As you may be aware, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, through the Ministerial Council on Drugs (MCDS) has auspiced the development of a national Strategy on Pharmaceutical Drug Misuse. The National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) is leading a Consortium that is undertaking the development of this new Strategy.
An extensive consultation process is being undertaken in the developmental phase of the Strategy. The consultation process includes a Call for Submissions. The Submissions process is open and Submissions can be made by any interested party.
The Call for Submissions closes on Friday 27 May.
Details about making a Submission are contained on the NCETA website.
For further information contact NCETA.
Category Archives: Professional News
Winter School in the Sun
2011 Australian Winter School Conference
Concurrent Disorders – Current Discourses.Thursday 9 & Friday 10 June, 2011
Gold Coast International Hotel, Surfers Paradise.
This year’s Australian Winter School will run over two days on 9 and 10 June, 2011 at the Gold Coast International Hotel in Surfers Paradise.
Plenary speakers include:
Dr Ken Minkoff, one of the nation’s leading experts on integrated treatment of individuals with co-occurring psychiatric and substance disorders, and on the development of integrated systems of care for such individuals.
Dr Christie Cline, who developed the design and format of the CCISC Change Agent Approach and the CCISC Change Agent Curriculum and is a co-author of the CCISC Co-occurring disorder system and services development and written book chapters on the ethics of co-occurring treatment.
And many prominent local and interstate speakers.
The conference will be preceded by a one-day workshop on Wednesday, 8 June entitled:
Integrated Strength Based Assessment, Intervention, and Recovery Planning for Individuals and Families with Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Conditions
run by Dr Ken Minkov and Dr Christie Cline.
Full details on both the conference and workshop, including a registration form and conference program can be accessed on our web site at:
www.winterschool.info
Email: winterschool@adfq.org
Phone: 07 3834 0214
Working therapeutically with women with complex trauma and alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues
Working therapeutically with women with complex trauma and alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues
Professional Workshop as an adjunct to the 2011 ATCA Conference
Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle, WAFRIDAY 3RD JUNE
9.00pm – 5.00pmWorking therapeutically with women with complex trauma and alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues
In this introduction to working therapeutically with women with complex trauma and AOD issues, we will start by providing an overview of special issues for women with AOD issues. We will then examine the impact of trauma and attachment trauma on multiple aspects of a person’s functioning including neurobiology, cognition, affect, behaviour, interpersonal relatedness, and sense of self. Finally we present a model of intervention that provides a safe way to work with these women. Activities will include lecturette, discussion skill demonstration, skill practice and case study. Participants will be able to supplement their learning from the workshop by referring to a recently produced guide: Marsh, Towers and O’Toole (2011) ‘Trauma-Informed Treatment Guide for Working with Women with Alcohol and Other Drug Issues’.Workshop Presenters: Ali Marsh and Tania Towers
Ali Marsh
Ali Marsh M.Psych (Clin); PhD is a clinical psychologist who has worked for over 20 years in the addiction area in multiple roles: as clinician, educator, consultant and researcher. She currently works as a clinical psychologist at Next Step Drug and Alcohol Service and in private practice. Her work as a clinical psychologist includes working therapeutically with clients, providing supervision for other clinicians, running workshops and writing treatment guidelines.Tania Towers
Tania Towers M.Psych (Clinical/Health) is a clinical psychologist who has worked in the addictions and trauma field for over 20 years. She has worked as a clinician, educator, consultant and manager. She currently works as the manager of the Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) and works as a clinical psychologist in private practice.Both Ali and Tania have contributed to the literature on AOD use and trauma issues, and along with another colleague, Stephanie O’Toole, have recently written a guide for clinicians titled ‘Trauma-Informed Treatment Guide for Working with Women with Alcohol and Other Drug Issues”.
For further information, conference updates, registration and hotel booking information please refer to the ATCA website www.atca.com.au.
Any correspondence should be sent to conference@atca.com.au.
School drug education for teens: how effective?
мека мебелDrug and Alcohol Findings is a great service, summarising key issues in the ATOD field. This week they’ve taken a look at a 2003 study on how effective interactive drug educations can be in schools. Aside from summarising that study’s findings (which was that interactive lessons did have a positive impact), they also give some fascinating information on follow-up statistical analysis that contradicted the original findings.
Local Government and drug prevention: new website
This is encouraging as so much good work goes on at this level of government:
Council of Capital City Lord Mayors
http://www.lgadin.gov.au
WEBSITE LAUNCHED TO HELP COUNCILS RESPOND TO IMPACTS OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOLThe Chair of the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors (CCCLM) and Lord Mayor of Hobart, Alderman Rob Valentine, launched a new website to assist councils in addressing the impacts of drugs and alcohol in their communities. The new site – Local Government Alcohol and Drugs Info Net (LGADIN) – is aimed at building and enhancing the capacity of local councils to reduce the harm of drugs and alcohol.
“Local government plays a significant role in shouldering the burden associated with the use of drugs and alcohol in our communities,” Lord Mayor Valentine said.“This is the first time in Australia that local government has had a dedicated website to assist councils improve their response in this area.
“LGADIN is home to everything any council in Australia needs to help them manage drug and alcohol issues in their communities. It provides a one stop shop of information on upcoming events, the latest news and a discussion forum for councils to participate in knowledge sharing.
“We envisage LGADIN becoming a primary tool, an essential component for councils in Australia to obtain the latest thinking, examples of clever initiatives operating in local government and important information on funding opportunities and legislative changes.”
Lord Mayor Valentine acknowledged the Federal Government’s funding contribution through its Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy which enabled the construction of the website.
“The LGADIN is a product of Federal Government engagement with local government to help reduce the impact of drugs and alcohol in our communities. By empowering councils, we are able to contribute towards reducing the impact that drugs and alcohol have on families, businesses and communities. We are happy to deliver coalface initiatives towards meeting national objectives.”
Hepatitis C outcome measures: German Study
Via the prolific Dr Andrew Byrne:
High rates of sustained virological response in hepatitis C virus-infected injection drug users receiving directly observed therapy with peginterferon alpha-2a (40KD) (PEGASYS) and once-daily ribavirin. Waizmann M, Ackermann G. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2010 38:338-345
Dear Colleagues,
This report is very good news for those considering anti-viral treatment for hepatitis C from an opioid pharmacotherapy setting. Out of 49 patients 48 obtained a sustained viral response according to this group from Leipzig, Germany. Side effects were modest and none required cessation or alteration of treatment schedules. Uniquely they give all treatment under supervision in the clinic on a daily basis with ribavirin given as single daily dose of 800mg (1200mg for genotypes 1/4) rather than the more usual split dose regimen, given for 26 weeks (48 weeks for genotype 1/4). Furthermore, all patients were given antidepressant citalopram (Cipramil) 20mg daily starting 2 weeks before commencement of anti-viral drugs as a prophylactic regardless of whether they had clinical depression or not at the outset.
Study patients’ mean age was 30 years, 50% male; genotypes 1 (41%), 2 (4%), 3 (53%), 4 (2%). Subjects had to have been ‘stable’ for at least 3 of 6 months in opiate treatment. They were taking buprenorphine 0.6mg – 7.4mg or levo-methadone 10 – 50mg (equivalent to 20 – 100mg of the regular racemic product). They had been taking opiates for an average of 6 years and had HCV for an estimated 3.5 years. This is in contrast to other reports where opiate use/HCV were of substantially longer duration.
The authors did a retrospective analysis of 49 such patients over 3 year period, including LFTs, Hb, WBC, platelets and viral loads. It is not quite clear how these were chosen for inclusion – random, time period or consecutive?
The clinic typically treated a population of 125 addicts on a daily basis including weekends. Doctors and counsellors were available on-site every day and a hotline was available to patients.
While the results seem extremely favourable, the authors cite another study with compliance rate of 100% and SVR rate of 94% from 17 HCV genotype 3-infected MMT patients treated with IF plus RBV, the former under observation and using psychosocial supports (Krook et al. Norway 2007). This is also consistent with numerous studies showing improved results from directly observed treatment (DOT) in HIV infection (see Sharkey 2011). Others have reported improved HCV rates with increased psychosocial supports and less illicit drug/alcohol use.
We should all be encouraging our patients with HCV to consider assessment and treatment where appropriate. If these outcomes can be corroborated we should also probably consider the benefits of additional supervision of medication for better adherence as well as possibly once daily antivirals and antidepressants.
Comments by Andrew Byrne ..
Opinion blog: http://methadone-research.blogspot.com/
New York spring stories: http://andrewbyrneinnewyork.blogspot.com/
Dr Strain on the new bupe “film” or ‘wafer’. http://methadone-research.blogspot.com/2011/04/eric-strain-talks-about-buprenorphine.htmlKrook AL, Stokka D, Heger B, Nygaard E. Hepatitis C treatment of opioid dependants receiving maintenance treatment: Results of a Norwegian pilot study. 2007 European Addiction Research 13:216-221
Sharkey KM, Kurth ME, Anderson BJ, Corso RP, Millman RP, Stein MD. Directly observed antiretroviral therapy improves adherence and viral load in drug users attending methadone maintenance clinics: A randomized controlled trial. Drug Alc Depend 2011 114;2-3:245-248
Waizmann M, Ackermann G. High rates of sustained virological response in hepatitis C virus-infected injection drug users receiving directly observed therapy with peginterferon alpha-2a (40KD) (PEGASYS) and once-daily ribavirin. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2010 38:338-345
ANCD: new members announced by Government
Press release from the ANCD:
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DRUGS
The Federal Government today announced the new membership of the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD).
Prime Minister Julia Gillard welcomed the addition of several new members to the ANCD who will bring fresh perspectives on ways to reduce harm caused by alcohol and drug misuse.
They will join a number of experienced members at the ANCD – which will continue to be chaired by Dr John Herron.
The ANCD has played a crucial role as the Australian Government’s principal advisory body on licit and illicit drugs since its establishment in 1998.
Members of the ANCD come from a wide variety of backgrounds and have experience in areas covering law enforcement, the health and social welfare sectors and the community sector.
The ANCD brings a broad, whole-of-society perspective to drug and alcohol issues.
It has helped shape several Government strategies and campaigns which have succeeded in reducing the rate of smoking and illicit drug use.
The Prime Minister said ANCD members, past and present, have made a valuable contribution in tackling the issues behind drug and alcohol misuse.
The Council’s membership will next be reviewed in 2014.
MELBOURNE
15 APRIL 2011PRESS OFFICE (02) 6277 7744
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DRUGS MEMBERSHIP: 2011-2014
The following people have been appointed to the ANCD (2011-2014):
* Indicates new members
Chair of the Council
Dr John HerronExecutive Members
Associate Professor Robert Ali
Professor Margaret Hamilton
Mr Garth PoppleMembers
Ms Donna Ah Chee *
Professor Steve Allsop *
Professor Jon Currie *
Ms Carrie Fowlie *
Magistrate Margaret Gill Harding *
Mr Nick Heath *
Ms Annie Madden *
Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan *
Mr Frank Quinlan (ex officio) *
Professor Dorothy Scott *
Assistant Commissioner Julian Slater *
Ms Sheree Vertigan (ex officio)
Mr Paul White *
Associate Professor Ted WilkesANCD Terms of Reference 2011–2014
Provide independent advice to the Prime Minister and Australian Government Ministers on national drug and alcohol strategies, policies, programs and emerging issues.
Provide independent advice to the Prime Minister and the Australian Government on improving the implementation and effectiveness of efforts to reduce the supply, demand and harm from drugs in Australia and internationally.
Provide independent and strategic advice to the Prime Minister and Australian Government Ministers on drug and alcohol issues specifically affecting Indigenous people.
Provide assistance and advice on drug policy and services to Australian Government departments, inquiries and other bodies such as parliamentary parties, as appropriate.
Consult and liaise with relevant sectors and in particular the non-government sector on drug and alcohol related issues.
Inform and educate relevant sectors and the general public’s knowledge on drug and alcohol related issues.
Build and maintain partnerships across the range of sectors concerned in dealing with and addressing drug related issues.
Work closely with the Inter-governmental Committee on Drugs and other National Drug Strategy partners to develop and implement effective strategies, policies and programs to reduce the uptake and misuse of illicit and licit drugs.
Maintain effective liaison with other stakeholders, public health advisory bodies and relevant peak non-government organisations, including consumer representatives.
Develop a three year Work Plan for the Council.
Report annually to the Prime Minister on the work of the Council.
Psychotherapy of Addiction – 11th Annual Conference (UK)
Psychotherapy of Addiction – 11th Annual Conference
Date: Monday 27 – Tuesday 28 June 2011
(Info last updated 14 April 2011)
South West London & St. George’s Mental Health NHS Trust
Psychotherapy of Addiction – 11th Annual Conference
Date: Monday 27 – Tuesday 28 June 2011, 9.45am – 5.00pm
Venue: Friends House (Quakers), 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ
Cost: Any one day = £70; two days= £130;
Price includes tea/coffee; lunch available to buy locally.
(Employees of SWL&St.G Trust ONLY: 50% discount (i.e. any one day = £35 or both days= £65).
DAY ONE Theme: “Addiction – with & without drugs”
“Psychodynamic Approaches to People with Gambling Problems” – Derek Irwin, Counsellor/Supervisor, Gamcare.
“What is Co-dependency?” – Dr Tracy Burrows, Locum Consultant Psychiatrist.
“The Abuse of an Object & Relating Through Incorporation” – Jean Knox, Jungian Analyst.
“From Toxic Projections to Dependency-group Analysis & Eating D isorders” – Sally Willis, Psychotherapist, Priory.
Large Group reflections.
DAY TWO Theme: “Time, memory, healing”
“Black Holes; Collapses of Time in the Mind of the Addict” – Alistair Sweet, Psychotherapist/NIDAS, Belfast.
“Responses – Pathologies of Time, Memory & Desire” – Jill Fowler, Analytical Psychotherapist; Ryan Kemp, Consultant Psychologist.
“From Enmeshment to Recovery” – An innovative group exercise, facilitated by Mike, Expert by Experience & Martin Weegmann, Consultant Psychologist.
2 Personal accounts of recovery.
Large group reflections.
Martin Weegmann (Organiser)
Tel: 07834 430 880
E-mail: martin.weegmann@swlstg-tr.nhs.uk
Churchill Fellow Chat – 22nd March
CHAT WITH CLANCY WRIGHT, CHURCHILL FELLOW 22 MARCH 2011, 11AM – 12 NOON
“Australia has an intolerable level of alcohol related harm and death, resulting from the high levels of alcohol consumption. Australia requires a cultural change around alcohol, a reduction in harms and national legislation to support it. To achieve this, a revitalised approach led by the Australian alcohol and other drug sector is required.
A cultural change around alcohol can be realised. Harms can be reduced. Australia can restore the balance. But a new approach is required.”
Join Clancy Wright, 2010 Churchill Fellow, in a discussion around methods for initiating a cultural change around alcohol.
The link between cannabis and psychosis
No real surprises in the meta-analysis described below but it certainly puts another line in the sand on the link between cannabis and mental health. The question remains on whether governments and NGOs can wait for a definitive link before making large policy changes.
Cannabis Use and Earlier Onset of Psychosis: A Systematic Meta-analysis
Matthew Large [et al.] Archives of General Psychiatry, 7th February 2011Abstract:
Context A number of studies have found that the use of cannabis and other psychoactive substances is associated with an earlier onset of psychotic illness.Objective To establish the extent to which use of cannabis, alcohol, and other psychoactive substances affects the age at onset of psychosis by meta-analysis.
Data Sources Peer-reviewed publications in English reporting age at onset of psychotic illness in substance-using and non–substance-using groups were located using searches of CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and ISI Web of Science.
Study Selection Studies in English comparing the age at onset of psychosis in cohorts of patients who use substances with age at onset of psychosis in non–substance-using patients. The searches yielded 443 articles, from which 83 studies met the inclusion criteria.
Data Extraction Information on study design, study population, and effect size were extracted independently by 2 of us.
Data Synthesis Meta-analysis found that the age at onset of psychosis for cannabis users was 2.70 years younger (standardized mean difference = –0.414) than for nonusers; for those with broadly defined substance use, the age at onset of psychosis was 2.00 years younger (standardized mean difference = –0.315) than for nonusers. Alcohol use was not associated with a significantly earlier age at onset of psychosis. Differences in the proportion of cannabis users in the substance-using group made a significant contribution to the heterogeneity in the effect sizes between studies, confirming an association between cannabis use and earlier mean age at onset of psychotic illness.
Conclusions The results of meta-analysis provide evidence for a relationship between cannabis use and earlier onset of psychotic illness, and they support the hypothesis that cannabis use plays a causal role in the development of psychosis in some patients. The results suggest the need for renewed warnings about the potentially harmful effects of cannabis.
Full text available here – http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/archgenpsychiatry.2011.5