"We want people to know these synthetic drugs, bought online or from so-called adult shops, tobacconists or herbal shops are dangerous because the chemical ingredients are unknown, the dosage is unknown and they may be toxic."

"The effects and contents of these substances are often unknown and we advise people to steer clear of using them.

"People who sell and take these drugs often have no idea what is in them. They can include little-known research chemicals imported from overseas.

"The Australian Drug Foundation calls on people selling synthetic drugs in herbal shops, tobacconists or so-called adult shops to withdraw these products until they are proven as safe and fit for human consumption. They are exploiting consumers who may think they are safe and legal products. Yet they are not tested and are not approved for human consumption.

"According to their own figures, there are $600m worth of these drugs being sold every year through so called adult shops. They are often labelled as bath salts or plant food, but are clearly being sold with the knowledge that people are consuming them as drugs.

"We'll be raising the sale of these synthetic drugs with departments of Consumer Affairs to investigate options for better protecting people."

More information on DrugInfo

20 May 2013

Melbourne desperately needs supervised injecting facilities to reduce overdoses and the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C amongst injecting drug users.

Australian Drug Foundation's Director of Policy Geoff Munro said the release of the Burnet Institute's North Richmond Public Injecting Impact Study shows access to sterile injecting equipment will benefit the whole community.

"Injecting rooms help save lives, reduce disease transmission and provide a referral point for those seeking treatment," Mr Munro said.

"The study shows that injecting drug use is widespread and very visible in some areas, particularly in North Richmond and Abbotsford, leading to public concern about the impact of discarded syringes and placing strains on local residents and businesses."

Mr Munro said evaluation of the Kings Cross supervised injecting facility in Sydney found it:

- decreased drug overdose deaths,

- provided opportunities for referral,

- reduced blood born virus transmission (HIV/AIDS/Hep C), and

- reduced problems with public injecting and discarded needles.

"People who use drugs have a health problem and should have access to effective treatment and rehabilitation. By providing somewhere dedicated for drug users to go and get clean syringes and administer their drugs, we'd be helping connect them to the services available."

"We need to tackle these issues sensibly and based on the evidence showing how to reduce the risks of people being harmed by drug use. These facilities are already operating in other parts of the world."

"This is not about encouraging people to inject but recognising that some people do and taking measures to reduce the harm for those people and those around them."

Media contact: Jennifer Willis: 0430 948 380, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

13 May 2013

The Australian Drug Foundation is partnering with the Ipswich JETS Rugby League Club to bring the Good Sports Healthy Eating program to Ipswich community sporting clubs.

Good Sports Healthy Eating is an Australian Drug Foundation community program to promote healthy food and drinks within sports clubs in Queensland. The program has combined and built on the success of the national Good Sports program and Queensland's Food for Sport: Health Food and Drink Guidelines for Sporting Clubs. It is supported and funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the National Partnership Agreement on Preventative Health.

With this new partnership in Ipswich, a first for Good Sports Healthy Eating in Queensland, the Australian Drug Foundation hopes to reach even more clubs in the area to help break the link between alcohol and sport and encourage healthier food choices.

As part of the partnership, the Ipswich JETS will assist with promoting the program to local sporting clubs and the wider community. CEO of the JETS, Wayne Wendt, said the club is thrilled to be able to help support such an important initiative.

“As the local QRL club, we see sport as being one of the most powerful avenues for promoting community change – we are happy to help the Australian Drug Foundation promote the Good Sports Healthy Eating program amongst the local community and encourage all local clubs to sign up today.”

For more information, visit the Good Sports website.

30 April 2013

Australian Drug Foundation's Prevention Seminar about New and Emerging Drugs today was a great success, with more than 150 people attending in person or via our free webinar.

You can follow the Twitter coverage by searching #druginfo.

Also read the full Prevention Research and Prevention in Action publications on New and Emerging Drugs.

Our next Prevention seminar will be about Social Media and Health Promotion. Subscribe to DrugInfo for updates.