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Editor's note
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Prescriptions for the epilepsy drug pregabalin have increased dramatically in recent years, as more doctors use it “off-label” to treat chronic and persistent pain. Recreational use is also growing, with users taking higher doses or combining it with other drugs to compound the sedative or euphoric effects. A study published today in the Medical Journal of Australia shows ambulance call-outs for pregabalin have increased ten-fold over the past five years. As researchers Shalini Arunogiri and her colleagues write, pregabalin is a high-risk medication and doctors need to carefully asses the risks and benefits, especially for patients who also take opioids and benzodiazepines.
And on Saturday, voters in Victoria returned Daniel Andrews’s Labor party to government in a landslide. Paul Strangio reflects on the result and argues that the Liberal Party, at both state and federal levels, has now fallen seriously out of step with what voters want.
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Fron Jackson-Webb
Deputy Editor/Senior Health + Medicine Editor
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Top story
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At higher-than-prescribed doses, pregabalin causes sedation and euphoria.
Bruno van der Kraan
Shalini Arunogiri, Monash University; Dan Lubman, Monash University; Rose Crossin, Monash University
Ambulance call-outs associated with the misuse of pregabalin (Lyrica) have increased tenfold in Victoria since 2012, mirroring an increase in prescription rates.
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A jubilant Daniel Andrews celebrates a resounding win in the Victorian election.
AAP/Daniel Pockett
Paul Strangio, Monash University
Daniel Andrews' resounding win has probably secured his party another two terms- and it will send chills down the spines of Liberals in Canberra.
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Arts + Culture
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Haydn Aarons, Australian Catholic University
Christians go to fewer gigs, are less likely to listen to heavy metal, and prefer classical music. The reason likely comes down to morality.
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Education
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Karen Barry, University of Tasmania; Emma Warnecke, University of Tasmania; Megan Woods, University of Tasmania
Mindfulness exercises can help PhD students manage the stress of completing their thesis.
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Cities
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Hussein Dia, Swinburne University of Technology
To cut emissions within the 12 years or so we have left to avoid disastrous global warming, we will need to change our old transport habits, using a combination of strategies to achieve this.
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Science + Technology
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Sean Martin, University of Adelaide
What contributes most to being at high risk of diabetes – diet, genes or something else? Big research questions need robust research approaches, so let's break it down.
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Joanne Hall, RMIT University
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Politics + Society
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The federal Coalition's primary vote fell for the third consecutive time, to 34%, in a poll that if replicated at an election would cost 21 seats.
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Adrian Beaumont, University of Melbourne
Meanwhile, Labor's strong win means it will unlikely have an incentive for desperately-needed upper house reform.
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Adrian Beaumont, University of Melbourne
With counting still underway, the projected primary votes are 44.1% Labor (up 6.0% since the 2014 election), 34.8% Coalition (down 7.2%) and 10.4% Greens (down 1.1%).
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Sangeetha Pillai, UNSW
Australia is proposing some of the toughest citizenship stripping laws in the world as it steps up efforts to curb extremist attacks - but the proposed law could run into significant legal hurdles
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Michelle Grattan speaks with Deep Saini about the week in Australian politics.
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Mark Moran, The University of Queensland
PNG is enjoying unfamiliar global attention after the APEC summit earlier this week, and the rivalry between the United States and China to exert influence in the region.
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Health + Medicine
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Mark Patrick Taylor, Macquarie University; Cynthia Isley, Macquarie University
Even as the dust storm over NSW subsides, the unseen fine particles outside, or even inside your house, can still present a health risk.
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Business + Economy
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Giselle Rampersad, Flinders University
Australia's naval shipbuilding projects could anchor the future of advanced manufacturing in the national economy.
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Environment + Energy
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Professor Lars Coenen, University of Melbourne; Cathy Alexander, University of Melbourne
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