Join us to learn more about some of the novel benzodiazepines emerging in Australia, and how frontline workers can be better prepared to respond.
In recent years, novel benzodiazepines (or ‘fake’ or ‘street benzos’) have become increasingly prevalent in unregulated drug markets in Australia and overseas.
Often sold as counterfeit products, these drugs have been involved in a growing number of serious harms, including death.
Fake benzos can look a lot like pharmaceutical medicines available in Australia and overseas but may contain one or more ingredients with much more potent and variable effects – significantly increasing the risk of overdose and other harms.
How can frontline workers respond to emerging drug trends like street benzos and feel more confident providing accurate and reliable information to reduce the risk of harm?
In this webinar, we talk to Cameron Francis, CEO of The Loop Australia, for some expert insights and data from the Queensland drug checking service, CheQpoint.
Meet our speaker

Cameron Francis
Chief Executive Officer, The Loop Australia
Cameron is an experienced and passionate social worker with a 20+ year track record in the field of youth alcohol and other drugs. Throughout his career, Cameron has embraced diverse roles, from leading peer education initiatives at music events and festivals, needle and syringe program work, individual counselling along with training and secondary consultation for complex youth alcohol and other drug presentations.
Cameron currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The Loop Australia, which is delivering drug checking services in Queensland and, most recently, Victoria.
In this webinar, Cameron will present data from Queensland’s drug checking service, CheQpoint, as well as recent drug alerts and novel benzodiazepine trends observed in other states and territories.
This webinar is hosted by Rita Brien, Workforce Development at Penington Institute.