www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Responding to the Transport Committee’s report (England) on drink-drive casualties launched today (Thursday 2 December 2010), the BMA’s Director of Professional Activities, Dr Vivienne Nathanson said:
„While the BMA is pleased that the Committee supports action to reduce drink-drive casualties, we are disappointed that it has not called for a reduction in the drink-drive limit. We disagree with the Committee that a reduction in the limit would send out mixed messages. (Source: Medical News Today, 12/02/10) our Online-Comment: The message of this Committee is very clear: It is dominated by the alcohol industry and ignores all results from the many countries which have reduced their drink-drive-limit. To act like this is a crime as it costs daily more lives on the roads.

Disturbing trends in drug and alcohol use in the Berkeley Unified School District as well as low rates of violence, crime and physical and mental health issues were outlined in results from the 2010 California Healthy Kids Survey, presented Wednesday at a district Board of Education meeting.
The self-reported data – collected from students in grades five, seven, nine and 11 – showed that Berkeley students, except fifth graders, smoke marijuana on a regular basis at twice the national and state rates and have been high or drunk on school property at double or more than double the state rate. However, students binge drink and smoke cigarettes at levels less than or comparable to state and national rates. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 11/15/10) dailycal.org, 11/15/10

Doubling taxes on alcohol products could lead to substantial reductions in alcohol-related deaths, STD rates, and crime, Health.com reported Sept. 24.
Health policy researchers at the University of Florida in Gainesville analyzed data from 50 studies examining the relationship between alcohol taxes, mortality, and risky behaviors. (The studies took place between 1955 and 2004, and most were conducted in the U.S.)
Statistical estimates based on the findings showed a 50 percent alcohol tax increase could effectively reduce alcohol-related mortality by 35 percent, automobile fatalities by 11 percent, STD rates by 6 percent, violence by 2 percent, and crime by 1.4 percent. The only measure in which higher taxes did not significantly reduce alcohol-related harms was for suicide. (Source: Join Together, 9/29/10)

New CASA* Report Finds: In 2006 65 percent of all U.S. inmates meet medical criteria for substance abuse addiction, only 11 percent receive any treatment.
Drugs, alcohol implicated in 78 percent of violent crimes, 83 percent of property crimes, 77 percent OF weapon, public order, other crimes.
Of the 2.3 million inmates crowding our nations prisons and jails, 1.5 million meet the DSM IV medical criteria for substance abuse or addiction, and another 458,000, while not meeting the strict DSM IV criteria, had histories of substance abuse; were under the influence of alcohol or other drugs at the time of their crime; …
The new 144-page report also reveals that alcohol and other drugs are significant factors in all crime.
Press Release: Behind Bars II: Substance Abuse and America’s Prison Population