📢Illicit Alcohol in Victorian Off-Licence Retailers: A Preliminary Observational Study Michala Kowalski, Michael Livingston, Jodie Grigg, Amy Peacock, Christopher May, Jessamine Soderstrom, Nic Taylor https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.70167 Curtin University

ANNOUNCEMENT: We’ve released a National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) update with information on additional rounds of 2 existing schemes in 2026. Read more: www.arc.gov.au/news-and-pub...

New collab in @deppjournal.bsky.social, Lead: Mostafa Finding show we need targeted, age-appropriate harm reduction and alternative service delivery models. @jasonferris22.bsky.social @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social et al. @uqchsr.bsky.social @cretobacco.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/0968...

Needle service provider trends for image and performance enhancing drugs in Queensland, Australia 2016–2023

Image and performance-enhancing drug (IPED) use is an emerging health concern in Australia, particularly within needle and syringe programs (NSPs). This study examined trends in IPED equipment acce...

doi.org

Gang! I've still got approx 10 bird calendars left to sell, raising money for good causes as always and prices marked down to $25! You too could be this happy next year!!! birdmichaelbirdcalendars.bigcartel.com

A co-designed health conversation tool for AAS harm reduction. @jasonferris22.bsky.social @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social @monicabarratt.bsky.social @emilystockings.bsky.social + many others. @uqchsr.bsky.social @griffithcmh.bsky.social @matildacentreusyd.bsky.social doi.org/10.1186/s129...

Co-producing a peer-led health conversation tool for the health services workforce to facilitate safer use of anabolic–androgenic steroids - Harm Reduction Journal

Background Illicit anabolic–androgenic steroid (AAS) use poses physical and psychosocial risks. These issues are exacerbated by inadequate public health responses and well-meaning yet inadequately tra...

doi.org

New #GDS2024 collab led by superstar Etienne. Healthcare access issues + not testing steroids linked to higher rates of harm. This is why services like #ROIDCheck are so critical! 👉 authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...

🆕Clinician's Corner: “It’d be nice to know if you’re about to have drain cleaner”: A qualitative study of preferred drug checking service features to inform the design of CheQpoint, Qld’s first fixed-site drug checking service onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1465... @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social

ARC says Discovery Projects outcomes will be tomorrow (Tuesday). Linkage Projects (2025, round 1) on Wed. Over past ~year, it's often been at about 11am (Canberra). My bot will pick up the change to RMS & post immediately. ARC should email outcomes to lead CIs, but might take an 1hr or so for DPs

Dropping #TobaccoTax will not reduce #IllicitTrade. Empowering States and Territories to swiftly shut down retailers engaging in illicit tobacco trade is likely to be far more effective. @coralgartner.bsky.social @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social theconversation.com/queensland-l...

Queensland landlords could soon face jail for ignoring illegal tobacco. What are other states doing?

South Australian landlords who turn a blind eye on illegal tobacco can now be fined, while Queensland is proposing bigger fines and even a year in jail.

theconversation.com

1st collab #GDS2024 #steroid paper led by Ben ft. @jasonferris22.bsky.social @monicabarratt.bsky.social @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social @proflaurenball.bsky.social @dremmadavies.bsky.social ++++ @griffithcmh.bsky.social @uqchsr.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.pe...

New #Australian trial shows nicotine #vaping was more effective than conventional nicotine replacement for #smokingcessation in low social advantage group. Verified 6-month continuous abstinence 9.6% in NRT vs 28.4% in vaping; >99% post prob vaping superiority. www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/...

In @springernature.com - Wave 2 World 1st Trial - @jasonferris22.bsky.social @monicabarratt.bsky.social @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social + team. ~50% of all steroids were mislabelled. Follow-ups show that testing changed behaviour. @griffithcmh.bsky.social @uqchsr.bsky.social doi.org/10.1186/s129...

Anabolic-androgenic steroid testing as a tool for consumer engagement and harm reduction: a sequential explanatory mixed-method study - Harm Reduction Journal

Introduction Anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use is widespread, yet regulation remains limited, exposing consumers to misidentified and contaminated products. This study expands AAS testing by enhan...

doi.org

New Steroid Modules for Health Workers part of a full training package—incl. resources, videos & tools. ▶️ Intro: youtu.be/7Qwmy_n7bMU ▶️ Engagement: youtu.be/3vIIi4ytgHs 🔗 Full package: hi-ground.org @griffithcmh.bsky.social @uqchsr.bsky.social @aivl.bsky.social

A Qualitative Study of Preferred Drug Checking Service Features to Inform the Design of #CheQpoint, Queensland's First Fixed-Site #DrugChecking Service @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social Nina Pocuca, Brodie C. Dakin, @monicabarratt.bsky.social et al onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

New collab w. @griffithcmh.bsky.social @uqchsr.bsky.social @latrobeuni.bsky.social QuIVAA. We spoke with 30 PWUDs in QLD to understand their experiences with the new Drug Diversion Program. Many found support — but gaps remain in access and cultural safety. doi.org/10.1177/0022...

Understanding Drug and Alcohol Staff Perspectives on the Barriers and Facilitators to Drug Checking: A Qualitative Study Nina Pocuca, Brodie C. Dakin, @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social, Cameron Francis, Daniel Stjepanović, Anthony Barnett, Leanne Hides onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Our new post on the Conversation suggesting how Aotearoa could learn from (and possibly extend) Australia's new tobacco control measures: theconversation.com/australias-i...

Australia’s innovative new policies are designed to cut smoking rates – here are 6 ideas NZ could borrow

New Zealand seems unlikely to reach its stated goal of cutting smoking prevalence to 5% or less across all population groups.

theconversation.com

Tobacco retailing regulations in Australia should be strengthened to protect children from tobacco marketing and de-normalise tobacco products. 🚭 ➡️ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... @coralgartner.bsky.social @kyliemorphett.bsky.social @tessjr.bsky.social @apsad-dar.bsky.social

Protecting children from tobacco products in retail environments: A review of Australian tobacco control laws

Issues Tobacco retailing remains highly prevalent in Australia and so represents a potential source of exposure to tobacco marketing for children, despite national laws that restrict tobacco adverti...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

How are non-alcoholic beers, wines and spirits made — and how healthy are they? www.abc.net.au/news/science...

NoLo drinks offer a booze alternative. So, what's in them?

NoLo alcohol is becoming popular and may help some higher risk drinkers quit booze, according to a new study. So what's involved in making these drinks, and how healthy are they?

abc.net.au

New in @apsad-dar.bsky.social The first Oz steroid community drug alert! Contaminated oxandrolone was detected in our steroid checking trial, prompting a public notice. @ivolpe.bsky.social @monicabarratt.bsky.social @jasonferris22.bsky.social @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social doi.org/10.1111/dar....

Development, dissemination and community response towards the first community notice regarding misrepresented illicit anabolic‐androgenic steroids in circulation in Australia

Introduction Drug alerts aimed at both people who use drugs and health workers help to prevent acute harms from unpredictable illicit drug markets and by equipping health workers to handle unusual d...

doi.org

🔓Development, dissemination & community response to 1st community notice on misrepresented illicit steroids in circulation in Australia @piatkowskitim.bsky.social @ivolpe.bsky.social @monicabarratt.bsky.social @cresswell-sl.bsky.social @karenblakey.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

And then this paper describes the results of the world's first steroid testing trial conducted right here in Queensland, led by the incredible Tim @piatkowskitim.bsky.social in partnership with The Loop Australia and the others.

Tim Piatkowski@piatkowskitim.bsky.social · last yr.

World 1st Steroid Testing Trial in @addictionjournal.bsky.social w. amazing team some who are here: @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social @jasonferris22.bsky.social @monicabarratt.bsky.social @griffith.edu.au @griffithcmh.bsky.social @uqchsr.bsky.social @livuniresearch.bsky.social doi.org/10.1111/add....

Barriers to the use of no&low alcohol products in high-risk drinkers @dremmadavies.bsky.social @ppermanhowe.bsky.social Jennifer Seddon @piatkowskitim.bsky.social @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social @monicabarratt.bsky.social Adam Winstock @jasonferris22.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

It's such a privilege to work with the amazing @piatkowskitim.bsky.social and the rest of the team on this world-first research on steroid drug checking. This paper describes the development and dissemination of Australia's first public alert about a contaminated steroid sample.

Tim Piatkowski@piatkowskitim.bsky.social · last yr.

New in @apsad-dar.bsky.social The first Oz steroid community drug alert! Contaminated oxandrolone was detected in our steroid checking trial, prompting a public notice. @ivolpe.bsky.social @monicabarratt.bsky.social @jasonferris22.bsky.social @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social doi.org/10.1111/dar....

World 1st Steroid Testing Trial in @addictionjournal.bsky.social w. amazing team some who are here: @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social @jasonferris22.bsky.social @monicabarratt.bsky.social @griffith.edu.au @griffithcmh.bsky.social @uqchsr.bsky.social @livuniresearch.bsky.social doi.org/10.1111/add....

The world's first anabolic‐androgenic steroid testing trial: A two‐phase pilot combining chemical analysis, results dissemination and community feedback

Background and Aims The clandestine production and distribution of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) poses health risks due to the uncertainty of their contents. This study aimed to test the chemic...

doi.org

My amazing collaborators and supporters @jasonferris22.bsky.social @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social @monicabarratt.bsky.social @uqchsr.bsky.social @aivl.bsky.social + many more not here :) See for World first steroid checking trial results and harm reduction advice: hi-ground.org/resources/st...

With recent media abt recreational #ketamine use it's timely to promote our latest article in Journal of Psychopharmacology lead: Karen Barrios #Collab with: Dean Connolly, Larissa Maier, @monicabarratt.bsky.social Adam Winstock @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social Gail Gilchrist doi.org/10.1177/0269...

For my first ever Bluesky post (hi everyone!) I'd like to share our new study, led by our fabulous PhD student @isabelmeciar.bsky.social, with co-authors @coralgartner.bsky.social and Michael King, published in @ntrjournal.bsky.social. academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-...

A Content Analysis of Illicit Tobacco-Related Crimes Reported in Australian Media

AbstractIntroduction. Australian survey and seizure data suggest a growing illicit tobacco market. As an illicit product, accurately tracking trends in ill

academic.oup.com