Evidence has piled up for years of the harms of illicit drugs, from pill deaths at dance festivals to longitudinal studies establishing the risks of marijuana-induced psychosis, especially in adolescent brains, writes Miranda Devine.
It’s not something most young people are comfortable talking to their parents about – drugs and taking drugs. Leading psychologist Dianna Kenny shares her tips on how to start that conversation. LISTEN NOW
A 24-year-old who died from a suspected overdose at Strawberry Fields music festival in NSW has been remembered as “sweet and funny” man as police reveal 96 were arrested at the event for drug offences.
It is stomach-churning work but could pave the way for contentious pill testing at future music festivals. Researcher Jonathan Brett has already made several surprise findings while testing wastewater collected from portaloos.
As a former paramedic Aaron Harper has seen first-hand the problem drugs cause in Townsville. He explains the wave of different dangers to drug fads over the decades.
A major dance festival’s rebrand in the wake of a 2015 ecstasy death has angered drug victims’ parents who claim the X symbol is “insensitive”.
A new GPS tracking app has been created to help reunite friends separated at music festivals or parties, It’s also fitted with an alert button to directly call emergency services or friends when assistance is required.
After repeated visits to the Falls Festival to supervise his various children, Mike Radburn says he is worried about drugs at the event.
Eighteen young Australians, all in the prime of their lives, all went to Australian music festivals to have a great time. All didn’t come home. The ripples of anguish of these young lives lost will be felt forever by those who loved them.
A horror year which left three fighting for life after a suspected drug overdose at a Townsville music festival highlights the need to be more vigilant, a senior detective has said.
NSW Health has ditched their hard-hitting campaign on MDMA and other party pills in favour of a “non-judgmental” one called StayOK after festivalgoers told researchers “fear campaigns” did not work.
It’s a drug lauded by users as inducing feelings of love and euphoria. But behind every MDMA pill is an ugly ‘shadow world’ of crime and exploitation that users unwittingly support.
Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/rippleeffect/page/4