Dr Jessamine Soderstrom from the Emerging Drugs Network of Australia (EDNA) looks at new and emerging recreational drugs and their toxicology.

Recreational drugs represent around 8% of cases in emergency departments. This webinar will be an exploration of the different novel psychoactive drugs out there, and includes information on cathinones, hallucinogenics, synthetic cannabinoids and their mechanism of action and clinical presentations.

There will also be an introduction to EDNA and how it is informing what is causing harm in communities throughout Australia.

Presenter: Dr Jessamine Soderstrom

Biography: Jessamine Soderstrom is an Emergency Physician and Clinical Toxicologist at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH). A self-professed nerd with a desire for a sedate life in an adrenaline-fueled environment of an Emergency Department (ED). Recreational drug abuse (not including alcohol) represents around 8% of all ED presentations at RPH. The power of data, objective evidence of what recreational drugs are causing harm in the community is what drives her area of research. She has been involved in the development of EDNA (Emerging Drugs Network of Australia) which is a national registry for what recreational drugs are causing presentations to an Emergency Departments around Australia. It is a lovely demonstration of how research complements clinical practice and informs it.