New psychoactive stimulants and hallucinogens (NPSH) poisonings have generated considerable public health concern in recent years. We aimed to determine: 1. The characteristics, toxicology and major autopsy findings of known cases of NBZD-related poisoning in Australia, 2000-2025; and 2. Changes in characteristics of known cases from 2020 onwards compared to earlier known cases. Retrospective...
Abstract Background and aims Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin are used as recreational drugs, and there is renewed interest in their clinical use. The current study aimed to (1) determine the circumstances of death and case characteristics of LSD‐ and psilocybin‐related death in Australia, 2000–23; and (2) determine the toxicological profile and major autopsy findings of these...
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 57(6) Interest in prescribing psychoactive drugs as treatments for mental health conditions has been highlighted recently by the decision by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to permit, from 1 July 2023, authorised psychiatrists to prescribe medicines containing psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression and...
The term 'synthetic cannabis' has been widely used in public discourse to refer to a group of cannabinoid receptor agonists. In this paper we detail the characteristics of these drugs, and present the case that the term is a misnomer. We describe the pharmacodynamics of these drugs, their epidemiology, mechanisms of action, physiological effects and how these differ substantially from...
To examine the demographic characteristics, circumstances, toxicology and major organ pathology of MDMA-related deaths in Australia. Retrospective review of cases in which MDMA was a cause of death, as identified from the National Coronial Information System. 82 cases over a 5-year period were identified. The majority of decedents were male (83%), with a median age of 26 years. Deaths were...