About The Know
The Know collates drug alerts from all states and territories in Australia to create a national overview of emerging drugs of concern.
By offering timely access to this information, The Know supports people who use drugs and communities to reduce the risk of harm.
About Drug Alerts
Drug alerts are published by government and community organisations to reduce harm related to emerging drugs of concern. These alerts share information about known and potential harms, helping individuals make informed decisions and promote safer practices. By being aware of drug alerts, people can prevent overdoses, better understand the risks associated with specific substances, and improve their preparedness and response to emerging drugs of concern.
To create drug alerts, organisations use available data and consult with experts. Although each case varies, the general process behind publishing a drug alert includes the following steps:
- Gathering information about a drug through drug checking, hospital records and others sources.
- Identifying an emerging drug of concern based on known harms or potential for harm
- Consulting with experts to determine potential actions to reduce risk
- Deciding on an approach, which leads to the organisation releasing a drug alert.
This process ensures that drug alerts are based on reliable information and expert insights to reduce harm related to emerging drugs of concern.
The following organisations currently publish drug alerts in Australia - Last Updated 30/09/2024
|
Australian Capital Territory |
ACT Health CanTEST |
|
New South Wales |
New South Wales Ministry of Health NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA) |
|
Northern Territory |
No alerts issued to date |
|
Queensland |
Queensland Health Pill Testing Australia CheQpoint |
|
South Australia |
SA Health |
|
Tasmania |
Tasmanian Department of Health* |
|
Victoria |
Victorian Department of Health Harm Reduction Victoria |
|
Western Australia |
Department of Health Western Australia* |
*Media releases or health warnings
