Goosdeel has been
at the EMCDDA since
1999, before which he
co-founded Belgian
harm reduction NGO
Modus Vivendi.
