Young Victorian men back cannabis reform – see it as central in voting decision
New research: Young men are shaping up as the biggest supporters of cannabis reform in Victoria. Download research 64% of men aged 18 to 24 are backing calls for the Victorian Government to allow adults to buy cannabis for personal use under tight conditions. 58% of men aged 25-34 also backed the change, as did […]
The Briefing: plane load of Aussies die from silent killer each month
Penington Institute CEO John Ryan speaks to The Briefing podcast about the growing toll of preventable overdose deaths. New analysis from Penington Institute reveals a confronting reality: drug overdoses now claim twice as many lives as Australia’s road toll, yet despite the scale of this tragedy, CEO John Ryan says the crisis remains hidden and under-addressed. […]
ABC: ‘Boeing 737’ full of Aussies dying of drug overdoses every month, researchers say
Penington Institute CEO John Ryan speaks to ABC News about the growing toll of preventable overdose deaths. Read the story in ABC News New figures released by the Penington Institute reveal a sobering statistic: 2,272 Australians died from drug overdoses in 2023, the equivalent of losing a Boeing 737 full of people every month. Despite […]
Overdose killing ‘plane full’ of Australians every month: new figures
View full report Drug overdoses are killing the equivalent of a Boeing 737 full of Australians every month, according to new analysis by drug policy research non-profit Penington Institute. The snapshot report found that 2272 Australians died from an overdose in 2023, the equivalent of 189 people each month. Over three-quarters of the deaths (77.8%) […]
Penington Institute welcomes new chair and board members
Left to right: Scott Wilson (Chair), Gwen Boniface, Miriam Suss OAM GAICD. Penington Institute has announced a new chair of its Board of Directors and two new board members. Scott Wilson was unanimously elected as Chair. Mr Wilson is a longstanding member of the Penington Institute board and is also the CEO of […]
Overdose in the United States: Lessons from a shifting crisis
What’s driving the recent decline in US overdose deaths – and how can these insights inform more effective overdose responses? Watch our webinar to find out. Nearly 3 decades into the overdose crisis, provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates a significant and hopeful shift: a 27% decline in overdose […]
Ketamine in the mix: Understanding use, risk and responses
https://youtu.be/cKfA5Edkf7o What do frontline workers need to know about local and international ketamine trends? Catch up on this webinar for expert insights from Professor Robert Ralphs and practical strategies for preventing harm. Ketamine use is at an all-time high in Australia. Its ubiquitous use at festivals and other settings suggests it has become a drug […]
ABC Radio Melbourne: Broad community support for measures to regulate cannabis in Victoria
Victorians are ready for cannabis reform. Penington Institute CEO John Ryan talked to ABC Radio Melbourne to unpack our latest findings. Penington Institute’s recent survey of over 3,700 Victorians found strong community support for safe cannabis regulation – and broad agreement on what that could look like. CEO John Ryan told ABC Radio Melbourne: Most […]
The Australian: ‘Reform dopey drug driving laws’, say medicinal cannabis industry and policy experts
Penington Institute CEO talks to The Australian about the push to reform outdated driving laws for medicinal cannabis patients. Read the story in The Australian Policy experts are calling for Australian premiers to reform roadside drug testing laws to protect medicinal cannabis patients whose driving is not impaired. Since medicinal cannabis was legalised in 2016, […]
Herald Sun: Victorians back push for legal weed, Penington Institute research shows
In an article published in the Herald Sun, Penington Institute CEO John Ryan discusses the findings of our recent Victorian survey, which shows widespread support for safe cannabis regulation. Read the Herald Sun story More than 3,700 Victorians have completed Penington Institute’s survey of community views on cannabis policy reform. The results show widespread support […]