LATEST NEWS
CATEGORIES
ARCHIVES
- February 2011
- March 2011
- April 2011
- May 2011
- June 2011
- July 2011
- August 2011
- September 2011
- October 2011
- November 2011
- December 2011
- Jan 2012
- Feb 2012
- March 2012
- April 2012
- May 2012
- June 2012
- July 2012
- August 2012
- Sept 2012
- Oct 2012
- Nov 2012
- Dec 2012
- Jan 2013
- Feb 2013
- March 2013
- April 2013
- May 2013
- June 2013
TAG CLOUD
March 22, 2013
SEX, DRUGS AND ILLNESS: WHY YOUNG PEOPLE NEED MEDICAL CONFIDENTIALITY
A recent article has appeared on The Conversation website titled "Sex, drugs and illness: why teens need medical confidentiality", by Rony Duncan, Senior Research Fellow at Murdoch Children's Research Institute. The article talks about the perspectives of parents - some parents believe that the best way to help their children become independent was to step back, letting them see doctors on their own. Other parents felt that the best way to support their children becoming independent was to keep track of everything going on in their child's lives including their health care.
Read "Sex, drugs and illness: why teens need medical confidentiality"
Posted in: Research
September 21, 2012
DRUG POLICY TIMELINE
The University of New South Wales Drug Policy Monitoring Program have released an updated edition of their Australian Illicit Drug Policy Timeline, which now covers the period from 1985 to June 2012. The timeline contains an overview of major events in drug policy including legislative changes, significant seizures, as well as notable research reports which impact on drug policy. The timeline is a very useful tool for anyone interested in the recent history of drug policy in Australia, and includes a number of important events relevant to Queensland.
Click here to read the latest "Australian Illicit Drug Policy Timeline"
Posted in: Research
September 7, 2012
YOUNG PEOPLE: HAVING A SAY ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG ISSUES
The Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) which is the council appointed by the Prime Minister to provide advice on drug policy, have launched an online survey designed for young people aged 16-25 to have their say about alcohol and drug policy. The survey takes about 15 - 20 minutes and young people who complete the survey can go into the draw to win one of two iPads. This is a great opportunity to get input from young people, so encourage your clients to participate and share the survey around your networks.
The survey website is http://www.youthdrugsurvey.com.au
Posted in: Research
July 6, 2012
QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES INQUIRY INTO CHILD PROTECTION
The Queensland Government have announced an inquiry in the child protection system in Queensland. This inquiry will look at the progress of outcomes related to the Forde Inquiry and will set the scene for the child protection system for the next decade. It's important that workers from the youth alcohol and other drug sector have their voices heard in this inquiry, as many of the young people that we work with are involved in the child protection system in some capacity. It will be interesting to see how the inquiry addresses some of the complex issues relating to substance use in young people, particularly in light of the Commission for Children and Young People's "The Chroming Report" which highlighted the difficulties experienced by the child protection system in dealing with high risk substance use and complex behaviour. Stay tuned for more information as the inquiry rolls out.
http://www.childprotectioninquiry.qld.gov.au/
Posted in: Research
June 29, 2012
DOVETAIL LAUNCHES LATEST GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE: LEGAL AND ETHICAL DIMENSIONS OF PRACTICE
The team here at Dovetail are very excited to announce the launch of the latest in our series of good practice guides. "Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Practice" has been a mammoth undertaking. It's a complex area of practice and one which many workers throughout Queensland have requested assistance with. The guide covers issues such as consent, Gillick Competence, confidentiality as well as issues relating to the various ethical dilemmas which can arise through our work with young people experiencing alcohol and other drug concerns. Further good practice guides are in the pipeline so stay tuned. Queensland based workers can order hard copies of the guide free of charge by emailing info@dovetail.org.au or you can download an electronic copy here.
Posted in: Treatment Tools
June 15, 2012
REFORMING THE VICTORIAN AOD SECTOR
The Victorian government has released a document titled "New Directions for Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services: A Road Map." The document articulates the reform agenda of the current Victoria government around alcohol and other drug service delivery. At the heart of this document is the concept of "new recovery", which is currently asserting itself as a new paradigm for alcohol and drug treatment in Australia. This document gives us insight into what the future may hold for Queensland, but also for Australia as governments move towards activity based funding for alcohol and drug services.
Download "New Directions for Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services: A Roadmap"
Posted in: Research
June 15, 2012
AIVL RELEASE POSITION PAPER ON "NEW RECOVERY'
The Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL), the peak body representing people who use illicit drugs in Australia, have released a position paper addressing the rise of the "new recovery" model in Australia. The paper is titled 'New Recovery, Harm Reduction and Drug Use" and provides a consumer perspective on this emerging philosophy. It is vital that consumer voices are heard through the process of service re-orientation, and this document commences the dialogue. It is likely that there will be a lot more said about this issue in coming months and years.
Download "New Recovery, Harm Reduction and Drug Use: Policy Statement"
Posted in: Research
May 18, 2012
HARM REDUCTION AND "NEW RECOVERY"
There has been increasing talk internationally of the new concept of "recovery-orientated" systems of care. In its most recent incarnation in the United Kingdom, it has led to a re-orientation of the entire funding system for the alcohol and drug treatment sector, to one which focuses on payment for results: and the result that gets the payment is abstinence. As this concept is beginning to emerge here in Australia, ANEX (the peak body for harm reduction services in Australia) have published a discussion paper which proposes an Australian definition of this concept, incorporating the harm minimisation approach which has been so successful in this country.
Posted in: Research
March 16, 2012
YOUNG PEOPLE CONSENTING TO HEALTH CARE
Queensland Health have published a document titled "Guide to Informed Decision Making in Health Care". The document contains a chapter specifically dealing with informed consent and young people, which would be of interest to many people working in the young alcohol and drug field. This is a complex area of practice, and in the past there has been a dearth of reliable information available specifically dealing with the Queensland health care context. While this guide is designed specifically for use within Queensland Health, other services will find it useful to refer to when considering developing their own policies.
Queensland Health: Guide to Informed Decision-making in Healthcare (1.9MB PDF)
Posted in: Treatment Tools
January 20, 2012
INQUIRY INTO A MODEL OF INVOLUNTARY DETOX AND REHAB IN QUEENSLAND
The Health and Disabilities Committee of the Queensland Parliament is holding an inquiry into a model for the involuntary detoxification and rehabilitation of people with severe substance dependence. The deadline for written submissions to the Committee is Monday 13th of February 2012, and public hearings will be held in March 2012. The committee have published an information paper which includes an overview of a model proposed by Queensland Health, as well as an overview of similar programs operating in New South Wales and Victoria.
Severe Substance Dependence: A Model for Involuntary Detoxification and Rehabilitation
Posted in: Research
