Beyond ice: rethinking Australia's approach to illicit drugs

Illicit i.v. drugs. A public health approach.

This article explores, from a public health perspective, the harm done by Canadian drug laws, to both individuals and society. It challenges the perceived dichotomy of legalization and criminalization of intravenous drugs. The article then expands the discussion by exploring eight legal options for illicit drugs and examines how these options interact with the marginalization of users, the illi...

Illicit drugs and seizures

The use of recreational illicit drugs and other psychoactive substances has become commonplace, particularly among teenagers1. It is therefore surprising how little is known of their long-term psychological and cognitive effects, their influence on specific neurological conditions such as epilepsy, and their interaction with antiepileptic medications. Their use is sufficiently widespread for ma...

Illicit drugs: What dermatologists need to know.

We review the most common systemic and cutaneous signs of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy, and marijuana use. We also provide an overview of the skin and soft-tissue infections frequently found in intravenous drug users and the effects of the adulterants added to the drugs.

Illicit drugs: effective prevention requires a health promotion approach.

Illicit drugs in the environment.

This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on illicit drugs as emerging environmental contaminants. Several studies have recently reported that illicit drugs are detectable in wastewater from municipal sewage treatment plants (STPs) and surface waters. These substances are excreted in urine and faeces unchanged or as active metabolites in high percentages after consumption and continuous...