Driving Change: Using Emergency Department Data To Reduce Alcohol-related Harm
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,468,026.00
Summary
The proposed project is a system change within partner emergency departments, providing them the information and tools to act on both risky alcohol consumption in individual patients and the sources of alcohol in the community which cause the harm they experience. Most importantly, the proposed public health interventions act as a tool for emergency departments to regularly raise awareness with the public and policymakers regarding the impact of alcohol on patients, clinicians and hospitals.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Cognitive Bias Modification Training During Early Recovery From Alcohol Dependence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$531,685.00
Summary
Relapse to alcohol dependence often occurs within days of detoxification, partly because alcohol-dependent people are easily triggered to approach alcohol-related cues. Computerised “brain-training” programs may reduce this “approach bias”, reducing risk of relapse. We aim to conduct a multi-site trial testing the effects of this training on alcohol relapse, and to estimate the savings to the health care system that could be achieved by conducting this treatment during inpatient detoxification.
Substance abuse is a significant social and economic burden upon Australian societies and on societies around the world. Treatment remains problematic due to the multi-layer nature of the disease, difficulties with treatment compliance and less than ideal treatment regimes. The present study aims to improve treatments for alcohol and drug abuse using pre-clinical models to identify and characterize a new brain system implicated in drug-seeking.
Salt (sodium) is an essential electrolyte. Our convincing and complementary findings provide compelling evidence for a link between evolutionarily ancient “instincts” and substance abuse. This proposal is translational, including studies in opiate dependent humans. Our studies will establish how and where in the brain endogenous opioids are implicated in the gratification of salt appetite, how salt appetite is altered in opiate dependency and if salt appetite recovers following opiate withdrawal
Improving the retention rate for residential treatment of substance abuse by sequential intervention for social anxiety. Alcohol and other drug use is a major social and medical problem, costing the Australian community an estimated $7.6 billion annually. Mental health disorders have been closely linked with increased illicit drug use and physical health problems. Social anxiety (SAD) is highly prevalent amongst individuals presenting with drug and alcohol use disorders. Evidence suggests that ....Improving the retention rate for residential treatment of substance abuse by sequential intervention for social anxiety. Alcohol and other drug use is a major social and medical problem, costing the Australian community an estimated $7.6 billion annually. Mental health disorders have been closely linked with increased illicit drug use and physical health problems. Social anxiety (SAD) is highly prevalent amongst individuals presenting with drug and alcohol use disorders. Evidence suggests that social anxiety symptoms may be responsible for promoting excessive drug use and may be a particularly influential factor in poor treatment retention rates and promoting relapse. Thus, the focus on improving treatment outcomes for individuals with comorbid anxiety and drug use disorders represents an area of considerable importance both nationally and internationally.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100608
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$396,000.00
Summary
The economic and social consequences of illicit drug markets. This project aims to understand the economic and social effects of illicit drugs. An estimated one-quarter of a billion people use illicit drugs each year. This causes major health and personal problems, while the violence and organised crime associated with illicit drug markets affect society. This project will apply econometric techniques to administrative and survey data to establish the long-term causal effects of illicit drug mar ....The economic and social consequences of illicit drug markets. This project aims to understand the economic and social effects of illicit drugs. An estimated one-quarter of a billion people use illicit drugs each year. This causes major health and personal problems, while the violence and organised crime associated with illicit drug markets affect society. This project will apply econometric techniques to administrative and survey data to establish the long-term causal effects of illicit drug markets on crime, health, education and employment. The results are expected to show how illicit drug policies can improve health and well-being in communities.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100028
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$432,029.00
Summary
Addressing gender and sexuality in drug education. This project aims to generate new knowledge on the relationship between young people’s concerns about drugs and the priorities informing drug education. Alcohol and illicit drug use costs Australia almost $40 billion per year and is a leading contributor to total burden of disease for young Australians. Drug education is a key strategy used to reduce youth alcohol and illicit drug-related harm, yet it has been the subject of sustained criticism ....Addressing gender and sexuality in drug education. This project aims to generate new knowledge on the relationship between young people’s concerns about drugs and the priorities informing drug education. Alcohol and illicit drug use costs Australia almost $40 billion per year and is a leading contributor to total burden of disease for young Australians. Drug education is a key strategy used to reduce youth alcohol and illicit drug-related harm, yet it has been the subject of sustained criticism for its inability to address youth effectively, including the gendered and sexual dimensions of harm. Outcomes expected from this project include more effective and equitable drug education materials. Overall, the project seeks to reduce alcohol and illicit drug-related harm among young Australians.Read moreRead less
Circuit Class Therapy For Rehabilitation Clients. A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial Of Therapy Intensity (CIRCIT).
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$526,361.00
Summary
Loss of independence is common after stroke, and may lead to reduced quality of life and admission to nursing home care. We will investigate if an increased amount of rehabilitation following stroke leads to improved mobility. Two ways of delivering more intense rehabilitation will be compared with usual care to find out which leads to improved physical mobility, and how they compare economically. This will allow health service providers to optimise services and will benefit people with stroke.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100134
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$323,088.00
Summary
Addiction in the Australian legal system: A sociological analysis. This project is designed to analyse and compare legal approaches to addiction to alcohol and other drugs (AOD), identifying the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. Harms associated with AOD cost Australia over $25 billion per year. The law plays a central role in managing these harms. Yet legal responses to AOD and the key concept of ‘addiction’ are often inconsistent. These variations have unintended and often adve ....Addiction in the Australian legal system: A sociological analysis. This project is designed to analyse and compare legal approaches to addiction to alcohol and other drugs (AOD), identifying the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. Harms associated with AOD cost Australia over $25 billion per year. The law plays a central role in managing these harms. Yet legal responses to AOD and the key concept of ‘addiction’ are often inconsistent. These variations have unintended and often adverse economic, social and health implications. The expected project outcomes will inform new, more productive approaches to AOD-related harms in Australian law, contributing to improved economic, social and health outcomes.Read moreRead less