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June 20, 2017

Understanding the wider context Once you’ve asked the questions needed to begin the process of developing a community prevention program, it’s important to understand the wider context. Successful prevention campaigns and programs have shown that…

November 2, 2017

It’s that time of year again, when year 12 school leavers head off to various locations for their annual ‘schoolies’ celebrations. For young people who participate in schoolies, it’s an important time in their life;…

June 7, 2017

Start with some questions The misuse of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) has enormous impacts on communities around Australia: from influencing crime, to public violence and property damage, to reducing workplace productivity. It impacts families too,…

July 18, 2017

People use alcohol and other drugs (AOD) for a variety of reasons: to relax, for enjoyment, to be part of a group, sometimes to avoid physical and/or psychological pain. Others may experiment out of a…

June 28, 2017

Australia, like many other countries in the world, operates under a notion of a free market. Where demand and supply dominate, with little or no government control.  However, Government has to intervene to ensure the…

July 28, 2017

The ‘popularity’ of various drugs rise and fall. Be it heroin, ecstasy, crystal methamphetamine, or other drugs – we see it time and again. And there’s been a lot of speculation in the ADF office…

August 24, 2017

Close your eyes and imagine an overdose. What drug do you think was used? Would it surprise you to learn that the majority of overdose deaths are not due to heroin, but instead pharmaceutical drugs?1…

April 23, 2018

Performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) are substances taken by people who would like to change their physical appearance, enhance their sporting performance, or both. There are several types of PIEDs, including anabolic steroids, peptides,…

February 17, 2017

Medically supervised injecting centres (MSICs) are places where people can use drugs under the supervision of medical staff and health professionals. (MSICs are also known as supervised injecting facilities, drug consumption rooms, injecting rooms, or…

September 14, 2017

A former crystal methamphetamine (or ‘ice’) user in Queensland announced in August 2016 that her business was talking to primary and secondary school students about her experience with the drug. Her approach involved describing to…

June 28, 2017

According to the most recent National Drug Strategy Household Survey, there is strong public support for controls on alcohol advertising. Compared to the previous report, there was increased support for preventing TV advertising until 9.30…

March 23, 2018

One of the ADF’s flagship alcohol and other drug primary prevention programs, the Community Engagement and Action Program (CEAP), is now well established with continued funding generously provided through NSW Health. Complementing and extending the ADF’s…

April 22, 2018

The primary aim of a medically supervised injecting centre (MSIC) is to tackle health risks associated with using drugs on the streets as well as introducing drug users to services and support.  Evidence to support…

January 17, 2018

The rescheduling of pharmaceuticals that include codeine will tighten access to these drugs from 1 February. This makes now a timely moment to consider some of the wider measures that GPs can take to improve…

August 31, 2017

Overdose. It’s a powerful word which many people immediately link to dark alleyways, syringes or self-inflicted destruction. And, sadly, many people look at overdose victims with disgust, or at least judgmentally, unable to see past…

July 18, 2017

Image from VicHealth’s H30 challenge Health promotion campaigns are used to raise awareness about alcohol and other drug (AOD) harms with the aim of improving health outcomes and community wellbeing. But knowing where to start…

June 29, 2017

Changing people’s behaviours is the holy grail in health promotion. Whether it’s encouraging people to make better food choices, being vigilant for disease symptoms or reducing the amount they drink, most health promoters aim to…

February 16, 2017

Your prescription medications can be addictive, so take care. Addictive medication is harming too many Australians No medications are completely safe. The number of Australians overdosing on pharmaceutical drugs has now overtaken the road toll1,…

February 15, 2017

Medication may be right for you in the short term, but it doesn’t come without risks. Research concludes that strong painkillers and medication often used to treat stress, anxiety and insomnia (benzodiazepines), generally shouldn’t be…

September 14, 2018

Although psilocybin, found in “magic mushrooms”, has been used for spiritual or religious purposes in different cultures for centuries, the popularisation of psychedelics for recreational use in the 1960s resulted in a moral panic that…