Home
Search
thewest.com.au‌‌
NewsChevron Right Icon

Drugs & Alcohol

A Cancer Council survey has revealed the WA public has lost its appetite for secondhand smoke, a groundswell of support for making WA pubs, clubs, and bars completely smoke-free.

Public HealthCommentsREVEALED: WA punters want smoking banned in pubs and bars

A Cancer Council survey has revealed that the WA public has lost its appetite for secondhand smoke, with a groundswell of support for making WA pubs, clubs and bars completely smoke-free.

Caitlin Vinci

Katanning officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt David Costello is clamping down on illegal drugs.

Drug busts Premium Tackling drugs supply is priority for Katanning’s new OIC

Katanning police have launched an intense crackdown on drugs, with officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt David Costello warning offenders they will be targeted as police ramp-up investigations across the region. 

Amy Towers

World leading technology is coming to a WA University in a bid to develop revolutionary tools for illicit substance testing and forensic research, to be used to streamline our justice system. Inset: Dr Raychelle Burks.

TechnologyVideoCommentsPremiumWorld-leading tech to boost WA illicit substance testing

World leading technology is coming to a WA University in a bid to develop revolutionary tools for illicit substance testing and forensic research, to be used to streamline our justice system.

Kirsty Lichtenstein

Older Australians don’t resonate with current advertising to reduce alcohol consumption, a new survey has revealed. 

HealthCommentsPremiumWhy alcohol harm campaigns not working on older Australians

Older Australians don’t resonate with current advertising to reduce alcohol consumption, a new survey has revealed. 

Claire Sadler

Perth doctor George O’Neil, whose pioneering work with naltrexone transformed addiction treatment in this country, is being torpedoed by the Medical Board of Australia.

HealthCommentsPremiumPerth doctor banned from prescribing addiction treatment

A Perth doctor, whose pioneering work with naltrexone transformed addiction treatment in this country, is being torpedoed by the Medical Board of Australia.

Ben Harvey

A new study has revealed a big difference between the way moderate drinking alcohol can affect men and women’s heart health, highlighting the need for better-targeted campaigns.

HealthCommentsPremiumHow booze and gender impact risk of major heart condition

A new study has revealed a big difference between the way moderate drinking alcohol can affect men and women’s heart health, highlighting the need for better-targeted campaigns.

Belinda Hickman

James Jovanoski, 27, pictured in Leederville, Perth, on Thursday. Carwyn Monck

HEALTHCommentsREVEALED: Drinkers most susceptible to suffering hangxiety

It’s the dreaded hangover anxiety — otherwise known as hangxiety — and a new Australian study has found out who is more susceptible to the jitters after a night on the booze.

Claire Sadler

The risk of experiencing alcohol-related harm as an adult increases the earlier a child starts to drink alcohol, a major Australian study has found. 

HealthCommentsShocking dangers of drinking underage laid bare

The risk of experiencing alcohol-related harm as an adult increases the earlier a child starts to drink alcohol, a major Australian study has found. 

Tahnee Graham

Young Australians are saying no to booze and choosing to drink far less often than elder generations, a new study has found. 

HealthCommentsSobering revelation as young Aussies shy away from booze

Young Australians are saying no to booze and choosing to drink far less often than elder generations, a new study has found. 

Blair Jackson

WA MP Dr Brian Walker wants to make pot legal in WA.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumMP’s fresh push to legalise cannabis could win support

Legalising pot crusader Brian Walker is set to have another crack at igniting fresh debate on the contentious issue, with four new allies in WA Parliament to push the case.

Joe Spagnolo

Consumption of major illicit drugs is growing throughout Australia, wastewater analysis shows.

WA NewsPremiumWA labelled ‘meth capital’ of country as consumption climbs

WA has been crowned the unenviable ‘meth capital’ of Australia with wastewater testing showing consumption has increased again.

Charlton Hart

Young people are more likely to take party drugs than older generations.

NewsPremiumWorrying party drug trend on the rise in Australia

A spike in GHB-related call-outs has experts worried as young Australians turn away from expensive alcohol amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Alexandra Feiam

Opioids were the most common drug overdosed on, at 43.9 per cent, while benzodiazepines overtook stimulants as the second-placed drug. 

Drugs & AlcoholCrisis level of drug deaths sparks call for Govt action

A planeload of Australians are dying every month to drug overdoses, a new analysis of fatality statistics has shown, sparking calls for more work from governments.

Dylan Caporn

Palmerston’s general manager for the regions Tina Edwards-Pope, Aboriginal engagement officer Lauren Wynne and peer support worker Anthony Csermelyi.

REHAB IN WORKSPremiumPalmerston exalt $12.4m residential rehab funding in Budget

The Great Southern’s largest alcohol and drugs service provider is relieved that more than $12 million of funding is locked in for a residential rehabilitation facility from the State Government. 

Melissa Sheil

A Denmark man pleaded guilty in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday to multiple drug charges.

CourtsPremiumDenmark man admits to possessing trafficable amount of meth

A Denmark man faces the possibility of life imprisonment after admitting to possessing a huge cache of methylamphetamine worth more than $80,000 in street value with the intent to sell or supply.

Melissa Sheil

Perth teens are buying vanilla extract in bulk from supermarkets - and it’s not for baking.

HealthPremiumPerth teens using common baking ingredient to get drunk

The alarming admission came about when a GP was talking to a 16-year-old patient.

Hannah Cross

Police have filmed dozens of cartons of beer, bottles of wine and liquor being smashed by the bucket of a front-end loader.

The Kimberley EchoVideoPremiumWATCH: Police crush seized alcohol worth thousands

The hefty booze stockpile was the result of a number of seizures in Halls Creek where the sale of takeaway liquor with more than 2.7 per cent alcohol is restricted. 

Sarah Crawford

Legalise Cannabis WA Party Upper House candidate Jason Meotti, Denmark farmer Stephen Birkbeck, Shire of Augusta Margaret River councillor Melissa D’Ath, and Legalise Cannabis WA Party leader Dr Brian Walker at The Dam on February 27.

distilling changePremiumDistillers welcome Legalise Cannabis plan for fairer tax

Distillers and hemp supporters in WA’s south have called for a two-pronged attack to make things fairer for small companies and alternative producers in the State’s boutique alcohol industry.

Jacki Elezovich

Manufacturers of Concerta and Methylphenidate-Teva XR say the drugs will be unavailable until the end of the year.

HEALTH CommentsMajor blow for people with ADHD as drug shortage intensifies

Two of three brands of medication used to treat ADHD will not be available to Australians until 2026 due to major shortages.

Hannah Cross

A major drug operation south of Geraldton ran across three days this week, with police seizing an alarming number of items on the first day of the drug blitz.

Off the streetsPremiumPolice operation reveals alarming number of drugs on roads

A major drug operation south of Geraldton ran across three days this week, with police from multiple units joining forces to tackle drug trafficking in the region. 

Jessica Moroney

WA Minister for Health Amber-Jade Sanderson with Sam Turton and member for Albany Rebecca Stephens. Laurie Benson

REHAB PLEDGEPremiumDecade-long fight for rehab on the cards with $12.4m pledge

The Great Southern will no longer be the only WA region without a residential rehabilitation facility if Labor win the 2025 state election, with the party pledging $12.4m to establish a local centre this week

Melissa Sheil

Galileo Mining founder Mark Creasy and managing director Brad Underwood.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
WA election 2025CommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Mining billionaire quietly gifts cannabis party big sum

The reclusive billionaire prospector has quietly donated $25,000 to a pro-cannabis legalisation political party ahead of this year’s State Election, new electoral disclosures reveal. 

Dylan Caporn

Midland Detectives with Ellenbrook Police and with the assistance of several specialist police units, executed six search warrants at a residential unit block in Ellenbrook this morning. A number of people were taken into custody and multiple items were seized. The search warrants were executed as a result of police intelligence and information received from the local community. WA Police

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
CRIMEVideoPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Public dob in suspected drug dealers before cops storm units

Sweeping police raids on an Ellenbrook block of units after the public dobbed in suspected drug dealers has led to three people facing a string of offences.

Caleb Runciman

Southern Aboriginal Corporation CEO Asha Bhat with chairperson Daniel Colbung have been pushing for a residential rehabilitation facility in Albany for years.

YES TO REHABPremiumPush for local rehab facility in Albany continues

The Great Southern’s need for a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility was met with enthusiasm but no promises by the Premier who told reporters last week there was a shortage of staff to run it.

Melissa Sheil