Heartburn drugs can do more harm than good

A new UNSW study has found that national initiatives were unsuccessful in reducing prolonged use of anti-acid medicines for gastrointestinal acid-related disorders and more targeted interventions are needed.

The facts about meth addiction

Methamphetamine (“Ice”) is an extremely addictive stimulant that causes a multitude of severe health problems. It is perhaps the most damaging illegal drug used in Australia, but individual users can recover with the proper support over time.

It’s time to tackle our opioid problem

The abuse of opioids, both legal and illegal, has been a problem in Australia for decades, but the rise of drugs such as fentanyl means they must be tackled with renewed urgency.

How reliable are roadside drug tests?

Thousands of people are prosecuted every year in Australia for cannabis use while driving, however research at the University of Sydney suggests the test isn’t as accurate as thought.

Why you’re (probably) not allergic to penicillin

Are you allergic to penicillin? Perhaps you have a friend or relative who is? With about one in ten people reporting a penicillin allergy, that’s not altogether surprising, but in reality only 1 person in 50 actually is intolerant of this life saving drug.

It’s high time to reform the drug laws

The decriminalisation of drug possession for personal use would reduce, rather than increase, the social harm caused by drugs and should be discussed at the forthcoming federal election.

Southeast Asia’s looming drug crisis threatens regional security

The regional drug crisis provides an opportunity for Australia to work with ASEAN authorities to strengthen border controls and disrupt illicit drug supply chains.

Drug companies stay coy about safety

Should new safety warnings about the potentially serious harmful effects of medicines be considered ‘confidential business information’? University of Sydney researchers make a case for stronger regulation and full ongoing public access.

Australia needs a new strategy to deal with illicit drug use

Australia’s first responders are dealing with an ever-growing number of drug emergencies and the problem of addiction to prescribed opioids is also on the rise.

America’s opioid epidemic is starting to hit Australia’s shores

The stereotype of a typical drug addict is out of date. Rather than a destitute urban heroin addict, today’s drug users tend to be mainstream, suburban and regional and are dependent on pharmaceutical opioids such as OxyContin.

Festival drug deaths should spark a deeper debate

The latest deaths of young people at music festivals have sparked an overdue public debate on drug harm reduction, zero tolerance of drug use, and pill testing but a broader discussion on the strategic challenges of reducing the supply of drugs is required.

Australia needs stronger pharmaceutical transparency rules

Researchers warn Australian pharmaceutical companies are no longer required to publicly disclose many payments to the health sector, and advocate for US-style legislation to ensure full and long-lasting transparency.