John Bray CLE - Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and the Criminal Law
- Date: Wed, 7 May 2025, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
- Location: Courtroom 8, Sir Samuel Way Building (and online)
- Cost: $35 / $25 student/conc.
- More information: JBAN CLE 1 2025
- Contact: Alumni Relations +61 8 8313 5800
- Email: alumni@adelaide.edu.au
Since 1984 the Controlled Substances Act has governed the legal response to possession, sale and supply of different categories of drugs. A growing challenge for forensic scientists, law enforcement and lawyers is the growth in novel psychoactive drugs, which are chemicals synthesised to mimic the effects of better known illicit drugs, but which are less well understood and regulated. There are challenges in identifying and categorising these drugs in accordance with the existing schedules of controlled drugs.
Greg Abroe is the Science Leader in the Drugs Group at Forensic Science SA and is at the coalface of the challenges in the detection and categorisation of these new chemicals. He will present on what NPS are, why they are produced, and the issues surrounding their forensic analysis. He will explain the approach being taken by Forensic Science SA to the current legislation, and how scientists determine whether a NPS is a controlled drug for the purposes of the legislative scheme in the Controlled Substances Act.
This session is appropriate for all levels of experience.
The session will be appropriate to satisfy the requirements of one CPD point in Professional Skills.
More about the speaker
Greg Abroe completed his undergraduate degree in Forensic and Analytical Chemistry in 2012, then completed an Honours degree focussing on an aspect of analytical chemistry in 2013.
Since 2014, Greg has been employed at FSSA in the Illicit Drugs group. His role started in the laboratory, performing receipt and analysis on suspected Illicit Drugs matters. In 2017, he was authorised as an analyst under the Controlled Substances Act to report Illicit Drugs results. At this time he also completed his training in the botanical identification of Cannabis plant material, and the reporting of those results. In 2021, he completed his in-house training to attend and report results from suspected clandestine laboratories. In 2023, he won the position of Illicit Drugs Science Leader, which now sees Greg focusing on training and development of staff and processes, as well as completing case work requirements.
Greg is the SA representative on the Drug Specialist Advisory Group for the National Institute of Forensic Science and also sits as a member on the Controlled Substances Advisory Committee, who provide expertise on matters involving the Controlled Substances Act and relevant Regulations.