News

Newcastle: Truck Driver Died from Synthetic Drug

08 July, 2014

truck driver died from synthetic drug A synthetic drug belonging to the group of new psychoactive substances or NPS and mimicking the effects of methamphetamines is being pointed as the cause of death of a trucker from Newcastle.

A synthetic drug known as “Smokin Slurry”

According to a report by ABC News, Glenn Punch, 44, died of cardiac arrest and cerebral oedema that are said to be brought on by a synthetic drug called Alpha PVP or ‘smokin slurry’. The drug, which he and his girlfriend bought on different occasions from an adult store called Nauti and Nice, was mixed with water before Punch injected it into his veins.

The effects of this synthetic drug were immediate, as Punch became highly agitated and very strong, according to a security guard who witnessed him scale a 2.5-metre security fence at a shipping yard. The guard also saw Punch foam at the mouth before losing consciousness.

NPS are illegal in Australia, yet no criminal charges have been filed in relation to this case.

To read the report in full, click here.

The Risk of New Psychoactive Substances to the Public

07 July, 2014

If you think crystal meth, Ecstasy, cocaine, LSD, cannabis, and other well-known illicit drugs are dangerous, a new set of substances referred to as new psychoactive substances or NPS are now hitting the market and posing an even bigger danger to those who give them a try. An article in the Australian Drug Foundation elaborates on this new drug threat and more.

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Drug Abuse and its Impact in the Workplace

03 July, 2014

drug abuse in the workplace There was a time when drug abuse was perceived by the general public as something that only rock stars, celebrities, and spoiled rich kids indulge in. Obviously, it wasn’t true then, and it isn’t true now. Drug abuse has always been present in almost all sectors of society, including the workplace. It is, in fact, one of the biggest concerns of many business organisations today. To prove this, let’s talk about drug abuse and its impact in the workplace.

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Can Prescription Drugs Cause Dangers at the Workplace?

02 July, 2014

prescription drugs at the workplace Much has been said about the dangers of illicit substances such as cocaine or heroin. But it is only now that prescription drugs are getting some attention because of cases where they cause harm to users.

Prescription drug addiction is the most underreported and least understood of all substance addictions, and is a growing problem that should be taken as seriously as cocaine or heroin addiction.
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Mobile Drug Testing Clinics for Mudgee and Bathurst

30 May, 2014

mobile drug testing clinics for Mudgee and Bathurst In order to provide service to more people in the mining Industry, Frontline Diagnostics is looking at providing mobile drug testing clinics to serve Mudgee and Bathurst. These clinics are seen as the solution to concerns of both business owners and employees who need nearby on-the-spot mobile testing clinics.

This plan just followed a recent step taken by Frontline Diagnostics of taking its drug testing clinics nearer to the mining industry of Boggabri. According to Michael White, the company is looking into the idea of opening mobile clinics to service its patrons.
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New Drug Testing Facility in Boggabri Opening

28 May, 2014

In order to cater to the local mining industry in the North West, Frontline Diagnostics is setting up a new drug testing clinic in Boggabri on Wednesday. This drug testing clinic will provide on the spot drug testing services to both businesses and individuals in the area. Frontline Diagnostics is one of the leading names in the work drug testing industry. The new clinic will employ five highly trained technicians.

Services offered by the drug testing clinic by Frontline Diagnostics include complete screening and testing with thorough results analysis and concise reporting. They also offer policy consulting, procedure development support for regulating alcohol and other drugs in the workplace and education workshops and training. The said clinic will also have a purpose-built mobile clinic to provide a safe, hygienic, and private area to screen and test employees.

Michael White, managing director of Frontline Diagnostics, said that the newly opened clinic will provide an important service to the local mining industry in the North West. He also added that although the clinic will mainly test mine site visitors such as tradesmen who might not have up to date drug testing certificates, it will also conduct tests on local mines as part of a normal ongoing drug test.

“If these tradesmen cannot be tested locally they cannot go on the site and have to travel back to Newcastle to get their certificate up to date.

“Mines can be dangerous workplaces at the best of times, but when employees are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the risk of accident, injury or worse can be dramatically increased,” he said.

Businesses in Boggabri will hopefully welcome this new drug testing facility with open arms as most workers are currently forced to travel to other areas like Newcastle in order to get their certificates “updated”.

Study Shows Cocaine Users have Increased Long Term Risk of Heart Attacks and Stroke

02 May, 2014

If you have ever wondered what other effect cocaine has on a user’s body, a study has just been published showing how cocaine increases the risk of heart attacks. According to the study, cocaine users have higher blood pressures and stiffer arteries which increases the long-term risk of heart attacks and stroke.

The study, conducted by the University of Sydney, analyses the chronic effect of the drug in people who consider themselves to be “social” users.

Click here to read the original article, as published in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Australian Crime Commission: Drug Use Reaching ‘Pandemic’ Proportions

01 May, 2014

A Growing Wave of Drug Use

In the words of Australian Drug Authorities: ” The growing multi-billion dollar trade of illicit drug use into and within Australia has reached “pandemic” proportions, destroying Australian lives at unprecedented rates.

To put this into perspective, Australian authorities claim that an illicit drug arrest is made every six minutes while a seizure is done every seven minutes. Over 2012 to 2013 alone, authorities seized over $2.7 billion worth of drugs according to an annual Australian Crime Commission Report.

Graham Aston, Victoria Police Commissioner, further added that the drugs that are being discovered and seized are just the “tip of the iceberg”.

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