Search results for: “what is harm minimisation”

  • How to help young people minimise drug harm

    This is entirely about harm minimisation, not hypocrisy or wowserism. The Age has long argued the “war on drugs” has failed dismally and that regulation and education, rather than prohibition, would, as it has elsewhere, save lives, reduce drug use and cut crime. […]

  • Could pharmacists dispense heroin in injecting rooms?

    Pharmacists could dispense heroin to illicit drug users under very limited circumstances as part of a suite of harm minimisation efforts, says Public Health Association chief executive Michael Moore. Mr Moore told the AJP that while supply and demand reduction are important, the experience internationally from countries such as Portugal demonstrate a greater need for Australia…

  • What’s in the drugs that are being tested at Australia’s first fixed-site pill testing clinic in the ACT?

    A total of 500 samples have been tested at CanTEST in Canberra’s CBD since it opened in July as a drug-harm minimisation bid from the ACT government. […]

  • National help numbers

    Family Drug Support (24 hours)1300 368 186National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline1800 250 015Poisons Information Line13 11 26Alcoholics Anonymous Australia1300 222 222Narcotics Anonymous Australia1300 652 820Lifeline13 11 14Beyond Blue1300 22 4636Kids Helpline1800 551 8001800 Respect (Domestic & family violence support)1800 737 732Gambling Help1800 858 858Suicide Call Back Service (National) (24 hours)1300 659 467MensLine Australia (24…

  • Two-thirds of Australians support pill testing at festivals: Survey

    Dr Hester Wilson, Chair of the RACGP Addiction Medicine Specific Interests network, told newsGP she is not surprised by the finding that so many Australians support pill testing. ‘Because it makes sense,’ she said. ‘It’s sensible and we know that pill testing actually assists people to make safer choices.’ Dr Wilson says pill testing plays an important…

  • Pill testing, safe injecting room support jumps in ACT as drug use goes up: AIHW

    “Most dealers become dealers to support their drug habits … so if you can make access to drugs more available instead of imprisoning them, you could avoid making the situation worse. COVID points it out: if you have a problem, any way that is going to minimise harm is the best outcome. […]

  • Garth Popple

    Garth Popple

    Garth Popple is the Executive Director, We Help Ourselves (WHOS) and Director of WHOS International. He currently holds the following honorary positions: Deputy Chair (ex officio past President) Australasian Therapeutic Communities Association (ATCA); and recently Executive Member of the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) for the past 13 years; a recent Past President –…

  • Australia, you have a drug problem

    As a starting point, the Government should establish a new joint parliamentary committee to critically explore our current national illicit drug strategy, with a focus on identifying gaps between demand and supply reduction and harm minimisation policy commitments, actions and impact. This work needs to focus on shaping Australia’s long-term illicit drug strategy. […]

  • Will pill testing be on the Groovin’ lineup this year?

    “The ACT Government does not condone the use of illicit drugs, we know the safest option is to not take drugs,” Health Minister Stephen-Smith said. “However, we also believe governments have a responsibility to not only try to prevent drug use but also to support initiatives that reduce the harms associated with drug use. […]

  • Loved ones unite in Family Drug Support group

    Since 1997 Family Drug Support has built and developed a model for supporting families impacted by a family member’s alcohol or other drug issues by listening and talking to thousands of families and undertaking focus testing of their programs. “We advocate for harm minimisation as a oppose to zero tolerance, we believe that families do…