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Study finds police presence at music festivals can lead to “panic overdoses”
A new study has found that the presence of police at music festivals can lead some attendees to “panic overdose”, consuming all their drugs prior to entering the site. The Australian study, led by researchers at the University of NSW, surveyed festivalgoers at six music festivals in New South Wales that took place between November 2019 and March 2020. […]
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An Australian First – Fixed Site Pill Testing Announced
7 Oct 2021 – Media Release ACT-Fixed-Site-Pill-Testing-Media-Release-7-October-2021-1Download […]
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HRA Submission to the Opiate Dependence Treatment Program Post Market Review of Medicines
HRA-Submission-to-the-ODTP-PMR-Public-Consultation-1st-Oct-2021Download […]
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Australia needs drug testing and opioid blockers to reduce overdose deaths
If we want to reverse the growing trend of overdose deaths, naloxone, a drug that blocks the effects of opioids, must be distributed to everyone who is interacting with those who are dying, including the police. As well, it is time that we follow Spanos’s recommendation and make pill and drug testing available. […]
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‘A disgrace’: Ice inquiry commissioner accuses government of ignoring calls for reform
The commissioner who led the state’s ice inquiry has accused the NSW government of missing a once-in-a-generation opportunity for drug reform and ignoring his recommendations 15 months after handing down a landmark report. Professor Dan Howard SC said he was deeply disappointed with the government’s failure to respond to the 104 remaining recommendations after rejecting five almost outright, including pill…
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Australian cannabis laws are dishonest and need to change
It’s hard to know what it will take to fix the legal problems we have here with cannabis but one thing we do know is that the current approach based on a “don’t take drugs” (alcohol excepted) approach is not only a cruel joke but has become completely irrational. […]
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Study finds pill testing at music festivals would not increase ecstasy use
Allowing pill testing at music festivals would not increase the use of ecstasy, research from Western Australia has suggested. The Edith Cowan University study surveyed 247 people and found pill testing at an event or in a fixed, permanent spot had no positive influence on the respondents’ intention to use MDMA. […]
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Calls for pill testing at Bass in the Grass as thousands head to Darwin
Last week, NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he was open to the idea of a pill testing trial but said for it to work, it would have to be based on the evidence. “We will look at what’s happening down south and make an informed decision off the back of that,” he said. […]
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AIVL’s Melanie Walker on Coming Drug Decriminalisation and Treatment Access
The evidence is in. We know that pill testing saves lives. We know that it also leads to some people deciding not to take the drugs that they’ve had tested because they’ve found that they might be dangerous. It really is about allowing people to make informed choices around their drug use and to be sensible around it. […]
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Media Release – 9th Feb 2021
Call for Federal Health Minister to immediately remove the discriminatory and unlawful payments plaguing the opioid treatment system Media-Release-ODT-Program-Fees-9-Feb-2021Download […]