News
-
Melbourne injecting room to allow ice users to shoot-up
Ice users will be permitted to inject the drug in Melbourne’s new supervised injecting room despite the State Government previously saying crystal methamphetamine would be banned from the centre. The North Richmond injecting centre’s regulations say any drug of dependence can be injected at the medically supervised facility but users…
-
The UN internal struggle with drug policy
The former INCB head, Werner Sipp, said on a special event at the 58th session of the CND that: “ […] the Portuguese approach can be considered as a model of best practices.”. You’d think as a “model of best practices” the Portuguese model would be promoted by the INCB.…
-
Pill testing as harm reduction – a return to pragmatism in Australian drug policy
By no means is pill testing intended to be a stand-alone “solution”, nor does it condone the use of illicit drugs. Instead, the argument is that we need to change the language of drug use from deviance and criminal justice labels to pragmatic notions of harm and public health, where…
-
Review by researcher calls for pill testing to be part of Australia’s Drug Strategy
“We are calling for further collaboration between law enforcement and healthcare providers to ensure that they take appropriate action to reduce the harm caused by drugs. It is important to focus on prevention, public awareness campaigns and education to shift cultural attitudes, so that use of party drugs is identified…
-
Rattenbury rallies community to lobby Groovin the Moo promoter to allow pill testing trial
ACT Greens leader and spokesperson for drug law reform Shane Rattenbury, is rallying support for the nation’s first pill-testing trial at this month’s Groovin the Moo festival at the University of Canberra by urging community groups and individuals to sign an open letter to the festival promoter, which has not…
-
Scotland gathers evidence from Australia on safe drug rooms
The Scottish Government has turned to Australia for help as it builds its case to create the UK’s first safe drug injecting space – an innovation that could save hundreds of lives. Public health minister Aileen Campbell has held discussions with officials in the Victorian state government about their decision…
-
UK: Policing minister backs PCC’s radical drug addiction treatment plans
The government has supported a police and crime commissioner’s proposals to tackle drugs. Responding to a question in Parliament Policing Minister Nick Hurd said he welcomed West Midlands PCC David Jamieson’s focus on the issue. Mr Jamieson has championed the benefits of Heroin Assisted Treatment and wants the benefits of Drug Consumption…
-
Successful drug regulation: an interview with Dr Julian Buchanan
The call for drug law reform is getting stronger, both globally and domestically. There is a growing acknowledgement amongst communities and former holders of positions of authority that the century-old drug prohibition model has failed. But the subject of illegal drugs is polarising, which makes drug law reform is a slow-moving…
-
Drug users invited to apply for jobs at Victoria’s first supervised injecting room
Drug using nurses and harm reduction workers could be hired at Victoria’s first supervised injecting room for their “lived experience of substance use”. North Richmond Community Health wants registered nurses and harm reduction practitioners with “lived experience of substance use” to apply for roles at the centre, listing it under the…
-
Injecting a Solution
On average, 115 Americans die each day from an opioid overdose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Studies have said safe injection sites mitigate risky drug behavior, reduce the frequency of overdoses, curb the spread of HIV and viral hepatitis, do not increase drug use or local…