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Reefer Madness; the cult classic
How does an educational movie funded by a church group become a cult classic?
The misconception on Australian cocaine use
News.com.au reports, sensationally of course, that cocaine is 'rife among young Australians' at the moment, and it’s their 'party drug of...
Do sportspeople influence how much you drink?
It seems like every second week there’s a sports star or celebrity making in the media for making a spectacle of themselves on alcohol. So, what...
Call to pulp harm minimisation pamphlet
NSW's state opposition are calling for a pamphlet that provides young people with information on harm minimisation when taking drugs to be pulped.
To legalise, or not to legalise... that is the...
How many times have you heard people say: ‘drugs are illegal, therefore drugs must be bad, so don’t do drugs.’ Between The Lines weighs in on...
Mephedrone basics
Find out all the basics about mephedrone in this feature, including what it is, how it works, and how it affects your mental and physical health.
Is drug testing in schools ever justified?
Drug testing in schools is a controversial matter. Those against the tests argue that drug testing is an invasion of privacy and ineffective....
Cocaine basics
Find out all the basics about cocaine in this feature, including what it is, how it works, and how it affects your mental and physical health.
Who do some have a predilection to addiction?
Why do some who use drugs go on to develop an addiction, while others avoid the nasty side altogether?
Doing drugs in different ways
Shelving, smoking, shooting, snorting, swallowing, and many other words that don’t begin with ‘s.’ There are nearly as many different ways to...
Celebrity rehab: cliche or concerning?
Rehab is all the rage, and all the big names are in on the act. Britney’s done it. Lindsay’s done it. And a whole lot of other celebrities we...
Does ecstasy use lead to sperm damage?
Research recently conducted by the University of Barcelona has studied the effects of ecstasy on the reproductive behaviour and system of male rats.
We want you to have your say
Right now Between The Lines is preparing a submission for the Australian Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy consultation and we want to get YOUR...
Researching drugs on the internet
Most research suggests that the internet has become an important source of information about drugs, but putting all effort into online resources...
Legal highs to hit festivals 'big time'
There was an article in the Sunday Age a little while back that discussed the topic of legal drugs. It's a long article, but is definitely worth...
Car crash victims face blood tests
According to a recent article in The Age, for the past six months Victoria Police has been asking doctors and nurses in emergency departments to...
Is this the end of the 'war on drugs'?
After 40 years of defeat and failure, America's "war on drugs" is being buried in the same fashion as it was born - amid bloodshed, confusion,...
The link between wealth and drugs
No doubt the link between poverty and drug use has had its fair share of media attention. After all, when you think of a junkie do you picture a...
Smart drugs = unfair advantage?
A recent episode of the US version of '60 Minutes' investigated the use of prescription drugs in US colleges - particularly meds for ADHD (e.g....
Dogs being trained to detect GHB
The Daily Telegraph report that Victorian police are conducting an Australian-first trial training sniffer dogs to detect GHB.
Will the internet filter block drug info sites?
It’s certainly a political, moral and ethical hot potato; the government plans to introduce internet censorship over the next 12 months. What...
Poor sleep blamed for drug use
If you believe latest research you can forget everything you've heard about how drug use is the result of a complex mix of social and biological...
Why do people take drugs?
I have encountered several engaging debates about the role of drugs in the lives of individuals and society. Such debates open up questions about...
A look at drug testing on our roads
According to Professor Olaf Drummer of Monash University, there has been an increase in illicit drugs detected in dead drivers.
The risks in mixing energy drinks and alcohol
These days it seems that caffeine-rich energy drinks and alcohol are the new vodka and tonic. It’s no big deal, right?
Concern for UK steroid injectors
Over 2,300 steroid using bodybuilders have signed up with a needle syringe in Barnsley, UK, after the exchange was set up by health authorities to...
Victorian opposition pledge to ban the bong
The Victorian Liberal party has stated that they will ban the sale of bongs and any other marijuana smoking implements if they are elected in the...
Know the Signs; spot any of your mates here?
I came across the website knowthesigns.com recently, having stumbled across a video of someone drunkenly dancing at a wedding. The video is a promo...
What's your head got to do with it: drugs &...
The mental health and drug discussion for many years has mirrored that of the mystery of the chicken and the egg. “Am I feeling this way because...
Harm-free alcohol on the way?
The Times Online report that a UK drug expert is developing a drink that he claims will give a similar kick to spirits but without the harmful...
A look at Mephedrone /4-MMC
With a moral panic officially begun, Between The Lines asks the question: what exactly is mephedrone or 4-MMC?
articles Archive
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Cocaine basics
Find out all the basics about cocaine in this feature, including what it is, how it works, and how it affects your mental and physical health. More...
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Mephedrone basics
Find out all the basics about mephedrone in this feature, including what it is, how it works, and how it affects your mental and physical health. More...
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Poisonous drug or pharmaceutical benefit: Who decides?
Although drugs can be developed for beneficial medical reasons, some have harmful and dangerous effects. The use of potentially dangerous drugs is restricted or banned to promote public health and safety. But how's it decided? More...
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Working as an A&D worker
Working as an Alcohol and Drug worker over New Year at a festival has changed my opinions and views on what it means to attend festivals these days. More...
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Poor sleep leads to drug use
Research coming out of Idaho State University in thje U.S. has examined the interaction between sleep problems in children and the age at which young people started taking drugs. More...
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Government SMS alcohol ed. campaign targets footy players
Taxpayers will fork out $180,000 so that an SMS can be sent to 57,000 footballers, who are signed up to receive updated ladders via text message. More...
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Do sportspeople influence how much you drink?
It seems like every second week there’s a sports star or celebrity making in the media for making a spectacle of themselves on alcohol. So, what does the evidence say about whether or not sportspeople influence our own behaviour? More...
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Smart drugs = unfair advantage?
A recent episode of the US version of '60 Minutes' investigated the use of prescription drugs in US colleges - particularly meds for ADHD (e.g. Ritalin, Adderall). More...
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Hallucinogens: a depression treatment?
'The New York Times' report that there is an increasing interest by researchers to study hallucinogens' potential for treating mental health problems. More...
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Half of Big Day Out punters take drugs
In a result that straight from the 'well, der' file, almost half the punters aged 16 to 29 surveyed at the Big Day Out admitted to taking illicit drugs in the previous month. More...
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A look at Mephedrone /4-MMC
With a moral panic officially begun, Between The Lines asks the question: what exactly is mephedrone or 4-MMC? More...
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24% rise in NSW drug driving arrests
The Herald-Sun reports that 480 drivers tested positive for drugs in 2009 in New South Wales - up by 24 per cent on 2008 figures. More...
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Addictive personality types
Most of us have probably met someone who claims to have an ‘addictive personality’. Admittedly, I have always treated these declarations with suspicion. More...
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Should healthcare be offered to addicts?
In Australia it’s easy to take our health care system for granted. Even those who can’t afford private health insurance can get ready access to quality, cheap and - for the most part - prompt medical help. More...
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Telling your parents you party
We are living in a world where there is a fairly widespread acceptance that a zero-tolerance approach is not effective and that a harm minimisation approach to illicit drug use is the way to go. Research backs this up. More...
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Do sniffer dogs deter drug use
While many interpret the rise in ecstasy user arrests as evidence of increased popularity of the drug, it is also a likely consequence of increased policing, especially the use of drug detection dogs at music festivals and clubs. More...
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Queensland considers .02 driving limit
Queensland is considering lowering the blood alcohol limit from .05 to .02 in order to cut road toll. More...
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Harm-free alcohol on the way?
The Times Online report that a UK drug expert is developing a drink that he claims will give a similar kick to spirits but without the harmful effects. More...
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Dogs being trained to detect GHB
The Daily Telegraph report that Victorian police are conducting an Australian-first trial training sniffer dogs to detect GHB. More...