Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 383

In the Research section in Bulletin No. 383 there is an article which appears in the BMJ that gives more insight into debunking the myth that mentally ill people are the perpertrators of violence. The research shows that mentally ill people are the likely victims of violence and murder. In the news are statistics that show heroin and crack use is falling and alcohol-realated deaths are holding steady

Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 364

In Bulletin 364 you can find information from the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse regarding illegal drug use in England. Among other statistics included is: the number of 18 -25 adults seeking treatment has dropped; which is taken to mean that the number of addicts is in this age group is decreasing

Class A Drug treatment declines

The number of people beginning treatment for dependancy on cocaine and heroin fell substantially from 2008/9 numbers according to the National Treatment Agency for Substance Abuse. The greatest decline was in the under 30's age group. This has been seen as a positive indiction of the way drug dependancy is being dealt with and not a lack of services precluding addicts from gaining help

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A new dedicated clinic for Club Drugs

A new clinic dedicated to combating addiction to "Club" drugs such as ecstasy and ketamine has opened up in West London at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. A similar clinic was opened in 2009 at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLAM). It is hoped that the new clinic will be instrumental in preventing users of club drugs from progressing onto cocaine and heroin





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The failure of drug treatment policies

The coalition government has indicated that it wants to radically change the way drug addicts are treated. In the wake of this the Centre for Policy Studies, a Conservative party linked think tank, has concurred that the present methods are not working. It recommends that methadone prescribing and benefits funding that cost around £3.6bn per year be replaced with a rehabilitation programme

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Mephedrone available on the Internet

The dance drug Mephedrone which was made illegal nearly a year ago is still available to buy on the Internet, according to a BBC Radio 5 Live investigation. Internet dealers are offering large quantities of the Class B drug along with others that are yet to be made illegal. Also other dealers are now selling Mephedrone in the hope of introducing users to hard drugs.

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Anthrax contamination of heroin

A fourth incident in the Leicestershire area of heroin being contaminated by heroin has come to light after another young man died after taking the drug. The Health Protection Agency is making a full investigation and a further post mortem of the victim is set to take place. Meanwhile heroin users are being urged not to take the drug.

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Chairman of Bar Council advocates legalised personal drug use

The chairman of the Bar Council which represents the UK's barristers has put forward the view that personal drug use should be made legal. Nicholas Green argues that this would save the British economy billions of pounds. Drug crime alone reaches 13 billion per year. Benfits to public health would also be achieved.

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Ecstasy use on the wane

An investigation by Radio 2's Newsbeat maintains that new alternatives such as mephadrone have replaced Ecstasy in Britain's night clubs. Dealers and law enforcement agencies say tighter controls on chemicals have contributed to a fall in production of the drug.

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Mephedrone not to blame for teenage deaths

In the wake of the clubbing high mephadrone being made a Class B illegal drug, comes the news that toxicology tests have proved that the two teenagers thought have died as a direct results of using mephadrone, died from other causes. However expert opinion maintains that the ban was based on research rather than two isolated incidents.

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New legal highs warning

A warning about new "legal highs"has been issued by Wales Drug and Alcohol Helpline. With mephedrone recently banned as a Class B drug, clubbers are looking for alternatives and 400 have been identified on the Internet

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Valium as addictive as heroin

Scientists have warned that benzodiazepines such as Valium (diazepam) that are well known treatments for anxiety are as addictive as Class A drugs such as heroin. The Swiss study in Nature journal said benzodiazepines use the same "reward pathways" in the brain. It is hoped that the findings of this research will lead to the next generation of non-addictive treatments for anxiety.

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Ecstasy most lethal drug for non-addicts

British researchers have identified Ecstasy as being more lethal than Speed or Crystal Meth for fit and healthy young people who are not drug addicts. A study published in the journal Neuropsychobiology analysed data of stimulant deaths from 1997 - 2007. There were 832 deaths for Speed and Crystal Meth combined and 605 related to Ecstasy.


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FRANK cocaine adverts

The drugs information and advice service, Frank is targeting 15- 18 year olds with a series of adverts that spell out the dangers to the heart and nose from taking cocaine. The adverts are being shown at cinemas and on television, and with posters at a cost £1.5 million.

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Psychosis and drug abuse

A UK study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry has examined the role of substance abuse in the severity of first-episode psychosis. 272 patients were assessed and the researchers concluded that persistant substance abuse caused higher levels of relapse, than for those who had no misuse of drugs.
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Over the counter addiction

It takes just three days to become addicted to some of the most common over-the-counter pain killers which contain high doses of codeine, according to the government's drug watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This warning comes in the wake of the parliamentary report which reported the dangers of addiction. Stronger warnings on packets are to be introduced and only small packets available without a prescription.

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More cocaine statistics

Statistics released yesterday give further information on cocaine addiction. Previous research had indicted a rise in hospital admissions due to cocaine abuse; now the newest data indicates a rise by 20% in deaths attributable to cocaine. This figure is the highest for eight years.

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Drug Misuse therapy not punishment

A new report published by the UK Drug Policy Commission criticises the police in the UK for being too heavy handed with arrests of drug dealers. The study maintains that drug dealers are easily replaced and a better policy would be better treatment for addicts and dealers alike.

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14% Rise in Child Drug Overdoses

Department of Health statistics reveal an alarming increase of 14% in 2007/08 in admittances to hospital of children for drug overdoses. There were 827 cases for all drugs compared to 724 in 2003/4. Cocaine rose dramatically by 140%, however cannabis bucked the trend declining slightly.

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Cocaine Emergency Admissions

New official government figures reveal that as many as seventeen people are being admitted to hospital accident and emergency departments every week as a result of taking cocaine. According to UN figures the UK has the largest usage of cocaine in Europe, with an estimated million people inhaling the drug. The price of cocaine has fallen and doctors say this could increase usage and in turn increase the likelihood of accidental overdoses.
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