Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD)

Abstract submissions and Scholarship applications are now open for APSAD Canberra 2024 held Wednesday 30 Oct - Saturday 2 Nov 2024. We are pleased to be able to offer a number of scholarship opportunities available to attend the APSAD Canberra 2024. We will be offering several full and partial scholarships for First Peoples, community workers, people with lived experience, peer workers, researchers, practitioners, program workers, and policymakers. Abstract Mentor Programs The goal of the APSAD Canberra 2024 Abstract Mentor Program is to provide an opportunity for First Peoples (Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori), Community Groups, people with lived experience, and Early Career Researchers to have their draft abstracts mentored by more experienced authors before submitting their abstract to the conference, thus increasing the chance of their work being represented at conferences. Abstracts submitted by authors that have volunteered to be a mentor in the program will not automatically be accepted. The same applies for abstracts submitted by authors that were mentored by the program. For more details, please check the relevant Abstract Mentor Program information available at https://lnkd.in/g5m7UNJ5.

You Can't Say That – AIVL's New Webinar Series  Some ideas are backed by evidence, grounded in logic—yet still face pervasive stigma and are widely misunderstood in society. AIVL’s new webinar series, You Can’t Say That, tackles these controversial yet crucial conversations head on.  In our first session, we’re taking on a common misconception about people who use drugs.     People who use drugs make excellent parents. So why does Australia’s cultural narrative insist otherwise? Join us as we challenge harmful discrimination, break down the evidence, and explore the real stories behind the stigma.    Register now to be part of the conversation.  https://lnkd.in/g3_6AE_Y

Semester 1, 2025 Insight Webinars out now! Webinars are held each Wednesday morning at 10:00am AEST (Queensland time) commencing 5 March. Head to our webinar page for more information. https://lnkd.in/gAr6xDN Insight Webinars are delivered in partnership with the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD).

The ASSIST team, in collaboration with Injury Matters, has successfully completed the first week of a workshop series aimed at enhancing the skills of individuals working with elderly populations. The workshops focus on empowering participants to recognize and address substance use issues among older individuals. Having already conducted three workshops, with four more planned for the upcoming week, the feedback has been extremely positive and enthusiastic. The sessions cover a range of topics, including commonly abused substances like tobacco and alcohol, as well as exploring areas such as medicinal cannabis and the misuse of pharmaceuticals beyond the intended prescription. This initiative aims to equip professionals with the knowledge and confidence needed to support the elderly in identifying and managing substance use issues effectively. Stay tuned for more updates on this impactful workshop series! #ElderlyCare #SubstanceUse #WorkshopSeries

Prohibition has created highly organised, lucrative underground and untaxed business opportunities. It's a huge policy failure. Prohibition lures & tempts people (especial vulnerable people), to take risks to make quick money. Full legalisation & bold regulation would make the illegal supply unnecessary & eventually largely redundant.#EndProhibition https://lnkd.in/dBY3CZNc

Huge congratulations to Anthony Hew on this important PhD publication. His work on defining repeat presenters to ambulance services for mental health and/or alcohol and drug concerns provides critical insights into a highly complex and resource-intensive issue. By improving how we identify and understand this cohort, his research has important implications for service design, policy, and ultimately, better care pathways. A well-deserved achievement, and I am excited to see the next stage of this important work. Turning Point Addiction Treatment, Research and Education Monash Addiction Research Centre (Monash University) Eastern Health Monash University

Health4Her has been featured in the latest edition of Research Australia’s INSPIRE magazine! Part of our Clinical and Social Research program, the #Health4Her program of research is using co-design and implementation science methods to embed a cutting-edge digital intervention within breast screening services. With nearly 1 million women screened by BreastScreen Australia annually, the benefits of integrating this preventive intervention to target modifiable breast cancer risk factors are considerable. The current edition of INSPIRE is dedicated to the diverse and innovative health research in the field of "prevention". “It is not just about the presence or absence of ill health, it is also about leading a life of quality,” the magazine’s editorial explains. Keep reading: https://lnkd.in/gQY5uzpg

⏳Submit Your Abstract for DANA GC2025 Time is running out to be part of the DANA Annual Conference 2025! Share your insights and help shape the future of alcohol and drug nursing under the theme “Leading Change”. 🗓️ Abstract Submissions Close: 28th February 2025 🔗 Submit Now: https://lnkd.in/gvFxnd9M Why You Shouldn’t Miss This Opportunity: ✨ Showcase your expertise and innovative ideas ✨ Offer solutions to AOD challenges on a national and global scale ✨ Bridge research and clinical practice ✨ Network with AOD leaders and stakeholders ✨ Inspire and grow the nursing community Make your voice heard and lead the way in the AOD sector! 👉 Submit your abstract before it’s too late! #AOD #Nursing #NursePractitioner #DANAConf25 #GC2025 #GoldCoast #LeadingChange @Adlconv

There’s a saying in alcohol harm reduction circles: what’s popular doesn’t work and what works isn’t popular. It’s not surprising that the alcohol industry would be pushing back against growing calls from to put warning labels on their products – we know that it reduces risky drinking. The World Health Organization is the latest health body urging governments to act. It follows similar recommendations from the outgoing US Surgeon General. It’s not about banning or demonising alcohol, it’s about giving people the full facts. And the reality is that many people are simply unaware that alcohol is a risk factor for at least seven types of cancer. Clear warning labels on cans and bottles advising of this risk would allow consumers to make more informed choices. As Dr Gauden Galea from the WHO said, governments must, “resist all the pressures that will inevitably come from commercial actors” who will try to block sensible measures that protect the public.   We saw this with Big Tobacco when health warnings were introduced on cigarette packaging – they fought the changes every step of the way but it has been a public health measure that has considerably reduced harms from smoking. We need to follow the evidence and do the right thing by the community. #harmreduction #alcoholwarninglabels #aod #alcoholpolicy

Curfews, time delays on alcohol delivery urged after woman drank herself to death https://lnkd.in/g5T_ByFd