In Queensland and passionate about reducing harm from alcohol?

Come along to the Summer ’14 Alcohol Summit being held by the Queensland Coalition for Action on Alcohol (QCAA) and participate in this workshop discussion led by a panel of experts on the impacts of alcohol. The Summer’14 Alcohol Summit will look at the harms and impacts that alcohol has across a range of different areas including alcohol related violence, health impacts and the impact to society.

The Summer’14 Alcohol Summit will look at the harms and impacts that alcohol has across a range of different areas including alcohol related violence, health impacts and the impact to society.

This workshop discussion will be led by a panel of the following experts

• Professor Jake Najman, Director, Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre
• Dr Richard Kidd, Australian Medical Association Qld, and
• Mrs Gloria Steenson with a personal account of the devastating impacts of alcohol related violence.
• Dr Dennis Young, Executive Director, Healthy Options Australia (Master of Ceremonies)

The effects of excess alcohol use are far reaching and this workshop will focus on what practical measures can be taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Lunch will be available at the Speakers Green BBQ Area following the workshop.

Follow the link to find about more and register: http://e.mybookingmanager.com/E1119235758178396

To find out more about QCAA, go to http://www.qcaa.org.au/

From NDARC:

Do you work with family members affected by the dependent drug or alcohol use of a relative?

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at the University of New South Wales is conducting a study to examine the impact of drug use on family members.

The study is via an online survey (www.druguseandfamiliessurvey.com.au) and only takes 20 minutes to complete. All information is confidential and the study has received ethical approval from UNSW (HREC: HC14129).

Over 100 people have completed the survey so far but now we need your help; if you work with family members aged 18+ who have been affected by the drug or alcohol use of a relative please invite them to take part in the survey.

If you would like any further information please contact Dr Marian Shanahan at the University of New South Wales: (02) 8936 1215 or m.shanahan@unsw.edu.au

Many thanks for your help.

Link to survey: www.druguseandfamiliessurvey.com.au

Via the ADCA Update list:

INVITATION TO DISCUSSION FORUM ON THE MANAGEMENT OF CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS

The NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use (CREMS) at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre has been funded by the Australian Government Department of Health to update and revise the ‘Guidelines on the management of co-occurring alcohol and other drug and mental health conditions in alcohol and other drug treatment settings’.

Originally published in 2009, this hugely popular resource aimed to provide alcohol and other drug (AOD) workers with evidence-based information on the management of comorbid mental health conditions in AOD settings. Since publication in December 2009, over 10,000 hard-copies and electronic copies have been distributed to clinicians and treatment services across Australia.

This revision will bring the Guidelines up to date with the most current evidence. The project is being undertaken by Dr Christina Marel, A/Prof Katherine Mills, Prof Maree Teesson, Mr Mark Deady, Dr Frances Kay-Lambkin, and Prof Amanda Baker.

We would be delighted if members of the alcohol and other drugs sector would be interested in participating in a discussion forum to help inform the revision process.  We are hoping that the forum will be attended by a variety of interested stakeholders including academic experts, clinicians, consumers and carers.

The discussion forum will convene on Tuesday, 11 November 2014, from 2 to 5pm at Meeting Room 3 at the Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide.  During the forum we will discuss the content of the Guidelines with a particular focus on how we could improve upon the existing resource. A copy of the existing Guidelines is available for download on the CREMS website (http://comorbidity.edu.au/cre-resources/professionals), and will be distributed at the forum meeting for consideration.

If you are interested in participating as a discussion forum member, please RSVP to Dr Christina Marel (c.marel@unsw.edu.au) to register by 5pm Friday 3^rd October.

From the PHAA:

AUSTRALIA’S PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS RECOGNISED

Public health experts and practitioners from around the country and overseas have come together for the Public Health Association of Australia’s (PHAA) 43rd Annual Conference in Perth.  The contributions of outstanding leaders in the field of public health have been recognised at an awards ceremony this evening.

Sidney Sax Medallist: Professor Tarun Weeramanthri

“The Sidney Sax Public Health Medal is the Association’s pre-eminent prize.  PHAA bestows this competitive award annually on a person who has provided a notable contribution to the protection and promotion of public health, solving public health problems, advancing community awareness of public health measures and advancing the ideals and practice of equity in the provision of health care.  This year’s winner is Professor Tarun Weeramanthri,” said Michael Moore, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the PHAA.

“Professor Weeramanthri is among the longest-serving Chief Health Officers in Australia, with more than ten years combined at the helm across the Northern Territory and Western Australia.  He is a highly-respected and accomplished individual and an exemplar of the 21st century Chief Health Officer: scholar, physician, and advocate for health.  His steadfast commitment to social justice, his dogged determination in championing preventive health and investment by governments, his capacity to embrace and lead change and his ability to infuse the same passion for – and commitment to – public health in others are exceptional.  Most remarkable is his unwavering commitment to public service, his faith and knowledge of what good can be achieved through working in government and his personal endeavours in making a difference to the lives and wellbeing of communities he has – and continues to – serve,” said Mr Moore.

Public Health Mentor of the Year Award: Professor Melanie Wakefield and Associate Professor Stephen Lambert

The highly regarded Public Health Mentor of the Year Award has also been presented to dual winners this evening – Professor Melanie Wakefield and Associate Professor Stephen Lambert.  This award is made to a senior member of PHAA who has made a significant contribution – and demonstrated outstanding dedication – to mentoring early career professionals/practitioners/students.

“Professor Melanie Wakefield is an outstanding public health leader who is probably best known for her research on the effects of tobacco control policies and programs.  Professor Wakefield’s career spans over three decades and her commitment to mentoring the next generation of public health leaders has been a hallmark of her commitment to building capacity in public health research.

“Associate Professor Stephen Lambert is a renowned epidemiologist with a primary interest in public health and communicable diseases.  Associate Professor Lambert provides an excellent example for his students and the public health staff he mentors by promoting research, education and training, professional and personal development.

“On behalf of the PHAA I’d like to congratulate Professor Weeramanthri, Professor Wakefield and Associate Professor Lambert – three of the leading lights in public health in Australia,” said Mr Moore.

From NDARC:

The 2014 National Drug Trends Conference is happening on Monday 20 October. Read the program (attached) & register here.

Link- https://webpay.fin.unsw.edu.au/conferencingweb/CreateBooking.aspx?E=MEDIC_TRENDS2014

This year’s National Drug Trends Conference will be held at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney on Monday, 20th October 2014 from 8.30am.

I hope you will agree we have a really exciting program this year. The National Drug Trends Conference will present recent findings in illicit drug use, markets and related harms across Australia and internationally. Convened by Australia’s largest drug monitoring systems, the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) and the Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS), the one day conference will include the first release of the 2014 findings.

We are also delighted to announce that there will also be presentations from a number of distinguished international and local guest speakers, including Mr Jeremy Douglas (United Nations), Detective Sergeant Keith Randall (AFP Drug Squad), Dr Chris Hayes (John Hunter Hospital), A/Prof Nadine Ezard (St Vincent’s Hospital), Detective Superintendent Tony Cooke (NSW Police Drug Squad), Dr Karen Chronister (Kirby Institute), Ms Joanne Gerstner-Stevens (Victoria Police), Prof Simon Lenton (NDRI) Mr James Fetherston (NDRI) and Ms Kerryn Butler (NDARC).

Visitors to the museum can park all day for $13 at Harbourside Secure Parking, located at 100 Murray Street, Pyrmont. Remember to get your parking ticket stamped at the museum reception.

We look forward to seeing you there.

From the team at CREIDU:

The Centre for Research Excellence into Injecting Drug Use (CREIDU) is excited to announce the publication of our newest policy brief, titled ‘Opioid pharmacotherapy fees: A long-standing barrier to treatment entry and retention’.  The brief has been co-authored by Sarah Lord, Jenny Kelsall, Amy Kirwan and Trevor King, as a collaboration between CREIDU and Harm Reduction Victoria, who are key members of CREIDU.  The brief outlines some of the issues faced by individuals utilising medication assisted treatment for opioid dependence (MATOD), who are required to pay substantial fees to access a place in a treatment program.  These fees are a significant barrier to treatment access, retention and optimal outcomes.  The brief outlines the evidence relating to MATOD and dispensing fees and offers suggestions for addressing the issue.

We invite you to view and download the policy brief here http://creidu.edu.au/policy_briefs_and_submissions/10-opioid-pharmacotherapy-fees-a-long-standing-barrier-to-treatment-entry-and-retention

A COMPLEX ISSUE – the 2^nd International Symposium on Drugs and Driving

12-13^th November 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand

Drugs and driving – Navigating the complexity and finding solutions

The use of drugs while driving is a problem that has only recently captured the attention of safety advocates, policymakers, legislators and enforcement agencies.

We have a lot of science to inform alcohol-related road safety policy and interventions, but things get a lot more complex when we look at “drugs” and driving.

This 2nd International Symposium on Drugs and Driving will examine this complexity in depth and will assess new research and evidence to help inform our collective road safety efforts.

http://drugdriving.org.nz/

The Community Sharps Management Program (CSMP) supports local governments in New South Wales  in developing local solutions to community sharps management issues.

Councils are invited to submit an application for funding support under the 2014–2015 funding round for the development of community sharps management programs to improve the management and  disposal of community sharps.

This Program provides up to $10,000 for a single council  and upto $60,000 for a group of adjoining councils.

Last financial year, projects supported by the CSMP including:

• the development of an audio visual resource on safe sharps handling
• provision of council staff training on safe sharps handling and management
• implementation of community education on safe disposal
• installation of disposal facilities.

Successful councils included City of Sydney, Urana Shire Council, Kempsey Shire Council, Clarence Valley Shire Council and Moree Plains Shire Council.

Further information is available at:  http://communitysharps.org.au/apply-for-funding-support.

Alternatively, please feel free to contact the Program Manager, Ronnie Turner on  02 9382 8614  or ronnie.turner@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Resource Update: Vietnamese SMART Recovery manual now available on DAMEC website

The Vietnamese translation of the complete SMART Recovery manual is now available for free download from the Drug and Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre (DAMEC)’s website.

SMART Recovery is a self-help program that assists people in recovering from alcohol, drug use and other addictive behaviours. The translated manual has been tested with various groups experiencing a range of drug, alcohol and related issues.

SMART Recovery Australia Executive Director, Ryan McGlaughlin, commends DAMEC for this initiative of assisting SMART Recovery becoming assessable to all Australian that are affected by addictive behaviour.

Vuong Nguyen, President of Vietnamese Drug and Alcohol Professionals whose organisation undertook the translation work, said that the SMART Recovery program offered many tools that are relevant to the Vietnamese community living in Australia.

A shorter version of the translated manual, which can be used to reinforce the key points of the program, is also available on DAMEC’s website.

The translated manual can be used by a range of stakeholders including:

• Peer workers
• Drug and alcohol professionals
• Corrective Services staff and those working with the criminal justice system
• Bilingual health workers
• Vietnamese community associations

To download the full or abridged manual visit http://www.damec.org.au/resources/smart-recovery-manual-vietnamese-translation