Javier Alvarez writes: The National Plan on Drugs is a government initiative created in 1985 and designed to coordinate and strengthen the policies related to illegal drugs carried out by the Public Administrations and Social entities in Spain. The Government Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs manages, initiates, coordinates and supervises the updating and implementation of services related to the National Plan, all under the upper management of the General Secretary of Health (please visit the web page, English version: http://www.pnsd.msc.es/en/home.htm). The 20th anniversary of the creation of the National Plan on Drugs is being celebrated between July 2005 and July 2006. A recent publication focuses on that 20-year experience 1. At the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s, the consumption of illegal drugs, especially heroin, was one of the greatest worries for the Spanish. ‘Drug addicts were associated with delinquency, lack of safety in the streets, illness and at worst death. The marginalization of drug addicts was seen as a social scandal and the existence of 80 000 heroin addicts in Spain was considered to be frightening. In addition, the close relationship between the consumption of heroin and HIV-AIDS infection had to be taken into account’1. After 20 years of the National Plan, the great advances made in this field have to be recognized. In my opinion, there have been three major advances. The first is the creation of the specialized care network in the field of drug dependence. The second, the development of adequate information concerning the drugs phenomenon. In this regard, the carrying out of surveys every two years within the adult population (odd years) and the school population (even years) needs to be stressed. Lastly, the setting up of the centre for documentation and specialized information in drug dependency, which receives a huge number of enquiries every year by the public and professionals. However, after 20 years, perhaps because of the evolution of the drugs phenomenon, there are aspects of the National Plan that need to be revised. In fact, one of the aims of commemorating this 20th anniversary is to reflect on the past, analyze it in perspective and learn from experience how to direct the future. The most relevant aspects, in my opinion, that need to be revised are: The traditional care network centred on treating heroin/opiate addicts needs to change the focus to the ‘new’ addictions (cocaine, synthetics drugs, cannabis). Should the drug dependency care network not be integrated within the public health service, at least as far as medical care is concerned? What mistakes have been made? Generalizing, after 20 years, the figures of drug consumption in Spain are higher than ever, the highest among the developed countries and, what is more, and most serious, it is well known that there is a very low risk perception towards the consumption of drugs. The carrying out of systematic measures of prevention in the areas of work and family, but especially in schools. Are these programmes functioning properly? Professor Javier Alvarez can be contacted at alvarez@med.uva.es Keep up to date with drugs-related publications with the new DrugScope blog, created in response to user demand. The blog—DrugData Update—offers a focus article on Fridays looking at a subject in that week's media, or drawing attention to important new library acquisitions or services. The blog will be of prime interest to UK readers, but also more widely. Access the blog at http://drugscope.blogspot.com or via RSS or atom, if you are into newsfeeds (details here: http://drugscope.blogspot.com/2005/09/friday-focus-feeds-for-drugdata-update.html). DrugScope, the UK's leading independent centre of expertise on drugs, also publishes downloadable bulletins updated at regular intervals, covering new books, journal articles, grey literature and monographs. The bulletins can be found at the library and information services section of the DrugScope website. Other resources include reading lists on a range of topics, such as drug-using parents, cannabis, or drugs in sport. Pathfinders are information tools which direct people to further sources of information, such as key websites, key texts and key contacts. Topics covered include statistics, funding sources and courses, to name just three. We iguanas quite like a leisurely read of a Sunday paper accompanied by a cup or two of lettuce tea. The other day I was at my Observer when I noticed a feature entitled ‘How can I improve my memory?’ This appeared in a weekly column in which a reader reports on a health problem and experts identified by The Observer offer advice. The problem featured was that of a young man who had overdosed on heroin and apparently hadn’t been resuscitated quickly enough. He was left with a severe memory deficit. Although now off heroin, he was continuing to drink at a level of about nine pints of beer each night. Below the synopsis of this sad story were printed three expert comments. The contributions from a neuropsychologist and a psychiatrist seemed sensible and sympathetic. But wait for it, here comes the giggle; you know your Iguana never fails to deliver on the promise of merriment. The Observer’s third expert was identified as ‘a member of the Craniosacral Therapy Association of the UK.’ Averred this gentleman: ‘Craniosacral therapy, which involves a therapist placing his hands on a (fully clothed) patient, can assist the body's natural capacity for self repair by encouraging cerebrospinal fluid around the central nervous system to the brain.’ As a follow-through we are told that in ‘emotionally balanced people’ the dura surrounding the spinal cord is flexible, but in those who ‘carry tension’ it is stiff. So to the remedy: ‘By my placing hands on your head and looking for the health in your dural membranes, the dura can regain its flexibility and improve the flow of cerebrospinal fluid around the body.’ And that was not all. Let me state plainly that I can take no responsibility if, convulsed with laughter, you have by now fallen off your chair. Dust yourself down, and I want then to put to you two serious questions. First question, do you think that the contributor of that nonsense was out of his depth and should have declined the brief, or that he is self-deluded and actually believes that what he is saying is brain science at its finest, or is he perhaps an undercover member of the Comedy Scriptwriters Association of the UK? Second query, do you believe that The Observer was acting as an ethically responsible newspaper in publishing this twaddle as an answer to the reported memory difficulty experienced by a heroin overdose victim who now describes himself as ‘an alcoholic’? I mean, do newspapers have a duty of care when they get into the health advice reporting business, or what? As I told you, hilarious, but not altogether a joke. Iggy is related to the psychiatrist who contributed to The Observer’s column. ASAM 37th Annual Meeting and Medical-Scientific Conference. Organised by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. 4–7 May 2006, San Diego Sheraton Hotel and Marina, San Diego, California. Contact: ASAM Office, tel. +1 301 656 3920, website http://www.asam.org Cannabis and Cannabinoids: use and abuse. 5th CARES (Centre for Addiction Research and Education Scotland) National Conference. 19 May 2006, West Park Conference Centre, Dundee, Scotland. Contact: Jennifer Johnston, Research Administrator, CARES, Section of Psychiatry and Behavoural Sciences, Level 5, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY. Tel. +44 (0)1382 632414; website http://www.dundee.ac.uk/psychiatry/cares 32nd Annual Alcohol Epidemiology Symposium, Kettil Bruun Society. 29 May-2 June 2006, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Contact: Carmen Hermans at tel. +31 43 388 5979, fax +31 43 388 5981, email carmen.hermans@fd.unimaas.nl, website http://www.unimaas.nl/kbs2006 Familie und Sucht. 11. Suchttherapietage 2006. 5–9 June 2006, Hamburg. Contact: Maren Stich, ZIS, Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie des Universitätsklinikums Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany. Tel/fax +49 40 42803 5121; email m.stich@uke.uni-hamburg.de CPDD 68th Annual Scientific Meeting. Organised by the College on Problems of Drug Dependence. 17–22 June 2006. The Fairmount Princess Hotel, Scottsdale, Arizona. Contact: Sailair/CPDD 2006, 4515 Harding Pike, Ste. 320, Nashville, TN 37205-2118, USA; fax +1 615-297-6655; registration website https://www.sailairtravel.com/cpdd/cpdd.php RSA 29th Annual Scientific Meeting. Organised by the Research Society on Alcoholism. 24–28 June 2006. Marriott Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland. Contact: Debby at DebbyRSA@sbcglobal.net 2nd UK National Smoking Cessation Conference. 26–27 June 2006 at The Sage, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. Programme directors Andy McEwen and Hayden McRobbie. Contact: http://www.uknscc.org Research, Policy and Practice. 19th Annual Australian Winter School on Alcohol and other Drugs. Alcohol and Drug Foundation, Queensland (ADFQ). Carlton Crest Hotel, Brisbane, Australia, 3–5 July 2006. Contact: tel. +61 (0)7 3343 4820; http://www.winterschool.info Bridging the Gap: Transforming Knowledge into Action. UICC World Cancer Congress. 8–12 July 2006, Washington DC. Tel. +415 228 3172; fax +514 228 3174; email ICTCC@laser-registration.com; http://www.worldcancercongress.org Summer Institute on Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction. Amsterdam, 10–27 July 2006. Three-week intensive course for first line care providers, advanced undergraduate and graduate students. Sponsored by International School for Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Amsterdam. Contact: Helen Levine, ISHSS, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Prins Hendrikkade 189-B, 1011 TD Amsterdam, The Netherlands, tel. +31 20 525 3776; fax +31 20 525 3778, email SummerInstitute-ishss@uva.nl, website http://www.ishss.uva.nl/addiction Building Capacity for a Tobacco-Free World. 13th World Conference on Tobacco Or Health. 12–15 July 2006, Washington DC, hosted by the American Cancer Society. Contact: Conference Secretariat email secretariat2006@cancer.org; website http://www.13thwctoh.org/ Many Roads, One Journey: helping families and individuals recover from addictions. 2nd APIA (Asia Pacific Institute of Addictions). 1–5 September 2006, Singapore. Plenary sessions, focused workshops and pre-conference specialist tracks on substance issues, criminal justice, and family issues. Register and submit abstracts online at http://www.apia.com.sg From Science to Treatment. ISBRA 2006 World Congress on Alcohol Research. 10–13 September 2006. The Wentworth, Sydney, Australia. Contact Secretariat at isbra2006@icms.com.au; or ICMS Pty Limited, 3rd floor, 379 Kent Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia; tel. +61 2 9290 3366; fax +61 2 9290 2444. Conference homepage http://www.isbra2006.com International Gambling Conference. Organised by Auckland University of Technology and the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand. 13–15 September 2006, Auckland, New Zealand. Contact: Rodney Greaves, Problem Gambling Foundation, tel. +64 (0)9 368 1520, email conference@pgfnz.co.nz, website http://www.pgfnz.co.nz/2006conference/index.htm Population Level Studies on Alcohol Consumption and Harm: implications of recent and emerging research for alcohol policy. A Kettil Bruun Society thematic symposium hosted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). 1–5 October 2006, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Contact: Norman Giesbrecht, CAMH, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2S1 Canada, fax +1 416 595 6899, email Norman_Giesbrecht@camh.net AMERSA 30th Annual Conference. Organised by the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse. 2–4 November 2006 in Washington DC. Contact: Isabel Vieira, AMERSA National Office, 125 Whipple Street, Providence, RI 02908 USA. Tel. +1 401 349 0000; Isabel@amersa.org; http://www.amersa.org News and Notes welcomes contributions from its readers. Send your material to Susan Savva, News and Notes Editor, Addiction, National Addiction Centre PO48, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF. Fax +44 (0)20 7703 5787; email s.savva@iop.kcl.ac.uk Subject to editorial review, we will be glad to print, free of charge, details of your conference or event, up to 75 words and one entry only. Please send your notification three months ahead of time and specify in which issue you would like it to appear.