From Turning Point:

“A series of one-day training courses on Psychostimulants have been funded by the Commonwealth. These free courses are available to a broad range of health and welfare workers . The aim of the project is to assist health professionals such as medical practitioners, nurses, mental health workers and alcohol and drug workers to manage and treat users of psychostimulants (speed, base, ice, MDMA, cocaine). A series of one-day courses are being delivered nationally. These will be coordinated by Turning Point but delivered by specialist staff from individual states and territories.

Two courses have recently been organised in the Northern Territory. A course overview is provided below. Details of course locations, delivery schedules and the registration process are available at www.turningpoint.org.au – use the link to from GO to WHOA.

Please feel free to contact Kieran Connolly on kieranc@turningpoint.org.au for further information.

Module 1 Introduction

By the end of this module participants will be able to identify:
· what psychostimulants are
· concerns about psychostimulant use
· why people take psychostimulants
· how psychostimulants affect people
· how psychostimulants are taken
– frameworks for responding to psychostimulant use

Module 2 Pharmacology

By the end of this module participants will be able to identify:
· what psychostimulants are
· influences on drug effects
· common psychostimulant effects
– common features of withdrawal

Module 3 Epidemiology and risks

By the end of this module participants will be able to identify:
· the history of psychostimulant use
· current prevalence of use
– risks associated with psychostimulant use

Module 4 Responding to psychostimulant use

By the end of this module, participants will be able to identify:
· effective ways to raise the issue of psychostimulant use
· behavioural indicators of psychostimulant use
· physical indicators of psychostimulant use
· emergency response situations
· appropriate strategies for the management of intoxication
· mental health issues
· strategies to manage agitated behaviour
· strategies to reduce harm at various harm points
– appropriate treatment strategies”