Latest news with #PeningtonInstitute
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Drug of choice: Sneak peek inside Fitzroy's mock cannabis shop
A mock cannabis store has opened in Fitzroy as part of a campaign to legalise and regulate the drug. The pop-up shop in Brunswick St will show how cannabis could be sold in a controlled environment. The Penington Institute is behind the initiative as it launches a blueprint to show Australian states how they can regulate non-medicinal cannabis use for adults. Penington chief executive John Ryan said the shop and policy launch was not about promoting cannabis use. 'It's about taking back control,'' he said. 'Regulation means strict oversight, clear controls on access and use and penalties for trafficking. 'It means resources for police to focus on serious crime.'' Canada and more than 24 American states have already embraced legalised sale of cannabis, Mr Ryan said. 'It's all about harm minimisation.'' The look of the Fitzroy shop is deliberately low key and meant to reflect the utilitarian style of many shops in the US. It will be open for a week and no drugs will be sold. The Penington plan includes controls for adult use only, a ban on advertising, plain packaging, potency limits and no public consumption. Under the proposals, the state governments would become a licensing agent for legal cannabis stores. Mr Ryan said a majority of Australians in all demographics supported legalised and regulated cannabis use. And a YouGov survey conducted last month for the institute found that 57 per cent of Victorians supported law changes to allow adults to buy cannabis legally – similar to alcohol – but with more safety and regulatory controls.
West Australian
01-07-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Calls for Government action to tackle crisis level of drug deaths after Penington Institute findings
A planeload of Australians are dying every month to drug overdoses, a new analysis of fatality statistics has shown, sparking calls for more work from governments to tackle the crisis. A new snapshot by the Penington Institute found while overall numbers of drug-induced deaths fell slightly in 2023, there was a growing share of those over 50 dying from unintentional overdoses. The 2272 Australians killed by an overdose in 2023 marked a 10th consecutive year of more than 2000 deaths — roughly the equivalent of a Boeing 737 once a month — and almost twice the national road toll of 1315. Opioids were the most common drug overdosed on, at 43.9 per cent, while benzodiazepines overtook stimulants as the second-placed drug. The snapshot comes ahead of a full report in August, which last year showed WA had recorded the highest per capita rate of overdoses for more than 10 years. Penington Institute chief executive John Ryan said the figures showed how persistent overdoses were in Australia. 'A decade of losing more than 2000 Australians to overdose annually marks a sombre milestone,' he said. 'Governments need to tackle overdose with the same level of energy and enthusiasm used to reduce alcohol and tobacco harm in Australia. We need a comprehensive national overdose response strategy to end the overdose crisis. 'We already know what works to reduce overdose deaths. 'The data tells us that opioids remain the largest contributor to fatal drug overdoses. One relatively cheap and easy solution is giving potential overdose witnesses wider access to naloxone, a life-saving opioid reversal treatment already proven to save lives.' The alarming figures come as a new study will be released on Wednesday showing Generation Xs — those born between 1962 and 1982 — are more likely to die from methamphetamine use. The study, published in the journal Addiction, found the demographic experienced the highest risk of dying from methamphetamine-related causes, such as overdose and cardiovascular disease. While meth deaths have increased fourfold since the start of the century, the rates among younger users declined. Among the reasons for the broader rise were a stigma around drug use, misinformation and limited access to tailored support services. 'Many people who use drugs are ageing, and the support systems in place are not designed with their needs in mind,' study author Oisin Stronach said. 'These deaths are complex, often involving multiple substances. Yet much of our service sector remains geared toward people using opioids, leaving people who use methamphetamines — particularly older people — underserved.' Burnet Senior Research Fellow Dr Amanda Roxburgh said the societal stigma around methamphetamine use was a clear barrier to accessing care. 'Methamphetamine is arguably the most stigmatised drug in Australia. That stigma not only isolates people but also deters them from seeking help,' Dr Roxburgh said. 'If we want to save lives, we need to ensure equitable access to health services for all people who use drugs — regardless of their age or substance of choice.'
ABC News
01-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Prescription drug overdoses driving death toll
Isabella Higgins: In just one year, more than 2,000 Australians died of a drug overdose. Most were unintentional deaths. That's the stark headline figure of new analysis being released this week looking into drug-induced deaths. And advocates say illegal drugs aren't the only problem. Here's National Health Equity reporter, Caitlyn Gribbin. Caitlyn Gribbin: There's a stereotype about drug-related deaths that John Ryan wants to put a stop to. John Ryan : That idea that it's only illegal drugs is wrong. The overdose toll is actually made up of some people that inject drugs, definitely, but much of the overdose toll is people that are using pharmaceutical drugs, prescription drugs. Caitlyn Gribbin: John Ryan's the chief executive of the Penington Institute, a not-for-profit drug research group. It's released new research revealing 189 fatal overdoses every four weeks. Proof, Mr Ryan insists, that a new approach is needed to deal with dangerous drug use. John Ryan : We're losing the equivalent of a Boeing 737 full of Australians every month. The overdose toll has long exceeded the road toll. Caitlyn Gribbin: Early analysis of the report breaks down the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data on drug-induced deaths, which is from 2023. Overdose deaths were down 6% on the previous year, but John Ryan says figures will increase when ABS data revisions come in. The numbers are confronting, with nearly 2,300 people dying of a drug overdose. More than three-quarters were unintentional deaths. Opioids such as heroin and pharmaceutical opioids remain the most common drug type involved in unintentional deaths, contributing to almost half. But the proportion of drug-related fatalities involving stimulants such as methamphetamine and also cocaine increased on previous years. Amanda Roxburgh : Australia is a major destination for methamphetamine. We've got high numbers of large seizures being detected at our borders. Caitlyn Gribbin: Amanda Roxburgh, a senior research fellow and clinical psychologist at medical research organisation the Burnet Institute, says the highly potent crystal methamphetamine is the predominant stimulant drug now being used in Australia. Amanda Roxburgh : We're not only seeing increases in deaths related to methamphetamine, but we're also seeing increases in methamphetamine-related hospitalisations. So it's relatively cheap to buy and it's really readily available. Caitlyn Gribbin: The Penington analysis also found drug-induced deaths involving stimulants overtook benzodiazepines like Valium as the second most common drug type involved in fatal overdoses. Most drug overdoses are polysubstance overdoses. They involve more than one drug. John Ryan says pharmaceutical opioids such as codeine and oxycodone and those from the benzodiazepine family such as diazepam or Valium are commonly involved in overdose deaths. John Ryan : The daughter of a friend of mine who went through a messy divorce ended up on benzodiazepines to manage the stress and anxiety and one night drank a bit more red wine than normal, fell asleep on the couch and was found dead the next day. An absolutely tragic example of a middle-aged woman with two young children who died from a combination of prescribed pharmaceuticals and alcohol. Most of these deaths are occurring in private homes and often it's lounge rooms in suburbia and regional and rural towns. Caitlyn Gribbin: Mr Ryan says only a small amount of funding goes to harm reduction such as overdose education, the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone, drug testing and safe injecting facilities. A much bigger share goes to law enforcement. The full overdose report will be out this year. Isabella Higgins: Caitlin Gribbin reporting. In a statement the Federal Department of Health says the National Drug Strategy provides a commitment to harm minimisation through a balanced adoption of evidence-based demand, supply and harm reduction strategies.
ABC News
30-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
'Boeing 737' full of Aussies dying of drug overdoses every month, researchers say
There have been more than 2,000 fatal overdoses in Australia for the tenth year in a row, according to a new analysis by the Penington Institute. The non-profit drug research and advocacy group's CEO, John Ryan, said an early preview of its annual overdose report, due later this year, revealed there was 2,272 fatal overdoses in 2023, equating to an average of 189 per month. "We're losing the equivalent of a Boeing 737 full of Australians every month," he said. "The overdose toll has long exceeded the road toll … it's a huge problem that gets very little attention compared to other causes of death," he said. The majority of deaths (77.8 per cent) were unintentional, the data showed. The report broke down the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data on drug induced deaths, which is from 2023. The analysis showed overdose deaths were down by about 6 per cent on the previous year, based on preliminary data which would be subject to updates over the coming months. Mr Ryan said that drop was way too small. "Even if the numbers dropped by 20 or 30 or 40 per cent, it's still too high … it's outrageous that we've got such a huge number of people that are dying." The Penington analysis showed the rate of drug-induced deaths among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples remained significantly higher (21.3 per 100,000 people) compared to non-Indigenous people (5.7 per 100,000). Opioids such as heroin and pharmaceutical opioids remained the most common drug type involved in unintentional deaths, contributing to almost half of all deaths (43.9 per cent), according to the report. Stimulant drugs such as methamphetamine increased by 2 per cent, overtaking benzodiazepines as the second most common drug type involved in unintentional fatal overdoses. Amanda Roxburgh, a senior research fellow and clinical psychologist at the Burnet Institute, said Australia was a major destination for methamphetamine. "It's relatively cheap to buy and it's really readily available," she said. Dr Roxburgh, who was not involved in the Penington Institute report, said while there have been increasing use and harms related to cocaine, that was limited because cocaine was much more expensive. She said crystal methamphetamine was now the predominant stimulant drug used in Australia, and it was often highly potent. "We're not only seeing increases in deaths related to methamphetamine but we're also seeing increases in the hospitalisations," she said. Dr Roxburgh said drug-related deaths involving stimulants, which increase heart rate and blood pressure, often involved cardiac events such as heart failure, blockages to major arteries and heart attacks. Opioid overdoses usually involved depression of the respiratory system, which sees a lack of oxygen to the brain. Dr Roxburgh said overdoses often involved both kinds of drugs. Most drug overdoses involved more than one drug. Mr Ryan said it was not just illegal drugs involved in overdoses, but prescription opioids and benzodiazapines as well. He said that was something he had personal experience of. "The daughter of a friend of mine who went through a messy divorce ended up on benzodiazepines to manage the stress and anxiety. "One night she drank a bit more red wine than usual, fell asleep on the couch and was found dead the next day. Mr Ryan said not only were most drug overdoses accidental, but they also extended to a demographic beyond injecting drug users and those using illicit street drugs. "Many of these deaths are occurring in private homes and often it's lounge rooms in suburbia and regional and rural towns," he said. Suzanne Nielsen, from the Monash Addiction Research Centre, said counterfeit prescription drugs were an issue increasing the risk of overdoses. "We know that these fake or falsified pharmaceuticals look very similar to the real thing. Even pharmacists wouldn't necessarily be able to pick them apart immediately," she said. Professor Nielsen said such drugs were available online and made in illegal labs. "We've got very used to buying things online, but when it comes to pharmaceuticals, it's really not safe," she said. Professor Nielsen said many illegal drugs, including fake pharmaceuticals, could contain powerful synthetic opioids including fentanyl and nitazenes, some of which were "100 times more potent than heroin". Do you have a story to share? Email Professor Nielsen said nitazenes have also turned up in drugs such as cocaine, ketamine and MDMA, which can leave people particularly vulnerable to opioid overdose because their presence was unexpected. In Melbourne last year, four men died after taking drugs laced with nitazenes. The Penington Institute is a not-for-profit drug policy research group with a focus on reducing overdose deaths and drug related harm, and advocates for decriminalisation and regulation of cannabis in Australia. Mr Ryan said overdose deaths were preventable and the high numbers of these deaths each year highlighted the need for a national overdose strategy that focused more on harm reduction and less on policing. He said only a small amount of funding went to harm reduction such as overdose education, opioid overdose withdrawal drug naloxone, drug testing and safe injecting facilities, and with a much bigger share went to law enforcement. He called on the government to implement a community education campaign, including to help people understand the signs of overdose like unusual snoring or gurgling sounds. "That … is often actually the sign of an overdose and there's many deaths that result from people not knowing the signs of an overdose, let alone knowing how to response to that." In a statement a spokesperson for the federal Department of Health said the National Drug Strategy provided a "commitment to harm minimisation through a balanced adoption of evidence based demand, supply and harm reduction strategies". The spokesperson said the government has subsidised opioid dependence treatment medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and was investing $377 million over four years for those treatments to be delivered via community pharmacies. The statement also highlighted the government's ongoing commitment the Take Home Naloxone program which gives Australians free access to the drug which temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.
Sydney Morning Herald
29-04-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Frontline police officers barred from carrying life-saving drug naloxone
Victoria's frontline police officers have been told they are not allowed to carry a free, life-saving overdose-reversal drug over fears they could be open to civil and criminal prosecution if they administer it on the job. That is despite average Australians being able to administer the same drug to others without a prescription under a federal government initiative seeking to encourage peer-to-peer use to prevent opioid-related deaths. Opioids are the most common drug detected in unintentional fatal overdoses in Australia, and kill an average of two Australians every day, according to figures from the Penington Institute. In Victoria alone, 547 people died from an opioid-related overdose in 2023, the latest available coronial data shows. The over-the-counter drug, naloxone, reverses the effects of an opioid overdose in minutes by blocking the opioid receptors in the brain so that they can no longer interact with the substance that's causing the overdose. Described as a 'silver bullet' by experts, naloxone has minimal side effects and does not cause any harm if it is administered to someone who hasn't taken opioids. Loading It can come in nasal spray, pre-filled syringe or ampoule form, and it can be obtained from most pharmacies free of charge without a prescription under the federal government's $19.6 million Take Home Naloxone program. The medication has been safely used by health workers for decades. However, despite often being first at the scene of an overdose and being trained to deliver life-saving first aid such as chest compressions, Victorian police officers aren't allowed to independently administer naloxone to people experiencing an opioid overdose. Instead, they are expected to wait for ambulance staff, potentially delaying the administration of the drug. Victoria Police is concerned its officers would not be covered by insurance if something went wrong while administering naloxone – such as if the person overdosing had an adverse reaction to the drug – leaving them open to court action. Members of the public who administer the drug are legally protected under the good Samaritan legislation. Opioids such as heroin cause a person to overdose slowly over a period of about 25 minutes, giving first responders time to intervene. However, novel, highly potent synthetic opioids, such as nitazenes and fentanyl, are absorbed by the brain much faster, drastically reducing the window to administer a reversal drug to just a few minutes.
