Abstract: The majority of people held in European prisons have severe problems associated with drug use, together with related health and social disadvantages. Those categorised as problematic drug users (PDUs) constitute a substantial proportion of prison populations in Europe. Recent figures indicate that a third to a half of prisoners having illicit drug use experience before imprisonment. Acknowledging the existence of a drug problem within prison walls often remains a taboo for prisoners, staff, management and politicians. Moreover, lack of continuity of care and support throughout the criminal justice system (CJS), from the moment of arrest to release from prison into the community, contributes to failures in reintegration, drives the “revolving door effect”, with drug users routinely caught in the criminal justice system and does not allow for the full implementation of the principle of equivalence of health services in prison comparable to those available in the community. Most of the countries, who joined the European Union (EU) most recently have, to varying degrees, im-plemented effective treatment programmes and harm reduction projects outside of the prison system. However, effective drug treatment and blood-borne virus (BBV) prevention programmes within the prison walls and follow up services for released inmates with problematic drug use still have, in most New Member States, to be developed. Overall, prison policies and practices, in particular in dealing with drug users and related (infectious) diseases, remain an important EU concern. In few of the New Member States the public health imperative of a healthy prison system receives the political attention it deserves

Abstract: The objective of this study was to describe a 12-year (1997–2008) observation of substance-related incidents occurring at rave parties in the Netherlands, including length of visits to first-aid stations, substances used, and severity of the incidents. During rave parties, specifically trained medical and paramedical personnel staffed first aid stations. Visitors were diagnosed and treated, and their data were recorded using standardized methods. During the 12-year period with 249 rave parties involving about 3,800,000 visitors, 27,897 people visited a first aid station, of whom 10,100 reported having a substancerelated problem. The mean age of these people was 22.3+/25.4 years; 52.4% of them were male. Most (66.7%) substancerelated problems were associated with ecstasy or alcohol use or both. Among 10,100 substance-related cases, 515 required professional medical care, and 16 of these cases were life threatening. People with a substance-related problem stayed 20 min at the first aid station, which was significantly longer than the 5 min that those without a substance-related health problem stayed. These unique data from the Netherlands identify a variety of acute health problems related to the use of alcohol, amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, and GHB. Although most problems were minor, people using GHB more often required professional medical care those using the other substances. We recommended adherence to harm and risk reduction policy, and the use of first aid stations with specially trained staff for both minor and serious incidents.

Abstract: La plupart des gens en Suisse aiment déguster vins, bières, spiritueux et cocktails. Or il n’est pas rare que le seuil du plaisir, de l’innocuité soit dépassé, auquel cas le cercle des personnes concernées peut s’élargir très vite. En effet, l’abus d’alcool est source de danger sur la route et au sein de l’entreprise, il atténue les performances et le rendement au travail et pousse les coûts de la santé à la hausse. Ensemble, des institutions publiques et privées s’efforcent, dans le cadre du Programme national alcool (PNA), d’endiguer ces problèmes, mais aussi de réduire leurs conséquences néfastes pour l’économie. Ce programme s’appuie sur les structures fédéralistes de la Suisse et a déjà enregistré des succès.

Abstract: La révision totale de la loi sur l’alcool, vieille de 80 ans, permet au Conseil fédéral de poser les bases d’une politique moderne, cohérente et efficace. Le marché de l’éthanol et des boissons spiritueuses sera libéralisé et le catalogue des tâches de la Confédération réduit. À l’avenir, l’État concentrera son action sur les véritables problèmes. En outre, l’exécution des tâches au niveau fédéral et leur répartition entre la Confédération et les cantons seront améliorées. Enfin, la révision totale de la loi sur l’alcool permettra de réduire considérablement les ressources nécessaires, tant au niveau des autorités qu’à celui de l’économie. Après l’adoption du message par le Conseil fédéral, le 25 janvier 2012, le Parlement devra se prononcer sur les deux nouvelles lois: celle sur l’imposition des spiritueux et celle sur le commerce de l’alcool.

Abstract: La protection de la jeunesse fait partie des principaux centres d’attention de la révision de la loi sur l’alcool. Les achats tests ou plutôt les investigations secrètes seront légalisées dans le domaine de l’hôtellerie-restauration. GastroSuisse, l’association pour l’hôtellerie et la restauration en Suisse, salue les dispositions législatives mises en place pour la vente d’alcool aux jeunes. La légalisation des achats tests rate ainsi sa cible.