I'm on the drug, I'm on the drug. I'm on the drug that killed River Phoenix.
I'm on the drug, I'm on the drug. I'm on the drug that killed River Phoenix.
I saw his body thrashing round. I saw his pulse rate going down.
I saw him in convulsive throws. I said "I'll have one of those."
…
Now I'm bored and there's no stopping; I need another celeb to fill a coffin;
Where'll I get my next drug action? Odds on it'll be Michael Jackson.
The eighties Australian band, This is Serious Mum, was better known for its biting satire than for its music. In retrospect, we can also acknowledge the lyrics were terrifyingly prescient.
It’s not easy being a star. All that sex and drugs and rock and roll can take it out of you. No young musician aspires to being a member of the 27 Club (dead at the age of 27). However the mere existence of the meme in popular culture highlights the risk for entertainers of all ages.
A recent study reports there were just over 400 drug related deaths in health care professionals in Australia between 2003 and 2013. Access to lethal drugs was a crucial factor in most suicides. Depression associated with relationship, work place or financial stresses accounted for nearly 20% of cases. Earlier studies had shown that if suicide can be prevented at this critical time, most will go on to have productive and full lives.
This issue of GPSpeak looks at the risks facing young people during the rites of passage after finishing school and preparing for tertiary study or entering the workforce. Surviving schoolies is the first hurdle and the crucial work done by the BUDDI team for Byron Bay schoolies is described on page 15.
On page 13 Lana Jankowiak of Lismore Headspace outlines the principles needed to “cut through” to young adults and how they, like older adults, will use drugs or alcohol to reduce emotional stress.
These principles are put into practice by NSW Health’s Youth Health and Wellbeing Team (page 7). A recent workshop in Ballina attended by 41 young people concluded “They have a voice which needs to be heard. … Early intervention through supportive resources that reach all youth … will achieve better outcomes.”
The music festival season is upon us. Recreational drugs will be taken by fans and performers alike but are equally lethal, irrespective of your musical ability and accomplishments. The tragedy of deaths in young concert goers haunts us each year.
Our feature article by Associate Professor David Caldicott (page 6), outlines the rationale for pill testing at music festivals. This is a common practice in Europe and increases the number of successful emergency room resuscitations by physicians like Dr Caldicott.
Pill testing is currently illegal in Australia but emergency physicians have called for at least a pilot. However, it is a matter of hot political debate. On page 9 Tamara Scott, NSW State MP for Ballina, makes the case for changing NSW legislation and Thomas George, NSW State MP for Lismore, argues for maintaining the status quo. We thank them both for their contributions.
Pill testing provides information on both the type of drugs that are prevalent in the community and their strengths. This information is key for physicians resuscitating overdoses but can also be used by drug takers to “optimise” their dose. Thomas George argues against the moral hazard of providing this information to the drug using public.
For physicians the issue will come down to whether we can successfully increase the number of people surviving their “drug experimenting youth” and go on to have long and fulfilling lives.
A trial is indicated.
