Harm reduction journal
February 6, 2026
Keaton Hudson-Buhagiar, Jonathan Brett, Alanah Spillane et al.
1 citation
Among heterosexual Australians who use GHB, three patterns of use—occasional, regular, or daily—emerged. Four key themes were identified: escapism (managing mental health symptoms, enhancing confidence, facilitating sex, and alleviating body consciousness in women); diverse understandings of overdose, including intentional dosing to achieve unconsciousness and misconceptions about using stimulants to counter toxicity, with fear of police delaying help-seeking; stigma from both drug-using and non-using peers; and gendered harm reduction practices where women protect each other from harms, especially sexual violence. Findings point to gaps in public health education on overdose management and intentional risk-taking.
BMJ open
February 10, 2025
Kathryn Fletcher, Nadine Ezard, Krista J Siefried et al.
1 citation
A pilot study will test the safety and feasibility of combining subanaesthetic ketamine with cognitive behavioural therapy for adults with methamphetamine use disorder. Twenty participants seeking to reduce or stop methamphetamine use will receive three subcutaneous ketamine doses (0.75 to 0.9 mg/kg) at weekly intervals and four therapy sessions over four weeks. The study will measure recruitment time, eligibility rates, treatment completion, retention, and acceptability over eight weeks, and explore changes in methamphetamine use, cravings, withdrawal, quality of life, and treatment satisfaction over 24 weeks. No pharmacological treatments currently exist for this condition, and psychotherapy alone is only moderately effective.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
June 24, 2026
Kathryn Fletcher, Nadine Ezard, Krista J. Siefried et al.
People with methamphetamine use disorder who underwent ketamine-assisted psychotherapy described the treatment as a multi-stage process rather than a simple drug effect. Participants reported that ketamine created a temporary state of reduced emotional and cognitive reactivity, which they called 'psychological space,' making them more receptive to psychotherapy. However, behavioral changes—including reduced methamphetamine use—were variable and depended on ongoing therapeutic engagement, personal motivation, and life context. Participants were uncertain whether improvements came from the ketamine, the therapy, or the supportive environment. Acceptability was generally high when treatment occurred in a structured clinical setting.
Drug and alcohol review
March 1, 2026
Jack Freestone, Harriet MacDonald, Stassi Kypri et al.
Drug alerts in Australia are triggered when MDMA pills contain at least 150 mg of free-base MDMA, a threshold experts consider reasonable despite its limitations. Nineteen such alerts were issued in 2024, raising concerns about diminishing impact. Fifteen experts who design and disseminate drug alerts completed a survey, and seven participated in a focus group. Most agreed 150 mg is a reasonable threshold because it enables rapid communication and addresses potential harm, though thresholds cannot account for evolving manufacturing or consumption trends. Limited capacity to monitor community perceptions means there is little evidence to justify changing the threshold. Notifying communities about high-dose MDMA remains a harm-reduction priority; improving monitoring and establishing a dosage database could enhance future risk communication.