addiction
Pharmacists are needed in harm minimisation
Pharmacy is an underutilised resource for those living with addiction, writes Angelo Pricolo—and like other health professionals, pharmacists need a better understanding of the issues Harm minimisation is a philosophy …
Which occupations are misusing prescribed and OTC drugs?
Hospitality and blue-collar jobs are high-risk occupations for misuse of legally prescribed and OTC pharmaceutical drugs, new data show. Curtin University research, focusing on whether any differences exist between workers …
ASMI fighting to turn around codeine upschedule: Steve Scarff
Upscheduling codeine-containing OTCs to prescription only would cause more problems than it would fix, writes Steve Scarff ASMI is opposed to the interim decision to up-schedule OTC codeine medicines to …
Prisoners on parole need help with substance abuse: study
Experts say prisoners on parole with substance and mental illness issues need urgent specialist assistance to prevent them from re-offending. A three-pronged approach of parole system review, tailored substance abuse …
Upscheduling codeine would punish genuine users: CHF
Taking codeine off pharmacy shelves will only hide the problem of its abuse, says the Consumers Health Forum of Australia. Moving codeine-containing medicines to prescription only is “a very blunt …
More people use ice than ever: AIHW
The use, treatment and availability of ‘ice’ have increased, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Ice is the crystal form of methylamphetamine, …
Codeine upscheduling ‘unnecessary over-regulation’
The Australian Self Medication Industry says it is extremely disappointed with the Federal Government Scheduling Delegate’s interim decision to up-schedule over-the-counter cough/cold medicines and analgesics that contain codeine to Schedule …
ACMS interim decision: OTC codeine could go S4
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has expressed concern at the proposed re-scheduling of codeine containing analgesics to Schedule 4, Prescription Only Medicine. The interim decision of the Advisory Committee on …
Stakeholders call for action on alcohol promotion
Federal Members of Parliament from all parties and health groups called for legislation on alcohol promotion after the Alcohol Advertising Review Board 2014-15 Annual Report was released in Canberra today, …
Government will never legalise ice: Fiona Nash
The Australian Government will never legalise ice, Assistant Minister for Health Fiona Nash has announced following calls to legalise the drug. “Ice typically contains poisons,” Nash said in a statement …
Pharmacists at the forefront of new QUIT4october pilot
Pharmacists are being placed front and centre of QUIT4october, a new Lung Foundation Australia pilot smoking cessation and social media initiative launched this month. Throughout September, Lung Foundation Australia will …
AMA updates position on methamphetamine problem
The AMA wants better resources, including security, and health services to deal with the methamphetamine or “ice” epidemic. The AMA has released its updated Position Statement on Methamphetamine (2015), which …