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Author » Paul Dillon
Time to move on
In the middle of 1999 a drug summit was held in the gay and lesbian community in response to concerns over an increasing number of hospitalisations due to the use ... Read more
Wed December 3rd, 2008 - 4 Comments
A correction
Last week’s column discussed the upcoming lock-out and described it as a trial. This was based on information I had received from sources who had told me the system was ... Read more
Wed November 26th, 2008 - 1 Comment
Drug testing gone mad
Last week an extremely interesting article ran in the American newspaper USA Today. It dealt with the use of unreliable drug-test kits as the basis to arrest innocent people on ... Read more
Wed November 12th, 2008 - 1 Comment
NEW DRINKING LAWS
Last week it was announced that Oxford St and Taylor Square licensed venues have agreed to a trial patron lockout between 6am and 9am on weekends. During the three month ... Read more
Wed November 5th, 2008 - 2 Comments
Hair tests for drugs
Ten years ago it would have been hard to believe that we would now have a saliva test for drugs routinely used in roadside tests to deter illicit drug users ... Read more
Wed October 22nd, 2008 - No Comments
Ecstasy reclassification
Once again the UK government is making news about its decision to review the classification of ecstasy. There has been some discussion about the possibility that this would mean that ... Read more
Wed October 15th, 2008 - 1 Comment
Your rights
With a number of big parties, including Sleaze, being held over the Labour Day weekend, it is important people are aware that law enforcement personnel will most likely be out ... Read more
Wed September 24th, 2008 - 1 Comment
Sleaze safety
With a big weekend coming up soon and some people choosing to use alcohol and other drugs to party, how can you reduce the risk of things going wrong? Of ... Read more
Wed September 17th, 2008 - No Comments
Sleaze 2008
It’s hard to believe that it’s only a few weeks to go until Sleaze Ball rolls around again. This year with the title of Villain’s Lair it’s sure to be ... Read more
Wed September 10th, 2008 - No Comments
Why the depression?
Without doubt one of the major problems that ecstasy users discuss around their drug of choice is the feeling of depression that they experience in the days after use. Ecstasy releases ... Read more
Wed August 20th, 2008 - No Comments
15 million pills seized
Last week’s record ecstasy haul created headlines around the world. That’s no surprise when you see the type of numbers we are talking about here – 15 million pills, 4.4 ... Read more
Wed August 13th, 2008 - No Comments
Alcohol propoganda
Like many, I have been watching the debate about the so-called “alcopop tax” over the past couple of months. It has been fascinating to watch the alcohol industry pump out ... Read more
Wed August 6th, 2008 - No Comments
If something goes wrong on K
Ketamine, or “Special K” as it is also known, is an anesthetic used in both human and veterinary procedures. Its unique hallucinogenic effect continues to make it popular among nightclub ... Read more
Wed July 30th, 2008 - No Comments
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Undoubtedly the most popular dance party drug around is ecstasy. There are many myths which surround this drug, the most concerning being that it is completely safe. As has ... Read more
Wed July 23rd, 2008 - 2 Comments
GHB targeted by police
It has recently been reported that GHB has been linked to the deaths of two men in Sydney. Police have called for anyone with information about the deaths of 49-year-old ... Read more
Wed July 16th, 2008 - No Comments
Coke increase
A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to attend Club Health Conference 2008. It was held in Santa Eulalia, Ibiza, Spain and, as always, was interesting and informative. The ... Read more
Wed July 9th, 2008 - No Comments
Nightclub medical guidelines
Earlier this month new guidelines were released in the UK to assist nightclubs with information on when to call an ambulance to take drug users to hospital. The guidelines, aimed ... Read more
Wed July 2nd, 2008 - No Comments
Amyl nitrite
If you cast your mind back many years and think about your memories of a nightclub dancefloor in the 80s and 90s, it’s hard not to remember the unmistakable smell ... Read more
Thu June 26th, 2008 - 2 Comments
Binge drinking
It was almost impossible to miss the headlines over the weekend regarding the new safer drinking guidelines about to be released by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). ... Read more
Thu June 19th, 2008 - No Comments
Heroin in ecstasy?
An article ran in an Adelaide newspaper last week claiming that “heroin-laced ecstasy pills” were “flooding” the city for the first time, “sparking fears of overdose, deaths and addiction”. The piece ... Read more
Mon June 16th, 2008 - No Comments
Albert Hofman’s Legacy
Just over two weeks ago Albert Hofmann died at the age of 102. Many would wonder why his death would get a mention in this column, but those in the ... Read more
Fri May 30th, 2008 - No Comments
Heroin in ecstasy?
An article ran in an Adelaide newspaper last week claiming that “heroin-laced ecstasy pills” were “flooding” the city for the first time, “sparking fears of overdose, deaths and addiction”.The piece ... Read more
Sun April 20th, 2008 - No Comments
Crystal study
This column recently discussed a new research project (Steps Through Amphetamines) that hoped to help crystal users who were experiencing symptoms of depression. A number of SSO readers contacted the ... Read more
Sun April 20th, 2008 - No Comments
Sativex
With NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher last week announcing that her government will be applying for permission from the Federal Government to import a drug to begin a trial of ... Read more
Sun April 20th, 2008 - No Comments
Albert Hofmann’s legacy
Just over two weeks ago Albert Hofmann died at the age of 102. Many would wonder why his death would get a mention in this column, but those in the ... Read more
Sun April 20th, 2008 - No Comments
GAMMA
GAMMA, a support group for married men who have sex with men, meets in secure confidential and non-sexual surroundings at the ACON building, 9 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills, on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 8pm. There is also a support line, Monday-Friday 6-10 pm, on 9267 4000.
www.gamma.org.auGAY BUSINESS
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association hosts Lemons With a Twist on the first Friday of each month and Fruits in Suits on the third Thursday of each month, at Slide.
www.sglba.com.auCOME OUT AUSTRALIA
Come Out Australia is a social group for our community, with branches in Canterbury-Bankstown, Epping/ Northern Districts and Penrith. You're invited to "Come Out"; get involved with a branch, event, project, or to start something happening in your area.
www.comeout.org.auQUEERSCREEN
Lovers of gay cinema are encouraged to become a member of Queerscreen, Sydney’s premier gay and lesbian film festival body.
www.queerscreen.com.au
Current Issue
Hope for lock-out rethink
Oxford St publicans have called on the newly-formed Sydney Liquor Task Force to review the 2am lock-out system and come up with more effective measures for handling alcohol-related violence. The state Government, with the City ... Read more
Oxford now with receiver
Oxford Hotel management insists it will be business as usual despite the pub’s holding ... Read more
Same-sex marriage push
The Greens have made good on a promise to introduce a private member’s bill ... Read more
ACON’s three-year vision
ACON CEO Stevie Clayton has declared a drop in HIV rates as a key ... Read more
Back on the trax
DJ Rob will be back at Bears Den Night Flinders Hotel on Friday, July ... Read more
They could get away with murder
With a name like KillaQueenz, one would naturally assume Kween G and Belizean Bombshell ... Read more