Feel like 2007 flashed before your eyes? Remind yourself of the highlights with a look at our pick of the top publications from the last twelve months.
Treatment
Assessing young people for substance misuse
NTA, 2007.
This document has been developed for service managers and practitioners delivering specialist substance misuse services to young people under the age of 18. It describes a framework for specialist substance misuse assessment, how specialist substance misuse assessment dovetails with the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) for children and young people (DfES, 2006a) and outlines the context of undertaking an assessment of young people and care planning arrangements.
(PDF 2.34MB) Warning: large fileDrug Misuse and Dependence - UK Guidelines for Clinical Management
National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, 2007.
This is a new version of the 1999 Clinical Guidelines, commonly called the ‘Orange Book’. The new Clinical Guidelines build on the previous evidence-based and well-established Clinical Guidelines but reflect some of the considerable changes that have occurred in drug treatment over the past eight years. The latest Clinical Guidelines also reflects the recent suite of guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).Drug misuse: psychosocial interventions
NICE, 2007.
NICE has produced two guidelines on drug misuse – ‘Drug misuse: psychosocial interventions’ (NICE clinical guideline 51) and ‘Drug misuse: opioid detoxification’ (NICE clinical guideline 52). They cover:
- the support and treatment people can expect to be offered if they have a problem with or are dependent on opioids, stimulants or cannabis
- how families and carers may be able to support a person with a drug problem and get help for themselves.
NICE clinical guideline 51 makes recommendations for the use of psychosocial interventions in the treatment of people who misuse opioids, stimulants and cannabis in the healthcare and criminal justice systems.
Good practice in care planning
NTA, 2007.
During 2005/06, the first joint Healthcare Commission and NTA substance misuse themed Improvement Review took place. The Healthcare Commission’s Improvement Reviews look at whether healthcare organisations are striving to improve the care and treatment they provide to patients. The reviews focus on aspects of health and healthcare where there are substantial opportunities for improvement, and help organisations to identify where and how they can perform better.
Important information for travellers carrying controlled or prescription drugs
UK. Home Office, 2007.
Home Office guidance on personal licences for travellers who are carrying certain controlled drugs abroad (or in the case of an import licence, into the UK) for short periods for their own personal use.
The International Treatment Effectiveness Project - Implementing psychosocial interventions for adult drug misusers
National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, 2007.
The International Treatment Effectiveness Project (ITEP) is part of the National Treatment Agency’s Treatment Effectiveness strategy, which identified areas for enhancing the quality of treatment interventions. The project was a collaboration between the NTA, the Institute of Behavioural Research (IBR) in Texas and severalservice providers in the north-west England and London. ITEP utilised a care planning approach (referred to as “mapping”) in the form of a manual, which was used by trained keyworkers with their clients. Previous research had shown that these psychosocial interventions had a number of positive outcomes in terms of clients’ treatment experiences and reductions in illicit drug use.
Needs assessment guidance for adult drug treatment
NTA, 2007.
Describes the aims and objectives behind needs assessments and the processes involved in conducting one. Includes practical information on conducting research into prevalence, current provision, evaluation, commissioning and monitoring
Nothing about us, without us. English users representative report
IHRA, 2007.
In May 2007, the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) sponsored eleven service user representatives from across England, to attend the International Harm Reduction Association’s (IHRA) 18th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm, hosted in Warsaw. Their intention was to collect information on new evidence-based initiatives on reducing drug-related harm and communicate these messages to the wider service user community. The overall aim was to identify examples of international good practice that could inform and improve harm reduction services in England. This report covers the team’s five key areas of learning from conference - blood borne virues, harm reduction, prisons, service user involvement and drug users involved in sex work.
The status of social care – a review 2007
Platt D., UK. Department of Health. 2007.
Report of a review by Dame Denise Platt on how the status of social care might be raised, as commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health, in her speech to the national Social Services Conference in October 2006. The terms of reference for the review were: To review the current arrangements for promoting the contribution social care makes to the promotion of people’s independence, inclusion, health and well being. To consider whether any action is required to improve the status of social care services and the social care workforce. To propose recommendations and timetable on any next steps which will be required.
TOP (Treatment Outcomes Profile) Service users guide: making your drug treatment better
NTA, 2007.
Guidance for drug users and their keyworkers on what to expect from drug treatment.
Web:
Criminal Justice & Policy
An analysis of UK drug policy
Reuter P., Stevens A., UKDPC, 2007.
Despite the long-standing political prominence of the problem, relatively coherent strategies and substantial investment, the United Kingdom remains at the top of the European ladder for drug use and drug dependence. This study by Professor Peter Reuter of the University of Maryland, USA, and Alex Stevens of the University of Kent, England, assesses the evidence relating to the UK drug problem and analyses the impact of current policies.
ACMD Response to the Drug Strategy Consultation
UK. Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, 2007.
The ACMD’s report which aims to provide an opportunity to discuss, debate and formulate the new drug strategy based upon evidence regarding current drug policy, crime, prevention, interventions and treatment.
The Corston Report: a review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system
Corston J. Home Office, 2007.
A report by Baroness Jean Corston of a review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system, outlining the need for a distinct radically different, visibly-led, strategic, proportionate, holistic, woman-centred, integrated approach.
Drug misuse declared: findings from the British Crime Survey 2005/06
Roe S., Home Office, 2007.
The BCS is a survey of about 15,000 householders in England and Wales. It is conducted by the home office every two years. The advantage of the BCS is that it includes crimes that have not been reported to the police.
Drugs – facing facts
RSA Commission on Illegal Drugs, Communities and Public Policy, 2007
The RSA Commission on Illegal Drugs, Communities and Public Policy was set up to take a fresh look at drugs policy and to try to untangle the knot of issues commonly referred to as ‘the drugs problem.’The results of its enquiries are set out in this report.
DrugScope response to the Government’s consultation on the national drug strategy
DrugScope, 2007
This response was produced by DrugScope with the support and input of many organisations and individuals who have worked with us throughout our 2007 policy review - members of our expert groups, our trustees and contributors, the people who came to our conference and the many workers, managers, commissioners, service users and family members who came along to our consultation events.
Evaluation of Drug Interventions Programme Pilots for Children and Young People: Arrest Referral, Drug Testing and Drug Treatment (and Testing) Requirements
UK. Home Office, 2007.
This is the final evaluation report of the 18-month evaluation of the three interventions piloted by the Drug Interventions Programme for children and young people (10-17 year olds), which began in April 2004.
Guidance on policing cannabis: use of cannabis warnings
Association of Chief Police Officer of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. CPO, 2007.
This Crime Business Area Guidance has been developed to recommend to Chief Constables a consistent national approach to the policing of possession of Cannabis as a Class C Drug.
Hidden Harm Three Years On: Realities, Challenges and Opportunities: Executive Summary
UK. Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, 2007.
Chapters cover the legal and policy context, estimating the scale of the problem, the impact of parental problem drug use on children and ‘what works’ - lessons from research, the practicalities of protecting and supporting the children of problem drug users.
Managing Drug Misusers Under Probation Supervision : Guidance for Probation, CJITS and CARAT Teams
UK. DOH, NTA,National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP), 2007.
This guidance for Probation, CJITS and CARAT Teams has been produced for Criminal Justice Integrated Teams (CJITs), Counselling Assessment, Referral Advice and Throughcare Teams (CARATs) and offender managers in the National Probation Service (NPS). The guidance: · Describes the respective responsibilities of agencies regarding the sharing of information· Clarifies how drug-misusing offenders subject to ‘statutory supervision’ (i.e. offenders on community orders or post-custodial licence) should be managed by probation offender managers, CARATs workers and CJIT staff· Provides a checklist to assist in the preparation of local protocols.
Policing cannabis as a Class C drug
May T., Duffy M., Warburton H., Hough M. Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2007.
This report describes the impact of reclassification on the policing of cannabis possession. The study describes how the legislative changes and associated guidelines have been put into practice and provides a snapshot view of the impact of these changes. This is the only study that has compared the policing of cannabis before and after reclassification. The report also assesses the impact on police resources, explores police views about the changes and examines young people’s knowledge and attitudes about the changes. This report will be of interest to policy makers, police managers, central and local government officials, drug workers, academics and drug researchers.Safe. Sensible. Social - The Next Steps in the National Alcohol Strategy
UK. DH, 2007.
This strategy builds upon the foundations which have been laid and the lessons learnt since 2004. It outlines a concerted approach to support a change in drinking culture and shows how the police, local communities, local authorities, the NHS, voluntary organisations, the alcohol industry and others all have a role to play. UK - New Developments, trends and in-depth information on selected issues. 2007 National Report (2006 data) to the EMCDDA
Reitox National Focal Point, 2007.
The 2007 UK Focal Point’s Annual Report has just been published. It provides information on the drug situation in the UK, a discussion of the main trends and a description of the responses to the situation. It covers national policies on drugs, prevalence, prevention, problem drug use, drug-related treatment, health correlates and consequences, social correlates and consequences, drug markets, public expenditure, vulnerable groups of young people and drug-related research in Europe.Education & PreventionAlcohol and drug prevention in colleges and universities
Polymerou A. Mentor Foundation, 2007.
The aim of this paper is to review the evidence around the harm that alcohol and/or drugs cause among further education college and university students in the UK and examine the effectiveness of drug prevention. Little is known about the harm that alcohol and/or drugs cause among students in the UK and about the effectiveness of universities and colleges’ efforts to prevent substance misuse and related harm. Evidence about the effectiveness of drug education / awareness campaigns, social norms interventions, extracurricular activities and motivational interviewing is discussed. The paper concludes that more effort is needed to build the evidence base of drug prevention, increase the profile of drug prevention in further and higher education and support further education colleges and universities to deliver effective interventions. Blueprint Drug Education Research Programme - Delivery and Practitioner Reports
UK. Home office, DOH, Dept for Children, Schools and Families, 2007.
Blueprint is the Government’s research programme designed to test the effectiveness of a multi-component approach to school-based drug education The programme aims to provide both immediate learning to influence drug education policy and practice, and a clearer idea of what future research priorities should be.The Executive Summary of both the Delivery Report and Practitioner Report sets out the key learning points from both reports for policy makers and practitioners and programme designers. The Delivery Report assesses the extent to which the programme was delivered as intended and identifies factors which either facilitated or hindered delivery.The Practitioner Report highlights findings particularly relevant to teachers delivering drug education. National Collaborating Centre Annual Review of Drug Prevention
NCCDP, 2007.
Building on the findings of 3 briefings by the National Collaborating Centre for Drug Prevention (NCCDP) this document presents and grades evidence in relation to drug prevention and introduces the economics of drug prevention. Drug Markets, statistics and supplyThe illicit drug trade in the United Kingdom. UK. Home Office, 2007 This report presents findings from interviews with 222 imprisoned drug dealers and traffickers. It provides a detailed insight into the operation of the market for illicit drugs, filling an important gap in our understanding. The findings will be used for the further development of policy and operations to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs. Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2006
United Nations. International Narcotics Control Board, INCB, 2007.
This report assesses worldwide illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse trends across United Nations member states. The report also focuses, this year, on the increasing trend in counterfeit medicines and the danger posed by unregulated markets. In part, the unregulated sale of prescription medication is fuelled by the growing misuse of these drugs. According to the Board, abuse and trafficking of prescription drugs is soon set to exceed illicit drug abuse. Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2006
UK. Home Office, 2007.
This report contains headline results from an annual survey of secondary school pupils aged 11 to 15. The main report on the survey will be published in August. 8,200 pupils in 290 schools in England completed questionnaires in the autumn term of 2006. This report includes the latest information on the prevalence of smoking among this age group; pupils reporting having drunk alcohol in the last week and the amount of alcohol drunk; and information on pupils reporting taking drugs within the last month or year, including data on the use of individual drugs and the frequency of drug taking. For smoking, drinking and drug use differences between age, sex and over time are included. These headline figures also include information on drug taking among pupils who have been either truant or excluded from school. Statistics on drug misuse, England 2007 UK. Office for National Statistics, 2007.
This report covers the prevalence of adult drug use, trends over time, and types of drugs most commonly used. Relationships between drug use and socio-demographic and lifestyle factors are explored. The prevalence of drug use among children and young people, and drug-related health outcomes are also included. GeneralThe essential guide to drugs and alcohol. New ed.
Shapiro H. DrugScope. London: DrugScope, 2007. 149p.
The latest incarnation of the Druglink guide to drugs (formerly Drug abuse briefing) includes sections on drug-taking and risk-taking, UK drug laws, drug terms, drug jargon, basic statistics, and drug and alcohol treatment. A new section lists further resources, both online and printed.
£9.50 (£8.55 to non-members)
