This law will probably (at least initially) wipe out the high street ‘head shops’ which the Daily Mail and Centre for Social Justice are so concerned about. However, banning something has never yet simply made a drug disappear (Adam Smith Institute)
Bibliography: Domestic Policy Issues
Psychoactive substances bill European convention on human rights
Memorandum by the (Home Office)
Psychoactive Substances Bill
To make provision about psychoactive substances; and for connected purposes (Parliament UK)
Queen’s Speech 2015: background briefing notes
See pages 72-74 of the notes for information on NPS. The legislation aims to “Protect hard-working citizens from the risks posted by untested, unknown and potential harmful drugs and create a blanket ban which would prohibit and disrupt the production, distribution, sale and supply of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in the UK (Cabinet Office, UK)
National Drugs Strategy 2009 – 2016
Progress Report to End 2014 (Ireland)
National Forum on Drug-related Deaths Scotland
This report reviews the impact of the Forum during 2014 and looks ahead by setting out recommendations that seek to reduce the numbers at risk (SFAD)
National Treatment Indicators Report
This fourth NTI report provides 2012–2013 fiscal-year data from six provinces, one territory and one provincial association and has expanded its scope to include information on the primary substance for which treatment was sought. The report also includes information on the total number of hospital stays related to substance use disorders and their associated costs. (CCSA)
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland Policy Group on Alcohol
Submission on Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 (RCPI)
Advances in Dual Diagnosis
When 80 per cent of your clients have a dual diagnosis, asking whether the service needs a dual diagnosis worker is getting things the wrong way around (Advances in Dual Diagnosis)
Drugs action plan
A new strategy is required to address the current prevalence and nature of drug use in Ireland which needs to contain high level actions which can be broadly categorised under (1) National Substance Misuse Strategy, (2) Community Impact & Crime, (3)Health, Treatment & Rehabilitation, (4) Prevention & Early Intervention. (Fianna Fáil)
Protection or Harm? Suppressing Substance-Use Data
We believe that the federal government’s short-sighted policy will harm the very people it was meant to protect (NEJM)
A Changing Landscape for Commissioning
This is the third in a series of briefings by DrugScope on behalf of the Recovery Partnership which examines some of the broader issues around recovery from substance misuse problems (DrugScope)
Drug policy reform and the reclassification of cannabis in England and Wales: A cautionary tale
The contradictions and reversals involved in the reclassification of cannabis, it is argued, can be readily understood in terms of the broader politics of crime and control and the ‘structured ambivalence’ of state responses (Drug Policy)
‘Third generation’ synthetic cannabinoids
Report presented to the crime prevention minister recommends a revised generic description, designed to control a broad-range of ‘third generation’ synthetic cannabinoids (AMCD)
Proposals to review and amend specific provisions under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001
List of proposals to review and amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (AMCD)
Ministerial letter to ACMD: proposals to review the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001
Letter from the Minister of State to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) about proposals to review the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (Home Office)
New psychoactive substances
Evidence submitted in response to this Consultation (National Assembly for Wales)
Rescheduling of ketamine and patient group directions
Lynne Featherstone writes to the chair of Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) about the rescheduling of ketamine (Home Office)
Action against head shops
Advice for local authorities and other public bodies on the types of offences head shops may be committing, and guidance and recommendations (Home Office)
No let-up in drive to combat ‘legal highs
Coalition government takes range of action to respond to challenges of new psychoactive substances (Home Office)