Teenage vaping in Australia has ‘turned a corner' after ban, study says
Australian health minister Mark Butler on Wednesday said vaping rates "have now turned the corner" for young children, calling it a result of their 12-month campaign to crack down on the illegal sale of vapes.
The nationwide Generation Vape Research Project by Cancer Council conducted an anonymous survey of 3,000 young Australians.
Among children aged 14-17 years, vaping rates have fallen from 17.5 per cent to 14 per cent from the start of 2023 to April this year, it has found.
Overall, smoking rates among people aged over 15 fell by more than a third, while vaping rates among those aged 30 to 59 dropped by nearly half.
'Vaping rates for young Australians have now turned the corner. Our education and prevention campaigns as well as support to deter people from taking up vaping and smoking or to quit are making a difference', Mr Butler said.
Mr Butler said vaping products still "leak" through the border despite their crackdown.
"From the time we put this ban in place we never pretended we'd be able to stop every vape coming in," he said.
"But we do know that it is harder to get your hands on a disposable vape … that's led to a very significant increase in the price of vapes where they are still accessible, and that's having a positive impact on young people."
He said authorities have seized more than 10 million illegal vapes in the past year.
The Therapeutic Goods Authority and Australian Border Force (ABF) said the 10 million vapes – half a billon dollars worth of vapes – were taken off the market. Additional seizures included 2.5 billion cigarette sticks and 435 tonnes of illicit tobacco.
"It's a market that targets our communities including our children," ABF Assistant Commissioner Tony Smith said.
"[It] sends profits into the hands of organised crime, profits that are used to cause further harm through intimidation tactics, arson, firearms, drugs and even cyber crime."
Laws introduced to curb vaping banned single-use vapes from being made, imported, advertised and supplied in 2024. Only nicotine vapes were allowed to be legally sold with a prescription in pharmacies.
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Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Tragic new details of mum's 'magic mushroom death' revealed
A woman who passed away after drinking tea laced with magic mushrooms had been dabbling with the psychedelic fungi for years before she is believed to have died of 'wood-lover paralysis'. New details on the tragic death of personal trainer Rachael Dixon can now be revealed after the findings of a coronial investigation were made public. Ms Dixon, 52, collapsed hours after ingesting the toxic drink during a retreat hosted by self-proclaimed healer Deanne Mathews at Soulbarn in Clunes, near Ballarat, on April 13 last year. In delivering her findings, Coroner Audrey Jamieson stated that although she could not be certain the drink killed Ms Dixon, she believed it likely contributed to her death via a rare condition related to the mushrooms. Australian Psychedelic Society Doctor Simon Beck told the coroner he believed Ms Dixon's cause of death appeared consistent with symptoms linked to wood-lover paralysis toxidrome. Studies into the condition found those affected can start to become weak anywhere between 10 minutes to 18 hours after consuming the mushrooms. The weakness usually affects the limbs, and manifests at times in an inability to stand or walk, difficulty swallowing, or breathing difficulties. In some cases, the weakness came in 'waves', the study found. The court heard Ms Dixon had been 'very excited to go to the retreat', with her son telling the court she told him 'she thought this was going to be her big breakthrough moment'. Ms Dixon had struggled with her mental health for years, but had been reluctant to use prescribed medications to deal with it, the court heard. 'Rachael attributed her mental ill health to unresolved childhood trauma,' the coroner stated. 'There is no evidence that Rachael attended a medical practitioner, had received a diagnosis or was prescribed medication to manage the same. Indeed, (her son) recalled that Rachael was averse to pharmaceutical and recreational drugs.' Instead, Ms Dixon medicated herself with alcohol before turning to magic mushrooms. 'Even though Rachael was against drugs, (her son) believes that she saw 'magic mushrooms' as 'a natural thing'. In the years leading up to her death, Rachael experimented increasingly with magic mushrooms,' Coroner Jamieson stated. The court heard Ms Dixon met Ms Mathews to 'learn Reiki and to heal' about eight years before her death. In a booklet, Ms Dixon wrote that her primary goal was 'no binge drinking alcohol and food'. The court heard she perceived psilocybin - the active compound in magic mushrooms - as a 'means to address and resolve her childhood trauma'. 'Evidence indicates that Deanne coached and guided Rachael through microdosing, including on one occasion, instructing her to consume more psilocybin during a microdosing session,' the coroner stated. On the day of the fatal 'healing session' the court heard Mathews sourced the magic mushrooms for the group and ground them into a powder. Participants began the ritual by ingesting blue lotus, to help 'relax the body in preparation for the journey', the court heard. They consumed rice with a 'small sprinkle' of mushroom and performed a round of breath work before consuming the mushroom tea. A second cup of tea was consumed about 90 minutes later. The court heard Ms Dixon was no stranger to the sessions and had attended one with Mathews at Soulbarn every three months in the last 18 months of her life. According to Mathews, Ms Dixon had consumed the mushrooms on each occasion 'without any problem'. But Ms Dixon's son told the court he recalled differently. 'According to him, Rachael told him about her most recent experience at Soulbarn: she said she had a bad experience, went to a dark place, and didn't feel great afterwards. Rachael believed this was because "they had upped her dose of psilocybin",' the coroner stated. But Ms Dixon mostly believed that the mushrooms were helping her with her problems. 'I think they were definitely helping her, she seemed to be getting better,' her son told the court. 'I knew she was getting better because she would stop drinking as much, she would always tell me how relaxed and how much better she felt within herself and about life.' At the commencement of the deadly session, a fellow participant noticed that 'Rachael was on a high, she was welcoming others and giving them hugs'. She repeated her intention of: 'I'm meeting myself, I'm going home', the court heard. At about 6.15pm, she consumed her first serve of mushroom tea, and at 7.45pm, consumed the second from a small bowl with a spoon. At about 11.30pm, participants noticed Ms Dixon was under the effect of the tea. The court heard Ms Dixon called out to Mathews and 'was crying'. 'Deanne comforted her and noticed she remained 'under the effect of the mushroom',' the coroner stated. 'Deanne attempted to lift Rachael to her feet however, she could not walk. Another participant tried to assist Deanne, however, Rachael fell – "it was a decent fall" from approximately 50 centimetres height.' The court heard Mathews formed the belief that Ms Dixon simply 'needed some fresh air' and so moved her to the kitchen and opened the back door to let in 'fresh cold air'. 'There is little evidence from other participants regarding the events of the evening – noting that they were under the influence of psychedelics at the time,' the coroner found. 'One participant recalls that at approximately 11.20pm, she heard Rachael say "help".' While paramedics were called at 11.53pm, the court heard Mathews made no mention of magic mushrooms being consumed. 'I was holding a ceremony and I don't think someone, she's not responding,' she told the emergency operator. When asked 'do you know what happened to her?', Mathews replied 'I don't know, she was just saying she couldn't breathe', the court heard. 'Deanne was "not too sure" if Rachael was breathing and was instructed to commence cardiopulmonary resuscitation,' the coroner stated. At about 12.45am, paramedics declared Ms Dixon deceased. A police search of Ms Dixon's home later found a small container with vegetative substance – believed to be mushrooms. A booklet supplied by Mathews, titled The Deep Self 28 Day Microdosing Experience, was found next to it. Forensic experts told the coroner there was no post-mortem evidence of any injuries which may have caused or contributed to Ms Dixon's death. On November 18 last year Victoria Police arrested Matthews in relation to trafficking in a drug of dependence. She was formally interviewed and released pending summons to appear at court. On March 13 she appeared before the Bacchus Marsh Magistrates' Court where she was found guilty. She received a fine of $3,000 but was not convicted. In concluding her findings, Coroner Jamieson noted expert observations that interest in and the use of magic mushrooms were on the rise here and internationally, driven in part by developments such as Australia legalising the prescription of psilocybin to treat certain conditions in 2023. 'This raises a concerning possibility that Victorian coroners will encounter more deaths in a setting of magic mushroom use in future. Indeed, this may already be occurring,' she stated. 'People have used magic mushrooms for a broad range of reasons for (at least) decades in Australia, despite any laws prohibiting this, and I am not so naïve as to believe I could propose any interventions that would change this reality.' While the coroner made no formal recommendations, she warned people to be aware of the possible dangers around consuming magic mushrooms. 'I have concluded that at present the most appropriate intervention to consider is user education,' the coroner stated. 'People who use magic mushrooms and/or (as in the retreat Rachael attended) facilitate others' use of magic mushrooms should be aware that, even if rare, harms including deaths have been associated with magic mushroom consumption, and if possible, they should put measures in place to recognise and respond to these harms if they occur.'
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Fewer than a third of junior doctors went on strike
Fewer than a third of junior doctors turned out to strike last week, NHS England said. The turnout of resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, at the five-day walkout that ended on Wednesday was down by 7.5 per cent (equating to 1,243 doctors) compared to the previous round of of industrial action in July last year, according to an early analysis of management information collected by NHS England. However, the British Medical Association (BMA) disputed the figures, claiming that complex work schedules and doctors taking leave make this information 'almost impossible to know'. NHS England said it maintained care for an estimated 10,000 more patients during the latest doctors' strike compared with last year's walkout, and 93 per cent of planned operations, tests and procedures went ahead as planned. In contrast, during previous strike action, the majority of non-urgent care was postponed. For example, between 2022 and 2024, walkouts led to 1.5 million cancellations. Welcoming the reduced number of doctors on the picket line, Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, who is set to resume talks with the BMA this week, said: 'A majority of resident doctors didn't vote for strike action and data shows that less than a third of residents took part. 'I want to thank those resident doctors who went to work for their commitment to their patients and to our shared mission to rebuild the NHS.' He said it is time to 'move past the cycle of disruption', adding: 'I want to end this unnecessary dispute and I will be urging the BMA to work with the Government in good faith in our shared endeavour to improve the working lives of resident doctors, rather than pursuing more reckless strike action.' Junior doctors are seeking a 26 per cent pay rise, which they claim will restore their pay to 2008 levels and restore what they claim has been their 'pay erosion'. Last year, the Health Secretary gave them a 28.7 per cent pay rise over three years in a move, which ended the last round of strikes. However, the BMA union said it recognised the efforts that senior doctors and healthcare workers made during the strike to provide care to patients, but it disputed the figure set out by the NHS. It said: 'NHS England's claim that the majority of England's 77,000 resident doctors chose to 'join the NHS-wide effort to keep the services open' requires a huge stretch of the imagination, given it is almost impossible to know the exact number of residents working on any given day because of complex work patterns, on-call schedules and the strike spread across a weekend. 'Added to that, in July many doctors are using up their remaining annual leave before their new posts start and would therefore not show up as striking. We look forward to seeing hard and fast data on NHS England's claim. 'The strike could have been averted, as could any future ones, if Mr Streeting had come, and will come, to the table with a credible offer that resident doctors in England can accept.' Sir Jim Mackey, the chief executive of the NHS, noted care was still disrupted for thousands of people and said a repeat of strike action will be 'unacceptable'. He said: 'I would urge the resident doctors committee to get back to the negotiating table and work with us and the Government on the meaningful improvements we can make to resident doctors' working lives.' NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, added that the walkout took a toll and trusts are increasingly concerned about potential wider industrial action in the health service. Saffron Cordery, NHS Providers' deputy chief executive, said: ' This dispute can't drag on. 'The union says resident doctors want this to be their last strike. With talks due to resume, let's hope so. Bringing disruptive strikes – where the only people being punished are patients – to an end must be a priority. 'We're concerned, as trusts worked hard to minimise disruption and to keep patients safe during the resident doctors' strike, by the threat of wider industrial action in the NHS.' Last week's walkouts are the latest example of strike action under the Labour Government, with teachers and nurses expected to ballot on industrial action imminently. Unite, Labour's biggest financial backer, is threatening to cut its political funding to the party. It has also suspended the membership of Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, over her failure to back bin strikes in Birmingham and 'bringing the union into disrepute'.
Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Telegraph
Like Sacha Baron Cohen, I transformed my body aged 50. It's anything but ‘repellent'
'Repellent.' That was the word that caught my eye when I saw Judith Woods's column on the newly ripped Sacha Baron Cohen. She also made the point that, as a middle-aged father of two, the actor was well within his rights to 'rock a dad bod'. It's not that that term in itself is negative – it's probably an accurate description of the body many men have in midlife, dads or not, when your metabolism slows down, you move less and start to take on more weight, typically around the stomach. No, the 'dad bod' itself isn't the issue; it's what it conceals. The dad bod comes with visceral fat and its impact on vital organs. Five years ago, when I was 50, there was nothing out of the ordinary about my physique. In fact, I was barely even aware of my form, taking it as a joke when my son called me 'Daddy Pig' after the portly father figure from the cartoon Peppa Pig. However, I was burnt out and depressed. I felt low and slow. And, had I not gone to the doctor, I probably wouldn't have realised that I was at risk of diabetes and fatty liver, that I had high cholesterol and hypertension. After all, I wasn't living any differently from most of the other males I knew in my age group. Those results, rather than a midlife crisis vanity project, provided the springboard for me to begin transforming my body and, more importantly, my fitness. Being 50, it hit me that I had probably lived more years than I had left. As the realisation dawned that my habits weren't only having an impact on my longevity but also on the quality of my remaining life, I resolved to do something about it. And I remember the day well. It was a Monday morning about six months after that doctor's appointment, and I thought, 'Right, that's it, let's do something about this.' Digging out an old pair of trainers, I set out for a run – well, it was probably more walking than running. But I felt great afterwards – and when I got home, it had an impact on what I ate, too, which would usually have involved some oven chips. I never made a conscious decision to stop drinking – just to cut down on alcohol – but, in the event, I've not touched it since, simply because within a week I felt so much better without it. Other healthy changes followed – joining a gym, taking swimming improvement lessons, changing my diet. I didn't even tell my wife at first – I suppose out of a fear of failing – but she noticed the difference in me within the first few weeks. It wasn't just the fact that I was losing weight, though; I was happier and more engaged. Nor is a midlife makeover always a post-breakup revenge move. My wife and I are happily married. But has it improved our relationship? Absolutely. Not only in terms of her finding me more attractive, but also because my increased confidence and presence has done wonders for our connection. Where family life is concerned, it's also had an impact on my relationship with my teenage son, with whom I can go out and do things – climbing, mountain biking, even just kicking a ball around. Those things I wouldn't previously have had the energy to do. I've not noticed women responding to me any differently since I got fitter and made this my full-time career. But nor have I had any negative feedback from anyone, other than in the early stages of my weight loss (which was rapid), where people thought I was looking gaunt – something I rectified by upping both my calorie intake and resistance training. I've certainly never been likened to biltong (a comparison Woods made about Baron Cohen's new look). Ultimately, my physical changes have also transformed my career and my life, not only getting rid of my budding physical and mental health issues, but also improving my family relationships and enjoyment of things. It doesn't have to be about starring as a superhero, or appearing on the cover of a magazine – although that is, in fact, soon to happen for me with the September issue of Men's Fitness. It's about living and feeling your best in the years you have left. As told to Sarah Rodrigues
