Read Penington Institute’s media release in response to the Victorian Government’s decision to open a second Medically Supervised Injecting Room in the Melbourne CBD and extend the North Richmond trial.
Penington Institute has changed its auditors following a decision of the Board on 25 June 2019 which was endorsed by members at the AGM on 19 November 2019. The decision to change auditors was based on the recommendation of the Finance Audit and Risk Management Committee to change auditors at regular intervals. The previous auditors had been in place for 10 years. The [...]
Penington Institute is responding to the unfolding COVID-19/coronavirus outbreak by creating a series of informational resources for people who use drugs, their family and friends, and the sector. These resources are designed to provide clear and practical advice. Read more
Penington Institute’s look back at our work and accomplishments throughout last year. Download here.
This year's International Overdose Awareness Day was the most successful yet. Download and read the Partners' Report to learn more about our campaign.
Frontline initiatives to prevent fatal overdose in Victoria Deaths from unintentional overdose are growing. These deaths are, by definition, preventable. However, there are no silver bullets – sophisticated and evidence-based responses are needed to reduce the toll of unintentional overdose. This seminar will provide a brief overview of unintentional overdose deaths in Victoria before discussing three responses: Victoria’s Real-Time Prescription [...]
Penington Institute, the not-for-profit convenor of International Overdose Awareness Day, is today launching the website, Life Savers,1 a brief guide to treatment for people concerned about their usage of opioid drugs, their family members and friends, as well as a resource for healthcare providers. As the number of people developing dependencies and suffering harms from opioids increases, so too does [...]
The toll of unintentional overdose deaths in Australia: Penington Institute Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2019 reveals that unintentional overdose continues to be a significant cause of death in Australia. The continued growth in unintentional overdose deaths is linked to highly potent drugs, many of which are available through prescription, such as pharmaceutical opioids and benzodiazepines. Illegal drugs such as heroin and stimulants [...]
Lyrica®: Filling a pain fap or emerging threat? Penington institute recently hosted a public information forum with experts speakers discussing pregabalin (sold as Lyrica®). Subsidised as an antiepileptic and to treat neuropathic pain, prescriptions rates have increased dramatically in recent years, along with reports of harms relating to use. Dr Shaun Greene (Austin Health) Dr Rose Crossin (Penington Institute) and [...]
One of the most urgent public health issues facing the new government will be Australia’s dependence on prescription opioids, independent drug research, policy and education organisation Melbourne-based Penington Institute, said today. Figures just released by the London-based Global Survey on Drugs show that the use of prescription opioids in the last year was highest in Australia (30%) – exceeding both [...]