The International journal on drug policy
November 1, 2021
Amy Peacock, Daisy Gibbs, Olivia Price et al.
12 citations
Over one-third of Australians who regularly use illegal stimulants reported testing their drugs' contents or purity, with 86% of those using a colorimetric reagent kit. Most testing occurred within 24 hours of planned use, and 24% tested for quantity. Among those testing a substance sold as MDMA, 87% detected MDMA. People who were younger, male, used new psychoactive substances, accessed community health services for drug reasons, sold drugs, or sought peer and online information were more likely to use drug checking. The findings suggest that in the absence of government-sanctioned services, people already engage in drug checking with suboptimal tools and without professional guidance.
Drug and alcohol review
September 1, 2024
Jessamine Soderstrom, Jodie Grigg, Owen Mcwilliam et al.
5 citations
Chronic nitrous oxide use inactivates vitamin B12, causing neurological and psychiatric damage. A case series from an Australian emergency department between 2019 and 2021 identified 22 patients, mostly young males (median age 22.4 years), who inhaled a median of 150 bulbs daily for 9 months. Common symptoms included ataxia, numbness, falls, urinary retention, and psychosis; 12 of 14 patients who underwent MRI had spinal cord degeneration. All received vitamin B12 injections, and many also oral methionine. Hospital stays lasted a median of 4 days, costing about $2,061 per day. The data prompted public health measures such as warning labels, purchase limits, and legal restrictions on sales intended for abuse.
Drug and alcohol review
November 1, 2025
Jodie Grigg, Simon Lenton, Amy Peacock et al.
From 2021 to 2023, Australians who regularly used ecstasy or other stimulants and also used nitrous oxide showed a rise in use of large cylinders (from 6% to 26%) and a rise in reported neurological symptoms (from 5% to 14%). Most respondents knew about brain or nerve damage risks, but only one in five identified vitamin B12 depletion as a risk, and 17% were unaware of any risks. One-third took no precautions. Sourcing from convenience stores and 24/7 delivery services was common and linked to heavier use. Fewer than five people received treatment for symptoms. The authors call for balanced regulation and education of retailers, clinicians, and consumers.