News and Notes
2007; Wiley; Volume: 103; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02109.x
ISSN1360-0443
Autores ResumoThe European Commission's Directorate for Public Health and Consumer Protection has held their first Alcohol and Health Forum. The Forum brings together over 40 members—businesses as well as NGOs—and is at the centre of the European Commission's ‘EU Strategy to Support Member States in Reducing Alcohol Related Harm’. It purportedly arises from a need to tackle the problems associated with alcohol, which cost the EU €125 billion annually as a result of ill health, injury, crime and lost productivity [1]. The legal age of tobacco purchase has been increased from 16 to 18, in the UK. The move has brought tobacco into line with alcohol, glue and fireworks. Many tobacco control experts are sceptical about whether it will have an effect without much better enforcement measures and eliminating other retail outlets such as vending machines. New legislation banning in-store advertising of tobacco products has been proposed, The Irish Times reports. This will coincide with the ban on retailers displaying tobacco products in stores, which is due to come into effect shortly. Tighter controls on the location and operation of cigarette machines are also due under the new legislation. These measures are the latest in a line of tobacco regulations in Ireland, such as the ban on the sale of 10 packs of cigarettes, aimed at discouraging teenage smokers, which was brought into force in May 2007. A new report, produced by the President's Cancer Panel, has urged Congress to give the Food and Drug Administration authority over tobacco [1]. The report also encourages greater action on a state level, outlining key responsibilities such as funding tobacco control programmes and increasing tobacco tax. The panel further recommends that Congress raise federal excise tax on all tobacco products. British Crime Survey statistics reveal a decrease in cannabis use since its downgrading to ‘class C’ in 2004 [1]. The proportion of 16–24 year olds using cannabis dropped from 28% in 1997, to 21% in 2007. Since the relaxation of cannabis legislation, the proportion of frequent users—those using the drug on a monthly basis—fell from 12% to 8%. These findings somewhat undermine Prime Minister Gordon Brown's plans to toughen up cannabis laws by reclassifying the drug (The Iguana, News and Notes, November 2007). Brown's proposed changes would see those caught in possession of cannabis being arrested and taken to a police station for a formal caution, instead of being issued a warning on the street. The independent UK Drugs Policy Commission has called for drug classification to be taken out of the hands of ministers. The commission also reported that there is no evidence that the reclassification of cannabis would deter use. A British Home Office study has revealed a 127% increase in serious violence and murders near pubs and clubs. This sharp annual rise followed the extension of licensing hours in 2005. But the published Home Office report [1] left out this figure, saying it was ‘not statistically significant’; it may be true but it would seem to be worth reporting. The report was the first to study trends in violent crime after the relaxation of licensing laws. The increase was recorded between 3am and 6am across 18 police regions in city centres or near pubs and clubs. However the number of violent crimes taking place throughout the day remained relatively stable. The report also revealed that the most serious violent crimes had fallen by 5% and all violent crime fell by 4% in the 6pm and 6am time slot. Business Week has reported that tobacco giant, Philip Morris, has invested in a new research centre aimed at developing reduced risk tobacco products. This appears to be in response to the global downturn in cigarette sales, attributed to growing health concerns. The centre will house 500 scientists, engineers and support staff. The company hopes to get ‘a leg up in the smokeless category’, through the development of new, smoke-free products, such as snuff. Philip Morris is testing a ‘spitless’ tobacco product called Marlboro Snus and a moist smokeless tobacco product under the Marlboro brand. Despite this emphasis on smokeless products, Marlboro is also having new types of cigarette added to its range, including Marlboro Smooth cigarettes and Marlboro Virginia Blend cigarettes. Source: Business Week (28 October 2007) Amidst a wave of tighter regulations and health campaigns, Japan's smoking rate has dropped to a record low in modern times. A survey, conducted in May 2007, reported that the number of adults smoking had fallen to 26%. The changes which preceded this decline include banning smoking in many public areas and the introduction of mandatory health warnings on cigarette packets. Despite these improvements, and an overall decline, the survey found that the female smoking rate had risen to 12.7%. Source: International Herald Asia-Pacific (17 October 2007) In an attempt to curb the level of teenage drinking, which is among the highest in Europe, Dutch ministers are planning a ban on the sale of pre-mixed cocktails—or alcopops—in all supermarkets. NOS News reports that the proposal aims to reduce the number of under-16s who drink alcohol by 25%. Under the proposed legislation the sale of pre-mixed cocktails would be confined to wine and spirit shops. Any shop caught selling alcohol to minors would lose their license and under-16s found in possession of alcohol would face criminal charges. The proposal also includes restrictions on television and radio advertising of alcohol in the early evening. A report by Reuters has identified a growing drug problem in Afghanistan, as those traumatised by war and poverty increasingly turn to narcotics. A United Nations study revealed that nearly 4% of the Afghan population is addicted to drugs, representing a sharp increase since 2003. The UN reported roughly 150 000 opium users, 50 000 heroin addicts and 520 000 cannabis smokers. Of these, 120 000 are women and 60 000 are children. According to Afghan drug analysts, 98% of addicts do not have jobs. Most of these must turn to begging. This is made harder by the fact that most Afghans are struggling to make a living themselves and refuse to give money to drug addicts. Approximately 39 foreign-supported drug treatment centres operate in Afghanistan, all with long waiting lists. Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSISL27625[accessed 12 November 2007] Alcohol Policy 14: Engaging States and Local Communities in Prevention Policies. 27–30 January 2008, the Bahia Resort Hotel, Mission Bay, San Diego, California. Sponsored by the California Council on Alcohol Policy. Contact: http://www.cal-council.org/AP14/index.htm SRNT 14th Annual Meeting. Hilton Portland and Executive Tower, Portland, OR, USA, 27 February-1 March 2008. Contact: Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 2810 Crossroads Drive, Ste. 3800, Madison, WI53718, USA; tel. +1 608 443 2462 x 145; fax: +1 608 443 2478 or +1 608 443 2474; email meetings@srnt.org; website http://www.srnt.org Looking Forward: New Directions in Research and Minimising Public Harm. 21–23 February 2008, Auckland, New Zealand. International gambling conference organized by the Gambling Research Centre at Auckland University of Technology, and the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand. Contact: e-mail info@problem-gambling.info; website http://www.pgfnz.co.nz/2008conference 2008 National Drug Treatment Conference. The Radisson Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland, 13–14 March 2008. Contact: 2008 NDTC, Exchange Supplies, 1 Great Western Industrial Centre, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1RD; tel +44 (0)1305 262244; fax +44 (0)1305 262255; email info@exchangesupplies.org; website http://www.exchangesupplies.org 16th Annual Public Health Forum. Organised by the UK Public Health Association. Liverpool, 1–2 April 2008. Contact: http://www.ukphaconference.org.uk 2nd Annual Conference of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy. 3–4 April 2008, Lisbon, Portugal. Supported by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and the Instituto de Droga e de Toxicodependencia. Contact: Alex Stephens, ISSDP Secretary, email a.w.stephens@kent.ac.uk; website http://www.issdp.org/conferences.htm Building Capacity for Action. European Alcohol Policy Conference. Barcelona, 3–5 April 2008. Contact: SuportServeis, tel. +34 93 201 7571; fax +34 93 201 9789; e-mail buildingcapacity@suportserveis.com; website http://www.ias.org.uk/buildingcapacity/index.html 29th Annual Medical-Scientific Conference. American Society of Addiction Medicine. Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 10–13 April 2008. Contact: http://www.asam.org A Call to Action: Successful Tobacco Control for the Future. Conference organized by Action on Smoking and Health, Wales. 28–29 April 2008, Cardiff International Arena. Contact: http://www.smoking-conference-wales.org.uk Towards a Global Approach. 19th Conference of the International Harm Reduction Association, Palacio de Congresos, Fira de Barcelona, Spain. 11–15 May 2008. Contact: http://www/ihra.net/Barcelona/Home College on Problems of Drug Dependence. 70th Annual Meeting, the Caribe Hilton, San Juan, Puerto Rico. 14–19 June 2008. Contact: http://www.cpdd.vcu.edu ISBRA and RSA Annual Conference. Washington DC, 27 June-03 July 2008. Contact: Debby Sharp at DebbyRSA@sbc.global.net News and Notes welcomes contributions from its readers. Send your material to Peter Miller, News and Notes Editor, Addiction, National Addiction Centre PO48, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF. Fax +44 (0)20 7703 5787; e-mail peter@addictionjournal.org Conference entries should be sent to Susan Savva at susan@addictionjournal.org. Subject to editorial review, we will be glad to print, free of charge, details of your conference or event, up to 75 words and one entry only. Please send your notification three months ahead of time and specify in which issue you would like it to appear.
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