‘Krokodil’ means crocodile in Russian, named as such partly because of the effect it has on users’ skin. But skin infection isn’t the only danger the drug poses.
It can be tricky to know what to do when someone you care about starts taking drugs.
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It can be really tricky to know what to do when someone you care about starts using drugs. Raising the issue and listening without judgement is a good place to start.
Around 35% of Australians have tried marijuana at some point in their life, and 11% have tried ecstasy. Most people who try drugs do so for a short period in their lives – mostly in their 20s.
Nitrous oxide has been used as an anaesthetic for over 100 years.
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Media-driven panic about drugs can create a perception more people are using the drug than they actually are, and when teens think ‘everyone’ is doing it, they are more likely to want to do it too.
The biological pathways related to physical and emotional pain overlap.
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People who use painkillers for non-medical reasons often justify it as a form of self-medication for legitimate medical diagnoses such as depression, anxiety and stress.
A new study has found more than half of those in drug treatment have cognitive impairments – meaning treatment won’t work for them.
Kids teething? Back in 1885, Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup, containing morphine, was close at hand and earned the nickname the “baby killer.” Concerns about the dangers of readily available medications played a big role in how Canada’s drug laws evolved.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine
Canadian drug policy began to take shape well before anti-immigration attacks on Chinese establishments in 1908. Drugs like opium and coke were causing grave public health concerns.
Sydney has grown rapidly since the safe injecting room was established in Kings Cross in 2001.
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Sydney’s supervised injection room in Kings Cross has helped reduce harmful drug use. But many drug users who live in the outer suburbs find it difficult to get to the inner-city facility.
There are many good private alcohol and drug treatment providers, but lack of regulation means some unethical practices are being uncovered. Here’s what you should know about treatment.
Only certain compounds in cannabis are at fault.
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Cannabis use is linked to psychosis, but only a small number of users will experience it.
The research shows that barring people with a history of drug offences from public housing won’t reduce the risks of harm as NSW minister Pru Goward argues.
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The evidence is clear on the sort of support that is needed to reduce the harms of drug use. A punitive approach that denies people a second chance makes it more likely they will reoffend.
Young people have reported cultural gains from drug use, such as strengthening social ties and gaining access to social networks.
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A new study among gay and bisexual men living with HIV found those who were occasional or regular users of party drugs reported significantly better social outcomes than non-users.