Pill-testing scrapped as deadly opioid emerges
A state government has been slammed for abandoning permanent pill-testing clinics after extremely potent synthetic opioids were found in Australian wastewater for the first time.
Queensland has decided not to renew contracts for fixed pill testing sites at Brisbane's Bowen Hills and Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast, with doors set to close on April 4.
Australian Medical Association Queensland president Dr Nick Yim said he was disappointed the state government had discontinued the service, and feared it would lead to higher rates of harm.
"It is disappointing the Crisafulli government, who was elected on a promise that they would listen to the experts, has once again dismissed the evidence supported by doctors," he said in a statement to AAP.
Dr Yim was concerned the sites were closing after a deadly synthetic opioid 40 times more powerful than fentanyl was detected for the first time in wastewater testing across Australia over the New Year period.
Two highly potent and addictive variants of nitazene - a psychoactive synthetic substance - were detected at five separate sites in Australia and the United States.
Protonitazene is one of the variants and is three times stronger than fentanyl, a drug that has driven an overdose crisis in the US.
The other is etonitazepyne which is 40 times more powerful than fentanyl.
Nitazene has led to fatal overdoses globally often due to being mixed with other illegal drugs like MDMA or ketamine. Considering the Australian wastewater findings, Dr Yim said now was the best time for Queensland to have permanent pill-testing clinics.
"Without regulated testing, already vulnerable community members remain exposed to these hidden dangers," he said.
He said health authorities could lose visibility of what dangerous substances, like synthetic opioids, are circulating.
The Queensland Mental Health Commission has been tasked with developing an overdose monitoring system but without an early warning system like pill-testing, Dr Yim said it would do little to protect people.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls stood by the decision to rip up the clinic contracts, citing the Liberal National Party's stance against drugs.
"We have made it abundantly clear that there is no good way to acquire drugs in the shadows, under the counter and we don't believe that pill testing is going to resolve those issues," he told reporters on Friday.
Meanwhile, the state government made a pharmacist prescription program permanent after a six-month trial.
Mr Nicholls said he received reports of 92 per cent satisfaction with the program that allows pharmacists to prescribe a range of common medications for contraception, nausea, acne and allergies.
Pharmacy prescription models have been rolled out in NSW and Victoria.
The decision was welcomed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia which said it turned pharmacies into urgent care clinics to provide access across the state.
But Dr Yim said the trial had not been evaluated and he was concerned the government would ignore advice if the review came back negative.
"This is what they have done by refusing to follow the evidence about our world-leading drug diversion, pill testing and alcohol harm reduction programs," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Controversial 'alcohol alternative' coming to Woolworths this month: 'Impacts can vary'
A plant-based product promising relaxation, mood boosts, and even a safer alternative to alcohol is set to hit Woolworths shelves this month. A bitter-tasting drink made from the root of a Pacific Island plant, kava has long been used in traditional ceremonies across Polynesia. Now, it's being marketed as a wellness beverage in supermarkets across Australia. But not everyone is convinced. While the plant is often marketed as natural and non-intoxicating, the science behind kava's safety and efficacy is still emerging, particularly when it comes to modern, concentrated formulations, Dr Blair Aitken from Swinburne's Centre for Mental Health and Brain Science, told Yahoo News. Some hail its calming effects and link the substance to lower anxiety, while others warn that these commercialised forms come with poorly understood health risks and little regulation. "Kava contains active compounds called kavalactones, which can have a calming effect by influencing brain chemicals like gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine," Dr Aitken explained. "It may reduce anxiety and promote relaxation without the intoxicating effects of alcohol, but its impact can vary widely depending on the formulation and dosage. "Kavalactones increase levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps calm the brain and nervous system. They also enhance dopamine levels, which may improve overall mood and create a mild sense of well-being, and they slow down brain signals by blocking sodium and calcium channels, reducing overactivity in the nervous system." Woolworths is the latest major retailer to introduce kava-based products, joining Coles, which already offers a small range, including powders and capsules. The move is part of a broader trend following the federal government's 2021 import pilot program, which eased access to kava across most of the country. Commercial availability has since expanded, with products now found in chemists, health food stores, and increasingly on supermarket shelves. Unlike alcohol, Dr Aitken said, kava doesn't typically impair motor skills or reaction time when used in traditional or therapeutic amounts. "Its effects are more subtle and stabilising rather than intoxicating," he said. However there are still concerns, particularly when it comes to modern extracts and non-traditional preparations, he added. "There is no well-established toxic dose for kava," Dr Aitken said. "Most capsule formulations range from 50 to 100 mg of kavalactones, with a recommended maximum daily dose of 250 mg." "When prepared traditionally and used within recommended amounts, kava is considered safe by both the World Health Organisation and the Australian government. The substance shows few serious side effects when used short-term at recommended doses,' he said. "However, higher risks may occur with modern extracts, combined use with alcohol or medications, high doses, or use by individuals with underlying liver issues." Research into kava's use for treating anxiety has yielded mixed results. "While earlier trials showed promising results in generalised anxiety disorder, a more recent study by the same research group did not replicate those findings," Aitken said. "Kava appears more effective for situational or mild anxiety, rather than as a first-line treatment for diagnosed, clinically relevant anxiety." 🍎 Woolworths customers spark debate over brazen fruit act 💰 Woolworths responds to glaring pricing issue 👩 Aussie mum's sad supermarket confession: 'Do anything for my children' In Australia, kava is regulated as a food when imported for personal use or through approved programs. The Northern Territory bans personal importation and restricts use under separate legislation due to concerns about misuse and harm. Other states and territories allow limited personal use under federal guidelines. Internationally, the substance has a range of legal classifications — it's listed as a psychoactive substance in New Zealand, for example. The way kava is prepared also plays a key role in its safety. Traditional water-based methods extract kavalactones while leaving behind many of the potentially harmful compounds. In contrast, modern commercial products sometimes use alcohol or acetone as solvents, which can extract flavokavains—compounds that may negatively affect the liver and nervous system. Some also include stems or leaves, which have different and more toxic chemical profiles than the root. Coles offers several kava products, though not all have clear labelling around kavalactone content. For example, FijiKava Noble Root Powder contains an estimated 70–150 mg per 2.5g serving, but the exact amount is not specified. The TakiMai 50mL kava shot also lacks precise dosing information. By contrast, Bioglan Kava capsules sold at Chemist Warehouse offer standardised dosing, with 60 mg per capsule and a recommended daily intake of 60–120 mg — well within safe limits. "Transparent labelling is essential," Dr Aitken said. "Consumers should monitor their intake carefully and stay within the recommended daily limit." Dr Aitken is also a member of the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (ICADTS) Special Interest Group for 'Driver State Monitoring Systems,' and noted that while kava is not typically associated with impairment, more research is needed around its effects on alertness and driving, especially at higher doses or in combination with other substances. With Woolworths set to join the expanding commercial kava market, health professionals are calling for increased transparency, clearer consumer education and regulatory oversight. "Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's risk-free," he said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Australian jailed in Iraq conditionally released after four years
An Australian man has been conditionally released from prison in Iraq, after four years of what the UN has called arbitrary detention. Robert Pether, a mechanical engineer, was jailed in 2021 on fraud charges amid a contract dispute between the consulting firm he worked for and the Central Bank of Iraq. The UN has said the 50-year-old's detention and treatment was illegal, and an international court has ruled his employer is not responsible for the business disagreement. Iraqi officials are yet to provide an explanation for the decision, Mr Pether's wife Desree told the BBC - noting her "extremely sick" husband is still banned from leaving the country despite needing urgent medical care. The family feels numb with shock, said Mrs Pether, who has been tirelessly lobbying for this moment. "It's the first time in over four years that we've taken one step in the right direction." "There's a tiny glimmer of hope, but there's another mountain still to go over." "He really needs to be home and in hospital." Simon Harris, the tánaiste (deputy prime minister) of Ireland - where the Pether family lives - said in a statement to media that Iraq's Foreign Minister had called him to confirm the "welcome news". "[This] has been a long and distressing saga for Robert's wife, three children and his wider family and friends," Harris said. "I welcomed this as a first step to his being allowed to return to his family in Roscommon." He added that he remained concerned about Mr Pether's health and any outstanding charges against him - which are unclear. The BBC has contacted the Australian government for comment. Mr Pether worked in the Middle East for almost a decade before taking on a huge rebuild of the Central Bank of Iraq's Baghdad headquarters in 2015. He was arrested alongside his CME Consulting colleague, Egyptian Khalid Radwan, after the bank accused the men of stealing money from the project. After being held without charge for almost six months, and then subjected to a speedy trial, the two were each given a five-year jail sentence and a joint fine of $12m (A$18.4m, £8.8m). However, a 2022 report from the UN determined that the case contravened international law, and that Mr Pether and Mr Khalid had been subjected to "abusive and coercive" interrogations. Iraq's government has previously denied allegations of ill treatment. In 2023, the International Chamber of Commerce's (ICC) Court of Arbitration ruled that Iraq's central bank was at fault in the dispute with CME, and ordered it to pay $13m to the company. Mrs Pether said she spoke to her husband after his release on Thursday night. "He's on a bit of a high tonight, but I think he'll probably come crashing down tomorrow." He looked sick and weak, she said, noting that he can't keep food down and hasn't eaten properly in months. There are also worries he has a potential skin cancer relapse, she added. "He's unrecognisable. If he got on a plane now and they were checking his passport, they would not know it was the same person." She said efforts are now turning to have Mr Pether's travel ban lifted, but in the meantime the family has turned to crowdfunding to try to get him private hospital care in Baghdad. "Enough is enough," Mrs Pether said. "He needs to come home." Australian jailed in Iraq reaches grim milestone 'My husband faces death in an Iraq jail'
New York Times
2 days ago
- New York Times
MRNA, Used in Covid Shots, May Help Rid the Body of H.I.V.
The technology that powered Covid vaccines may also lead scientists to a cure for H.I.V. Using mRNA, Australian researchers said they were able to trick the virus to come out of hiding, a crucial step in ridding the body of it entirely. The research, published last week in Nature Communications, is still preliminary, and so far, has been shown to be successful only in a lab. But it suggests that mRNA has potential far beyond its use in vaccines as a means to deliver therapies against stubborn adversaries. Short for messenger RNA, mRNA is a set of instructions for a gene. In the case of Covid vaccines, the instructions were for a piece of the coronavirus. In the new study, they are for molecules key to targeting H.I.V. 'mRNA is just this miraculous — I really do think miraculous — tool to deliver things that you want into places that were not possible before,' said Dr. Sharon Lewin, director of the Cumming Global Center for Pandemic Therapeutics in Melbourne, who led the study. Vaccines deploying mRNA instruct the body to produce a fragment of the virus, which then sets off the body's immune response. In the United States, the shots were initially hailed for turning back the pandemic, then viewed by some with suspicion and fear. Some officials, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have falsely said that they are highly dangerous and even deadly. Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services sought to limit the vaccine's availability to pregnant women, children and healthy younger adults. The administration also canceled a nearly $600 million contract with the drugmaker Moderna to develop an mRNA shot for humans against bird flu. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
