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Dr James Martin

@jamomartin.bsky.social
223 followers 263 following 99 posts

Course Director at Deakin Criminology. Co-creator of Black Market Economics. Tobacco Harm Reduction Advisor for Harm Reduction Australia. Views my own.

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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
We've been warning government about the inevitable corruption risks associated with illicit tobacco for some time now. If the ABF was compromised at this level, one can only imagine how vulnerable other agencies are. This is just the beginning. #auspol www.smh.com.au/national/mor...
smh.com.au
More laughingstocks than legends: The collapse of Border Force’s secret spy unit
The secret push to turn the ABF into an elite spy agency collapsed in three years, leaving the country blind as the tobacco war exploded and crime gangs became a national security threat.
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Delighted to share my presentation from the Australian Institute of Criminology 2026 conference. Please have a watch if you're interested in the Australian illicit tobacco and nicotine trade. 👇 www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjKn...
youtube.com
Australia’s illicit nicotine market: Trends and insights
YouTube video by CriminologyTV
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Action on Smoking Health (UK) @ashorguk.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
📊 New ASH survey data reveals trends in adult and youth vaping. 📈 New factsheets published today by ASH reveal comprehensive data from our survey conducted by YouGov on vaping trends and behaviour in Britain.
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Another day, another tobacco related arson attack. 🔥🔥 Four immediate takeaways: 1) It's only a matter of time until more innocent people are killed. 2) This will not stop until we divert a critical mass of nicotine consumers back to the legal market. 7news.com.au/news/7news-l...
7news.com.au
Ram-raid smash sparks destructive inferno across multiple Melbourne shops
Follow along as we bring you all of the big crime, traffic and weather updates.
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Sweden 41% fewer cancer cases than EU average despite similar nicotine consumption. Michael Landl highlights this, sparking debate on tobacco regulation. Sweden achieved low smoking rates through harm reduction using snus, vapes, and pouches. www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/partner/arti...
theparliamentmagazine.eu
Brussels knows how to end smoking, but chooses not to
Sweden records 41% fewer cancer cases than the EU average, despite similar nicotine consumption. World Vapers' Alliance's Michael Landl explains wh...
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Saul Rosenberg @saul-rosenberg.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
prices be high down under
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Australia’s tobacco and nicotine policies are failing on nearly every conceivable front. ❌ Increased smoking ❌ Billions lost in tobacco excise ❌ Widening health inequalities ❌ Record growth in organised crime We urgently need a new approach. youtu.be/CMqbv8mhvBg
youtu.be
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Dr Sophie Scamps MP @sophiescamps.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Even Coalition now on board! Albo is blocking real reforms on gambling advertising Time to get real Albo ! End gambling advertising ALTOGETHER!! www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
smh.com.au
‘The case against it is overwhelming’: Howard joins Coalition MPs demanding tougher gambling laws
In an open letter, opposition MPs including frontbencher Andrew Hastie and deputy Nationals leader Darren Chester said: “Your proposed reforms do not go far enough.”
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Sweden just became the first Western country to go "smoke free". Meanwhile, Australia, the self-proclaimed world leader, is going up in flames. My piece on what we got wrong and what we have to learn from the real world leaders in tobacco control. michaelwest.com.au/tobacco-rack...
michaelwest.com.au
Tobacco racket. Swedes go smoke-free while Australians light up with criminals - Michael West
Australia's smoke reduction policies have failed to reduce smoking while fueling a black market and huge reduction in tobacco excise revenue.
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Suggestions that cutting tobacco tax cannot reduce the illicit market are wrong. In 1994, the Canadian government slashed their tobacco excise by over 50% (and boosted enforcement) and successfully suppressed the illicit market. Subsequent studies found the tax cut did the heavy lifting. 🧵
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ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
The experimental estimates are based on "nicotine metabolite concentrations" detected in wastewater samples, combined with data showing a collapse in spending on legal cigarettes and vapes.
abc.net.au
ABS estimates 80pc of tobacco consumed in Australia last year illegal
The experimental estimates are based on "nicotine metabolite concentrations" detected in wastewater samples, combined with data showing a collapse in spending on legal cigarettes and vapes.
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Whoa. According to newly released figures from the ABS, in Dec 2025 a staggering 80% of tobacco sold in Australia was illicit! Perhaps it's time for policymakers to listen to someone other than the tobacco control prohibitionists who got us into this mess? #auspol www.abs.gov.au/articles/hou...
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
open.substack.com/pub/clivebat...
open.substack.com
A ridiculous but revealing conference declaration
In the perpetual contest for the dumbest public health conference declaration, the Europeans are going for gold.
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
My article out today: why Australia has to now start reducing cigarette excise & make safer, smoke-free nicotine products easier to get than deadly cigarettes #auspol @algore09algor.bsky.social @jmenezes.bsky.social @igas2.bsky.social @ianamossyd.bsky.social pearlsandirritations.com/post/2026/05...
pearlsandirritations.com
Australia abandoned harm minimisation on smoking – and fuelled a black market
Australia’s steep cigarette excise increases and restrictive vaping policies have fuelled a massive illegal tobacco market while undermining the country’s long-standing harm-minimisation approach to p...
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
What can UK learn from Australia’s nicotine crackdown? 1) If you ban, stigmatise and spread misinformation about vaping you risk increasing smoking 🚬 2) If you tax tobacco out of affordability of everyday people, you create an uncontrollable black market 🔥 www.bmj.com/content/393/...
bmj.com
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Is the government's enforcement-led approach going to win the tobacco wars? Not likely. Check out the latest conversation with the excellent team at 7am to find out why.🔥🔥👇 7ampodcast.com.au/episodes/sho...
7ampodcast.com.au
Should tobacco shops exist? The new weapon in the tobacco wars
Australia’s tobacco wars are fuelling violence, with fire bombings and arson attacks spanning across the east coast. Now the federal government wants to treat these organised crime syndicates like ‘d...
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
🚨 New paper alert: 'Has Australia lost control of its tobacco and nicotine markets?' Short answer - yes, and largely by following two WHO endorsed policies: very high tobacco taxes and a ban on vapes and other less harmful nicotine products onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Has Australia lost control of its tobacco and nicotine markets?
Background Australia has adopted two policies that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends as best practice for tobacco control: it has steeply increased tobacco taxes since 2010 and only all...
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
3 senior exWHO researchers (R Beaglehole, R Bonita, T Pang), Nature Health 2026, “Increased use of smoke-free nicotine products such as vapes could help to achieve an ambitious global goal of reducing smoking prevalence below 5% by 2040” doi.org/10.1038/s443... @publichealthaus.bsky.social
doi.org
Smoke-free nicotine products can accelerate the end of the smoking epidemic - Nature Health
Increased use of smoke-free nicotine products such as vapes could help to achieve an ambitious global goal of reducing smoking prevalence below 5% by 2040.
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Is the government's enforcement-led approach going to win the tobacco wars? Not likely. Check out the latest conversation with the excellent team at 7am to find out why.🔥🔥👇 7ampodcast.com.au/episodes/sho...
7ampodcast.com.au
Should tobacco shops exist? The new weapon in the tobacco wars
Australia’s tobacco wars are fuelling violence, with fire bombings and arson attacks spanning across the east coast. Now the federal government wants to treat these organised crime syndicates like ‘d...
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03...
abc.net.au
Man shot at cafe, getaway car burnt in incident linked to illegal tobacco
Police are investigating whether a 49-year-old man shot in Altona North in Melbourne's west was a random victim of the illegal tobacco trade or was targeted by the offenders.
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
1/3 International Monetary Fund: Price the harm “But policymakers need to think more broadly about how to change unhealthy behavior.Ideally, the level of taxation should reflect the degree of harm a product is likely to cause while still safeguarding overall revenue. ..” @algore09algor.bsky.social
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Interesting to see this new study on taxation and harm from the IMF. The authors note Australia's "misaligned" approach to tobacco taxation. They also point to the success of New Zealand's approach, noting the (much) less harmful effects of vaping 👇 www.imf.org/en/publicati...
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Tim Stephens @proftimstephens.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Time for a Tin Tin defeats the drug lords comic book. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...
theguardian.com
Belgium at risk of becoming ‘narco-state’, judge warns
President of Antwerp court makes comments after anonymous judge warned country was turning into ‘a narco-state’
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Do you smoke illicit tobacco in Australia? Want to share your views on the tobacco black market? Join us for a confidential interview. See info sheet below and email me at james.m@deakin.edu.au for further info.
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Check out the latest from @edjegasothy.bsky.social and me about Australia's historical experience with prohibition, and what lessons we can learn about it's impact on illicit markets and organised crime. theconversation.com/prohibitive-...
theconversation.com
Prohibitive policies drove organised crime in Australia 100 years ago. It’s happening again
Where there’s demand, there will be supply, legal or not. From the ‘sly grog’ of the 1920s to the illicit vapes of today, getting regulation right is difficult.
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
‘ … Reducing excise rates would shift consumption away from illicit products.' Review of Australia’s illicit tobacco market apo.org.au/node/333573
apo.org.au
Addressing Australia’s illicit tobacco market
This report assesses the scale, drivers and impacts of Australia’s illicit tobacco market, benchmarks Australia internationally and models how different policy approaches (excise reform plus strengthe...
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Do you smoke illicit tobacco in Australia? Want to share your views on the tobacco black market? Join us for a confidential interview. See info sheet below and email me at james.m@deakin.edu.au for further info.
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Do you smoke illicit tobacco in Australia? Want to share your views on the tobacco black market? Join us for a confidential interview. See info sheet below and email me at james.m@deakin.edu.au for further info.
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
This seems like progress. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
Treasury considering changes to Australia’s contentious tobacco excise, as calls grow for a freeze
The tax has climbed by 60% since 2020 and accounts for three-quarters of the legal cost of a packet of cigarettes
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Alan @algore09algor.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
@alexwodak.bsky.social @squigglyrick.bsky.social @melissasweetdr.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/09algor/...
open.substack.com
From Curiosity to Crisis: How Youth Nicotine Data Gets Distorted
https://rchpoll.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/NCHP40-Poll-report-A4_FA.pdf
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
People in Germany & Sweden consume similar quantities nicotine. But Germany mainly by smoking cigarettes while Sweden mainly by safer smoke-free nicotine policies. Germany has higher rates of cancer. Which country’s policy do you prefer? @algore09algor.bsky.social @igas2.bsky.social
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
After 4 major political parties New Zealand supported regulate low-risk vaping ensure more available than deadly cigarettes, decline smoking accelerated, no vape black market @algore09algor.bsky.social @igas2.bsky.social @ianamossyd.bsky.social @jmenezes.bsky.social filtermag.org/new-zealand-...
filtermag.org
New Zealand Embraces Vapes to Cut Smoking—and Cuts Youth Vaping - Filter
In countries where nicotine vapes are generally available to adults, with corresponding reductions in smoking, youth vaping has again and ...
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
New paper out co-authored with Jennifer Schumann, on the recent emergence of nitazenes in Australia's illicit THC vape supply. We discuss the regulatory context, implications, and the dangers of conflating adulteration of THC and nicotine vape supply. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Emerging Risks of Nitazene‐Adulterated Vapes in Australia: Balancing Regulation, Access and Harm Reduction
Click on the article title to read more.
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The Saturday Paper @thesaturdaypaper.com.au · 25/01/2026
“Hamad is a symptom of our policy decisions. The conditions that created the illicit market are still in place.” satpa.pe/tlhW0N6
satpa.pe
The making of a tobacco warlord
The arrest of Kazem Hamad in Iraq is welcomed by Australian authorities, although the illicit tobacco trade that built his brutal empire shows no sign of waning.
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The Saturday Paper @thesaturdaypaper.com.au · 23/01/2026
Long before he became “one of the world’s most dangerous wanted men”, as a suspected broker of Iranian terrorism and alleged orchestrator of Australia’s murderous tobacco wars, Kazem Hamad was just a troubled young man on a psych’s couch… satpa.pe/7tLOsWS
satpa.pe
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Great comments from @jamomartin.bsky.social reminder decapitating organised crime poor track record for improving outcomes & often sparks ⬆️violence as rivals fight for positions. Part of Australia’s failed policy on cigarettes & neo prohibition of vapes theconversation.com/alleged-toba...
theconversation.com
Alleged tobacco kingpin Kazem ‘Kaz’ Hamad has been arrested in Iraq – what happens next?
The alleged kingpin of Australia’s illicit tobacco trade has been arrested - does this mean the end of the so-called ‘tobacco wars’?
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ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
Despite a record $15.7 million nicotine seizure, experts say Australia's multi-billion-dollar illicit tobacco and vape market continues to thrive, exposing the limits of raids and crackdowns.
abc.net.au
Illicit vaping and cigarettes create a game of 'whack-a-mole'
Despite a record $15.7 million nicotine seizure, experts say Australia's multi-billion-dollar illicit tobacco and vape market continues to thrive, exposing the limits of raids and crackdowns.
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Recent Australian tobacco policy has unfortunately been a battle between pro- & anti- harm reduction advocates with pro-HR winning all arguments but anti-HR policy being increased with tragic results. Betting against HR generally loses @jamomartin.bsky.social @aliveadvocacy.bsky.social
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
An eye-watering 34% increase in illicit drug consumption between 2023-24. Even more concerning, drug expenditure also actually decreased over that period. In other words, illicit drugs are getting cheaper. Time for a radical rethink about our heavy reliance on supply reduction.
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Crikey @crikey.com.au · 30/07/2025
A new study shows smoking and vaping rates increasing since the government's vape crackdown in 2024. A different strategy is needed.
crikey.com.au
Australia’s war on nicotine is failing. A smarter strategy is needed
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
The Drug Policy Alliance explains the Paradox of Prohibition. That is, the worst outcomes are achieved with either a totally unregulated free market or with prohibition. The least worst outcomes are achieved with a ‘Goldilocks’ (not too hot, not too cold) system of regulation. @sanho.bsky.social
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Fiona Patten skewers abject failure of Australia’s tobacco & vape policies which slowed smoking decline, boosted violent black market, made multi billion dollar hole in government annual revenue & survives thanks to tsunami of disinformation @paulbongiorno.bsky.social www.smh.com.au/national/aus...
smh.com.au
Australia has become the global village idiot on quitting smoking
Every day, 66 Australians die from the effects of smoking – not from an addiction to nicotine, but from the toxic delivery mechanism of cigarettes.
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
When Australia’s tobacco & vape policies failed, authorities doubled down on policies that didn’t work & can’t work. Restricting availability of safer vapes but keeping deadly cigarettes readily available always was insane @jamomartin.bsky.social www.aspistrategist.org.au/vapes-violen...
aspistrategist.org.au
Vapes, violence and the law of diminishing returns: rethinking Australia’s nicotine strategy | The Strategist
There’s a new war on Australian streets, and it’s not just about tobacco or vapes; it’s about control, cash and crime. While Australia once led the world in cutting smoking rates, the rise of illicit ...
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Rick Morton @squigglyrick.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
The curious case of the disappearing smoking data. The Roy Morgan release was unequivocal: smoking rates among young adults are up after vaping ban which had "demonstrably failed". And then it disappeared and was replaced with something more amenable. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/health/...
thesaturdaypaper.com.au
Exclusive: Smoking data taken down after link to vape ban
A report showing increased smoking and vaping among young Australians was pulled after it embarrassed the government and led to complaints from other researchers.
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 22/06/2025
Supply reduction (i.e., border control, law enforcement) is notoriously ineffective, expensive, and comes with a whole range of negative consequences that will likely make the problem worse, not better. Here is the full paper for those interested in a deeper dive: link.springer.com/content/pdf/...
link.springer.com
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 22/06/2025
‘A terrified tobacco runner was forced to tie up his friends and then bind his own feet, before Alameddine gangsters allegedly began cutting off his big toe in a horrific moment that illustrates how violence is part of doing business in Sydney’s gang wars’ www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
smh.com.au
Tobacco and toe-cutting: The black market driving gang violence
Black market tobacco “rips” are fuelling gang violence in Sydney. Court files show the way brutal tactics are used to secure market dominance.
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Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 22/06/2025
Australia risks losing ‘war on nicotine’ in same way as war on drugs as illegal tobacco sales explode
theguardian.com
Australia risks losing ‘war on nicotine’ in same way as war on drugs as illegal tobacco sales explode
Authorities should take a ‘harm reduction’ approach, removing excise for a period and making vapes more available, experts argue * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Australia is now waging a “de facto war on nicotine” that is doomed to fail in the same way as previous prohibition-style policies, experts say, amid a growing debate about how to respond to an explosion in the illicit tobacco trade. As health experts warn against changes that would undermine decades of fighting to bring down smoking rates, James Martin, a criminology lecturer at Deakin University, and Edward Jegasothy, an epidemiologist at the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health, have called for a major overhaul in how we tax tobacco and regulate vaping products. Continue reading...
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Renowned THR expert Prof. Riccardo Polosa et al raise serious concerns re flawed meta-analytic practices leading to exaggerated claims re health risks of vaping link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
When meta-analysis misleads: the need for methodological integrity in e-cigarette research - Internal and Emergency Medicine
Internal and Emergency Medicine -
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Dr James Martin @jamomartin.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Great to see a new pill testing site in Fitzroy! Also worth noting that harm reduction remains grossly underfunded across Australia, receiving just 1.6% of total drug funding, despite its much great efficacy in reducing drug related harm than supply or demand reduction.
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Dr Alex Wodak AM @alexwodak.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
In denial. Australia unable to reduce illicit supply cigarettes & associated violence unless some reduction in excessive excise. Can’t arrest its way out @jamomartin.bsky.social @edjegasothy.bsky.social @aliveadvocacy.bsky.social @ianamossyd.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
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