overdose
‘Tragic death’ caused by mixing drugs
A young man has died after ingesting oxycodone, MDMA, codeine, Phenergan, Xanax and alcohol while at a party with mates A 22-year-old man passed away on 28 January last year following …
Widen RTM scope to all S3, S4 meds: coroner
A coroner has recommended making the ACT’s DORA system mandatory for all prescribers and pharmacists, after the death of a woman from multi-drug toxicity Forty-eight-year-old Lauren Maree Johnstone died in …
An ‘unusual’ case
A man has died by overdose in a GP surgery after taking drugs alongside the GP’s daughter – who also worked at the practice A 43-year-old man from Adelaide has …
Passing the test
Following a series of drug-related deaths at music festivals in late 2018 and early 2019, momentum is gathering among health professionals to explore one potential solution: pill testing. Megan Haggan …
‘It will take courage to face the failure of our current drug policies.’
NSW Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame has called for a drug summit, attention to real time prescribing, better access to drug substitution programs and better pharmacy takeup of naloxone She …
Dentist’s ‘alarming misunderstanding’ of pharmacist role
A dentist has been reprimanded after prescribing benzodiazepines to a two-year-old and a seven-year-old who both later presented to emergency departments A NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing has heard …
Pharmacy pill testing could be ‘feasible’
Harm minimisation stakeholders and the family of a young woman who died over the weekend have urged politicians to trial pill testing And community pharmacies could serve as a base …
Ambulance call-outs for pregabalin have spiked – here’s why
by Shalini Arunogiri, Monash University; Dan Lubman, Monash University, and Rose Crossin, Monash University Pregabalin (sold under the brand name Lyrica) is prescribed as an anti-epileptic and a painkiller for …
Pill testing proposed in Tassie
New legislation has been tabled by the Greens in parliament to allow for drug-testing services in the state Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff tabled the Misuse of Drugs Amendment (Drug Analysis) …
Pharmacists crucial to overdose prevention
A coroner has highlighted that some areas in Melbourne have higher numbers of drug overdose and therefore higher need of prevention strategies In mid 2017, two men in their 30s …
Opioid deaths nearly double
More hospitalisations are caused by side effects of intended use of licit opioids, than from illicit use or misuse Harms highlighted in a new report underline the pressing need for …
Naloxone products chemically stable well past expiration date: study
Extended shelf-life has potential for stockpiles and communities, say US researchers A widely used naloxone nasal spray and naloxone injection, which are administered to prevent opioid overdose deaths, have been …