In this week’s News From The Drug War Front: Local news… Locally, a raid has uncovered and “enormously destabilised” what police claim is the “largest illegal controlled prescription drug network” in ACT history. Nationally, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have put out a press release putting transnational serious organised crime (TSOC) on notice after a number of attempted drug drops at sea. Four people were hospitalised due to “drug issues’ after attending a Sydney dance music festival. Meanwhile, the recently elected New South Wales Labor government continues to remain silent about any drug law reforms that could save the lives of young people. In International news, we have reports from Uruguay and Chile. Along with global news stories and discussion we will be talking about the need to consider ways of ending the disastrous policy of modern prohibition. The show is co-presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson. (Our apologies for any breaks in the broadcast; there were some ‘technical issues’ in the studio on the day.)

No summary available this week.

In this week’s News From The Drug War Front: Locally… A New South Wales Health Alert has warned of powerful synthetic opioids called nitazenes  that was found  in illicit vape juice containers. Internationally… In the US, the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Nora Volkow has called an abstinence only approach “catastrophic” for the OD crisis.South Africa is poised to break from apartheid-era cannabis prohibition.A brilliant 2-part report “Taxcast -Drug War Myths” printed in “New Internationalist: magazine, and posted on their website November 24 has been posted on the “News from the Drug War Front” Facebook page.Efforts to have the ICC continue its investigation of the former President Rodrigo Duterte regarding mass extra judicial killing of drug users. The show is co-presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson.

In this week’s News From The Drug War Front: Locally… ‘Dangers of illicit vapes causing harm to teenagers’ has been a in the news in Australia recently. A New South Wales Community Drug Alert has warned of powerful synthetic opioids called nitazenes in illicit vape juice. At least 3 OD’s and one death have been linked. In international news… Fentanyl continues to be reported on in international media. Suspicious letters sent to election workers in 6 US States this month has led to a call for naloxone to be supplied. However, this has been criticised by those who think provision of naloxone should focus on harm reduction workers who work with people likely to overdose. We will discuss an article “Canadian-made fentanyl is an international problem, RCMP says”. The head of the unit responsible for fighting organised crime says Canada is not just a significant producer of fentanyl-we also export it”. It’s time to end prohibition and instead legalise and regulate all drugs, according to a recent 84-page Reason Foundation report entitled “Drug Legalisation Handbook”. The show is co-presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson.

In national news: there are stories about ketamine use hitting a record peak,also, why cannabis users are divided over legislation to legalise recreational cannabis.On Wednesday November 15th there will be a candlelight vigil in memory of those lost to drug overdose on the steps of the Victorian Parliament. It begins at 6pm and organisers have asked that a battery-operated candle be brought with a photo of a loved one lost to overdose. The Victorian State Coroner Judge John Cain has reported that 2022 was Victoria’s worst year for overdose deaths in a decade. In international news:  we will talk about Vancouver activists rallying for the Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) after police raids.From the US comes “Just Say No” didn’t actually protect students from drugs. Here’s what could” by Lee V Gaines. The show is co-presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson.

Topics this week include: Decriminalisation in Canberra.Australia's Naloxone program.A report on 4 Corners story on Andrew Tate (re. men training women as sexual slave/subordinates).Safe Supply and Law Enforcement in British Columbia. (The arrest of Eris and Jeremy).The futility of Drug Laws. Presented by Dave Baxter and Marion Watson, for CAHMA (the Canberra Alliance of Harm Minimisation and Advocacy).

We speak about the Drugs of Dependence Amendment Bill in the ACT which removes criminal penalties for the possession of small quantities of illicit drugs such as methamphetamine, heroin, MDMA, psilocybin and LSD.  From Green Left we have a story about the disturbing trend in NSW of police subjecting children as young as 12 to strip searches, many of which are conducted illegally. We look at research into replacement pharmacotherapies for people with methamphetamine dependence, in particular methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine. From overseas, We report on the harms suffered by favela communities in Brazil caught in the crossfire between police and organised crime. And the move in American cities (in this case San Francisco) to charge dealers and suppliers of fentanyl with homicide when their customers die of overdose. We also cover a story about the production of a documentary into the extremely damaging war on (alleged) drug users waged in the Philippines by former President Duterte, and the dangers faced by documentary makers who speak truth to power in a dictatorship. Presented by Dave Baxter and Marion Watson.

There will be a report about the 28th Annual Remembrance Ceremony, for those who lose their lives to illicit drugs. The opening speaker was Chris Gough, ED of CAHMA, followed by Jonathan Davis (ACT Greens member), and Reverend Martin Johnson.   A fascinating article “ACT Decriminalisation: why Greens MLA Jonathan Davis changed his view” was printed in the “Canberra Times” today. In Victoria, the Greens have put out a media release “Labor must stop ignoring experts on pill testing and help save young Victorian lives”. As a special guest we will be talking to Mitch Lamb, Administration and Communications Co-ordinator at CAHMA and Peer-Educator at the drug testing facility CanTEST. The show is co-presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson.

We have a range of stories of interest from overseas such as King’s College, UK researchers finding that drones could reach 78% of fatal opioid overdoses within 7 minutes, a massive increase on the 14% reached by ambulances.  The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) have published a paper “revealing the missing links to climate justice: Drug policy”. Prohibition is causing enormous damage to fragile ecosystems. Protecting them “requires getting to the source of the shadow system that threatens them: the laws and treaties that make drugs illegal.”  Recent drug policies in San Francisco sadly resemble war-on-drugs policies from the 1980’s, argues Zena Dhatt in her piece “Decriminalize Drug Use. Do It Now.” A piece by David Heitz talks about fentanyl dealers in the US saying no to first time users. The show is co-presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson.

As usual, we will give an update of CAHMA’s various programs and services.  There is new information from CanTEST, the drug testing service that has been operational in Canberra for over a year now.  Drug testing could return to the ‘Spilt Milk” music festival next month if remaining insurance snags can be resolved. CAHMA staff were on commercial TV’s “A Current Affair” last Wednesday as part of a piece on the looming decriminalisation of personal use amounts of certain drugs.  Sadly, movement on drug testing at music festivals in New South Wales remain unlikely for this Summer, From Canada comes a piece about “Smoking, not injecting, now linked to two thirds of British Columbia Overdose Deaths”.  From the US comes “US-Mexico Talks; More Fentanyl Crackdowns and Deportations Loom”.  The Bronx day care provider and 2 others have been indicted on murder after the death from fentanyl of a 1-year-old boy. The show is co-presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson.

The show is co-presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson for CAHMA (Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy), Canberra's peer based alcohol and other drug service.

As usual, we will give an update of programs and services. There is new information from CanTEST, the drug testing service that has been operational in Canberra for over a year now.  Local police are seeking public help after cocaine was allegedly found in a hidden compartment of a repossessed car. Overseas comes a range of stories about fentanyl: Politico posted “It’s everywhere; Fighting the war against fentanyl”, New York Times “He tried to save a friend, they charged him with murder.”  A very disturbing piece even for the USA! Filtermag.org ponder “Opioid settlement funds; will “once-in-a-generation” chance be wasted?” From Canada comes “How prescribing safe supply is helping drug users in Canada turn their lives around” The show is co-presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson.

CAHMA's radio show, has run weekly for the last thirty years (or more?) News, articles and music, presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson.

CAHMA's radio show, has run weekly for the last thirty years (or more?) News, articles and music, presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson.

As a regular feature, we will provide a summary of the many programs and services currently being run by CAHMA and The Connection. The new CAHMA/Connection brochure has just been printed. The ACT decriminalisation laws come into effect on October 28th. We will discuss a number of perspectives regarding these changes. “Calls to take Canberra’s drug-checking service CanTEST on the road to better help Australians” was a feature piece on ABC News yesterday. “The facility has confirmed what authorities had long warned – that each link in the illicit drug trade is in it for themselves. Dealers often dilute drugs, mixing in chemicals that stretch their stash – and their cash – as far as possible.” The show is co-presented with Marion Watson. Music is played during the show, which is broadcast live-to-air on 2XX, 98.3 FM, Canberra’s Community Radio. 2XXfm 98.3 - Canberra's Oldest Community Radio Station. The show can be streamed live through the 2XX website or heard, at a time that suits you, as a podcast on apps like Podbean  or Spotify from later on in the week. Kindest regards, Geoff (Producer “News from the Drug War Front”)

Marion and I are already settling to studio one at 2XX for today's "News from the Drug War Front". One of stories we will examine is last night's ABC show "Breaking the Ice" with perspectives from women who used ice while pregnant. We have other stories, discussion and music. The show is presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson.

"News from the Drug War Front" kicks off in about 10 minutes at 2XX, 98.3 FM. Range of stories, discussion, music etc. A bit about psylocybin mushrooms. Going to play a couple of Jude Byrne favourites. If life was fairer she would've turned 66 yesterday.

As usual, we will provide a summary of the myriad programs and services currently being run by CAHMA and The Connection.  As a regular feature, we will provide a summary of the many programs and services currently being run by CAHMA and The Connection. The new CAHMA/Connection has just been printed. Locally comes a story that most Canberrans living with hepatitis C have not accessed the anti-retroviral cure as yet. In New South Wales comes a piece the Greens and the Legalise Cannabis Australia  Party are fighting to place drug law reform back on the agenda, with the recently elected Labor government yet to outline its policies. Mexican soldiers seized almost 10 tonnes of liquid methamphetamine bound for Australia. Overseas, Singapore carried out its first execution in 19 years. The show is co-presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson.

As usual, we will provide a summary of the myriad programs and services currently being run by CAHMA and The Connection.  We have got ‘month 10’ of CanTEST results and a range of stories including the International Corruption Commission continuing to prosecute former Filipino Rodrigo Duterte. Discussion, music opinions, CAHMA activities. Will be up as a podcast tomorrow The show is co-presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson.

As usual, we will provide a summary of the myriad programs and services currently being run by CAHMA and The Connection.  The top issue for discussion locally is the CanTEST Health and Drug Checking Service Program Evaluation Final Report. We will discuss the Executive Summary and reflect on what a positive initiative it has been and areas where it could possibly be improved. We will discuss a story about the attitude of the new President of the Philippines to previous indications that the International Criminal Court (ICC) were going to investigate former President Rodrigo Duterte. On July 18, the Appeals Chamber of the ICC is expected to release its decision on the Philippine governments’ plea against the court’s resumption of its probe. The show is co-presented by Geoff Ward and Marion Watson.