News

Penington Institute is an independent not-for-profit that connects lived experience and research to improve community safety in relation to drugs. More than just an essential voice in the national conversation around drugs, we also educate the community, train front-line workers, and influence real-world change. […]

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 [...]

Use of pregabalin (sold as Lyrica®) has skyrocketed in recent years. Anecdotal reports indicate problematic use is becoming more common including amongst people who inject drugs. In Australia, pregabalin is a commonly prescribed medicine, subsidised as an anti-epileptic and to treat neuropathic pain. It is often prescribed for the treatment of other conditions including musculoskeletal pain and generalised anxiety disorder. [...]

Leading independent drug research, policy and education organisation, Penington Institute, has today celebrated the public health achievements of Australia’s 23rd Prime Minister the Hon RJL Hawke AC GCL on the occasion of his passing. Penington Institute CEO John Ryan said that Bob Hawke can be thanked for many aspects of the health of Australians today. “Bob Hawke and his governments [...]

Leading independent drug research, policy and education organisation, Penington Institute, has welcomed today’s (27 February) announcement by the Commonwealth Government that it will fund a $7.2 million trial of naloxone access, the lifesaving drug capable of reversing opioid overdose. […]