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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
Time: 11:35 am
Time: 11:35 am
Results for illicit drug use
4 results foundAuthor: Kelly, Elaine Title: Policing Cannabis and Drug Related Hospital Admissions: Evidence from Administrative Records Summary: We evaluate the impact of a policing experiment that depenalized the possession of small quantities of cannabis in the London borough of Lambeth, on hospital admissions related to illicit drug use. To do so, we exploit administrative records on individual hospital admissions classi ed by ICD-10 diagnosis codes. These records allow the construction of a quarterly panel data set by London borough running from 1997 to 2009 to estimate the short and long run impacts of the depenalization policy unilaterally introduced in Lambeth between 2001 and 2002. We nd the depenalization of cannabis had signi cant longer term impacts on hospital admissions related to the use of hard drugs, raising raising hospital admission rates for men by between 40 and 100% of their pre-policy baseline levels. Among Lambeth residents, the impacts are concentrated among men in younger age cohorts, and among those with no prior history of hospitalization related to illicit drug or alcohol use. The dynamic impacts across cohorts vary in pro le with some cohorts experiencing hospitalization rates remaining above pre-intervention levels six years after the depenalization policy is introduced. We nd evidence of smaller but signi cant positive spillover eects in hospitalization rates related to hard drug use among residents in boroughs neighboring Lambeth, and these are again concentrated among younger cohorts without prior histories of hospitalizations related to illicit drug or alcohol use. We combine these estimated impacts on hospitalization rates with estimates on how the policy impacted the severity of hospital admissions to provide a lower bound estimate of the public health cost of the depenalization policy. Details: Unpublished paper, 2012. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 17, 2013 at: http://www.homepages.ucl.ac.uk/~uctpimr/research/health.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.homepages.ucl.ac.uk/~uctpimr/research/health.pdf Shelf Number: 129420 Keywords: DecriminalizationDrug Abuse and AddictionDrug PolicyHospital AdmissionsIllicit Drug UseMarijuana (U.K.) |
Author: Ferri, Marica Title: Media Campaigns for the Prevention of Illicit Drug Use in Young People (Review) Summary: Background Substance-specific mass media campaigns which address young people are widely used to prevent illicit drug use. They aim to reduce use and raise awareness of the problem. Objectives To assess the effectiveness of mass media campaigns in preventing or reducing the use of or intention to use illicit drugs amongst young people. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library 2013, Issue 1), including the Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Group’s Specialised Register; MEDLINE through PubMed (from 1966 to 29 January 2013); EMBASE (from 1974 to 30 January 2013) and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I (from 1861 to 3 February 2013). Selection criteria Cluster-randomised controlled trials, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, interrupted time series and controlled before and after studies evaluating the effectiveness of mass media campaigns in influencing drug use, intention to use or the attitude of young people under the age of 26 towards illicit drugs. Data collection and analysis We used the standard methodological procedures of The Cochrane Collaboration. Main results We included 23 studies involving 188,934 young people, conducted in theUSA, Canada and Australia between 1991 and 2012. Twelve studies were randomised controlled trials (RCT), two were prospective cohort studies (PCS), one study was both a RCT and a PCS, six were interrupted time series and two were controlled before and after (CBA) studies. The RCTs had an overall low risk of bias, along with the ITS (apart from the dimension ’formal test of trend’), and the PCS had overall good quality, apart from the description of loss to follow-up by exposure. Self reported or biomarker-assessed illicit drug use was measured with an array of published and unpublished scalesmaking comparisons difficult. Pooled results of five RCTs (N = 5470) show no effect of media campaign intervention (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.02; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.15 to 0.12). We also pooled five ITS studies (N = 26,405) focusing specifically on methamphetamine use. Out of four pooled estimates (two endpoints measured in two age groups), there was evidence of a reduction only in past-year prevalence of methamphetamine use among 12 to 17 years old. A further five studies (designs = one RCT with PCS, two PCS, two ITS, one CBA, N = 151,508), which could not be included in meta-analyses, reported a drug use outcome with varied results including a clear iatrogenic effect in one case and reduction of use in another. Authors’ conclusions Overall the available evidence does not allow conclusions about the effect of media campaigns on illicit drug use among young people. We conclude that further studies are needed. Details: The Cochrane Collaboration, 2013. 109p. Source: Internet Resource: The Cochrane Library 2013, Issue 6: Accessed July 17, 2013 at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD009287.pub2/pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD009287.pub2/pdf Shelf Number: 129428 Keywords: Drug Abuse and AddictionDrug Abuse PreventionIllicit Drug UseMedia Campaigns |
Author: Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Title: Operation Tone: Special report concerning drug use and associated corrupt conduct involving Ambulance Victoria paramedics Summary: The Victorian community places great trust in paramedics. Paramedics are often among the first to arrive at the scene of an emergency and are responsible for treating and stabilising patients. They have access to an array of powerful, prescription medications that they can administer (in accordance with clinical guidelines) depending on a patient's needs and circumstances. Victorians rightfully expect that paramedics will demonstrate professionalism and expertise in carrying out their duty of care to patients. This report concerns an investigation by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) into allegations that Ambulance Victoria (AV) paramedics engaged in serious corrupt conduct, namely the theft, trafficking and use of drugs of dependence, and misappropriation of AV equipment. Many paramedics are exemplars of their profession. However, Operation Tone has identified a culture of illicit drug use and misappropriation of AV equipment by individuals and among certain groups, particularly in the Barwon South West region. Based on evidence obtained during the investigation, IBAC believes it is probable that this conduct occurs beyond that identified in this investigation. Illicit drug use by paramedics is concerning on several fronts: - Illicit drug use, possession and trafficking are criminal offences and contravene the Code of Conduct for Victorian Public Sector Employees and the AV Workplace Conduct Policy. A paramedic who procures and uses illicit drugs is, by definition, engaging in criminal conduct. - The use of drugs of dependence undermines the safety of the Victorian community. It is imperative that a paramedic's judgement and performance not be impaired by illicit drugs, particularly when they are dealing with patients. The use of drugs of dependence also poses a safety risk for individual users and their AV colleagues. Since 2012, fentanyl or morphine have been involved in three paramedic deaths in Victoria. - The use of drugs of dependence erodes public confidence in AV. AV has proactively responded to the vulnerabilities identified in Operation Tone. When IBAC commenced its investigation in November 2015, AV's capacity to identify and expose at-risk paramedics was initially limited. During IBAC's investigation, AV introduced new policies and practices to minimise opportunities for the possession, use and misappropriation of drugs of dependence. New AV policies and practices also limit the opportunity for misappropriation of AV equipment. AV has advised it accepts the content of this report and the recommendations made. AV also advised it has continued to implement initiatives to address illicit drug use and misuse of drugs of dependence since the completion of IBAC's investigation. During Operation Tone, one paramedic was terminated and eight paramedics resigned while under investigation. Six paramedics retained their employment with a formal warning; of these, five were relocated to different regions for varying periods, were enrolled in an ethics counselling course, and precluded from development opportunities for 12 months. Following the IBAC investigation, one witness pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates. Court to breaching a confidentiality nottice and misleading IBAC, and was fined $5000. Details: Melbourne: The Commission, 2017. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 13, 2017 at: http://www.ibac.vic.gov.au/docs/default-source/special-reports/operation-tone-special-report-september-2017.pdf?sfvrsn=2 Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ibac.vic.gov.au/docs/default-source/special-reports/operation-tone-special-report-september-2017.pdf?sfvrsn=2 Shelf Number: 148138 Keywords: CorruptionDrug AbuseDrug TraffickingEmployee MisconductIllicit Drug UsePrescription Drug Abuse |
Author: Queensland Mental Health Commission Title: Portugal's response to drug-related harm Summary: In June 2018, the Queensland Mental Health Commissioner visited Portugal to observe the country's response to illicit drug use, which is acknowledged by the International Narcotics Control Board as a best practice model. The Commissioner was accompanied by the CEO and Board President of the Queensland Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies and an Addiction Medicine Specialist from Metro North Hospital and Health Service. This report outlines the group's reflections on what they observed of the Portuguese approach to illicit drug use. Details: Brisbane: Queensland Mental Health Commission, 2018. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 24, 2018 at: https://www.qmhc.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/portugals_response_to_drug-related_harm.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://www.qmhc.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/portugals_response_to_drug-related_harm.pdf Shelf Number: 151657 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Illicit Drug Use |