British Journal of Addiction (1990) 85, 427-431

News and Notes

BY MICHAEL FARRELL

Russia's Alcohol Policy U TurnThe pace of change in the Soviet Union and EasternEurope has been breathtaking. As the crisis deepensGorbachev's hold on power is increasingly tenuous;being popular abroad but unpopular at homeappears to be the kiss of death in political life.Interfering with people's drinking habits is anothercertain way to lose friends. A recent article in TheEconomist 23 December 1989, pp. 52-56) arguesthat a key element in Gorbachev's unpopularity andthe Soviet economic crisis has been the mismanage-ment of social policy on alcohol since 1985. Similarto most Western countries alcohol consumption inthe Soviet Union had more than doubled since the1950s. The high social cost of alcohol consumptionwas signified by a drop in life expectancy and anestimated 10-20% loss in industrial productivity.On accession to power in 1985 Gorbachev spear-headed a crusade to alter Russian drinking habitsand to reduce per capita consumption of alcoholsubstantially, despite the fact that state revenuefrom alcohol accounted for 13% of the total budget.Between 1985 and 1987 alcohol prices were raisedby 40-50%, outlet opening hours were restricted,the number of outlets was reduced by 55% from238,000 to 108,000 and state alcohol productiondropped to 56% below the 1984 level. Vineyardswere uprooted in Moldavia, Azerbaijan, Armeniaand Georgia. This inevitably led to a dramatic fall inalcohol sales from 8.4 litres per head in 1984 to only3.3 litres per head in 1987.

With the pressing need for evidence of tangibleprogress the fall in alcohol consumption, withdecreased drunkeness on the streets, reduced crimeand reached industrial absenteeism, was hailed as agreat success. But there was a dramatic rise in theproduction of home brew (samogon) causing ascarcity of sugar and resulting in the rationing ofsugar. Restrictions resulted in long queues at alcohol

outlets, increased deaths from toxic illicit brew anda burgeoning black market in alcohol. The substitu-tion of home brew samogon for state output isestimated to have resulted in a state loss of 49 billionroubles between 1985 and 1988 contributing to asharp rise in the budget deficit and infiation. By1988 reports of work drunkness were on theincrease again. One survey revealed that 85% ofpeople had a negative opinion of the restrictions onselling alcohol. State production of alcohol wasincreased by a quarter, the number of alcohol outletswas increased, wine and beer (not vodka) could besold in grocery stores. By mid 1989 the staterevenue from alcoholic beverages had returned tothe 1984 level. The Russians are still intent onreducing per capita consumption of alcohol but areaware of the need for more inventive strategies thanrestriction of availability. They are now talkingabout health promotion and alternative leisurefacilities to encourage people to pursue non-drinking forms of leisure activities.

Acid house parties in UKThe British Government has declared that thereshould be substantial increases in the penaltiesavailable for offences against the entertainmentlicensing laws and that the profits made by thoseorganizing events in breach of these laws should beopen to confiscation in the courts. This is anotherexample of the wider application of asset confiscationin the realm of criminal law. Hasty legislation andharsh penalties are unlikely to solve a problem thathas exercised the minds of our moral guardians forsome time now. The Brain Report or Interdepartmen-tal Committee on Drug Addiction in 1965 commented

"Witnesses have told us that there are numerousclubs, many in the West End of London, enjoying a

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vogue among young people who can find in themsuch diversions as modem music or all nightdancing. In such places it is known that someyoung people have indulged in stimulant drugs ofthe amphetamine type. Some of our witnesses havefurther maintained that in an atmosphere wheredrug taking is socially acceptable there is a riskthat some young people may be persuaded to turnto cannabis, probably in the form of reefer ciga-rettes"

Large scale public events clearly require appropriatesafety and noise regulation but talk of drug dealersusing acid house parties as the sort of cash-cow thatspeakeasies became for organized crime in the UnitedStates under prohibition, is to drift into the realms offantasy. The limited life of such events is probablyprolonged by the massive media attention theyreceive.

in another unknown factor. The availability of sucha test for regular use appears to be a remote andunlikely event. If it were to occur it wouldundoubtedly spawn a counter technology withsupplies of drug-free hair or shampoo guaranteed torender hair drug free.

Sample's of freeze dried drug free urine arepresently available. Despite this the test may be auseful addition to the study of perinatal drugproblems and also in the validation of drug status inthe longitudinal studies of drug users. It will alsoundoubtedly be called upon in legal cases to supportevidence of peoples drug free state.

GRAHAM K. et al. (1989) Determination of gestationalcocaine exposure by hair analysis, Journal of theAmerican Medical Association, 262, pp. 3328-3330.

BAILEY, D . N . (1989) Drug screening in an unconven-tional matrix: hair analysis. Journal of the AmericanMedical Association, 262, p. 3331.

Hair analysisThere have been a series of reports since 1981 ofstudies where hair has been analysed to detect thepresence of opiates, amphetamines, cocaine andphenylcydidine. This technique offers the possibil-ity of an objective measure of drug use over a longerperiod of time than that available from urinalysis.The analysis is performed on a sample of scalp hair.The hair is cut into 1-cm segments on the assump-tion of average hair growth of 1-1.5 cm per monthin adults. These small segments are then washed andanalysed by radioimmunoassay.

A recent Canadian study has used this method todetect benzoylecgonine—the main metabolite ofcocaine—in the hair of mothers and their new bombabies in a sample of women with a history ofcocaine use. The study demonstrated a significantdifference between hair benzoylecogonine in admit-ted heavy users compared to occasional users. Theinfants of seven cocaine-using mothers demon-strated benzoylecogonine despite negative urinetests. Later studies of the same infants werenegative, demonstrating loss of fetal hair in the firstfew months of life.

An accompanying editorial urges caution in theuse of such tests. It says that the test is laborious,tedious and expensive. Little is known of variationin hair growth, adhesion of drugs to hair anddiffusion within hair. The stability of drugs in hairexposed to bleach, dye and hair spray is uncertain.The possibility of passive environmental exposure

Hepatitis B vaccinationWhile drug services in the UK vacillate on theprovision of hepatitis B immunisation for drug usersa global campaign for the eradication of hepatitis B isunderway. World Health, the magazine of the WorldHealth Organisation reports that 23 of the 35countries and area in the Western Pacific region havestarted hepatitis B immunization of the newbornchild. China can now produce 20 million doses ofhepatitis B vaccine per year but requires another 40million to fully immunize all babies. Singaporemakes hepatitis B vaccination available to all newbom babies.

Drug abuse research and coordination inEuropeCees Goos, Director, Lifestyles and Health Pro-gramme, World Health Organization has rightlypointed out to me that I failed to mention in mycomment (84,709) on Virginia Berridge's report'Drug Research in Europe' that this study was doneon behalf of the WHO. WHO play an invaluablerole in supporting such transnational studies.

Longitudinal studyJan Van Reek, Ronald Knibbe and Fans Theunissen

News and Nous 429

zvrite that they have commenced a large longitudinalstudy on 'The mechanisms of influences on smokingand drinking behaviour among secondary schoolchildren.'

Further details available from Jan Van Reek,University of Limburg, PO Box 616, 6200 MDMaastricht, The Netherlands.

Publications and newslettersThere are now a wide variety of publications andnewsletters in the alcohol, drug and tobacco field.They contain a range of helpful and informativearticles. Listed below are some that are received bythe News and Notes Column.

AAA Review: Action on Alcohol Abuse: Living-stone House, 11 Carteret Street, London SWIH9DL. Tel. 01-222-3454.

AN: Alliance News: A journal on Alcohol andDrugs, Institute of Alcohol Studies, 12 CaxtonStreet, London SWIH OQS.

ADPAM. National News: 82 Old Brompton Rd,London SW7 3LQ. Tel. 01-823-9313.

Addiction Counselling World: Addiction RecoveryFoundation, 60 Mill Lane, West Hampstead, Lon-don NW6 lNJ. Tel 01-431-0430.

Alcohol Concern: 305 Grays Inn Rd, LondonWCIX 8QF.

ARF: The Journal: Addiction Research Founda-tion, 33 Russell St, Toronto, Canada M5S 2S1. Tel.(416) 595-6067.

ARF: Ontario Report: Addiction Research Foun-dation, 33 Russell St. Toronto, Canada M5S 2S1.Tel. (416) 595-6067.

ARU: Bulletin: Addiction Research Unit, Instituteof Psychiatry, 101 Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF.Tel. 01-703-5411.

Druglink: 1 Hatton Place, London ECIN 8ND.Tel.01-404-4451.

ICAA News: International Council on Alcoholand Addictions, Case Postale 189, 1001 Lausanne,Switzerland. Fax 021-20 98 17.

IDRC Reports: International Development Re-search Centre, 250 Albert St. PO Box 8500, Ottawa,Canada KIG 3H9.

Monthly List of Pertinent Abstracts: AlcoholicBeverage Medical Research Foundation, Division ofMedical Intelligence, 2013 E Monument Street,Baltimore, Maryland 21205. Tel. (301) 327-0361.

NIJ: Journal of the National Institute of Justice:NCJRS User Services, Box 6000, Rockville, MD20850. Tel. 800-851-3420.

NIDA Notes: Department of Health and HumanServices, Public Health Service, Alcohol, DrugAbuse and Mental Health Administration, NationalInstitute on Drug Abuse, Room lOA-54, RockvilleMD 20857, United States of America.

QUIT: Newsletter of the National Society of NonSmokers: Latimer House, 40-48 Hanson Street,London WIP 7DE.

Temperance Advocate: Queensland TemperanceLeague, PO Box 6, West End 4010, Australia.

Ria Report: Research Institute on Alcoholism,1021 Main St Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.

SALIS News: Substance Abuse Librarians andInformation Specialists Newsletter: 1816 ScenicAvenue, Berkeley, CA 94-709 1399, USA.

UNITED NATIONS: Information Letter: Divi-sion of Narcotic Drugs, PO Box 500,1400-Vienna,Austria.

Copies of publications may be addressed to DrMichael Farrell, Addiction Research Unit Instituteof Psychiatry, 101 Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF.

Conferences

Training for Management and Leadership:Institute of Psychiatry, Camberwell, London SE58AF, 14th May to Friday, June 8th, 1990. A 4-weekseminar series with a range of international speakersincluding Professor Anthony Clare, Dublin; Profes-sor Griffith Edwards, Prof. Hamid Ghodse, Dr JohnStrang, Dr liana Glass, Dr Martin Raw, Dr JohnShanks, London; Professor Tim Harding, MarcusGrant, Geneva.

The course focuses on management and leader-ship issues in the voluntary and statutory sectors ofdrug and alcohol services and also examines theproblems particular to developing countries. Placesare limited to 25. Full fee for the course is £300 butvoluntary agencies will be charged £250 and can beoffered a shared ticket. Further details from MrsSusan Edwards, Course Secretary, Addiction Re-search Unit, 101 Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF.The course is supported by Action on Addiction.

Addiction in the CitiesBarbican Conference Centre, London, 12-14 June1990.

This is a 3-day international conference focussingon the city as an agent of support in the tackling ofalcohol, drug, and tobacco problems. Topics cov-

430 News and Notes

ered will include urban planning, architecture,homelessness, mechanisms of fostering supportiveenvironments in the city. Speakers include Profes-sor Ambrose Uchtenhage, Zurich: Professor AliceColman, London; Professor Charlie Kaplan, Rotter-dam; Professor Anthony Clare, Dublin; MarcusGrant, Geneva.

Further Details Action on Addiction, 33 MillmanStreet, London WCIN 3EJ.

European Summer School in Addictions35th International Institute on the Prevention andTreatment of Alcoholism. 18th International Insti-tute on the Prevention and Treatment of DrugDependence. Berlin (West) Reichstags-Building10-15 June 1990. Organized by the InternationalCouncil on Alcohol and Addictions, Case Postale189, CH-1001 Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Advanced School of Alcohol and Drug Studies,USA, 3-8 June 1990. The Summer School of AlcoholStudies, USA, 17-29 June 1990. The New JerseySummer School of Alcohol and Drug Studies 15-20July 1990.

Further information Education and Training andTraining Division, Centre of Alcohol Studies,Smithers Hall-Busch Campus, Rutgers University,New Brunswick, NJ 08903.

1st Advance European Summer School in Addic-tions, September 10-14 1990Institute of Psychiatry, London

This course is a follow up on the Institute'sAdvanced Summer School in Addictions of Septem-ber 1989. It will cover a wide range of topics in thealcohol, drug and tobacco field. It aims to provide aforum for networking across these different fields ofinterest in the addictions. The specific focus will beSetting the agenda for collaboration in Europecovering aspects of prevention, treatment, researchand social policy. Full details of the programme willbe announced next month. It is organised by theNational Addiction Centre with the support ofAction on Addiction. Speakers will attend fromHolland, Denmark, France, Spain, Switzerland,Germany, Italy and possibly from Eastern Europe.

Further Details: Dr Michael Farrell, AddictionResearch Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, DenmarkHill, London SE5 8AF. FAX 01 703 5787.

ContributionsThis column welcomes contributions of informationon the whole range of addictive behaviours. Contri-butions can range from announcements of forth-coming conferences or training events to informa-tion on any addiction related topic that you thinkmight be of interest to other readers. I will do mybest to acknowledge the source of informationwhere appropriate. Announcement of events shouldbear in mind that there is a gap of up to 12 weeksbetween writing and publication.

Forward to Dr Michael Farrell, News and Notes,British Journal of Addiction, Addiction ResearchUnit, Institute of Psychiatry, Denmark Hill, Lon-don SE5 8AF. FAX 01 703 5787.