The project aims to investigate the opinions of young Australians about how the government and community should respond towards drug and alcohol use.
Jozica Kutin, Youth Support and Advocacy Service
Andrew Bruun, Youth Support and Advocacy Service
Research has largely focussed on young people’s alcohol and drug use. However the investigation of young people’s opinions and ideas about policies, programs and control measures aimed at reducing the harms caused by alcohol and other drugs has, to date, been limited. As in all policy areas, sufficient consultation with the relevant stakeholders is an important part of the process of effective policy making. The voices of young people are thus critical in helping to develop successful responses to alcohol and other drug issues in Australia.
To describe and better understand young people’s opinions about alcohol and other drug policy.
An online survey was designed which aimed to elicit opinions about a comprehensive and large array of policies, programs and control measures. This included prevention measures such as drug education in schools and mass media campaigns; alcohol regulation including alcohol pricing, monitoring of licensed premises and restrictions on late night trading; law enforcement activities such as police presence and sniffer dogs; treatment services including withdrawal, residential rehabilitation and pharmacotherapies; and harm reduction activities such as pill testing services and needle and syringe programs. The survey was administered via the internet and young Australians aged between 16 and 25 years were eligible to participate anonymously.
Recruitment has been completed, with over 2,000 respondents surveyed. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis is complete and the final report will be published by the ANCD.
A report is due to be published by the ANCD in 2014.