Research

Social meanings of alcohol misuse among young adults in recreational settings

01/09/2008

The study found that while there was widespread acceptance of a ‘culture of intoxication’ amongst young adults, the findings also suggested that they were well aware of alcohol-related harms, often on the basis of first-hand experience. This fundamentally experiential approach needs to be recognised in public health strategies, for messages that are discordant with the views of young adults are likely to be ineffective. It also suggests that peer education could be an effective public health approach.

Building Indigenous research workforce capacity

01/09/2008

The original objectives of this project were to create a three-year research internship for an Indigenous graduate; to provide the intern with ‘on-the-job’ research training in both a national research institution and an Indigenous community-controlled substance misuse agency; to enable the intern to manage a research project, and to undertake two or three other projects in his or her own right; and to equip him or her to embark upon a career in the alcohol and other drugs field.

Pouring practices of 65 to 74 year old current drinkers: Implications for drinking guidelines and estimates of risk

01/07/2008

The aims of this study are to identify the pouring practices of older drinkers in relation to standard drinks, how this relates to estimating self-consumption of alcohol, and the implications for drinking guidelines. The study also identifies the differences in pouring practices between men and women.

Social impact evaluation of the proposed licensed club in Yarrabah

01/07/2008

Under an Alcohol Management Plan, the sole source for purchasing alcohol in Yarrabah, near Cairns in North Queensland, was a takeaway facility permitted to sell beer, premixed spirit drinks and wine.

Does moderate drinking prevent heart disease? A meta-analysis and re-estimation of alcohol-caused mortality in Australia

01/06/2008

Most long-term studies on drinking alcohol have found that light-drinkers are less likely to die prematurely than abstainers. This study re-assesses the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on health and mortality.

Social Norms Analysis Project (SNAP) research report

01/06/2008

This project was carried out in conjunction with a range of project partners including the Tasmanian Police, the Tasmanian Department of Education and Health, and Human Services Tasmania. The project aims to reduce risky drinking and alcohol-related harm among young people in four rural Tasmanian communities.

Alcohol and other drug use: Attitudes and knowledge amongst six CALD communities in Sydney

01/04/2008

The Drug and Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre (DAMEC) conducted follow-up studies on a similar mid-1990’s study regarding the use of, attitudes towards, and knowledge of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD) among six culturally and linguistically diverse communities: Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Italian, Pasifika and Arabic-speaking.

Computer-based cognitive behaviour therapy for alcohol use and coexisting depression in rural and urban areas

01/04/2008

In Australia around two thirds of people with mental illness and/or AOD-use disorders fail to seek professional help for their condition. There are significant barriers to accessing treatment; for example, the sheer number of people needing help, geographical isolation, and financial difficulties. A computer-based CBT option has the potential to contribute significantly to overcoming these barriers.

Evidence-based healthy lifestyle brief intervention on alcohol, tobacco, nutrition, and physical activity

01/03/2008

The project aims to develop a research plan for a major study and or research trial of the lifestyle intervention, including an evaluation of its effectiveness at changing behaviours and overall cost effectiveness.

Rio Tinto Child Health Research Partnership

01/03/2008

The Rio Tinto Child Health Research Partnership involved funding provided by Rio Tinto (and its subsidiaries in Australia), the Foundation, the Queensland, Western Australian and Northern Territory Governments, and the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research.

Drug and alcohol prevention among culturally diverse northern Australian adolescents: Investigation of a school drug and alcohol prevention program for year 8 students

01/02/2008

This research explores themes associated with adolescent drug and alcohol prevention among culturally diverse Northern Australian adolescents. It was undertaken because important differences are often associated with specific cultural groups and local knowledge is often needed as a means of informing effective prevention programs.

Learning to drink then and now: a new approach to understanding and intervening in problem drinking among Indigenous Australians

18/01/2008

The prevailing belief that Indigenous alcohol problems are due to colonisation has resulted in a sense of powerlessness in relation to Indigenous alcohol misuse, both on the part of service providers and those receiving the services.

Peer social networks in the development of harmful alcohol and drug use in early high school

01/11/2007

This project investigates the influence of peer social networks on the development of alcohol and other drug use by following a cohort of students through the early high school years. 24 Melbourne metropolitan secondary schools supported the data collection and intervention activities in three waves: Year 7 to Year 9.

Development and evaluation of a school-based prevention program for alcohol and cannabis use delivered via the internet

01/10/2007

This study identifies a gap between the quality of well-designed and evaluated prevention programs, and the quality of those prevention programs implemented in schools.

Using genotyping to improve the effectiveness of Naltrexone

01/10/2007

Naltrexone is considered one of the two most effective pharmacotherapies for treating alcohol problems. Its use is still limited in Australia and the effectiveness of alcohol interventions could be enhanced by increased Naltrexone prescription. One factor leading to this under-utilisation may be lack of confidence in the effectiveness of the drug.

Evaluation of the ‘Setting positive challenges for new directions’ project

01/10/2007

In 2004, the foundation granted funding for the Setting Positive Challenges for New Directions project, a collaborative community effort to enhance the quality of services of four key agencies whose primary roles and functions were to support and assist people who suffer from alcohol and substance abuse in Mount Isa, Queensland.

Restrictions on the sale and supply of alcohol in Australia

01/10/2007

This study provides a comprehensive response to questions about what works and where in relation to the many and varied restrictions on the sale and supply of alcohol in the form of controls on its economic and physical availability. Many of the restrictions studied relate to remote Indigenous communities.

A prospective study of substance misuse and of a community-driven preventive measures in remote Aboriginal communities

30/06/2007

This project looks at substance misuse in three Aboriginal Arnhem Land communities and includes a prospective evaluation of a community-driven preventive youth initiative, and an examination of patterns of substance use and related mental health problems.

Effectiveness of clinical supervision, provided by external clinical supervisors, of workers from a variety of practice backgrounds in AOD residential rehabilitation centres

01/06/2007

This research makes a significant contribution by examining the factors unique to the AOD sector in Australia, as well as the factors that influence the effectiveness of supervision. This study explores pertinent issues in clinical supervision that particular to an AOD context.

HITnet: An innovative IT-based approach to enhancing health literacy and local capacity in remote populations

01/06/2007

HITnet (www.hitnet.com.au) is a Queensland-based collaborative initiative which researched, developed, and implemented innovative approaches to complex Indigenous health priorities through the use of touch-screen technologies, such as information kiosks.

Research papers

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