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Huge news for baby "Methamphetamine Rules"

<p>Three months after ABC journalist Kirsten Drysdale <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/why-an-abc-journalist-named-her-newborn-after-an-illicit-drug" target="_blank" rel="noopener">named her newborn</a> after an illicit drug, her son now has a new name. </p> <p>In September, Drysdale was investigating the limits of the naming registry for her show <em>WTFAQ</em> on the public broadcaster, in which audience members asked "What can I legally name my baby?" </p> <p>At the time, Drysdale wasn't getting a clear answer from the registry about the boundaries of naming a child, so decided to take matters into her own hands. </p> <p>"We thought, what is the most outrageous name we can think of that will definitely not be accepted?” Drysdale told <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/abc-journalist-kirsten-drysdales-wild-name-for-newborn-son/news-story/c4568f521ee9cfb5b68179a84667d92b#xd_co_f=YTM5MzVmOGQtNTY4My00NWE1LThjNDctMTUxMjJlNjVhMWNj~" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em> at the time.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Methamphetamine Rules we thought would surely get rejected, and then when it does, we can find out what name the Registrar chooses.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was really just a lighthearted, curious attempt to get an answer to this question.”</p> <p>As an experiment, Drysdale, who had just given birth to her son, submitted for him to be named "Methamphetamine Rules", with the naming registry approving the joke moniker. </p> <p>Now, Drysdale has shared that baby Meth has a new name. </p> <p>Appearing on <em>The Project</em>, the ABC presenter told the panel the naming mishap was now "all sorted", saying, “That name has been removed. It no longer is on his birth certificate.”</p> <p>“He has a new birth certificate with his real name on it.”</p> <p>She chose not to reveal her child’s new name, but assured viewers it is incredibly "normal".</p> <p>“He will not have to, for the rest of his life answer ‘have you ever been known by any other name’,” she said.</p> <p>“You’re not taking methamphetamines to any parties this Christmas?” host Sarah Harris asked jokingly.</p> <p>“No, Baby Meth is going to have a quiet Christmas at home this year,” Ms Drysdale said. <span style="color: #202223; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; background-color: #ffffff;"> </span></p> <p><em>Image credits: The Project / A Current Affair</em></p>

Legal

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Why an ABC journalist named her newborn after an illicit drug

<p dir="ltr">An ABC journalist has raised eyebrows after she named her newborn son after an illicit drug.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kirsten Drysdale, host of <em>WTFAQ</em> on the public broadcaster, has recently welcomed her third child with her husband Chris, as the couple revel in their newborn bliss bubble. <br />However, their euphoria has been overtaken by a series of questions over their strange choice of name for the baby boy. </p> <p dir="ltr">The newborn baby’s legal name is Methamphetamine Rules. </p> <p dir="ltr">The reasons behind the unusual name are more than meets the eye, as Drysdale works on the <em>WTFAQ</em> program, answering burning questions from the public. </p> <p dir="ltr">‘What can I legally name my baby?’ has come up consistently on the program, as Drysdale set out to investigate how far you can go when naming a child before the state registry steps in. </p> <p dir="ltr">While researching the story, the mum wondered what name the registry would default to if the parents’ first submission was rejected.</p> <p dir="ltr">She wasn’t getting a clear answer from the government body’s media team, and as she was about to give birth, Drysdale decided it was perfect timing to take matters into her own hands.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We thought, what is the most outrageous name we can think of that will definitely not be accepted?” Drysdale told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/abc-journalist-kirsten-drysdales-wild-name-for-newborn-son/news-story/c4568f521ee9cfb5b68179a84667d92b" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>news.com.au</em></a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Methamphetamine Rules we thought would surely get rejected, and then when it does, we can find out what name the Registrar chooses.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was really just a lighthearted, curious attempt to get an answer to this question.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Drysdale’s attempt at fooling the system quickly turned to horror when her initial online submission listing her son’s fake name was approved “very quickly”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Weeks after giving birth, she received her son’s birth certificate in the mail with ‘Methamphetamine Rules’ listed as her son’s given name.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t know how it slipped through,” Drysdale said. “I’m not sure if someone was overworked, or if it was automated somewhere.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Or possibly, maybe they thought Methamphetamine was a Greek name.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They haven’t really given us a clear answer.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Thankfully, the Registrar admitted it was an unusual oversight, and Drysdale’s son’s real, “normal” name should be approved any day now.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Baby Meth’s real name … I’m not publicly disclosing it, because I don’t want it to be attached to this,” she laughed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a beautiful name and I can tell you it has nothing to do with class A drugs.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“We think it’ll be a very unique 21st birthday present to tell him this story.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Kirsten Drysdale / WTFAQ: ABC</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Australian city named as the meth capital of the world

<p>A study monitoring illicit drug use around the world has found Adelaide to have the highest methamphetamine use out of 120 cities.</p> <p>The research, published in the journal <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191023093445.htm" target="_blank"><em>Addiction</em></a> on Wednesday, analysed wastewater samples from 37 countries in a seven-year project.</p> <p>Data collected in Adelaide over a one-week period in 2017 showed between 507 and 659 milligrams of methamphetamine or “ice” per 1,000 people each day, compared with between 270 and 331mg in Canberra and Toowoomba.</p> <p>The findings followed the <a href="https://acic.govcms.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases-and-statements/wastewater-results-show-high-levels-methylamphetamine-fentanyl-and-cannabis-consumption-south">Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s June report</a>, which revealed Adelaide as the methamphetamine capital of the nation.</p> <p>Despite the staggering record, the prevalence of methamphetamine has declined since the study was conducted, said one of the study’s lead authors Dr Richard Bade.</p> <p>“To put into a bit of context, the study was from 2017 and in fact since that time methamphetamine use in South Australia has actually been on the decrease,” Bade told the <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-24/adelaide-had-highest-meth-use-in-cities-in-world-study/11633416">ABC</a></em>.</p> <p>“And there's been plenty of initiatives around that reduction of methamphetamine use in Adelaide [since 2017].”</p> <p>The city coming closest to Adelaide’s levels was Seattle, with a 418mg average over a three-year monitoring period.</p> <p>The report said cocaine use increased across Europe, with London, Bristol, Amsterdam, Zurich, Geneva, St Gallen and Antwerp having the highest levels of between 600 to 900mg per 1,000 people.</p> <p>Canberra had a significantly higher cocaine use than the other two Australian cities.</p> <p>The Netherlands recorded the highest use of ecstasy, also known as MDMA.</p> <p>“It’s important we determine the scale of the illicit drug market so that countries can work out the best way to tackle a $100 billion industry, which is contributing to the global burden of disease and affecting the economic development of many countries,” Bade said.</p>

Mind

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Ice epidemic worsens in Australia

<p>Shocking new data shows the number of Australians killed due to methamphetamine use has doubled in just six years.</p> <p>Professor Shane Darke from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and lead author of the study described the findings, released yesterday in the academic journal Addiction, as a major public health crisis.</p> <p>“I hear it occasionally said that the extent of the methamphetamine problem has been overstated, but I think this many identified cases over seven years shows we have a major problem,” Professor Darke told news.com.au.</p> <p>His team examined 1649 fatalities linked to the illicit drug between 2009 and 2015 and discovered the mortality rate is up to six times greater than the average.</p> <p>"Each of these deaths was associated with about 44 years of life [that could have been lived had the person not used methamphetamine] and I think that shows the impact," said Professor Darke.</p> <p>There are different types of methamphetamine but the drug crystal meth – known as ice – is one of the most popular.</p> <p>Professor Darke warned there is a “hidden danger” in meth-related deaths as the drug can damaged vital organs even if users only consume a little amount.</p> <p>In 22 per cent of cases examined, “natural” diseases like cardiac arrest or stroke were the common causes of death, Professor Darke said.</p> <p>“Many users may be unaware that heart disease is a major factor in methamphetamine-related death.”</p> <p>Almost half of meth users die due to an overdose.</p> <p>“Basically, the person becomes unbearably hot and their temperature spikes. They have trouble breathing and they may fit.</p> <p>“Even a very little amount can kill you — it can engender a heart attack.”</p> <p>There are an estimated 300,000 regular meth users across the country.</p> <p>Professor Darke fears the rate of death of meth users – which increased yearly until 2012 where it has since stayed at a high level – will not improve without greater awareness.</p> <p>“But there are long-term impacts too,” Professor Darke said.</p> <p>“Even if everyone stopped using methamphetamines today, we’re looking at a number of individuals with serious damage to their hearts.”</p> <p>“We think there are aspects of the dangers of methamphetamine that people — particularly users — aren’t aware of,” he said.</p> <p>“This is the tip of the iceberg. I think this issue is something from which the effects will be felt for decades to come.”</p> <p><em><strong>If you or someone you know needs help, call the Alcohol and Drug Foundation on 1300 85 85 84 or visit <a href="http://adf.org.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">adf.org.au</span></a></strong></em></p>

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