Submitted by Andy Travis on
Media muddle over mephedrone. Drugscope's Harry Shapiro tackles some of the 'facts' behind recent media coverage.
Spain and UK close to approving cannabis-based medicine. GW Pharmaceuticals announced that their cannabis-based medicine for multiple sclerosis is now on track to win regulatory approval in Britain and Spain in the second quarter of 2010. Medical trials are also taking place in the USA. Doubts remain in the UK where the rate of uptake in will be limited until the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) decides whether it should be reimbursed on the National Health Service (NHS). Further clinical trials need to be completed before the medicine is ready for submission for approval in the United States.
UN releases latest Global Smart Update reporting on emerging patterns and trends in abuse of illicit synthetic drugs.
'Treatment Outcomes Profile' scheme gaining international recognition. This simple, effective monitoring scheme from England has been positively reviewed in the scientific press and a number of countries from around the world are now expressing interest in adopting the programme.
Harm Reduction 2010: IHRA's 21st International Conference, April 25th to 29th. Liverpool, UK.
New interactive map gives very easy access to USA state smoking legislation - Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
More 12 year olds have used potentially lethal inhalants than have used marijuana, cocaine and hallucinogens combined. The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (NIPC) and SAMHSA kicked off National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week at a press conference featuring information and personal stories about the dangers of inhalant use or 'huffing'. This article has statistical and anecdotal evidence plus further links.