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Tag: News About Drugs Archives

Illegal Drugs in Australia are Booming

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The Reserve Bank of Australia is worrying about the sluggish economy and slowing levels of consumption of Australian citizens.

But there is one thing that Australians are spending a lot on…and that’s illegal drugs.

Banknote spending on illegal drugs in Australia

An RBA investigation into the use of Australia’s banknotes shed light on the illicit drugs purchasing habits of Australians.

The illicit drugs market has been running well. Citizens spent $13.5 billion on illegal drugs in Australia over a 12 month period ending August 2017.

An estimated two percent of the country’s banknotes actually go into spending for illicit drugs.

Methamphetamine and cannabis account for over 70 percent of purchases of illegal drugs in Australia. 

Moreover, researchers calculated that the stock of actual notes used in drug purchases was a little over $1 billion. Taking into account how the same note tends to change hands.

Furthermore, the study reveals Australian drug users’ preference for 50 dollar notes and face-to-face transactions.

Wastewater analysis

As per the latest findings of the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, here are the illegal drugs in Australia according to popularity:

  1. Methamphetamine ( meth or ice )
  2. Cannabis
  3. Cocaine
  4. MDMA (ecstasy)
  5. Heroin

The report traced the presence of a dozen illegal and legal drugs in 45 sites across Australia, which covers 50 percent of the population or approximately 12.8 million Australians.

The study tracks usage in October of last year and again in December.

The goal of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission is to determine the extent of the demand and the location of illegal drugs in Australia.

Regional and metropolitan drug preference

According to the Federal Minister for Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity Angus Taylor, “We now know about 8.4 tonnes of ice, of methamphetamine, is consumed in Australia this year. This continues to be a significant problem because it was minimal only a few short years ago.”

Cocaine continues to be a bigger problem in cities. In the same way that methamphetamine is in regional areas.

Wastewater analysis results show that methamphetamine or ice is popular in Adelaide, Perth, and Queensland, while cocaine is the preference of people from Sydney and New South Wales. 

Protect your business and employees from illicit drugs in Australia

With recent studies pointing to the worsening drug epidemic in Australia, the chances of a drug-related incident occurring in your workplace are increasing. 

There has never been a better time to implement a drug and alcohol workplace policy. And the best policies include employee drug testing. 

As an employer, you are legally bound to provide a safe workplace for your employees.

If you need help with building a workplace drug and alcohol policy, feel free to reach out to us. Our Drug-Safe team will help you maintain a drug-safe workplace.

Drugs are more dangerous than you think

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pill testing of dangerous drugs

The “just say no” campaign of the Australian government against drugs has clearly failed.

With the recent deaths of a 21-year-old and 23-year-old partygoer in Melbourne, hundreds took to social media to bemoan the government’s lack of an effective drug strategy.

In a report by Shireen Khalil of News.com., Australians are clamoring for a new actionable solution.

The Premier himself has considered banning the festivals. However, the first pill testing trial at a festival last year showed promising results.

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Why Testing for Ice Drug Abuse Is Critical For Your Company Now

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drug testing ice drug abuse

Out of all illicit drugs, it is ice (also known as crystal meth), that has the biggest impact on workers, their families, and society.

It is a cause for such great concern that the Queensland state government is investing $5.4 million towards helping families break the cycle of ice addiction.

This highlights the problem of ice in what may seem a part of the population. What it does not show is the severity of ice in the workplace.

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The Effects Of Ice

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effects of ice drugs

Australia is the world’s highest consumer of illicit recreational drugs. It is not a reputation to be proud of.

One reason why we’ve won “the gold medal” in drug use is down to the explosive increase in the availability and consumption of Ice.

The National Drug Survey revealed that approximately half of all methamphetamine users consume Ice and the number of people on Ice has doubled.

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Creative Smuggling Part 2

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drugs smuggling gimmick

It appears that Drug-Safe Communities was a few days too early in running our article about the creative ways that drug smugglers attempt to get their illicit goods into the country. Today, the big news is that our border protection authorities intercepted drugs concealed inside…highlighter pens. That’s right! Highlighter pens. Twenty one thousand of them to be exact.
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Smuggling Tricks Uncovered

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drugs smuggling tricks

The recent announcements by authorities of drug busts involving prefabricated steel and honey jars shows just how determined drug smugglers are to bring illicit drugs into Australia.

Two Iranian nationals were arrested in relation to bringing 10 kilograms of methamphetine hidden inside honey jars on an international flight.

Meanwhile, several Australians have been detained in Serbia in relation to the discovery of 1.28 tonnes of cocaine in a Chinese freighter that had sailed from China to Sydney. The drug was concealed inside prefabricated steel and had a street value of more than $500 million.
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