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'Ice' users likely to suffer psychosis on drug, study finds Date   January 10, 2013 Malcolm Knox    USERS of methamphetamine, or ''ice'', are five times likelier to suffer psychotic symptoms while taking the drug, according to a groundbreaking new Australian study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry (JAMA Psychiatry). The study's lead author, Dr Rebecca McKetin, said that ''there have always been questions about causality from those who say methamphetamine users aren't 'turned mad' by the drug but have a pre-existing psychotic condition. What's unique about this study is that it excludes those users and still finds such a strong link between use and psychotic symptoms in a large cohort over a period of years''. Dr McKetin, formerly of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre in Sydney and now at the Australian National University, said she was surprised by the str

Workplace drug testing Australian Drug Foundation November 2012  PolicyTalk provides an overview of topical debates to help senior policy makers find the right solutions for the community on alcohol and other drug issues. No one objects to the breath testing of automobile drivers to ensure their performance is not impaired by high concentrations of alcohol. Similarly, people who are engaged in safety critical work in occupations such as transport, or by the use of heavy machinery, may also expect to undergo drug testing to reduce the risk of harm to themselves and others. Yet in other contexts workplace drug testing is far more controversial. The debate about drug testing employees can involve considerations of individual privacy, the financial cost to employers of testing, the efficacy of testing, and the workforce’s response to testing. This latest edition of PolicyTalk by Donna Bull, consultant to the Australian Defence Force and the Australian and Internationa

I search the internet and papers for the latest news on drug and alcohol use and what do i find, ALMOST NOTHING other than the tragic results of their influence. Why is it we in Australia are so good at viewing the tragic outcomes, accidents, road toll, workplace incidents etc and yet so poor at really discussing the number of people who are intoxicated at work, driving vehicles or operating machinery, poor at discussing the numbers of youth who are using substances that are putting themselves and others at high risk. Poor at discussing ways to seriously address the problems or putting preventive measures in place. We have a society of drug users including alcohol, from teens to mature adults. So what are we going to do about it?? I can find old reports of the decline in MDMA (ecstasy) or surprise surprise the increase in METH (ice) so what can parents do about the concern that their child is using ice? What about the use of K2 Kronic or Bath Salts, synthetic marihuana, chemical

Booze and drugs culture rife in construction industry: study Brisbane Times 3 September 2012 For better or worse, construction has a blokey reputation, but new research from Brisbane finds a "hazardous" consumption of recreational drugs and booze is latest problem facing the industry. And the macho culture is partly to blame, alongside high wages and transient job patterns, according the Queensland University of Technology team that led the national survey. The Safety Impacts of Alcohol and Other Drugs in Construction study drew nearly 500 workers from all areas of the industry across Australia and involved surveys and interviews over two years. The findings, presented today by project leader Professor Herbert Biggs at an international industry conference in Scotland, showed over 50 per cent of workers consumed alcohol at "hazardous" levels, and a further 15 per cent were at "significant risk of harm". Read more: See the New Range of

Random drug tests extended to boat operators Courtesy of ABC News 12 September 2012 Victorian boat operators will be subjected to random drug tests. The State Government is introducing legislation today that will see roadside drug swab tests extended to Victoria's lakes, rivers, the bays and the open ocean. Ports Minister Denis Napthine says the testing will apply to both recreational and commercial boat operators. "The water police and Transport Safety Victoria officers will be out on the waterways making sure that people are behaving appropriately and safely," he said. "Water police will have powers to do random drug testing and random blood-alcohol testing on operators of all water craft including jet skis, vessels and commercial vessels." The blood-alcohol limit for commercial skippers will also drop from 0.05 to zero. Mr Napthine says the changes to laws for road users have proven to be effective. "We need similar protections

00:02 AEST Tue Aug 28 2012 NINEMSN Drug users are being urged to be wary of buying harmful "legal high" stimulants over the internet. Mephedrone - a drug also known as "miaow miaow" and bath salts - is banned in most parts of Australia. Kronic, a synthetic cannabis, is also illegal. But other drugs, known as "legal highs", are still available through many of Australia's 100 internet retailers, the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) says. NDARC director Professor Michael Farrell said users needed to beware of the substances they are buying online, which are often sold under various misleading names. "They don't know what they're buying. What they think they're buying may be something different," he told AAP. "Just because it's not illegal doesn't mean it's not harmful." Prof Farrell is among 22 experts who will address NDARC's annual drug symposium on Tuesday

 Policeman suspended over drug test switch ABC News Updated July 08, 2012 12:27:02 New South Wales Police have revealed plans to roll-out a new drug testing program for officers. Under the reforms, the tests will deliver instant results and may lead to immediate suspension. The revelation comes after a 29-year-old sergeant was charged for allegedly switching a urine sample to cover-up the use of amphetamines. When he later provided his own urine, it tested positive for amphetamines and 'ice'. However, Assistant Commissioner Paul Carey says the incident did not prompt the plans. "That's simply a result of the random testing that's done across the state," he said. He says making the test regime more efficient is a positive step forward. "We can be assured, and the community can be assured that police officers aren't using drugs," he said. "If they are, we will catch them." More Here: