BTL Blog posts

Smartphone Apps for Cannabis Use

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:30:1315279800 GMT

The National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre is conducting a social marketing survey to find out if cannabis users would use free Smartphone applications that provide personalised feedback and/or help them reduce their use. NCPIC wants to know about both interest and disinterest in Smartphone applications. To complete the survey, please follow this link: http://www.surveys.unsw.edu.au/survey/155776/f71e/

Drug decriminalization in Portugal - an option for Australia?

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:08:1293527280 GMT

This article (see link below) details the effects of drug decriminalization in Portugal and how the U.S. and Australian policy makers are looking to Portugal's to create reforms, and ultimately save money. It's pretty illuminating from an economic rationalisation perspective.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/portugals-drug-policy-pays-eyes-lessons

What I find most interesting are the differing constitutional and cultural lenses of each countries drug policy makers. These lenses alter the way we view problems around drugs and the solutions we create for them.

For instance, and in my pop sociological opinion - in Portugal its now a public health issue and the success of its solutions rest on the quality of treatment, the new policy eco-system and on the on the earnest receipt of good will, arguably a reflection of Portugal's religious backbone.

In the U.S. drug use is still a law enforcement issue but in recent policy decisions, public safety is becoming a focus. Public safety in the U.S. is very much attached to one's individual rights under the constitution.

In Australia, we're a little from A and a little from column B, depending on what other countries are doing and who's in government.

What do you think of Portugal's decision to decriminalize drugs? Do you think the increase in trial of drugs is outweighed by the significant decreases in addiction, AIDS and deaths ?

Would decriminalization work in Australia?
Should we trial it? If so, where and how?

Hero or Heroin: A History

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:14:1280427240 GMT

Heroin: An Accidental History

Opium poppies, from which heroin derives, have been cultivated for over 5000 years, from as early as 3400 BCE. Diacetylmorphine was first synthesised in 1874 by the English chemist, C. R. Alder Wright. However, it was not produced on a wide-scale until 1895 when a chemist named Felix Hoffman working at German pharmaceutical company Bayer produced diacetylmorphine by accident, instead of codeine as instructed. It was realised that diacetylmorphine or ‘heroin’, as Bayer called it, was 1.5 to 2 times more potent than morphine.

Heroin was initially marketed by Bayer as being a non-addictive morphine substitute and a cough suppressant. However, far from being a non-addictive morphine substitute, it was quickly discovered that heroin is rapidly metabolised into morphine in the body and is effectively a faster acting form of morphine. This became a historical embarrassment for Bayer and within 30 years the drug had been banned internationally for non-medical sale, use or manufacture.[1]

Following the 1931 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs it became illegal to manufacture, possess or sell heroin without a licence in countries such as Germany, India, the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Australia. Today it is estimated that 90% of the supply of heroin in international black markets is sourced from Afghanistan.

Contemporary Medical Use of Heroin

Heroin continues to be prescribed lawfully as diamorphine, particularly in the United Kingdom as a strong painkiller. It is used predominantly in palliative care for end-stage cancer patients and for chronic pain associated with other terminal illnesses, such as AIDS. The advantage of using diamorphine over the more commonly prescribed morphine is the increased solubility of the drug and the increased potency. Lower quantities can be prescribed of diamorphine for the same analgesic effect as larger quantities of morphine. When given via injection into the lower-most layer of skin, as is often necessary with palliative patients who cannot swallow oral painkillers, the increased solubility and potency are both advantageous factors.

Additionally, heroin may also be used in drug maintenance programs and heroin assisted treatment programs, where substitution drugs such as methadone have not proved effective. It has been supplied in supervised harm minimisation injecting centres as was the case at the now-closed Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Kings Cross, Sydney.

Conclusion

Heroin has certainly had an interesting history. The global regulation of heroin in the past century has diversified into a regime ranging from permissible but controlled medical use in some countries, to the criminal prohibition and resultant death penalty for possession of large quantities in countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. Neither the prescription nor regulation of heroin continue without controversy and criticism.

[1] Group I, The Convention for Limiting the Manufacture and Regulating the Distribution of Narcotic Drugs was a drug control treaty promulgated in Geneva on 13 July 1931 that entered into force on 9 July 1933. Superseded by the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, signed March 30 1961 and effective December 13 1964. There are 180 parties to the 1961 Convention.

Sniffer Dogs

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:27:1279643220 GMT

Where can police use sniffer dogs?

In Australia, police can use sniffer dogs to search if they have a warrant. A warrant is authorisation from a judicial officer to search a particular person or place.

When and where police can use sniffer dogs without a warrant depends on what State or Territory you are in.

In the ACT and Northern Territory, police can use sniffer dogs wherever they are legally performing their functions.
It is similar in Victoria, where sniffer dogs are considered to be like any other tool of the police (such as a breathalyser or radio) and can be used by police generally going about their duties.
In South Australia and Western Australia, police can use a sniffer dog to assist them in their exercising their powers. In WA, the use of the dog must also be reasonably necessary.

In NSW, Tasmania and Queensland, the police can only use sniffer dogs without a warrant in particular places. Those places are:

pubs, clubs and other places where alcohol is served (apart from restaurants);
entertainment events, including sporting events, concerts, dance parties & street parades; and
some public transport, bus stops and train stations.

If a sniffer dog sits down next to you, does that mean that the police can search you?

Generally, there is a difference between police using a sniffer dog and police actually searching you. There are legal safeguards in place to limit the circumstances in which police can perform a search. For example, police always have to have a reasonable suspicion that the person has or will commit a crime (such as possessing drugs). This is designed to stop police from searching anyone they like without a reason.

In NSW, Western Australia, the ACT, Tasmania and Victoria, police must form their own reasonable suspicion that you possess drugs before they can actually search you. A sniffer dog sitting next to you may or may not create a reasonable suspicion – the law is still developing an answer to this question. For example, if the sniffer dogs are not very accurate, could police have a reasonable suspicion based on the dog’s action?

It is slightly different in Queensland, Northern Territory and South Australia because the legislation clearly states that if a sniffer dog does sit down next to you, that is enough to enable the police to conduct a search. That is, the dog’s action is enough to give the police a reasonable suspicion.

What should I do if the police want to search me?

Keep calm and be polite. Swearing or behaving offensively to the police will not help your situation. Usually it is a good idea to cooperate with the police and let them search you.
If the police ask for your name and address, ask them if you must give them this information. If they say you don’t have to, then don’t. If they insist, you should cooperate – otherwise you may be fined. You may also be fined if you give false information to the police.
You can ask the police for the reason they are searching you, ask for their name, evidence that they are a police officer (if not in uniform) and their place of duty. Try to remember when and where they search you. This information can be important for you to know what is going on, as well as if you decide to make a complaint.
If you do have drugs on you and you have been taken into lawful custody, the police will need to identify you. If this happens, you should immediately seek legal advice.
If you do have drugs, the police may decide to give you a warning or caution instead of charging you with an offence.

If you are arrested, you should immediately seek legal advice.

Avoid Being Stung by the Travel Bug

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:30:1275600600 GMT

Travelling overseas and backpacking across the world is often a rite of passage for many young Australians. Reasons for travel are endless. However, recent reports[1] suggest that with drug prices rising higher in Australia compared to overseas countries, young Australians are being lured to traffic drugs across borders for profitable sale at home.

One report,[2] sourced from an internal Australian Federal Police document, suggests that the cost of cocaine is 6 times higher in Australia than the USA and the street value of an ecstasy pill is $30 in Australia compared to ₤2 in the UK. The deceptive attraction of making a profit is evident. However, all Australians should be aware of the high-risks of transporting drugs across borders – and the serious repercussions.

What could happen if caught in possession of drugs overseas?

Drug laws vary immensely from country to country and it is impossible to advise on what will happen in each case. Even though a person might be an Australian citizen, they are almost always subject to the laws of whichever jurisdiction they are travelling in. This means that on a backpacking tour of Asia for example, one could be subject to a host of different drug laws. Quite often these laws are a lot harsher than comparative criminal laws in Australia.

Countries in South-East Asia such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam take particularly tough stances on drugs and penalties can be as severe as the death penalty, corporal punishment or natural-life term imprisonment sentences. Recent cases demonstrate that Australians have not been spared the death penalty,[3] which apply mandatorily in Singapore for example, for the possession of 15 grams or more of heroin or 500 grams or more of cannabis or more than 30 grams of cocaine. Similar penalties apply in other countries and for an array of other drugs, such as Malaysia where a mandatory death penalty applies for persons convicted of drug trafficking.

Being aware of these laws before you travel is important.

Even though the Australian government might be able to provide you with consular assistance, it will not be able to get citizens off the hook. A reliable source of information on a country-by-country basis is the travel advisory website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: http://www.smarttraveller.gov.au/

It is also important to note that even if a traveller is only in a country for a stop-over on their way back to Australia from countries where drugs laws might be more sympathetic (for example, cannabis laws in the Netherlands) he or she will still be subject to the laws of the transit countries, which for many international Australian flights could be in capital punishment jurisdictions such as Malaysia or Singapore.

What should I do if I am arrested overseas on drugs charges?

If arrested overseas on drugs charges, you should speak to officials as soon as possible from the nearest Australian mission. Though they cannot offer you legal advice or get you out of trouble, they are there to look after your welfare and to facilitate help for you. Many countries are signatories to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations which provides the framework for detained persons to seek access to consular officials overseas.

A list of missions can be found at http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/[4]

Conclusion

The Australian Government and its foreign counterparts take international drug movements very seriously. International operations are continually undertaken to crack down on drug trafficking and many governments are determined to prosecute. Being an informed traveller and knowing of your legal rights and obligations is the safest way to avoid troubles on your next overseas adventure.

[1] http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/young-aussie-backpackers-becoming-drug-mules/story-e6frfq80-1225810422201 <Accessed 21/04/2010>

[2] Ibid.

[3] See for e.g. the case of Van Tuong Nguyen.

[4] http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/ <Accessed 28/04/2010>.

Working as an A&D worker

Wed, 12 May 2010 01:21:1273591260 GMT

The previous new years I had the opportunity to work at a local festival. It was here I could apply the skills I had learnt in class to practice. Although I felt confident on arrival, the next three days tested my ability to be a good worker, apply appropriate ethical skills and put my values and opinions aside.

Bright and early at 8am on the second day came all the festival patrons and the morning weather suggested it looked to be a very hot day. In the AOD tent we were briefed on the busy day we had ahead.

By lunch time the festival patrons had settled in and beer, spirits and drug use were well underway. My AOD partner and I patrolled the grounds to make sure people had not collapsed or overdosed due to alcohol and drug use, or heat.

Luckily, we didn’t have any serious issues out patrolling the grounds and the young people seemed to be enjoying themselves responsibly.

It wasn’t until we were called back to the tent we realised our laid back afternoon at the festival was about to change.

The first ambulance arrived at the tent early afternoon and the drivers had received a call near the main stage a guy had collapsed. When the young man arrived at the tent he had no pulse, none of his friends were with him and we had no idea what he had taken.

This become quite scary very quickly, the nurses along with the ambulance drivers quickly began working on the young man. The nurse started punching his heart to get it to start and after that didn’t work a tube was then put down the guy’s throat.

Luckily, the guy responded and opened his eyes. To our relief he was also able to tell the nurses what he had taken, which was quite a lot. Soon after he was placed on an IV and his girlfriend arrived at the tent.

The rest of the day didn’t get much easier for the AOD team either, with similar cases arriving all afternoon. The ambulance drivers seemed to drop off people, then head out again to another call. The heat didn’t help either, with most people drinking too much and becoming dehydrated.

What I found interesting was that many people were unaware of whom their dealer was and that dealers were happily making drugs in their tents.

This also prompted the idea that people had no idea what was in the drug they had taken, which was a rather scary thought, as people are placing extremely harmful ingredients in their body.

Working as an AOD worker at a festival highlighted a number of things for me. Firstly, that many people today are buying drugs from strangers, who could be putting their life at serious risk.

Secondly, there seems to be no limit of how many drugs one person can consume in a matter of hours. It was scary to see how many of us test our lives with alcohol and drug use.

Lastly, what I made note of the most, was that people today attend festivals for reasons other than just listening to good music. Festivals were created for us to enjoy, by spending time with friends, listening to good music and relaxing.

It appears today, festivals are centered on the alcohol and drug use, with many of us leaving the festival not remembering the good times they have shared with friends.

Is this what makes a good new years and one to remember the good times shared? I strongly think not.

Poisonous drug or pharmaceutical benefit: Who decides?

Wed, 05 May 2010 07:22:1273008120 GMT

Although drugs can be developed for beneficial medical reasons, some have harmful and dangerous effects. The use of potentially dangerous drugs is restricted or banned to promote public health and safety.

The legal process of doing this is by “scheduling” the drugs, which is basically listing the drugs in groups according to the level of access the public has to them. The National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee (NDPSC) decides how to classify and schedule the drugs.

This committee consists of technical experts, representatives from various interest groups, and State and Territory government members.

The decisions of the NDPSC are recorded in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP). The SUSDP then forms the basis for state laws about access to and legality of drugs.

The aim is to promote a uniform scheduling of substances throughout Australia. From June, the SUSDP will be known as the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP).

In order to assess the risk and benefit of certain drugs and to determine the appropriate level of public access to drugs and medicines, the NDPSC will consider certain factors, which include:

· How toxic is the substance?

· What are the risks and benefits?

· What are the potential hazards?

· What is the extent and patterns of use of a substance?

· What is the dosage and formulation of a substance?

· Is access to such a substance necessary? The NDPSC is to take into account the toxicity of the substance compared with other substances that are available and have a similar purpose.

· What is the potential abuse of a substance?

· What are the purposes for which the substance is to be used?

· Any other matters the Committee considers necessary to protect public health, including risks of death, illness or injury resulting from use of the substance.

The substances are listed in the Poisons Standard, in Schedules 1 to 9 in order of increasing degree of restriction. For example, drugs in schedule 2 – 4 can be sold in pharmacies, whereas drugs listed on schedules 5 – 9 cannot.

Schedule 9 substances are the most restricted because they are considered to be most likely to be abused or misused. They are prohibited under the law, except when required for medical or scientific research, and teaching or training purposes with approval of the governmental Health Authorities.

It is this Schedule 9 that contains the illegal recreational drugs, also known in some states as ‘drugs of dependence.’ These include ecstasy, heroin, ice and marijuana.

The Committee meets three times a year to discuss changes to the SUSDP, such as including new drugs on the Schedule. The Committee advertises its agenda ahead of the meetings, to invite the public to comment on the upcoming decisions.

The next meeting of the Committee is in June. You can find the agenda on this site: http://www.tga.gov.au/ndpsc/index.htm. At this meeting, one of the issues the Committee is going to discuss is whether mephedrone (Miaow Miaow) should be scheduled.

The decisions of the Committee will be published in a gazette available on the same website.

Written by the National Children’s and Youth Law Centre – for more information on your legal rights check out www.lawsutff.org.au

Do sportspeople influence how much you drink?

Mon, 03 May 2010 02:21:1272817260 GMT

It seems like every second week there’s a sports star or celebrity making in the media for making a spectacle of themselves on alcohol.

Just recently in the AFL, Richmond suspended four players for ‘bad behaviour’ at their Sydney hotel after the game. Defender Daniel Conner was hit with a hefty 8-week suspension for ‘unsociable behaviour’ while being drunk.

Apart from alcohol being frowned upon for footy players in terms of the effect it has on the body’s ability to perform and recover, there’s a widespread belief in the community that elite sportspeople are role models (whether they want to be or not), particularly to children and young people.

Indeed, a survey of more than 2000 British adults found that adults rated David Beckham as the top role model for children.

But what does the evidence actually say about whether or not sportspeople influence our own behaviour?

A recent survey of more than 1000 Australian university students found that we actually aren’t influenced by the drinking habits of sportspeople. The research in fact found the more alcohol young people perceive sports stars to drink, the less alcohol they actually drink themselves.

So, just because a footy player might binge drink, doesn’t mean we automatically do the same. Perhaps ‘adults’ or the wider community don’t give us enough credit for being able to make our own decisions about how much we drink.

Government SMS alcohol ed. campaign targets footy players

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 03:49:1272390540 GMT

Taxpayers will fork out $180,000 so that an SMS can be sent to 57,000 footballers, who are signed up to receive updated ladders via text message.

The texts to be sent to footballers include tailored messages such as "Out in Shepp 2nite? Remember real champs look out for their mates".

Over the current football season there will be more than one million texts sent.

Minister for Respect Justin Madden said it was important to get the message across to young males - "the group most at risk of alcohol-related violence".

"These messages help us go straight to the source and remind young men about how to go out on the town to enjoy their night while looking after their mates," he said.

Mr Madden said research showed that 85 per cent of young adult males who saw the campaign said it made them think about how to avoid trouble while they are out drinking.

Would receiving an SMS from the Government make any difference on how you behaved or how much you drank? Or is it just all a waste of money?

Hallucinogens: a depression treatment?

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 03:55:1272304500 GMT

The New York Times report that there is an increasing interest by researchers to study hallucinogens' potential for treating mental health problems.

In a study conducted at the John Hopkins Hospital on 36 people with no serious physical or emotional problems, results showed that psilocybin could induce what the experimental subjects described as a profound spiritual experience with lasting positive effects for most of them. None had had any previous experience with hallucinogens, and none were even sure what drug was being administered.

Because reactions to hallucinogens can vary so much depending on the setting, experimenters and review boards have developed guidelines to set up a comfortable environment with expert monitors in the room to deal with adverse reactions. They have established standard protocols so that the drugs’ effects can be gauged more accurately, and they have also directly observed the drugs’ effects by scanning the brains of people under the influence of hallucinogens.

While some subjects had to be consoled through periods of anxiety, these were generally short-lived, and none of the people reported any serious negative effects. In a survey conducted two months later, the people who received psilocybin reported significantly more improvements in their general feelings and behavior than did the members of the control group.

The findings were repeated in another follow-up survey, taken 14 months after the experiment. At that point most of the psilocybin subjects once again expressed more satisfaction with their lives and rated the experience as one of the five most meaningful events of their lives.

Since that study, which was published in 2008, psilocybin has been given to people dealing with cancer and depression. When interviewed, they showed an improved outlook on life after an experience in which the boundaries between the self and others disappear.

In interviews, theh subjects escribed their egos and bodies vanishing as they felt part of some larger state of consciousness in which their personal worries and insecurities vanished. They found themselves reviewing past relationships with lovers and relatives with a new sense of empathy.

Researchers from around the world are gathering this week in California for the largest conference on psychedelic science held in the United States in four decades. They plan to discuss studies of psilocybin and other psychedelics for treating depression in cancer patients, obsessive-compulsive disorder, end-of-life anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction to drugs or alcohol.

What do you reckon? Would you be up for it as a treatment for depression? Or would previous bad trips make you hesitate?