Drugs

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission has revealed Australia's use of cocaine, methylamphetamine and nicotine is on the up, but cannabis remains the illicit drug of choice.

If you've had concerns about a loved one's drug use and haven't known how to help them, you're not alone — new research shows most people don't know where to start.

Leigh is still grieving what happened to his dad, Maurice, and believes the treatment he received while in Tasmanian aged care facilities "shortened" his father's life. Advocates say it is not an isolated story and points to "bigger issues" in the sector.

Despite anecdotal information suggesting spiking is reasonably common, only seven people went to court charged with unlawful drink spiking in Queensland between July 2021 and May 2024.

Nitazenes are a new lethal drug that have been linked to mass overdoses and deaths in Australia. The synthetic opioid has authorities and health specialists on high alert, as it continues to appear in drugs ranging from heroin to cocaine and MDMA.

There are fears of more overdoses as nitazenes infiltrate Australia's underground drug supply, with occasional recreational drug users warned the synthetic opioid is being found in drugs like cocaine.

What started as after-work drinks on a Friday evening quickly turned into a nightmare when Jessica* arrived at a popular bar in central Brisbane.

The Gold Coast will host the state's second pill-testing clinic from July as the first of its kind in Brisbane is deemed a "success".

Ahead of new laws cracking down on vape sales coming into effect next week, police are investigating reports bikie gangs are using stand-over tactics on small businesses selling nicotine vapes.

An airport search found 28 grams of the drug ice on a man, hidden in toys and concealed in bags containing Lego, Tasmania Police allege.

Pill testing will be rolled out across 10 Victorian festivals this summer and a fixed site will be established in the city in a bid to decrease drug overdoses.

A synthetic opioid — which has been linked to a rise in overdose deaths overseas — has emerged on the illicit drug scene, with some experts warning it has the potential to be Australia's version of a "fentanyl crisis".

Victoria will trial pill testing of illicit drugs this summer, Premier Jacinta Allan has announced, saying it was "a common sense way to save lives".

While the desired effects of the party drug are euphoria, increased sociability and an increased sexual libido, the drug is extremely dose and tolerance dependent.

The illegal use of ketamine reached a record high in 2023 in Australia. But as ketamine rises in popularity, so too do new chemical cousins of the drug — and their long-term side effects are "an unknown, unknown".

The residents of Rainbow Lodge have committed multiple crimes and been in and out of prison for decades. For many, its program is their last chance to take responsibility for their actions and prove they're ready for the outside world – but one slip-up could land them back inside.

The AFP are warning importers of the date rape drug known as 'bute' will face heavy penalties after more than 4,000 litres of the substance have been seized in Sydney since a change in legislation in March made it a border-controlled drug.

Just 1 millilitre too much can trigger an overdose. We went to a music festival to learn how the "blowouts" hitting Australian hospitals start.

The coroner is examining the death of Jarrad Antonovich, who took part in a kambo ceremony at a festival in northern NSW in 2021.

After standing on a needle left in some grass, long-time resident Dave Lindsay wants to warn people about the increase of discarded drug paraphernalia in public spaces.

Canberra's drug-checking site issues a red community notice for N-pyrrolidino protonitazene after identifying the dangerous synthetic opioid in granular brown powder presented for testing. 

Ahead of the Northern Territory's biggest music festival Bass in the Grass, research shows party-goers want access to pill testing.

It's believed about 600,000 Australians inhale nitrous oxide but there are dangerous complications of misusing the gas — which can lead to paralysis, incontinence, and even death.

Many people deported to Tonga arrive with few connections to the country — a trend experts say is fuelling the country's drug problem. But a group of returnees are using their own experiences to help others find their feet in the Pacific country.

Unregulated psychedelic medicines and therapies have been thrust into the spotlight, following the death of a woman at an alternative wellness centre in country Victoria,