News
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Nine in hospital after suspected drug overdoses at Festival Hall dance party
Victorian Greens MP Colleen Hartland, who has been campaigning for pill testing to be made available at festivals and dance parties, said the overdoses once again highlighted the need for such a service. “What happens in Europe is people can anonymously give over their drugs, they are tested, and then…
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Warning about elephant sedative drug Carfentanil seized in Canberra
Emergency department doctor David Caldicott, who has been pushing for a drug testing trial in the ACT, said it was another example of how testing of drugs at the point of consumption could save lives. He warned while the best way to avoid harm was to avoid drugs, opioid addicts…
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One way cities can reduce overdose deaths: open safe spaces for injecting heroin
While in an ideal world no one would use dangerous and potentially deadly drugs, many people do. So it’s better to give these drug users space where they can use with some sort of supervision in case something goes wrong. It’s a harm reduction approach. And here’s the thing: Studies…
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We now know sniffer dogs cost NSW more than $9m per
Today we’ve learned the New South Wales police detection dog unit – the largest in the country – costs more than $9 million per year. That’s not including the wages of the 6-12 officers who accompany the dogs on operations. Drug sniffer dogs have long been controversial, but the criticism…
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Norway is aiming to decriminalise drugs. The UK should choose legalisation
In the wake of Norway’s decision to decriminalise drugs, politicians from all parties should use this opportunity to take a different approach to our drug policy. By opting for legalisation, we can take the market out of the hands of criminals and raise some money for treating vulnerable users while…
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Canada: Liberal MPs urge dropping criminal penalties for all illicit drug use
Even as Justin Trudeau prepares to deliver on his promise to legalize recreational marijuana, Liberal MPs are pushing the government to eliminate criminal penalties for simple possession and consumption of all illicit drugs. […]
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Injection Sites Provide Safe Spots to Shoot Up
Tens of thousands of drug users have visited the facilities, thousands have overdosed and, researchers say, no deaths have been reported. Studies show that a substantial number of drug users who visit safe injection sites end up in treatment, which is routinely offered to them. Research also has shown that the…
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Young Australians Want Pill Testing At Music Fests And Would Heed The Results
The push to legalize drug checking at music festivals in Australia is gathering momentum, with a new study reporting nearly 90 percent of participants said they would use such a service, if it were available, before taking illicit drugs. Despite vigorous efforts from campaigners, health experts and the federal Greens party,…
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Legalising marijuana leads to significant drop in violent crime – study
The introduction of medical marijuana laws in the United States has led to a significant drop in violent crime. The decrease is strongest in areas closest to Mexico, where counties near the border experienced a 12.5 percent drop in violent crime, including murders, robberies and violent assaults. […]
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Philippines: Duterte’s “drug war” claims 12,000+ lives
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s murderous “drug war” entered its second year in 2017, resulting in the killing of more than 12,000 drug suspects, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2018. Duterte has responded to increased criticism of his anti-drug campaign by impugning, harassing, and threatening critics of the government…