Are ‘units’ and ‘sensible’ drinking levels a good way of getting across alcohol harm reduction messages? Andy Stonard on how a more nuanced information campaign, where the public is enabled to self-assess risk, can yield better results. Blanket drink guidelines are hard to…
Tag Archive for media
Druglink article 2013 – A cracked myth by Maureen Black and Stacy Buckingham-Howes
New research suggests fears that a generation of ‘crack babies’ would become create havoc on America’s welfare and criminal justice systems have been greatly exaggerated. Researchers Maureen Black and Stacy Buckingham-Howes report on their latest research into prenatal cocaine exposure. A cracked myth…
Druglink article 2014 – A hidden threat by Mike Power
Much of the media hype around the rise in legal high deaths mask trends that are far more newsworthy and alarming, says Mike Power. A hidden threat (PDF)
Druglink article 2014- The X Factor by Mike Powers
A controversial service in Wales that analyses people’s drugs has been dismissed by some as a naive mistake. But Mike Powers argues that it could be a vital new weapon in harm reduction’s arsenal. ‘Calling all coke dealers: Welsh government will test your…
Druglink news item 1999 – Rough ride for the drug czar
Media treatment of the UK anti-drugs coordinator, Keith Hellawell. Rough ride for the drug czar (PDF)
Druglink article 1998 – The generation gap: barriers to effective communication by Anna McClure and Jane Wilcock
For many parents the word ‘drugs’ can instil fear and anxiety. This is hardly surprising considering that often their only source of information is through the media and, invariably, the moral panics created reinforce parental concerns. The mixed messages they…
Druglink article 1997 – Message on a bottle by Richard Ives
It has killed five times more people in the last decade than cocaine, ecstasy and speed put together, but solvent misuse has always been the ugly sister of the drug field. That could change as slogans like Solvent Abuse Can…
Druglink news 1996 – Bullets, misused substances or just an unfortunate accident?
In October, the Health Education Authority (HEA) followed up its national drug campaign with a fresh one on solvent misuse. The adverts clearly place solvents in the same league as heroin – as a substance people deliberately misuse. This definition…
Druglink article 1996 – Heroin in the ’90s from A to B by Harry Shapiro
The first Druglink in May 1986 looked at the heroin situation in Britain. In this, our tenth anniversary issue, we revisit the drug and its new found publicity through Trainspotting and ask the question ” is smack back – or…
Druglink article 1994 – The two sides of fear by Arnold Cragg
In researching government anti-drug campaigns, interviews with parents and young people suggested that fear of drugs has deterred many young people from experimenting. However, fearful parents feel the only safe line is absolute rejection so are not receptive to information…