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Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines

A thematic issue of Drug and Alcohol Review on Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines was published on March 5, 2012. It includes 14 articles, 4 commentaries and an editorial. CARBC researchers have made important contributions to the low-risk drinking guidelines literature and have co-authored several of the articles in this collection. The publisher, Wiley, has made it available for free access for a month.

Link to information on Canada's Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines

Moderate Drinking and Health Benefits: How good is the science?

A critique of a well-known paper published last year in the British Medical Journal concerning moderate drinking and health has appeared as a letter to the editor of that same journal. The letter, co-authored by CARBC scientists and colleagues at other centres in Australia and the USA, concludes that all but two of the 84 reports in the original paper contain at least one serious methodological error and that the remaining two studies are equivocal in their results. Use the following links to access the letter published in the British Medical Journal or supplementary online material referred to in the letter.

Latest News & Notes

Healthy Minds, Healthy People: Monitoring Progress, First Annual Report 2011

The BC government has released a first annual report on monitoring progress of implementation of Healthy Minds, Healthy People: A Ten-Year Plan to Address Mental Health and Substance Use in British Columbia. An accompanying website, which is referenced in the report, will be going live soon.

... more news and notes

CARBC In the news

Health authority releases new cannabis harm reduction resource
Date: May 2, 2012
Source: Donald MacPherson, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition

Alcohol program evaluators back regulated pot
Date: March 16, 2012
Source: Cheryl Rossi, Vancouver Courier

BC policies to restrict cheap alcohol have curbed consumption
Date: December 13, 2011
Source: University of Victoria

... more news items

Upcoming events

Why InSite Won: A Forum on the Community Struggle
Date: May 31, 2012 - 7:00-9:00 pm
Location: Ambrosia Conference Centre, Victoria

3rd National Symposium on Child and Youth Mental Health
Date: May 30 - June 1, 2012
Location: MacEwan Conference Centre, Calgary

Health Communication & Evaluation: 2012 PHABC Summer School
Date: July 24-27, 2012
Location: 7 sites across BC

Promoting Mental Health in BC Schools: Summer Institute 2012
Date: August 23-24, 2012
Location: University of British Columbia

... more events

Canadian Media Stories on Alcohol or Other Drugs

Canada: Former Supreme Court Justice Blasts Minimum Sentences

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT
Canadian Medical Association Journal, 15 May 2012 - Canada's new mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenders are based on "very bad criminal law policy" and constitute a threat to public health as well as the concept of judicial proportionality, former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Louise Arbour says. The law should, and almost certainly will, face a justifiable constitutional challenge, Arbour adds of the omnibus crime legislation, Bill C-10, which received royal assent in March (www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocidT65759&file=4).

CN ON: Police Corruption Trial: I Didn't Beat Stripper, 'Good-Looking'

Mon, 14 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT
Toronto Star, 14 May 2012 - A former drug squad officer accused of beating a Montreal stripper in a Toronto police interview room says he didn't have any contact with her. Aida Fagundo has testified that a tall, good-looking police officer with blue eyes beat her with a telephone book after she was arrested on a cocaine trafficking charge on Nov. 2, 1997.

CN NS: Charges Against Cannabis Crusader Withdrawn

Mon, 14 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT
Amherst Daily News, 14 May 2012 - Cannabis Crusader Has Been in Europe Since 2009 AMHERST - A series of drug charges against an Athol man who says he's exiled in Europe have been withdrawn. Rickey Logan Simpson, 62, was charged with the production of cannabis marijuana, possession of cannabis marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and possession of cannabis marijuana and possession of cannabis resin following a raid of his Athol Road home in November 2009. Simpson was in Amsterdam, Holland accepting the Freedom Fighter of the Year Award at the annual Cannabis Cup when the raid occurred and it's believe he has been in Europe since then.

CN MB: Judge Tosses Drug Evidence

Sat, 12 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT
Winnipeg Sun, 12 May 2012 - A Manitoba judge has blasted the actions of two Winnipeg cops, saying they illegally walked into and searched a reputed Hells Angels associate's business and flagrantly breached his rights by handcuffing and searching him without cause. The drug-trafficking case against Alejandro Chung, 45, collapsed Friday after Court of Queen's Bench Justice Doug Abra refused to allow into evidence the cocaine and marijuana cops found during their search of La Mota on Portage Avenue on Oct. 27, 2009.

CN MB: Judge Tosses Out Drug Charges

Sat, 12 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT
Winnipeg Free Press, 12 May 2012 - Calls police work overzealous and high-handed They claimed to be doing the "right thing" -- following their instincts, playing a hunch and ultimately getting the bad guy off the street. But a Manitoba judge disagreed, saying two Winnipeg police officers trampled all over the rights of an accused drug dealer, which has now led to a major case being tossed out of court.

CN ON: Drug Dealer Attacked and 'The Fight Was On,' Witness

Fri, 11 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT
Toronto Star, 11 May 2012 - DRUG DEALER ATTACKED AND 'THE FIGHT WAS ON,' WITNESS TESTIFIES A former Toronto drug squad officer has told a cop corruption trial he never viciously beat a prisoner, as alleged, but simply defended himself in a "brawl."

CN BC: LTE: Pot Stinks More Than Booze

Fri, 11 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT
The Daily Courier, 11 May 2012 - I guess I'm one of those hypocrites who rants about pot over my cocktail - well actually not cocktail, possibly a glass of wine though. Anyhow, the point that everyone seems to miss amidst all the debates of gangs, profits, individual rights, etc. is that there are significant negative ramifications to those around the people who feels they have a right to enjoy a joint.

CN BC: LTE: Pot Full of Tax; Tourism Too

Fri, 11 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT
Kelowna Capital News, 11 May 2012 - To the editor: Re: More Mayors Should Follow Lake Country's Baker on Pot Issue, May 1 Capital News. Hallelujah! After four former B.C. attorneys-general joined four former Vancouver mayors endorsing an end to marijuana prohibition, eight sitting B.C. mayors have now echoed the clarion call for marijuana reform.

CN ON: Drug Treatment Court In Guelph Being Explored

Fri, 11 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT
Guelph Mercury, 11 May 2012 - GUELPH - The Wellington-Guelph Drug Strategy is exploring the feasibility of a drug treatment court in Guelph after successful ventures in Kitchener, London and larger centres like Toronto and Edmonton. It's a system that provides treatment options and frequent drug testing for accused persons where addiction to drugs or alcohol is the root cause of their criminal behaviour. The goal of these special courts is to reduce the so-called revolving door effect for these offenders.