This feature article on neuroscientist Marc Lewis and his new book discusses his theory that callenges the modern-day concensus on drug dependence as a brain disease, arguing that in "in reality it is a complex cultural, social, psychological and biological phenomenon" as NDARC Professor Alison Ritter describes.
Australians are completely in the dark when it comes to the scale of ice use in the country, according to a recent survey by NCPIC, writes Professor Jan Copeland in the Newcastle Herald.
NSW Labor MP Stephen Jones discusses the public health benefits of marriage equality as found by recent DPMP research.
New, tamper-resistant formulations of prescription opioids such as the recent reformulation of OxyContin investigated in the NOMAD study led by NDARC's Professor Louisa Degenhardt could tackle many opioid misuse problems, writes Elie Dolgin in Nature.
A new NDARC study found that the introduction of an alcopop tax has significantly reduced alcohol-related harm among young Australians, writes Carleen Frost.
Heavier use and higher purity of crystal methamphetamine cause an elevated risk of psychosis, violence, and cardiovascular problems as well as a variety of other health and social concerns, write Prof Michael Farrell and Dr Rebecca McKetin.
New reports released by NDARC show that the number of methamphetamine-related deaths in Australia increased from 2010 to 2011, and more injecting drug users turn to the drug's crystal form, known as 'ice', writes Helen Davidson.
Ask your friends and colleagues about young Australians and alcohol and I bet they’ll say something about a generation out of control or a binge-drinking epidemic.
The media regularly brings the worst outcomes of young people’s drinking to our attention and points to a problematic drinking culture supposedly unique to young Australians. Little wonder people believe things have never been so bad.
The reality is startlingly different. Data recently released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows alcohol consumption in Australia has reached its lowest point since the early 1960s, having declined steadily since the mid-2000s. Survey data suggests this decline has been driven almost entirely by reductions in youth drinking.
When it comes to drug use, Australians are world leaders. More than 40 per cent of us have used drugs illicitly and we have one of the highest rates of illegal use per capita despite also having some of the most expensive prices, reports Inga Ting from the Sun Herald, Sydney.
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SBS World News Radio reports on crystal methamphetamine, known as ice, with comments by NDARC Director Michael Farrell.
Transcript:
Earlier this month, a National Ice Taskforce was formed, to try to work out new ways of dealing with the drug, ice.
