Should teens drink alcohol? Ideally, no. But in the real world, here are some tips on how to minimise harm.
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Articles on Harm minimisation
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Now restrictions are easing, some people who have not used alcohol or other drugs recently may start to use them again, and need to be aware of their reduced tolerance.
Amid the controversy over Sydney’s lockout laws, a program that looked out for people at risk of harm in the city’s nightlife precincts more than proved its worth.
With regular music festivals, people can more easily seek help or advice about drug and alcohol or mental health issues. But with drive-ins we need to be creative to minimise harms.
New research shows Australians are becoming more open to less punitive responses to drug use.
Few teens use MDMA and scare tactics, like those we’ve seen recently, are unlikely to reduce existing drug use further.
Schoolies and other leavers’ celebrations are a chance for teenagers to exert their independence and experiment with their identity as a young adult. And yes, you can help without losing your cool.
A person’s drug experience can be influenced by many different things, such as heat, access to water and dosage.
Most drug use among Australian festival goers appears to be occasional and isn’t problematic. But a small group experience higher rates of drug-related harms.
New research shows some festival goers are willing to take a dodgy pill regardless of the test result. So, let’s use pill testing to educate them and others about reducing their risk.
The evidence is clear on the sort of support that is needed to reduce the harms of drug use. A punitive approach that denies people a second chance makes it more likely they will reoffend.
There is an urgent need to reconsider steroid use as a public health issue as opposed to a criminal justice concern.
There’s no legal reason why Victoria can’t have its own medically supervised drug injecting room to prevent more overdoses, despite political setbacks.
Most of our drugs policies have failed to curb use or reduce their impact on individuals or society. It’s time for a more enlightened and informed approach.
PolicyCheck unpacks the details and history of the Greens’ proposed $10 million Harm Reduction Innovation Fund drug policy.
International evidence suggests “awareness” campaigns are not the best way to address harmful methamphetamine use. Fear-based approaches can increase stigma and drive people from treatment.
Public attitudes towards drugs are shaped by many things, including high-profile celebrity encounters with drugs and addiction. One unfortunate example of this involves popular Canadian actor Cory Monteith…
Top contributors
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Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne), Curtin University
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Vice Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow, Social and Global Studies Centre and Digital Ethnography Research Centre, RMIT University
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Associate professor, La Trobe University
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Associate Lecturer, RMIT University
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Professor of Health Research Economics, University of Newcastle
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Professor & Specialist in Drug Policy, UNSW Sydney
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Professor and Deputy Director at National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney
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Senior Lecturer of Addiction, Edith Cowan University
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Research Fellow/Epidemiologist, Australian Institute of Family Studies
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Senior Lecturer and Researcher, Edith Cowan University
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Senior Lecturer, Centre for Rural Criminology, HASSE, University of New England & Visiting Fellow, Drug Policy Modelling Program, SPRC, University of New South Wales, University of New England
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Head of Alcohol and other Drug Research, Centre for Population Health; Burnet Principal for Alcohol, other drugs and harm reduction, Burnet Institute
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Senior Research Fellow, UNSW Sydney
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Senior Lecturer in Criminology, UNSW Sydney
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Sessional psychology lecturer, Australian Catholic University
