addiction
Just lighting up once turns into daily addiction for most
At least two-thirds of those who try cigarettes just once will go on to become daily smokers, new research finds Researchers said that data obtained from the UK, US, Australia …
‘We have overprescribed oxycodone, codeine’ says AMA chief
The health sector needs a “fundamental re-education” around the use of analgesics in chronic pain, says AMA president Dr Michael Gannon And doctors have been over-prescribing opioids over recent years, …
Prescription pharmaceutical misuse on the rise
Misuse of pharmaceuticals is now responsible for more deaths than illegal drugs, new data show A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Non-medical use of pharmaceuticals: …
NSW Guild stands firm on codeine exception
Australia is in a “peculiar” situation where public sentiment opposes policy when it comes to codeine, says NSW Guild president David Heffernan In the NSW Guild eBulletin Mr Heffernan writes …
Half feel unprepared to help codeine misusers
Only half of pharmacists believe they are adequately prepared to deal with a patient who is abusing OTC codeine, new figures show Among the data released by this week’s UTS …
An unscheduled dilemma
In the first of our series of reviews of the biggest issues facing pharmacy in 2017, Megan Haggan looks at the fraught issue of the codeine upschedule There’s no doubt …
Should you recommend NRT to pregnant women?
With ambiguous messages surrounding nicotine replacement therapy in pregnancy, Aussie experts have tried to pin down the best advice Smoking cessation experts and public health physicians from the University of …
Random drug testing trials spiked
The controversial welfare policy has been reportedly scrapped as key Senators and MPs ruled out supporting the scheme Social Services Minister Christian Porter has told The Australian he will be removing …
The opioid trap
How many people fall into addiction after getting a script from their doctor, and what role does the ED play? University of Sydney pharmacist researcher Dr Jonathan Penm recently conducted …
Address notion of opioid superiority
Ibuprofen and paracetamol works just as well as opioid combinations for breaks and sprains, emergency doctors say US emergency department doctors have found that a one-two combination of ibuprofen with …
Injecting room trial gets green light
The troubled North Richmond area is to get its medically supervised injecting room trial, which is hoped to help drive drug users into treatment Harm minimisation proponent and pharmacist Angelo …
Libs corner Hunt on codeine
Liberal MPs have flagged concerns with Health Minister Greg Hunt over the codeine upschedule in a party room meeting The Guardian reports that Tim Wilson, Russell Broadbent, Jason Falinski and …