Latest news with #harmreduction
ABC News
21 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Queensland government may not release taxpayer-funded drug testing review after axing service
The Queensland government is refusing to say if it will publicly release an independent taxpayer-funded evaluation of the state's now-axed drug checking sites. The former Labor administration commissioned the University of Queensland (UQ) to assess the services, including whether they reduced harm and contributed to early warnings about the circulation of dangerous illicit substances. Documents show the evaluation, which was due to be handed to the government late last week, cost taxpayers $453,286. Drug checking services allow individuals to submit small samples of substances, meant for personal use, for testing by health professionals. In April this year the CheQpoint testing sites in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast closed their doors after the LNP opted not to provide ongoing government funding. Mobile drug checking at future schoolies celebrations on the Gold Coast has also been scrapped. Despite other states recently starting drug checking services, the Queensland premier and health minister have repeatedly said they do not support the measure. Last week a spokesperson for health minister Tim Nicholls said the UQ evaluation report "will be considered by Cabinet", which could mean it is kept confidential. When asked yesterday if the report would be released, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said he had not seen it and the government's views on pill testing "haven't changed". "I should have a read of it for sure, but I make the point that our policy position won't change," Mr Crisafulli said. The Loop Australia is a not-for-profit group of chemists and health workers involved in delivering the services. Its chief executive Cameron Francis called on the government to release the report, and said a similar evaluation of Canberra's drug checking service was made public. He said the report would "show the community" the benefits of drug testing. "I know what some of the data in the report would contain, because it is the data that our service has provided to the evaluators," he said. "We know that around one in four people that come through the service will use less drugs after talking to one of our staff members, we know that we refer large numbers of people into ongoing support or treatment." Queensland Opposition Leader Steven Miles said Mr Crisafulli should listen to the health experts who say pill testing saves lives. "They're calling for this report to be released," Mr Miles said. "But he won't listen because he's caved into the far-right ideologies of his party — now Queenslanders are paying the price." Queensland's pill testing closures came as deadly synthetic opioids called nitazines continued to circulate in Australia causing overdoses and deaths. Mr Francis said evidence showed testing improved public safety. "Without drug checking we've got no way of warning the community about the dangerous drugs that are circulating until people have either overdosed, ended up in hospital or passed away," he said. Australia's first fixed-site drug checking service opened in Canberra in mid-2022. Victoria started pill testing at music festivals late last year and plans to open a clinic in mid-2025. New South Wales has also kicked off a 12-month drug checking trial at some music festivals. Medical groups and harm minimisation experts have slammed the Queensland government's closure of drug checking services. In April, Queensland Chair of the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP), Dr Cathryn Hester, said the state did not have overdose monitoring or early warning systems. "I fear that once these drug testing services end, we will see more overdoses because the people taking them, including young people with their whole lives ahead of them, simply don't know what they're ingesting," Dr Hester said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Convenience Store Group Urge Health Minister to Reverse Flawed Nicotine Pouch Ban to Help More Smokers Quit
TORONTO, May 31, 2025 /CNW/ - On this World No Tobacco Day, the United Korean Convenience Industry Alliance (UKCIA) is calling on newly appointed Health Minister Marjorie Michel to act decisively in correcting a harmful policy introduced by her predecessor, Mark Holland: the ban on nicotine pouches in convenience stores. Canada's corner store operators have a long, proud history of responsibly retailing age-restricted products. They are uniquely positioned to support public health objectives by helping adult smokers transition to lower-risk alternatives. Yet, under Minister Holland's tenure, the federal government banned the sale of regulated nicotine pouches in convenience stores—resulting in consumers turning instead to the black market to purchase these popular products. "Minister Michel has an opportunity to reset Canada's approach to helping smokers quit," said Kenny Shim President of UKCIA. "That starts by reversing Minister Holland's ministerial order and allow responsible retailers to offer adult consumers regulated, safer nicotine alternatives." The UKCIA urges Minister Michel and Prime Minister Mark Carney to address two urgent priorities: Reverse the Ban on Nicotine Pouches in C-StoresThis prohibition prevents adult smokers from accessing products that are widely recognized as part of a harm-reduction strategy. Regulated and approved nicotine pouches—already sold in pharmacies—should be equally available in convenience stores that operate under strict ID protocols and retail standards. Increase Penalties on Canada's Growing Illicit Market of Tobacco ProductsIllegal tobacco and nicotine products are increasingly available to consumers. These products are often sold without age checks, without health warnings, and without regulation—routinely out of the trunks of cars, online, or at unlicensed outlets. This thriving black market undermines both public health and law-abiding businesses. "Our members are on the front lines," said Shim "We see firsthand how the illegal market continues to expand while government enforcement lags behind. Meanwhile, responsible retailers are being punished for doing the right thing." Smoking rates in Canada continue to decline, thanks in part to innovation and new and less harmful alternatives. But restricting access to those very tools—while ignoring the unregulated alternatives flooding the streets—is a backwards approach. The UKCIA, which represents 2000 small businesses across the country, calls on Minister Michel to listen to their concerns and act accordingly. World No Tobacco Day should be a time to move forward—not fall behind. SOURCE United Korean Canadian Industry Association (UKCIA) View original content:
CBC
4 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Drug checking machine reopens in Kitchener despite consumption site closures
A local health centre says their drug checking machine is back in action — despite the province passing legislation that banned similar harm reduction policies in certain areas of Ontario. Sanguen Health Centre said on social media that they received an exemption for their machine that tests illicit drugs for cross-contamination. They said a new drop-in location will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at 130 Victoria St. S. in Kitchener and testing started on Friday. The centre previously ran the region's consumption and treatment services (CTS) site on Duke Street W. It served Waterloo region residents, using harm reduction and safe supply techniques, from 2019 to 2024. They were closed in April due to the Progressive Conservative government's shift away from CTS sites that allowed drugs on the premises and were too close to schools or daycares. Leigh Wardlaw is the co-ordinator of the drug checking program and said that the exemption for their machine is outside the scope of provincial legislation. "We have our own exemption," she said, adding the drug checking program exemption was granted by Health Canada through the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. "It's been a very eye-opening experience in itself as we didn't know what was in the local drug supply," Wardlaw said. "We only used test strips before and now we're finding all these new things ... so we're able to educate the public on what we're seeing." CTS replaced by HART hubs Homelessness and Addictions Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs replaced CTS sites in Kitchener, Guelph, Hamilton, Thunder Bay, Ottawa and Toronto. Drugs or drug consumption are not permitted on site at the HART hubs. Waterloo region's HART Hub is operated by Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo and operates on Francis Street. In March, advocates took the province to court over the closure of CTS sites, saying closing the sites violates both the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Constitution, including the right to life, liberty and security of the person. Justice John Callaghan of the Superior Court of Justice granted an injunction until he could make a decision on the Charter challenge, which he said will take more time to decide. That meant the CTS sites could remain open; however, most organizations said they lacked the funding to keep operating. Despite lack of funding and strained resources, Sanguen Health Centre appealed for an exemption from Health Canada in order to continue operating their drug checking machine. Bill 223, the provincial legislation passed that made CTS sites illegal if they were within 200 metres of a school or daycare, does specify that any exemption requires the approval of the provincial Ministry of Health. But Wardlaw said she doesn't expect a legal battle to ensue as a result of the exemption and that the province holds much of the power regardless. "They're essentially the ones that hold the rug," she said. Ema Popovic, spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Health, told CBC News in an email that the provincial government's main priority is offering people who struggle with mental health and addiction treatment while "not giving them tools to use illicit drugs." "In the fall, we passed legislation that prohibits any local board of health from applying to participate in the federal governments so-called 'safer supply' programs and any request ... must receive approval from Ontario's Minister of Health," she said. "To be very clear, Sanguen has received no such approval." What is drug checking? In the name of safe supply, the Kitchener CTS site previously offered to check residents' drugs for cross-contamination with other substances that were more likely to facilitate an overdose. Sanguen Health Centre told CBC News that the drug checking machine was now able to operate at their new drop-in location and they received a mobile exemption and will try to create an outreach plan to get the machine on the road to other communities. Sanguen's drug checking program uses a Raman Spectroscopy to identify substances in minutes. Since 2023, Sanguen says they've been able to test thousands of substances including fentanyl, methamphetamines, crack/cocaine, MDMA and ketamine. Julie Kalbfleisch, director of Sanguen Health Centre, told CBC News in an email that funding for the drug checking program through Sanguen was part of a pilot project. Funding ran out at the end of last year but they "have enough funding to support the program until the fall." CBC News reached out to Health Canada about whether the drug-checking machine could receive federal funding but did not receive a comment. Kalbfleisch said Sanguen is currently seeking "other funding opportunities" and there are grant applications in the works. She added Sanguen is "grateful for the exemption from the federal government for this life-saving work" and that they "do not anticipate provincial backlash."
Sky News
26-05-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Living beside the UK's first drug consumption room
It's 8.34am on a Tuesday and Vanessa Paton is taking me on a tour of Glasgow's east end, where she has lived for almost 50 years. Half a mile away sits the newly opened taxpayer-funded facility, named The Thistle, where drug addicts can bring their heroin and cocaine, are handed clean needles and invited to inject under NHS medical supervision. The concept, a UK first, is controversial and costs £2.3m a year. Authorities believe it provides a safer, cleaner area for users to do their business, away from the dirty, HIV-ridden back alleys of Glasgow city centre. It opened in January, and around 250 people have used it so far. But there is a growing feeling among some that a by-product of this bold project is the alleged "war zone" being created in the community around the new building. Former council worker Ms Paton is one of an ad-hoc group of furious locals who pick up needles as part of desperate efforts to clear their streets. She says: "It is getting worse. The new room has appeared, and the problems have escalated with it. It's a no-go war zone every day and night. "The area's becoming a toilet. That is the harsh reality of it." 'It is disgusting' Sky News spends the morning being shown areas where it is claimed the issues are getting out of control. Ms Paton pulls a bloodied, faeces-covered hospital gown out of a bush as we walk along a path behind a row of houses. We turn the corner to a street where children play and are greeted with syringes filled with blood at our feet, discarded needle packaging and dirty underwear. Local resident Angela Scott says: "It's become a lot worse. It's heightened. I'm scared that if I am picking up my dog dirt am I going to prick a needle. "Am I going to end up with an infection that a lot of drug addicts tend to have because they are sharing needles? I don't want to pick up something infectious." Adverts installed in known drug dens Officials have installed a new needle bin in one hotspot in recent days, with posters erected advertising the nearby consumption room. Ms Paton alleges safety steps are being taken at a nearby nursery. "There is a nursery that actually uses a metal detector in the morning to scan the sandpits before the children go out because of the concern of the needles being in it," she claims. This area is known as Calton and has had its troubles with drug taking and crime for many years. Ms Paton takes us to a tucked-away, overgrown area opposite social housing and a few metres from where a new school is being built. It is a makeshift drug den. There are hundreds of freshly used needles. It is like a minefield. One needle is stabbed into a large tree, there is even a wooden seat which is covered in drug-taking equipment. Once again, there is a laminated A4 piece of paper pointing users in the direction of The Thistle. Ms Paton says: "We picked up 50 needles in one minute last week. If we were to pick up every needle that is here today, we'd be talking hundreds. "We are struggling to find somewhere safe to stand. There are needles between my legs, you've got needles behind your head. "It's totally soul-destroying. Nobody living here expected it to be this bad." Officials deny it is a new problem Glasgow City Council told Sky News there had not been an increase in reports despite the community alleging the opposite. Councillor Allan Casey, who is responsible for drug policy in the city, said: "This has been a long-standing issue and that is one of the main reasons why The Thistle has been placed where it is because there has been decades-long discarded needles in public places. Responding to claims of increasing problems around the new facility, Mr Casey said: "Those reports don't back that up. "The council has not seen a rise in reports of injecting equipment and there has not been an increase in crime reports." Scotland is ravaged by drugs. The country has the worst drug death rate in Europe. Scotland's first minister John Swinney told Sky News the new drug room required time to "see the impact". He said: "The Thistle is a safe consumption facility which is designed to encourage people to come off the use of drugs - that's its purpose. We've got to give that venture time to see the impact. "We need to engage with the local community… and address any concerns." It is understood police have logged no calls about the facility since it opened in January, despite some residents suggesting they have contacted officers with concerns.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Denver to install naloxone vending machines at police stations to combat overdose crisis
DENVER (KDVR) — A new tool in the fight against Colorado's overdose crisis is being installed outside three Denver Police Department locations. The city is partnering with The Naloxone Project and the Colorado Attorney General's Office to launch harm reduction vending machines that dispense free naloxone kits. Naloxone is a fast-acting medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. Arrest made in Littleton elder financial fraud case The first machines will be installed at police headquarters and two additional stations next week. The goal: make the overdose reversal drug accessible in areas where it's needed most. 'About two months ago, we started working with DPD again to further our partnership,' said Joshua Jacoves, Program Director of The Naloxone Project. 'We have that kit at headquarters by Civic Center because we see on Colfax, there are a lot of those overdoses occurring.' Each vending machine contains kits with intranasal naloxone and easy-to-follow instructions. The kits are free, no insurance or identification required. Jacoves noted that overdose deaths are continuing to rise across the state. 'Overdose deaths are happening everywhere across the country and in Colorado,' he said. '2024, we saw about a little over 80,000 people pass away from an opioid overdose in Colorado, and especially in Denver, the last data we saw in 2023 was that we had 600 Denver residents pass away from an overdose.' Some critics argue that distributing naloxone might encourage riskier drug use, but Jacoves pushed back on that claim, comparing the criticism to past resistance to public safety tools. 'Naloxone is very similar to a lot of these other big public safety efforts we've had in the US,' he said. 'Critics said the same thing about seat belts and said seat belts encourage dangerous driving. We are really again covering the city in a blanket of protection, to make sure that people aren't going to use a little riskier, because they're not, but they are going to have the antidote in case something happens.' The program's impact is already measurable. At a pilot machine installed in April, more than 1,000 kits have been taken in less than two months. 'Every single time myself, my coordinator, my intern, goes to restock… someone comes up to us and tells us a story about how naloxone saved their cousin's life, a brother's life, they saw someone reverse an overdose on the street across from where the machine was,' Jacoves said. FOX31 visited the pilot site this week, where nearly two-thirds of the machine's contents had already been taken. 'As you can see, this was restocked at 12 on Tuesday, and we are probably two thirds empty already,' said a representative during the site visit. Leaders said having police serve as the host sites sends a strong message. 'Having police here in Denver lead the way with this station effort, I think, shows the commitment of our side and the police side to keeping our city safe,' Jacoves said. Jokic makes All-NBA First Team, history upon history Officials in Aurora told FOX31 they are researching whether to implement similar machines. Meanwhile, the Naloxone Project said it's always looking for volunteers to help assemble the kits. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
