Monthly Archives: November 2007

ADCA highlight election campaign silence on alcohol

Was pleased to see ADCA have upped the ante with the Labor and Liberal parties on their alcohol policy thoughts (or lack of) in the lead up to the election. The full press release:

‘Voters unaware of election alcohol policies

The Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA) has sent personal letters to the leaders of the major political parties calling on them to review and announce their alcohol policies in relation to its misuse, excessive consumption, pricing, availability, accessibility and promotion. These are all contributing factors which directly impact on the health, family, social and welfare aspects of our community.

ADCA is the peak national body representing the interests of the Australian alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sector nationally, and its primary role is to see a reduction in AOD-related harm nationally.

Chief Executive Officer of ADCA, David Templeman says “Each year 3000 Australians die and another 10 000 need ongoing medical treatment through alcohol-related harm. The annual cost in alcohol related absenteeism is 7.5 million working days and the economic impact of its misuse is $15.3 billion. Alcohol is not an ordinary commodity and should not be treated as one.”

ADCA acknowledges that Australian Governments have led the world in action to reduce harm tough drink-driving laws and reduced taxes on low alcohol beer, however in other areas Australia has lagged.

“ADCA believes wine taxes should be based on alcohol content and equalised with beer taxes per unit of alcohol. Raising alcohol taxes across the board would be effective in reducing alcohol related problems in Australia” Mr Templeman said.

“It should be the role of the Government to progressively increase tax rates for alcohol over several years, beyond CPI adjustments. Revenue gained from this should then be provided to treatment services and prevention programs,” he added.

Central to addressing the harm from alcohol is advertising. ADCA feels that promotion of alcohol should be managed more responsibly with advertisements carrying warning messages about the potential harms of abuse, similar to tobacco advertising and packaging.

“ADCA is committed to working with Government to reduce alcohol and drug-related harm throughout Australia, and we hope that this issue is given some serious consideration by all political parties in the lead up to the Federal election,” Mr Templeman said.’

Of course, chances are there’ll be zero response from either side.

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report – Syringe Exchange

The USA’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC) publishes the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) and it’s published some interesting data on syringe exchange. The abstract:

“Syringe exchange programs (SEPs) provide free sterile syringes in exchange for used syringes to reduce transmission of bloodborne pathogens among injection-drug users (IDUs). SEPs in the United States began as a way to prevent the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other bloodborne infections such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends that persons who continue to inject drugs use a new, sterile syringe for each injection. Monitoring syringe exchange activity is an important part of assessing HIV prevention measures in the United States. As of November 2007, a total of 185 SEPs were operating in 36 states, the District of Columbia (DC), and Puerto Rico. This report summarizes a survey of SEP activities in the United States during 2005 and compares the findings with previous SEP surveys.

The findings indicated an increase in overall funding for SEPs, including an increase in public funding, and a stabilization in both the number of SEPs operating and the number of syringes exchanged since 2004. This report also documents an expansion of services offered by SEPs, a trend that resulted from an increase in state and local funding. These expanded services are helping protect IDUs and their communities from the spread of bloodborne pathogens and are providing access to health services
for a population at high risk. Monitoring of syringe exchange activity should continue.”

Manager, Adult and Specialist Programs – Western Health (Victoria)

Manager, Adult and Specialist Programs
Community Integration and Allied Health

Full Time

Contract until August 2008

This position provides direction to the Adult and Specialist services at DASWest and is an integral member of the management team. The role manages the staff involved in the delivery of programs and has responsibility around program accountabilities and budget management for these programs in conjunction with the Operations Manager of DASWest.

DASWest offers a wide range of treatment options to individuals and their families affected by substance use. An opportunity exists for a suitably qualified clinician to join a small team providing nursing support to people undergoing withdrawal in a community based environment.

Closing Date: 23/11/07

Enquiries: Moses Abbatangelo, Operations Manager – DASWest, Ph: 8345 6682 or Email Moses.Abbatangelo@wh.org.au

For complete advertisement, PD and application form, please visit www.westernhealth.org.au

Vacancy: Aboriginal Clinician MERIT Program, SSWAHS (NSW)

The Summer Hill MERIT team have two vacant Aboriginal identified positions as MERIT case managers (1 male clinician and 1 female clinician). These positions are readvertised and will appear in the Koori Mail on 7/11/07 and in the Indigenous Times on 13/11/07.

The team covers the Inner West Sydney area through Burwood, Bankstown and Newtown Courts and clients transferred from other areas (mainly Downing Centre Local Court). The service has a commitment to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal clients. In addition to case management of clients, the position involves liaison and maintaining relationships with local communities and community organisations (mostly Redfern and Marrickville areas).

The service is based in a stand alone building, near public transport on Liverpool Road, Summer Hill/Ashfield. Approximately 15-20% of clients are of Aboriginal heritage. Support is offered through training, one to one and group supervision and support through the Sydney South West Area Health Service Aboriginal Network. Additional support or supervision by an Aboriginal Health Worker can be arranged on request.

About MERIT:
– Local court based drug treatment program allowing offenders with drug problems to undertake treatment as part of their bail
– A pre-plea program designed to divert people in to treatment at an early stage in the legal process
– Participation is voluntary and subject to approval by a Magistrate
– MERIT clients participate in an intensive 12 week tailored drug treatment and case management program and post MERIT support is arranged
– Types of treatment may include detoxification, residential rehabilitation, pharmacotherapies, individual and group counselling, skills development, case management, welfare support and assistance

For more information, contact Elizabeth Haines at Summer Hill MERIT if you have any questions about the positions on 9797 9930 or to arrange a visit to the MERIT office.

It’s campaign launch week – any ATOD news?

The final two weeks of the Federal election campaign is underway, with both of the major parties having their campaign launches this week. (If you’re wondering why the ‘launches’ are so late, Annabel Crabb gives an excellent explanation here).

I’ve pretty much given up hope of health announcements going beyond hospital funding in this campiagn but the optimist in me wonders if prevention might get a guernsey in the dying minutes. Or, either side may announce a national expansion of the drug court program. I can still wish. The only certainty is that either side is extremely unlikely to change the conservative policy direction, Greens holding the balance of power or not.

Vacancy: DPMP Senior Research Policy Officer

The Drug Policy Modelling Program (DPMP) is seeking someone to join the central team at NDARC in the role of Senior Research-Policy Officer. This position performs an essential function: connecting researchers and policy makers. The person will be responsible for developing, leading and evaluating a three-year program of activities that facilitates high-level linkage between researchers and policy makers.

This is an opportunity to work on a program that reviewers have said is at the cutting-edge of international drug policy work. It focuses on an area of great interest to both academics and policy makers – bridging the gap between the research and policy worlds.

Extensive experience as a policy maker or within political environments, an established network of contacts within government, strategic thinking and outstanding communication skills are essential.

The position is fixed term for 3 years. An attractive remuneration package (commensurate with qualifications and experience) will be negotiated with the successful candidate. Further information at: http://www.hr.unsw.edu.au/services/recruitment/newjobres.html

Drug rumours – strawberry crystal meth

I thought it’d be worth passing on a conversation on an ATOD email list. The initial query was as follows:

“A colleague received an email advising that a type of crystal meth is available (and circulating in schools) which looks like strawberry pop rocks (candy which sizzles and ‘pops’ in your mouth), and smells like strawberries.

It also comes in chocolate, peanut butter, cola, cherry, grape and orange flavours.

Can anyone advise further?”

The question came from a community worker with the best of intentions. The responses were swift:

1. “Hoax. Been going around for years. Seriously, peanut butter meth!”

2. “This is an urban legend. In order to cut down on thefts of ammonia fertilizer in the US, there is a substance that can be added to the tank that has a pink color. If the liquid is stolen and it gets on your hands, it will dye them pink. The pictures taken of “strawberry Quik” look just like the base methamphetamine in Australia, except it is pink. Also, the DEA labs have never received any samples of this alleged substance. In the US, “peanut butter” is an old term for base.

Also, methamphetamine is reported to be very unpleasant tasting and I doubt the addition of any candy flavoring could mask the taste. Many who swallow the drug wrap it in a piece of white bread so they can’t taste it.

Hope this helps.”

3. “G’day folks,

There was a rather alarmist “cloned” email from the US circulated 5 weeks ago on Aussie lists. It warned about “strawberry Quik being handed out to kids”. The product was described as “looking like pop rocks” (candy) and as smelling and tasting like strawberry. The original email from the US named cities where this was happening. The locally circulated email had references to cities or anything that identified the original source removed. The email claimed children had presented at Emergency Departments after taking “strawberry Quik” because they thought it was candy. Yet there are no recorded cases of such an accidental poisoning. It is quite simply bunkum.

There are many weirdly coloured forms of methamphetamine on the market, ranging from red or yellow to green or dark blue, (“Black Ice”). These forms are discolored by impurities due to illicit manufacture. The colors, being caused by precursors, solvents or chemical byproducts, are indicative of the particular route of manufacture employed. This is not someone trying to make the product more attractive to “kids”, it is a symptom of the poor quality control of some illicit manufacturers.

Recently pink forms of meth have been reported in the US where the color is obviously something like food coloring, added deliberately. According to the Snopes article, (below) there is no evidence that it tastes or smells like strawberry. Nor is there any evidence that it’s being marketed to school kids. As yet we have received no first hand reports of such product here in WA. If any readers have received first hand accounts of artificially scented or flavored methamphetamine in Australia, (or better yet seen it themselves), please let us know.

In the past when coloring has been deliberately added to powder or crystal methamphetamine it has been done to “brand” a particular product, in a similar way to the logos on MDMA pills. Manufacturers don’t put Sonic the Hedgehog on Es so kids will buy them. They do it so that people will come back and ask for the same product again if they like the quality. Powder or Crystal meth is much harder to adulterate (cut) if it is a distinctive colour- even MSM, which is usually indistinguishable from crystal meth (Ice), will be immediately obvious if “cut” into bright pink rocks. It is far more likely that these are the reasons for introducing a distinctive coloring agent, rather than making it more palatable or as an exercise in targeted marketing at “kids”.

I thought you might find the following article from snopes.com interesting.

I’d suggest that Snopes urban legends site is an excellent resource for checking the veracity of such claims before circulating them to others.”

All the responses were fairly measured although you can sense the frustration at such myths still floating around. Wouldn’t it be great if there were a reputable, central repository of drug myths – it would give hard-working people like the person who asked this question some clarity and would also stop them feeling belittled when veteran professionals roll their eyes having seen it all before.