Category: Australia

Pain killers depression

Could pain killers be jeopardising your happiness

Articles, Australia

Research links long-term opioid use with depression 

New research published online in the Annals of Family Medicine on January 11, 2016 suggests opioid use may cause short-term improvement in mood, but long-term use for more than 30 days increases the risk of new-onset depression.

Prescription opioids, such as codeine, morphine and hydrocodone, relieve pain by reducing the pain signals sent to the brain, thereby controlling an individual’s emotional response to this natural feeling of discomfort. Continue reading “Could pain killers be jeopardising your happiness” →

GHB Profile drugs

GHB Drug – Beware that Strength and Effect Vary Greatly

Articles, Australia, Education, International

The popularity of the GHB drug has grown considerably over the last decade. Many clubbers take it as an alternative to ‘E’, indeed in many circles it is known as Liquid E. A more worrying aspect is its increasing use as a ‘date rape drug’.

Let’s take a look at what it is, what it can do and why you should be wary. Continue reading “GHB Drug – Beware that Strength and Effect Vary Greatly” →

Alcohol and violence

True or false – alcohol plays no role in violence

Articles, Australia, International

Alcohol consumption has been linked to many things, including abusive texts, hangovers, slurred words, loss of vision and most importantly, violence. However, academics are vigorously questioning claims published in a 2015 scientific report, citing the link between alcohol and violence.

In January, 2015, British Anthropologist, Anne Fox, and her research team published a report entitled, Understanding behaviour in the Australian and New Zealand night-time economies. Commissioned by Australian brewery, Lion, the research concluded drinking does not cause violence, but rather, a violent culture causes violence.

In a report by the ABC on March 5, 2015, Fox cited alcohol as a substance does not transform someone’s character and make them act in a violent nature.

“Alcohol – as all of the scientific literature shows, which we’ve reviewed very extensively in the report – cannot be considered a cause of violence. If it was, we’d see uniform levels of violence among all drinkers,” said Fox.

In a very recent report published by the New Zealand Herald on January 13, 2016, researchers Nicki Jackson from Auckland University and Professor Kypros Kypri from the University of Newcastle and Otago, argued Fox’s report lacks sound credibility to exist as independent academic research, and that Dr Fox underplays the role of alcohol in violence.Fox’s research has witnessed further challenge by the recent debate regarding national alcohol laws, following the death of 18-year-old Cole Miller on January 3, 2016 in Brisbane – the third Australian in four years to have succumbed to an alcohol-induced, one-punch attack.

As mentioned in an article published by the Sydney Morning Herald on January 12, 2015 after the implementation of lock-out laws in Sydney’s historically violent Kings Cross, 2014 saw a 40 per cent drop in alcohol-related assaults at licensed premises, demonstrating a clear link between alcohol and violence and the benefits of regulating access to the substance.

Fox’s report is also in stark contrast to long-standing research citing alcohol does contribute to violence. According to The National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) published in 2013, approximately 5 million Australians aged 14 and above had fallen victim to an alcohol-related incident, the majority of which involved verbal abuse (22 per cent), while the number of individuals experiencing physical abuse between 2010 and 2013, rose from 1.5 million to 1.7 million.

Given the academic sceptics, a long-standing history of evidence, and the obvious relevance of alcohol-induced harm, Fox’s research seems erroneous. Perhaps Fox and her team should seriously consider conducting any further “independent” research funded by breweries. We welcome your thoughts.

Drugs at music festival

Drug offences during New Year’s Day Dance Festival

Articles, Australia, Education

On New Year’s Day, 2016, 184 revellers at a Sydney dance music festival were arrested by Police due to illicit drug offences, including eight revellers charged with drug supply.

Dubbed operation ‘Fuzzy Field Day 2016’, Police targeted anti-social behaviour, alcohol-related crime, and illegal drug use and supply, both inside and outside the venue, with assistance from drug detection sniffer dogs.

As part of the arrests, a 26-year-old female, and a 19-year-old male were both charged with supplying MDMA (ecstasy) pills, possessing 100 and 81 capsules respectively.

Unfortunately, Australian music festivals are becoming more and more synonymous with drug abuse, overdose and supply of illicit substances. Sydney’s Field Day was no different, with more than 200 revellers receiving medical treatment at the event, while one 23-year-old woman overdosed, and spent several days recovering in hospital.

Addressing reporters the morning after the event, Chief Inspector Stuart Bell expressed his confusion and anger regarding event attendees believing they can get away with using and supplying illicit drugs, despite its illegality.

“People continue to come to these events and take drugs, and we will continue to police these drugs, and we’ll hopefully detect you and arrest you,” said Chief Inspector Bell.

Without proper protocol in place, many addicted people or those fighting an addiction can become enmeshed in situations like music festivals where drug use is rampant, resulting in relapse, and sometimes, overdose.

DARA Thailand uses a variety of methods, namely its Integrated Behavioural Treatment Model (IBTM), to treat a plethora of addictions for four, eight and 12 weeks respectively, located in tropical Koh Chang. Importantly, DARA’s treatment program has a high completion rate of 92 per cent.

Furthermore, DARA Thailand is committed to educating its clientele about how best to fight one’s addiction post-treatment at its rehab facility, by equipping them with tools and support to continue their journey to recovery.

If you, or someone you know and/or love, is battling an addiction and requires help, or more information, please contact DARA Thailand on +66 87 140 7788 or email info@dararehab.com.