The first 90 days are truly a majestic feat for many people in recovery. Its powers can be utterly elusive, seemingly part of an exclusive club whose members are rewarded at the very least, in Narcotics Anonymous, with a beautiful red chip. Sometimes this chip is shiny, other times it can be a deep matted … Read more
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is a complex condition characterised by an overwhelming desire to use opioids like oxycodone, heroin, and fentanyl, among others, which leads to significant distress or impairment. The condition not only involves a physical dependence, evident through increased tolerance and withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation but also carries a heavy psychological burden. Despite … Read more
Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a part of everyday life, with risk assessments (RA) playing a pivotal role in creating safer work, study, and public spaces. RA instruments’ effectiveness in acute mental health units (AMHU) has provoked controversy and contradictory research regarding their utility. Research literature reflects a lack of standard RAs to address … Read more
The prescribing of psychotropic medications like benzodiazepines and stimulants for children has been on the rise, with these drugs being used as first-line treatments for various mental health disorders despite limited information on their efficacy in this age group. These medications work by altering levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine in the brain, … Read more
An Australian Government key reform has consistently been to peruse a “National Evidence-Based Policy for Service Planning and Delivery” (Australian Government Response to Contributing Lives, Thriving Communities: Review of Mental Health Programmes and Services, 2015). In the past, general practitioners predominately prescribed psychotropic medications to treat mental health disorders, while pharmaceutical companies sponsor directly or … Read more
Australia, the sixth largest country in the world, known for its remarkable landscapes and low population density (three people per square kilometre), is actually striving to save its citizens from alcohol and illicit drugs. Recent analysis from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the national agency for information and statistics on the country’s … Read more
In today’s digital age, children are growing up with screens as a constant presence in their lives. From smartphones to tablets, televisions to video games, screen time has become an integral part of their daily routine. However, what many parents may not realise is that excessive screen time can lead to screen addiction, a silent … Read more
As the popularity of sports betting continues to soar, an alarming trend is emerging – the addiction of political organizations and sports leagues to the revenue generated by these betting companies. Both the Australian Football League (AFL) and the National Rugby League (NRL) have been heavily reliant on the money they receive from sports betting, … Read more
The opioid crisis continues to evolve, and so must our approaches to combating it. With the face of this crisis changing, it is imperative that treatments catch up to meet the shifting needs of those affected. From prescription painkillers to illicit drugs like fentanyl, the opioid epidemic has devastated communities and claimed countless lives. However, … Read more
The ongoing opioid public health crisis was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In Canada, 5,148 apparent opioid toxicity deaths occurred between April 2020 and December 2020, representing an 89% increase from the same period in 2019. Similarly, in Australia, rates of self-reported non-fatal heroin overdose among those who regularly use stimulant drugs and regularly … Read more