Download August Drugs E-bulletin - Bloomsbury Association

August Drugs E-bulletin
www.drugs.gov.uk
Welcome to the cross-government monthly drugs bulletin. As a
subscriber to www.drugs.gov.uk we have automatically sent
you this bulletin. This month's news includes:
- Young Offenders to be drug tested
- Tackling Prostitution: Facing the Issues
- Home Office Drug Seizure and Offender Statistics
- New Resource on the health effects of cannabis
- Radical drug treatment scheme extended to tackle alcohol abuse
- Caroline Flint visits radical drugs education programme
- Updated Communities Section
- New Publications
- Conference dates
YOUNG OFFENDERS TO BE DRUG TESTED
Teenagers who are charged with drug-related crimes are to be tested
for class A drugs.
As part of the government's drive to get drug users into treatment
and break the links between drugs and crime, the new scheme will
be piloted in ten areas from 1 August, including Liverpool, Manchester
and Middlesbrough. Fourteen to seventeen year olds who are charged
for a 'trigger offence' such as burglary, car crime and theft, will
be tested for heroin, crack and cocaine. Those testing positive
will be referred to specialist youth workers.
For more details see www.drugs.gov.uk/News
TACKLING PROSTITUTION: FACING THE ISSUES
The Government is determined to combat the stranglehold of pimps
and break the links between prostitution and drug markets,
trafficking and other areas of organised crime. It is equally
determined to protect and support the victims of trafficking, abuse
and prostitution - the communities that suffer anti-social behaviour
associated with it and the prostitutes, who often find themselves
trapped in a violent circle of abuse.
The consultation paper published on 16 July asks the public to join
in the debate on how to make progress on this difficult issue.
Copies of the consultation paper can be found at
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/inside/consults/index.html
HOME OFFICE DRUG SEIZURE AND OFFENDER STATISTICS
On 15 July the Home Office published figures that demonstrated
robust enforcement action against illegal drug use, with a five
per cent increase in the number of drug seizures from 2001 to 2002.
For more details see www.drugs.gov.uk/News
NEW RESOURCE ON THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF CANNABIS
Mentor UK a drug misuse prevention charity working for young people,
supported by the Home Office, launches a new leaflet today. "Hayzy
Dayz" explains the health problems associated with cannabis use.
Recent debate has revolved around legal issues and reclassification
of cannabis has only touched upon the harmful effects on health. This
leaflet is aimed at 13-16 year olds and presents the facts on
cannabis and health in an engaging and informative format. Mentor
UK has designed the leaflet for use in schools and youth clubs were
young people can access the information in less structured learning
situations.
A pdf copy of the leaflet can be downloaded from
www.mentoruk.org/cannabis.pdf
To order copies call 0870 555 455 and quote reference 40191
RADICAL DRUG TREATMENT SCHEME EXTENDED TO TACKLE ALCOHOL ABUSE
An innovative scheme which drug tests offenders on arrest to get
them into treatment is to be expanded as a pilot to those who
also abuse alcohol.
The Criminal Justice Interventions Programme (CJIP) currently
targets Class A drug-using offenders, drug testing them on arrest
and referring them to specialist workers who guide them into treatment.
The scheme has successfully helped to stop the 'revolving door' between
prison and offending for many drug addicts who commit crime to fund
their habit.
To enhance the programme's effectiveness in cutting crime driven by
substance abuse, the scheme will now be extended in two pilot areas
to specifically target drug-using offenders who also misuse alcohol,
referring them to specialists who will help them into treatment for
their multiple dependency.
For more details see www.drugs.gov.uk/News
CAROLINE FLINT VISITS RADICAL DRUGS EDUCATION PROGRAMME
Pupils and teachers taking part in a groundbreaking drugs education
programme today met Home Office Drugs Minister Caroline Flint to
celebrate the end of the first term of the £6 million pilot.
Wellfield High School in Leyland, Preston is one of 23 schools across
the UK taking part in Blueprint, an education programme which
brings together schools, parents and communities to prevent drug use.
The programme which is following groups of 11 year olds for two years,
is the first of its kind in the Uk and has been developed from a
worldwide evidence base.
Over the past year, pupils at Wellfield have taken part in ten
intensive drug education lessons to challenge their perceptions
of drug use and help them deal with drug-related situations. Pupils
practised decision making and assertiveness skills and were encouraged
to discuss the issues raised with their families and carers.
Involvement from parents and the wider community is a key part of the
programme.
For more details see www.drugs.gov.uk/News
UPDATED COMMUNITIES SECTION
This updated section highlights the three key themes of communities
activity - managing places, involving the voluntary sector and engaging
communities.
To see the section see www.drugs.gov.uk/NationalStrategy/Communities
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SOLUTIONS AND STRATEGIES: DRUG PROBLEMS AND STREET SEX MARKETS
Guidance for partnerships and providers. This guide provides an
overview of the issues relating to prostitution and problematic drug
misuse.
This publication can be downloaded or ordered free of charge from
www.drugs.gov.uk/ReportsandPublications/Communities/1089989115
ESTIMATING THE LEVEL OF EXPECTED DRUG RELATED NEED FOR SUPPORTED
HOUSING
A guide for DAT/CDRP partnerships and Supporting People teams on
assessing the overall cumulative need of individual drug users for
planning and strategic partnerships
This report can be downloaded at:
www.drugs.gov.uk/ReportsandPublications/NationalStrategy/1090494924
GUIDANCE ON MAKING A PLANNING APPLICATION IN RELATION TO A DRUGS
SERVICE
A general guide for those involved in local partnerships as service
providers in setting up drop-in drug treatment services.
This report can be downloaded at:
www.drugs.gov.uk/ReportsandPublications/NationalStrategy/1090500402
ESTIMATING THE PREVALENCE OF PROBLEMATIC AND INJECTING DRUG USE FOR
DRUG ACTION TEAM AREAS IN ENGLAND
The aim of this project is to examine the feasibility of using the
Multiple Indicator Method (MIM) to produce prevalence estimates for
problematic and injecting drug use for Drug Action Teams (DATs) in
England in 2001.
This report can be downloaded at:
www.drugs.gov.uk/ReportsandPublications/
ResearchDevelopmentStatisticsRDS/1090248720
THE DYNAMICS OF DRUG MISUSE: ASSESSING CHANGES IN PREVALENCE
This research estimates the prevalence of problem drug misuse and
considers prevalence trends.
This report can be downloaded at:
www.drugs.gov.uk/ReportsandPublications/
ResearchDevelopmentStatisticsRDS/1090247878
DRUG SEIZURE AND OFFENDER STATISTICS
This bulletin looks at 2001 and 2002 drug seizure and offender
statistics in the United Kingdom.
This report can be downloaded at:
www.drugs.gov.uk/ReportsandPublications/
ResearchDevelopmentStatisticsRDS/1090246602
CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS
The drug related conferences below are relevant to Government
Department and Agencies, Drug Action Teams and local delivery
partners.
2-3 SEPT CRACK COCAINE CONFERENCE (Aberdeen)
This conference is helpful to all Health and Social
Professionals, Primary Health Care Teams, Voluntary
Organisations and others involved in providing services
to people with substance misuse problems.
Contact: Nicola Shand
Tel: 01224 557 610
Email: [email protected]
9-10 SEPT THE APPLIANCE OF SCIENCE (Erskine Nr Paisley)
The theme of this conference is evidence based practice
in substance use: the appliance of science. Over the
two days you will examine how you can apply science at
the population level and the individual level.
Contact: Angela Jones
Tel: 01475 633 777
Email: [email protected]
12 SEPT
NO MORE EXCUSES - GETTING HELP TO HARD TO REACH GROUPS
(LONDON)
This conference focuses on improving access to and the
quality of drug and alcohol services for hard to reach
groups. These groups include young people, the elderly,
people from BME communities, lesbians, gay people, bisexuals
and transgendered people, people with disabilities and
women with children.
Contact: FDAP 0870 763 6193
Email: [email protected]
website: www.fdap.org.uk/fdapevents/conf2004.html
15 SEPT
INVOLVING THE VOLUNTARY AND INDEPENDENT SECTORS IN HEALTHCARE
(London) Cost £199 - £399 + VAT
This conference will examine the latest policy and practice
in working with the voluntary and independent sectors to
build capacity and specialisms in areas such as mental health.
Contact: Neil Stewart Associates
Tel: 020 7324 4330
Fax: 020 490 8830
Email: [email protected]
Website www.neilstewartassociates.com
28 SEPT
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS IN SEXUAL ASSAULT (Manchester) £200
This conference is for forensic physicians and scientists,
counsellors, nurses, health and social service providers
and academics interested in rape/sexual assault or
alcohol/drug use.
St Mary's Centre in the UK's first sexual assault referral
centre. The conference will include presentations on legal
issues, drug assisted rape, physical effects of
alcohol/drugs, intoxication and consent to examination,
international perspectives and case presentations.
Contact: Ian McLean
Tel: 0161 276 6515
Email: [email protected]
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