Tag: drug safety
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Public Servant Speaks Out as Queensland Pill-Testing Program Is Rolled Back
Background: Queensland’s Pill-Testing Program and its Unwinding In recent years, several Australian jurisdictions piloted pill-testing or drug-checking programs as harm-reduction measures, aiming to reduce overdoses and provide safer outcomes for festival-goers and other communities. Queensland, where a fledgling pill-testing initiative gained attention for its potential to inform users about the contents of substances, has seen…
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Senior public servant voices alarm as Queensland scraps pill testing
Introduction: a clash over harm minimization Queensland’s government has moved to unwind its fledgling pill testing program, a decision that has drawn strong rebuke from a senior public servant who helped launch Australia’s first trials. The former health official, who oversaw the early rollout of the program, described the government’s ban as “absolutely staggering,” arguing…
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Senior Public Servant Slams Queensland’s Pill Testing Ban as “Absolutely Staggering”
Alarming Reversal in Queensland’s Health Policy A veteran public servant who helped pilot Australia’s first pill testing programs has condemned the Crisafulli government’s move to unwind Queensland’s fledgling harm-reduction scheme. The former senior official described the ban as “absolutely staggering,” arguing that it undermines decades of public health work aimed at reducing drug-related harm and…
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Paediatric ADHD Meds: Why Australia Urges Child-Friendly Formulations to Prevent Poisonings
Why Paediatric ADHD Formulations Matter Concerns around ADHD medications have surged as data reveals a troubling rise in pediatric poisonings linked to adult ADHD tablets being split for children. In the last decade, cases have quadrupled, drawing attention to a gap between available medicines and the specific needs of younger patients. Experts say that withholding…
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UK crime gangs shift to branded weight-loss drugs, posing public health risk
In a disturbing development for public health, UK authorities say organised crime gangs are moving into the manufacture of branded weight-loss drugs that closely resemble legitimate medicines. The move, described by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as a growing threat, combines counterfeit chemistry with sophisticated branding to lure unsuspecting consumers. Officials warn…
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UK Crime Gangs Move Into Branded Weight-Loss Drugs, Raising Public Health Alarm
Overview: A growing threat to public health Authorities in the United Kingdom have issued a stark warning: organised crime groups are increasingly manufacturing their own branded weight-loss drugs and distributing them as if they were legitimate medicines. The emergence of this homegrown illicit supply chain raises serious concerns about safety, efficacy and the broader risks…
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Public Health Sudbury Issues Urgent Drug Alert Over Heavier Sedation in Local Overdoses
Public Health Sudbury Issues Urgent Drug Alert Over Heavier Sedation in Local Overdoses Public Health Sudbury and Districts, in collaboration with Sudbury’s Community Drug Strategy, has issued a warning to residents about a troubling trend: recent drug poisonings in the Sudbury area have involved heavier levels of sedation, and authorities are uncertain why this shift…
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MedSafetyWeek 2024: MHRA Urges Public to Report Side Effects and Suspected Fake Medicines
What is MedSafetyWeek and why it matters MedSafetyWeek is an international initiative now in its tenth year, uniting more than 130 medicines regulators and health organisations across 117 countries. The campaign emphasizes the importance of public participation in pharmacovigilance: reporting suspected side effects from medicines and incidents involving medical devices. When people share experiences with…
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MHRA Urges Public to Report Medicine Side Effects and Suspect Counterfeits During MedSafetyWeek
Overview: MedSafetyWeek Spotlight on Medicines Safety As the tenth annual MedSafetyWeek kicks off, regulatory bodies and health organisations from more than 130 regulators across 117 countries unite to emphasise a simple, powerful idea: report safety concerns about medicines and medical devices. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom is joining…
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MedSafetyWeek 2025: MHRA Urges Public to Report Side Effects and Suspected Fakes
Why MedSafetyWeek Matters The tenth annual MedSafetyWeek mobilizes regulators, health organisations, and the public in a joint effort to safeguard medicine use worldwide. Coordinated by more than 130 medicines regulators and health bodies across 117 countries, the campaign emphasizes the critical role citizens play in pharmacovigilance. By reporting unexpected side effects and concerns about medicines…