NICE E-newsletter: March 2007

News

Behind the headlines

NICE launches a second consultation on birth settings

In June 2006 NICE consulted on a draft version of its guideline on care during labour. Following a significant number of comments from stakeholders, NICE has launched a second consultation on the recommendations relating to places women give birth, which form part of the wider guideline.

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Corneal implants for keratoconus (interventional procedures consultation)
Corneal implants for refractive error (interventional procedures consultation)
Insertion of extraurethral (non-circumferential) retropubic adjustable compression devices for stress urinary incontinence in men (interventional procedures consultation)

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New NICE guidance calls for early intervention to support vulnerable young people at risk of substance misuse

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has today issued new national standards calling for anyone who works with young people to identify those who are vulnerable to drug problems, and intervene at the earliest opportunity - before they start using drugs at all or before they get into worse problems if they are already misusing drugs. The guidance gives advice on stepping in and helping young people access the right support and services, and outlines effective individual, family and group-based support which can improve motivation, family interaction and parenting skills.

Vulnerable young people such as those excluded from school, those who have been in care, those whose parents misuse drugs and serious or frequent offenders are on average five times more likely to use illegal drugs than their peers, and there are currently over 70,000 problematic drug users in England between the ages of 15 and 24.