The too hard basket

The so-called 'war on drugs' has been waged in the US since at least the 1970s, when then President Richard Nixon signed the Controlled Substances Act and declared drug abuse as “public enemy number one.” In Australia, there have been similar efforts to battle drug trafficking and use. As prescription opioids overtake heroin as a public health emergency, those efforts have expanded to restrict the control and supply of those substances too. First Nations people have been much more heavily impacted by substance issues and official responses than the non-Indigenous population. In this Episode of The Too Hard Basket, and in the final story of a three part series on drugs in Australia, we look at how these issues play out for Indigenous communities.

Most of us might be familiar with the term 'the war on drugs'. In the US, it's been waged since the 1970s, when then President Richard Nixon signed the Controlled Substances Act and declared drug abuse as “public enemy number one.” In Australia, there have been similar efforts historically to battle drug trafficking and drug use. On today's episode of The Too Hard Basket, we look at how state and federal governments are now handling these issues, and if a hardline approach is still the answer. This is the second story in a three part series on drugs in Australia.

Most of us might be familiar with the term 'the war on drugs'. In the US, it's been waged since the 1970s, when then President Richard Nixon signed the Controlled Substances Act and declared drug abuse as “public enemy number one.” But today, it's not so much illicit drugs but prescription medication that the US is fighting, with deaths from prescription opioids reaching crisis levels. Authorities in Australia have been keen to avoid a similar emergency here, introducing restrictions in 2020 to limit their supply. In this episode of the Too Hard Basket series, SBS looks at how effective these changes have been so far - and what else needs to be done. This is the first in a three-part series investigating drugs in Australia.

In this episode of the Too Hard Basket, we'll look at aged care funding, and the money that's been set aside in the latest federal Budget to improve the wages of aged care workers. With Australia's population getting older, there's concern that the problems identified by the aged care royal commission still persist. We ask will this Budget be the game changer the sector needs?

In this episode, we'll look at sexual harassment and sexual assault on university campuses. We look at how prevalent these incidents are, and what can be done to change things.

In this episode, we look at the skyrocketing costs of renting a property in Australia, which almost everyone agrees has put a lot of people under immense pressure. So why do we have this issue? And what can be done to change the system?

What are the barriers to accessing appropriate and culturally safe sexual and reproductive health care for women from multicultural backgrounds? Most migrant and refugee women on temporary visas do not have access to Medicare coverage. This makes accessing essential services, such as pregnancy termination, an expensive and highly stressful experience. Even for those women who may have access to Medicare, many are forced to grapple with services that aren't culturally safe or fail to cater to their diverse linguistic or cultural needs.

As a relatively new area of research, there's not a lot known about Gaming Addiction. But with technology now such a central component of our lives, what issues do Australians face when it comes to a healthy relationship with internet gaming, and what measures need to be put in place to ensure a safe future online?

With the National Disability Insurance Scheme not covering anyone who suffers a disabling injury over 65, many are left scrambling for funds to pay for the care they need. But whose responsiblity is it to ensure our elderly Australians have enough support? Where should the funds be coming from? And what shifts in policy are needed to ensure age is not a barrier to help?

When attention turns to rebuilding after fire, floods and drought, how do fears of other psychosocial and mental health problems become more prominent? And what needs to be done to make meaningful change?

This episode looks at the trauma confronting women in prison, with a particular focus on how these issues are exacerbated for First Nations women. The majority of incarcerated women have committed less serious crimes, and yet once they face prison they're far more likely to return. These same women are often the victims of abuse, intergenerational trauma and addiction, and can be re-traumatised by the prison setting.

For those who have spent time incarcerated, life post-release can be challenging and, often burdened with debts and with no income and few savings, it can be difficult not to fall back into criminal activity. So what can be done to ensure those who spend time in prison are better equipped with the financial tools and literacy to help rebuild their lives permanently away from the prison system?

In this episode of the Too Hard Basket series we dive into the topic of First Nations people's identification, and how it can limit their access to tens of thousands of dollars of their own money. With multiple birth dates and given names, the gap in financial literacy, and kinship structures not recognised in Western culture, First Nations people face barriers in accessing their own finances. So what can be done to make meaningful change?

In this episode of the Too Hard Basket series, we dive into the taboo topic of domestic violence and its impact on children's development. How can an exposure to domestic or family violence in the home impact a child's ability to learn and build positive relationships? And what needs to be done to make meaningful change?

In this episode of the Too Hard Basket series, we look at the taboo topic of gambling-related suicides. How can the shame and stigma of gambling and debt push level-headed people to consider serious, irreversible harm, and what needs to be done to make meaningful change?

Based on stories of those with lived experience, this series unpacks difficult issues in the search for possible solutions. It's about getting comfortable with the uncomfortable, and dealing with real human problems that are too often put in the 'Too-hard basket'.