Funding and Affiliations

Queensland Health is a dynamic organisation committed to providing a range of services aimed at achieving good health and well-being for all Queenslanders. Through a network of 20 Health Service Districts and the Mater Hospitals, Queensland Health delivers a range of integrated services including hospital inpatient, outpatient and emergency services, community and mental health services, aged care services and public health and health promotion programs. Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Unit is the unit within the Public Health Services in Queensland Health dedicated towards the treatment and prevention of alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems in the State of Queensland, Australia.

Queensland Health also run the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) service units.

For more information please contact the Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) on 1800 177 833

The National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund promotes evidence-based practice in drug law enforcement to prevent and reduce the harmful effects of licit and illicit drug use in Australian society. A key aim of NDLERF is to promote collaboration between the Law Enforcement Sector and Researchers.

The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing funds the NDLERF as part of its commitment to the National Drug Strategy. For more information, visit the NDLERF website.

The present phase of the Natural History Study is supported under a funding application titled "Stimulant and licit drug use, law enforcement and harm reduction" (by licit drugs, we mean alcohol and tobacco). The NDLERF funding application was developed in consultation with the Drug and Alcohol Coordination Unit (DACU) and the Queensland Police Service (QPS).

The mission of DACU is to enhance the capacity of the Queensland Police Service to participate in the whole of government approach to minimise the harms associated with alcohol and other drug use. The unit works closely with other areas of the Queensland Police Service, including the State Drug Investigation Unit, State Traffic Support Branch, Community and Crime Prevention Branch, and regions to ensure police and programs meet the needs of operational police.

DACU provides policy advice to QPS on drug and alcohol issues, liases with government agencies, and conducts relevant research and training programs. For more information, visit the DACU website.

Dovetail provides clinical advice and professional support to workers, services and communities across Queensland who engage with young people affected by alcohol and other drug use. This includes, for example, the development of 'Good Practice Guides' and other resources for workers. For more information, visit the Dovetail website.

Dovetail is providing advice to the study regarding research priorities and issues relating to alcohol and other drug use among young adults. Dovetail will also support the dissemination of research findings to workers and communities in Queensland.

The Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre (QADREC) is a centre within UQ's School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. It is Queensland's only educational institute providing specialised qualifications in Addiction Studies, or Alcohol and Drugs. It was established in 1996 as a collaborative initiative between Queensland Health and The University of Queensland. The Centre provides research output at a national and international level in alcohol and drug-related areas, training for professionals responding to alcohol and drug problems, and undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in alcohol and drugs. Staff also provide support for resource development.

There is a strong research culture in QADREC with academic staff publishing articles in high calibre journals and publications and obtaining a number of key research grants. QADREC specialises in areas focusing on determinants and contexts of alcohol and drug-related problems. Strategies for prevention, treatment, and harm minimisation are also key research topics. Further insight into QADREC's research is found in Research, while publications including reports and journal articles are available for download in Publications. QADREC provides a range of training programs to both specialist alcohol and drug workers and the broader health, social care and criminal justice workforces. The aim is to equip audiences with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively respond to drug and alcohol harm. Ongoing training programs held yearly include the Opioid Treatment Prescribers Training Program, and Queensland Needle and Syringe Program, discussed further in Training.

With respect to teaching, QADREC continually adapts its courses due to changing trends. These currently include Graduate Certificate, Diploma, and Masters levels. They are aimed at front-line service providers in Queensland to upgrade their knowledge and skills in a prevalent topic area. This will be discussed further in Addiction Studies. There is also increased involvement at the undergraduate level with staff coordination of subjects including Professor Jake Najman's lecturing in SOCY2179 Sex, Drugs and Disease and SOCY1030 Sociology of Health and Illness, and other staff providing guest lectures. This aims to contribute to the education of high quality university graduates, some of whom will become leaders in the drug and alcohol field when they graduate.