Links
A Student Guide to Drug Abuse in Northern Ireland This site is produced by the National Union of Students UK/Union of Students in Ireland (NUS-USI) to inform students in Northern Ireland of the risks involved in drug use.
Association of Nurses in Substance Abuse (ANSA), This is an interest group for nurses working in drug and alcohol services. ANSA acts as an advisory service to health and social care bodies and institutions, imparting specialist information on drug and alcohol related issues to the government and a number of advisory committees. The site includes details of ANSA's publications, its regional activities and annual conference.
Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Programme The Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Programme (BFDPP) is dedicated to providing a rigorous, independent review of global drug policy.
Benzodiazepine Addiction, Withdrawal and Recovery This site contains a comprehensive range of information relating to benzodiazepines. It includes a series of FAQs, news page, list of doctors and experts and information on symptoms and withdrawal. Information specific to the UK, and other countries such as the USA, Canada, and Australia is highlighted. The site has details of support groups for benzodiazepine users, personal accounts and a drug index providing links to information on individual benzodiazepines.
CAIS A leading drug and alcohol agency in North Wales. CAIS provides a range of services to help clients overcome their drug or alcohol problem. CAIS offer counselling in the community to individuals or family members. CAIS manage a 24-bed Detoxification and Rehabilitation Unit in Wrexham, North Wales and run a residential rehabilitation in Bangor, North Wales.
Cannabis Help This site has been created to help people who want to cut down or stop using cannabis. It includes information about the effects, risks, ways of reducing harm and the legal status of cannabis in the UK.
Cocaine Help This site aims to help people with cocaine or crack cocaine addiction to find help and support among others. The site has a forum where people can discuss cocaine related issues.
Detox 5 This site provides a 5-day detoxification programme that uses sedation and pain relief medication to alleviate the "cold turkey" symptoms of withdrawal. The treatment is carried out in complete privacy with understanding and experienced clinical staff in attendance 24 hours a day. The Detox 5 programme is available at clinics in London and Yorkshire. The site also includes information on how the programme works and what is involved.
Substance Misuse Management in General Practice (SMMGP), is a developing network to support GPs and other members of the primary health care team who work with substance misuse. The network produces the Substance Misuse Management in General Practice newsletter, and organises the annual conference 'Managing Drug Users in General Practice'. The UK Clinical Guidelines are also available to read on this site.
Crime Reduction Toolkits: Communities Against Drugs, is designed to help all those involved in crime reduction and community safety to work as effectively as possible. It brings together information on the latest developments research findings and promising approaches to tackling drug related crime. It includes tools for identifying problems, developing responses and monitoring progress as well as highlighting practical measures to make communities safer.
Department of Health includes details of objectives, agencies, research and development, a press release archive, publications and events
drugs.gov.uk. is the cross-government website to support the National Drugs Strategy and the work of Drug Action Teams (DATs). It is a one-stop shop for DATs and interested individuals to the Teams. The site includes information on each of the four strands of the strategy; DAT work pages, news and events. There is also a section of downloadable reports including Drugs Prevention Advisory Service (DPAS) publications.
DrugsPrevention.net, aims to provide a wide range of drug-related information including up-to-date information on the current drug situation in Northern Ireland. The intention is to support those individuals, organisations and agencies who work in drug prevention, treatment and education throughout Northern Ireland. It is largely based on the publication Illicit Drug Use in Northern Ireland: A handbook for professionals, developed by the Agency.
Effective Interventions Unit was set up in June 2000 following an announcement in January 2000 to support the implementation of the drug misuse strategy, Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership (1999). The remit of the unit is to identify what is effective - and cost-effective - practice in prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and availability and in addressing the needs of both the individual and the community, disseminate effective practice and support DATS and other agencies in its implementation. The Unit is also responsible for the co-ordination of the Scottish Executives drug research programme. Publications can be downloaded from the site.
Health Development Agency (HDA), is a special health authority that aims to improve the health of people in England - in particular, to reduce inequalities in health between those who are well off and those on low incomes or reliant on state benefits. The site includes some reports on drug related issues and access to databases owned or maintained by the HDA.
Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBSWEB), "drugs warehouse" pages, giving facts on the different drug groups, legal and first aid information, and contacts for advice or help.
Info4local.gov.uk is a one-stop gateway for local authorities to get quick and easy access to local government-related information that is published on the web sites of central government departments and agencies. The site does contain some drug specific documents and links to relevant websites
National Grid for Learning (NGfL) Scotland website has been designed in the first instance to support the implementation of the revised 5-14 guidelines in a range of curriculum subjects including health education. The site includes guides and guidelines for health education, planning tools and sets of material each for teachers and pupils.
NHS Regional Laboratory for Toxicology offers a range of services, one being screening for commonly misused drugs including volatile substances. The site has a guide for those involved in the care of drug users, giving information on the screening process including the techniques used and detection times for specific drugs.
Prison Service, gives details of the aims, objectives and performance targets of the service, and the news, publications and statistics sections are searchable for information on drug related issues.
Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is an executive agency of the Scottish Office, includes publications and studies on prevalence, harm reduction and other drug related issues
Southend DAT Website of the Southend DAT. Information and signposting about drugs, treatment and support in the Southend-on-Sea area. Note, site requires Flash player.
Substance Misuse Information This website is operated by the Department of Health. It is intended primarily as a resource for a wide range of professionals and managers to help in the delivery of drug prevention and treatment services. The site includes guidance and policy documents, prevention materials, research information and statistics. Some of the information will also be of interest to parents, young people and students.
UK Online, is run by the Office of the e-Envoy and provides access to information on local and national government services, departmental websites, key proposals and news items.
Wired for Health: Substance Misuse, aims to provide accurate and engaging information on health issues, initiatives and national health policies for teachers and learners in the UK. Basic information on drugs and their use is followed by a section on the teaching requirements of the National Curriculum as they relate to drug education. A selection of links to drug education websites are also provided.
Addiction Today Addiction Today is a journal published by The Addiction Recovery Foundation, a UK based charity dedicated to providing current information on the treatment and recovery from addictions and dependencies.
Centre for Drug Misuse Research, at the University of Glasgow, gives details of research projects undertaken at the centre and publications.
Centre for Research on Drugs and Health Behaviour, at University College, London, aims to further understanding of substance use and related social behaviours, gives information on research undertaken, international activities, and education and training programmes at the centre.
Department of Addictive Behaviour at St Georges Hospital Medical School, London. The site covers course information, surrent research including the national programme on substance abuse deaths, the Substance Misuse Bulletin, publications and map services in the South Thames region.
driving under the influence of drugs : an internet resource was developed by the British Medical Association in response to a request made at their ARM (Annual Representatives Meeting) in 2001 to consider ways of supporting the police in their fight against Drug Driving by raising awareness and educating the public on the potential dangers. This site provides an outline of the current situation with regard to drug driving and what actions the BMA would like the government to take. Specific issues covered include: tests for drug driving; summary of research and projects in the UK and international research.
Drug and Alcohol Findings is a magazine devoted to evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to treat, prevent or reduce drug and alcohol problems. It is produced in the UK by a partnership of leading national charities dealing with drugs and alcohol: DrugScope, Alcohol Concern and the National Addiction Centre. Target readers are practitioners, managers, commissioners, and others involved in drug and alcohol services and interventions who want to improve their effectiveness by reference to research findings. The accent is on UK-relevant research.
Healthwise Training Services A Liverpool based training organisation specialising in the key areas of Drug and Alcohol Education, Sexual Health Education,Personal Development and Educational Development.
Independent drug Monitoring Unit (IDMU), an independent research consultancy, specifically conducting large-scale surveys of drug users and providing expert evidence to the courts in criminal cases involving controlled drugs. The site includes details of their publications and services.
National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, whose activities cover training, policy analysis and treatment and prevention interventions, gives on its site information on courses and current research.
National Research Register (UK) The National Research Register (NRR) is a register of ongoing and recently completed research projects funded by, or of interest to, the United Kingdom's National Health Service.
Police Foundation The Police Foundation's Independent Inquiry into the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (chaired by Viscountess Ruth Runciman DBE) looked at the effectiveness of the act and made many recommendations for change. The Foundation itself was created in 1979 as an independent research charity focusing on policing issues of public concern. It's primary aim is to help develop more efficient and effective policing through applied research and development, education and training.
Regard, this database helps you locate and explore social science research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Information is available on research projects (awards), plus their findings and outputs.
RSDC (Research and Service Development Centre) The RSDC is a non-profitmaking organisation providing research, project management and consultancy services, specialising in advocacy for alcohol and substance misuse treatment services. The RSDC is currently launching a new Training Programme, with courses starting in January 2005. Training areas and topics have been carefully selected to meet the personal and professional development needs of individuals and teams involved with alcohol and substance use within the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Schools Health Education Unit (SHEU), The SHEU is a research unit, founded in 1977 by John Balding, that offers survey, research and evaluation services to all those concerned with the health and social development of young people. They conduct surveys into young peoples drug use on a regular basis as well as publishing research monographs, curriculum materials and a journal, Education and Health.
Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA), founded in 1884 and based at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, the SSA currently publishes Addiction and Addiction Biology : the site gives details of other activities.
