Due to the level of interest, the deadline for written evidence to the Home Office Select Committee's inquiry into drug policy has been extended to the 7th February 2012.

Source article on the Parliament UK

Article from HeraldScotland reporting on figures for older people of pensionable age arrested for supplying drugs on the streets in a number of Scotland's regions.

Source article on HeraldScotland

The use of benzocaine as a cutting agent and a fake cocaine has said to be a growing problem in Scotland according to senior police officers at Strathclyde Police's Major Crime and Terrorism Investigation Unit who are calling for a crackdown on the legal drug.

Source article on the Scotsman

The UK's first parliamentary enquiry for ten years into its policy on illegal drugs is calling its first witnesses on Tuesday, which is set to include figures such as business leader, Richard Branson and Ruth Dreifuss, the former President of Switzerland.

Source articles on Guardian, The Telegraph,

The Afghanistan Opium Survey of 2011 PDF [5.1 MB] has revealed a sharp increase in the "farm-gate" value of opium compared with 2010.

Source article on United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Research published in the online journal Addiction, has found that UK mephedrone users are willing to try the next new 'legal high' despite the lack of scientific research on the risks and harms to health.

Source article on Addiction

Hepatitis Scotland, which is funded by the Scottish Government and offers support and leadership to voluntary sector organisations tackling viral hepatitis in Scotland, is hosting its first National Patient Involvement Group for those affected by Hepatitis C on the 26th January in Glasgow.

Source article on Scottish Drugs Forum, Hepatitis Scotland

A number of alcohol and drug partnerships in the Lothian region have signed up to a new Recovery Consortium known as SMART, or Self Management and Recovery Training.

Source article on the Scotsman

Two men have appeared in court in Aberdeen Sheriff Court after crack cocaine valued at £50,000 was seized in the area.

Source article on BBC News

A study from Rhode Island Hospital in the U.S. has found that collaborative behavioural management may be effective in reducing substance misuse, crime and re-arrest amongst convicted users of the drug marijuana who have been paroled.

Source article on Addiction

The Department of Transport in the UK is to create an expert panel to consider the technical aspects of introducing a new offence of driving whilst haven taken an illegal drug.

Source article on Department of Transport