Substance‐related disorders

An alternative to benzodiazepines offers a less invasive and safer approach to the management of withdrawal

Emma MY Tay · Robert I Graham · Richard O Day

Cultivation of cannabis for medicinal or scientific purposes needs considered management before it is rolled out as a therapeutic good

Jennifer H Martin MB ChB, FRACP, PhD · Yvonne A Bonomo FRACP, PhD, FAChAM

Clinicians can play a key role in working with legal authorities to monitor and assist regulation of firearm access, especially among high-risk populations

Michael J Dudley AM, MB BS, FRANZCP · Alan Rosen AO, FRANZCP, DPM · Philip A Alpers · Rebecca Peters BA, LLB

Alcohol tax reform would reduce harm and costs — and could fund major prevention and treatment programs

Mike Daube BA(Hons), HonDSci · Julia Stafford BPsych(Hons)

Increasing the minimum purchasing age may be the most straightforward way towards a tobacco-free generation

Roger S Magnusson BA LLB(Hons), PhD, GradDipManagingDevelopment

There is no cause to feel impotent, despite disturbing media reports about methamphetamine

Margaret Hamilton BA, DipSocStuds, MSW · Adrian J Dunlop MB BS, PhD, FAChAM

We need more resources that are better spent

Alison Ritter PhD, MA(ClinPsych), BA(Hons) · Mark Stoove PhD, GradDip(Ed), BAppSc(Hons)

Careful assessment and universal precautions are necessary

Adrian J Dunlop PhD, GradDipEpiBiostat, FAChAM · Louise K Newman BA(Hons), MB BS(Hons), FRANZCP

How can we respond more effectively?

Ian W Webster AO, MD, FRACP

Updated advice to be given by Triple Zero call-takers is being developed

Amy Kirwan BA(Hons), MSocSci, MSW · Michael Curtis BA, BSW(Hons) · Ingrid A van Beek MBA, FAFPHM, FAChAM · Kate Cantwell MEpi, PhD · Paul M Dietze PhD

Drug checking may need to play a part in future public health interventions

Robin J Butterfield MB BS, MRCA · Monica J Barratt BSc(Psych)(Hons), PhD · Nadine Ezard MB BS, PhD, FAChAM · Richard O Day MB BS (Hons), MD, FRACP

The TGA has changed naloxone scheduling to make it available over the counter

Simon R Lenton PhD, MPsych(Clin), BPsych · Paul M Dietze PhD · Marianne Jauncey BMed, MPH(Hons), FAFPHM

To be effective, a [monitoring program] must collect… prescription data, and flag potential misuse and diversion

Rowan P Ogeil PhD, BA, BSc(Hons) · Cherie Heilbronn MB BS, MPH · Belinda Lloyd PhD, BA(Hons) · Dan I Lubman PhD, FRANZCP, FAChAM

Methamphetamine use among this adolescent population has increased substantially

Sally Nathan PhD, MPH, BSc(Psych)(Hons) · Anna Bethmont BA(Psych)(Hons), MPH · Patrick R Rawstorne BA(Hons), PhD · Mark Ferry BA(Psych) · Andrew Hayen PhD

Wastewater analysis shows significant increases in methamphetamine use

Foon Yin Lai PhD · Jake O'Brien BSc(Hons) · Phong K Thai PhD · Wayne D Hall PhD, BSc · Jochen Mueller PhD

The need for health services for people with problems related to methamphetamine use is increasing

Louisa Degenhardt PhD, MPsych(Clin) · Sarah Larney PhD · Gary Chan PhD, MSc · Timothy Dobbins PhD · Megan Weier BPsycSci(Hon) · Amanda Roxburgh BA(Psych)(Hons), MCrim, MPsychol(Clin) · Wayne D Hall PhD, BSc · Rebecca McKetin PhD

There was a dramatic increase in intentional exposures to ADHD medications between 2004 and 2014

Rose Cairns PhD, BPharm(Hons) · Benjamin Daniels MA, BSc · Danielle A Wood MB BS, FACEM · Jonathan Brett MB BS(Hons), FRACP, FAChAM

Verbal and physical aggression affects the care of other patients, as well as staff wellbeing

Diana Egerton-Warburton MB BS, FACEM, MPH · Andrew Gosbell PhD · Angela Wadsworth BA(Hons) · Katie Moore BSocSc(Hons), BSc(Hons) · Drew B Richardson BMedSc, MB BS(Hons), FACEM · Daniel M Fatovich MB BS, FACEM, PhD

The study confirms previous international research documenting the association between frequent attendance and homelessness

Simon Quilty FRACP, MPhilPH, MB BS · Geordan Shannon BMed, MPH, DRANZCOG · Anthony Yao MB BS, BMedSc(Hons) · William Sargent MB ChB, FACEM, FCEM(UK) · Michael F McVeigh MB BS

Electronic cigarettes have the potential to enable substantial improvements in public health

Colin P Mendelsohn MB BS(Hons)

Most reports occur when there is an impediment to mutually managing the risks posed by the reported practitioner

Marie M Bismark MD, LLB, FAFPHM · Matthew J Spittal PhD, MBio · Jennifer M Morris BA, BSci, GDSciComm · David M Studdert LLB, ScD, MPH

Many professional bodies have policies on alcohol consumption, but we could find none — including the RACP, RACS and RACGP — with policies on giving alcohol as gifts

R John H Massie MB BS, FRACP, PhD · A Rob Moodie MB BS, MPH