Selected Topics - Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco

• Richard Mattik's publications | [Richard Mattick's Biography
• National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
  "The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) was established at the University of New South Wales in May, 1986 and officially opened in November, 1987. It is funded by the Australian Government as part of the National Drug Strategy (formerly, the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse). NDARC is situated on the University of New South Wales Randwick campus in the eastern suburbs of Sydney."

Events

• School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW - Upcoming Events

Global policies and related documents

Reports, guidelines and projects

• Alcohol in Europe
  Alcohol in Europe is an analysis of the health, social and economic impact of alcohol in Europe. This report presents a synthesis of published reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and individual papers, as well as an analysis of data made available by the European Commission and the World Health Organization. The report views alcohol policy as serving the interests of public health and social well-being through its impact on health and social determinants. This is embedded in a public health framework, a process to“mobilize local, state, national and international resources to ensure the conditions in which people can be healthy...".
• Drug Expenditure in Canada, 1985 to 2007
  "Since 1985 drug expenditure has consumed an increasing share of Canada's health care dollar. In 2007, spending on drugs is expected to have reached $26.9 billion, representing 16.8% of total health care spending. Among major categories of health expenditure, drugs account for the second largest share, after hospitals. This report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, in the series of National Health Expenditure Database Reports, updates trends in drug spending in Canada between 1985 and 2007, primarily from retail establishments, in total, by public and private payers, and by type of drug (prescribed and non-prescribed). Provincial and territorial comparisons are included. International trends are updated based on data from the OECD."
• Effect of tobacco smoking on survival of men and women by social position: a 28 year cohort study
  Objective: To assess the impact of tobacco smoking on the survival of men and women in different social positions. Design: A cohort observational study. Setting: Renfrew and Paisley, two towns in west central Scotland. Participants: 8353 women and 7049 men aged 45-64 years recruited in 1972-6 (almost 80% of the population in this age group). The cohort was divided into 24 groups by sex (male, female), smoking status (current, former, or never smokers), and social class (classes I + II, III non-manual, III manual, and IV + V) or deprivation category of place of residence. Main outcome measure: Relative mortality (adjusted for age and other risk factors) in the different groups; Kaplan-Meier survival curves and survival rates at 28 years. Results: Of those with complete data, 4387/7988 women and 4891/6967 men died over the 28 years. Compared with women in social classes I + II who had never smoked (the group with lowest mortality), the adjusted relative mortality of smoking groups ranged from 1.7 (95% confidence interval 1.3 to 2.3) to 4.2 (3.3 to 5.5). Former smokers’ mortalities were closer to those of never smokers than those of smokers. By social class (highest first), age adjusted survival rates after 28 years were 65%, 57%, 53%, and 56% for female never smokers; 41%, 42%, 33%, and 35% for female current smokers; 53%, 47%, 38%, and 36% for male never smokers; and 24%, 24%, 19%, and 18% for male current smokers. Analysis by deprivation category gave similar results. Conclusions: Among both women and men, never smokers had much better survival rates than smokers in all social positions. Smoking itself was a greater source of health inequality than social position and nullified women’s survival advantage over men. This suggests the scope for reducing health inequalities related to social position in this and similar populations is limited unless many smokers in lower social positions stop smoking. [author abstract]
• Guidelines for the psychosocially assisted pharmacological treatment of opioid dependence
  "These guidelines review the use of medicines such as methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone and clonidine with psychosocial support in the treatment of people dependent on heroin or other opioids. They contain recommendations on the issues faced in organizing treatment systems, managing treatment programmes and in treating people dependent on opioids. The book is intended to be read by healthcare professionals providing such treatment." [WHO, 19 June 2009]
• Hospital stays related to illicit drugs in Australia, 1993-2004
  This 2006 report by Amanda Roxburgh and Louisa Degenhardt for the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of NSW, Australia, "examines trends in drug-related hospital separations (including use, dependence, psychosis and withdrawal) in Australia during the period 1993 to 2004. The report presents data on characteristics of those people being treated in hospital for drug-related reasons, details of their hospital stay, analysis of which other drugs co-occur with each drug type, and analysis of the non- drug-related treatment received while in hospital in conjunction with drug-related treatment."
• How do drug policy makers access research evidence?
  Background: Policy decisions are informed by a number of factors: politics, ideology and values, perceived public opinion, and pragmatic constraints such as funding. Research evidence is also used to inform decision-making but must compete with these other inputs. Understanding how policy makers access research evidence may assist in encouraging greater use of this evidence. This study examined the sources of research evidence that Australian government drug policy makers accessed when faced with their most recent decision-making opportunity. Method: Drug policy makers across health and police government portfolios were interviewed (n = 31) and asked to report on the sources of research evidence used in their most recent decision-making. Results: Nine sources were reported, the most frequent of which were seeking advice from an expert and consulting technical reports. Accessing the internet, using statistical data and consulting policy makers in other jurisdictions were used in about half the cases. The least frequently used sources were academic literature, relying on internal expertise, policy documents and employing a consultant. Conclusion: There is a tension between the type of information source most suited to policy makers – simple, single-message, summative and accessible – and the types of information produced and valued by researchers — largely academic publications that are nuanced and complex. Researchers need to consider the sources that policy makers use if they wish their research to be utilised as one part of policy making. [author abstract] [published in International Journal of Drug Policy 20,1 (2009): 70–75]
• Population tobacco control interventions and their effects on social inequalities in smoking
  Reducing social inequalities in smoking and its health consequences is a public-health and political priority: the Department of Health has a specific target to reduce the prevalence of smoking in “manual groups” from 32% to 26% by 2015. Although the extent and causes of health inequalities have been extensively researched, we know remarkably little about the actual effects of measures to reduce such inequalities in general or about the differential impacts of tobacco control measures in particular. It is possible that a strategy which successfully reduces smoking in the population overall might widen inequalities if its benefits are concentrated among the better-off. The overall aims of this project were: To synthesise the best available evidence about the differential effects of population tobacco control interventions on groups with different sociodemographic characteristics; To assess which interventions are likely to be effective in reducing smoking related health inequalities and to identify reasons why other interventions may be ineffective, attempting to answer the questions: What works? What might work? For whom? In what contexts?; and To extend systematic review methods by integrating existing, related systematic reviews and the primary studies included in those reviews into a new systematic review, taking a broad view of the types of evidence which are available in seeking to answer a policy-relevant question, and To identify where evidence is lacking and to suggest areas where further primary or secondary research is required.
• Profits Over People: Tobacco Industry Activities to Market Cigarettes and Undermine Public Health in Latin America and the Caribbean
  Stella Aguainaga Bialous and Stan Shatenstein, Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, December 2002 - "Profits Over People is the result of over a year of investigation of more than 10,000 pages of internal tobacco company documents, mainly from Philip Morris and British American Tobacco, who together have most of the market share in LAC, obtained through the Internet and through the Guildford depository in the Kingdom.
• Reducing Hookah Use: A Public Health Challenge for the 21st Century
  "The recent global expansion of hookah use by youth and young adults to smoke tobacco poses a new challenge for the tobacco control community. Currently, it is estimated that worldwide, 100 million people use a hookah (waterpipe) to smoke tobacco every day. The past decade has seen a dramatic rise in the popularity of hookah smoking among young people living in the Middle East, Southwest Asia, Africa, Europe, Canada, and the U.S. The growing popularity of hookah use among U.S. teens and adults is evidenced by media reports and the recent rapid proliferation of hookah establishments (bars, cafes, or restaurants) in large cities and near college campuses. Hookahs and the tobacco mix used to smoke them are easily available. Young smokers can rent hookahs for an hourly rate of between $10 and $20 at hookah establishments or buy them for as little as $14 or as much as $200 or more, and buy the tobacco mix for about $7.00 a packet... This report summarizes the results and conclusions of… investigations [into hookah use] to raise awareness about the potential health threat of hookah use among youth and young adults, to correct misperceptions about its alleged safety, and to recommend strategies to curtail its use. It aims to assist health educators, students, health professionals and others engaged in tobacco control by providing useful information, resources and some suggestions on how best to respond if hookah use becomes a problem in their communities. The report may also be useful for educators, college and university officials and faculty, parents and young adults. Most studies cited in this report are from Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, where most of work on hookahs has been done, while the main sources of information for U.S. are from media reports, the Internet, and BACCHUS survey participants." [Tobacco Free Org and the Bacchus Network, c2007]
• Strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol
  This report by the WHO Secretariat states that "Public health problems caused by harmful use of alcohol are considerable in countries with different levels of development and effectiveness of health systems. Globally, among 20 selected risk factors to health, harmful use of alcohol is the leading cause of death and disability in developing countries with low mortality, the third among the leading risk factors in developed countries, after tobacco and blood pressure, and eleventh in developing countries with high mortality rates. Awareness is growing of the impact of harmful use o and interference with effective treatment regimens and procedures."
• Tobacco Control Archives
  "Sponsored by UCSF Library & Center for Knowledge Management, Department of Archives & Special Collections, the Tobacco Control Archives (TCA) is a central, organized source of information. TCA's purpose is to collect, preserve, and provide access to papers, unpublished documents and electronic resources relevant to tobacco control issues primarily in California"
• Tobacco smoking prevalence in Pacific Island countries and territories: a review
  Aim: To comprehensively review adult and youth smoking prevalence data in Pacific Island countries and territories (PICT). Methods: MEDLINE search for period 1986–2006 and search of World Health Organization and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention databases. Results: Smoking prevalence in PICT ranges from 22%–57% (males) and from 0.6%–51% (females). All PICT male populations (except Palau) report higher rates than in Australia and New Zealand. Nauru, Tokelau, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Kiribati report high rates of female smoking. Youth rates of smoking range from 3%–68% (although unavailable for many PICT). Palau, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Cook Islands, and American Samoa report very high levels of youth smoking in both males and females. Smoking prevalence appears to have decreased in the last 30 years in male populations with a variable picture in female populations. Conclusions: PICT continue to show high levels of smoking prevalence, with youth smoking rates particularly concerning. There is a need for more robust and systematic collection and publication of smoking prevalence data in PICT, especially youth data, but this should not delay urgently required action to reduce tobacco use in PICT. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control provides a powerful tool, but its provisions should be implemented rapidly, particularly increased tobacco taxation. [author abstract] [The New Zealand Medical Journal, 12 October 2007, Vol.120 No.1263]
• World Drug Report, 2005
  This year's World Drug Report estimates that 200 million people, or 5% of the global population age 15-64, have consumed illicit drugs at least once in the last 12 months. The drug trade is pernicious and large, impacting almost every level of human security from individual health, to safety and social welfare. Its consequences are especially devastating for countries with limited resources available to fight against it. The World Drug Report 2005 provides one of the most comprehensive overviews of illicit drug trends at the international level.
• World Drug Report, 2006
  Published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime the World Drug Report 2006 endeavours to provide one a comprehensive overview of illicit drug trends at the international level. In addition, it presents a special thematic chapter on cannabis, by far the most widely produced, trafficked and used drug in the world. The analysis of trends, some going back 10 years or more, is presented in Volume 1. Detailed statistics are presented in Volume 2. Taken together, these volumes provide an up-to-date view of today's illicit drug situation.
• World Drug Report, 2007
  "The World Drug Report presents the most comprehensive statistical view of today's illicit drug situation. This year's edition reports signs of long-term containment of the global problem. However, the overall trend masks contrasting regional situations, which the report examines in detail. For instance, while an impressive multi-year reduction in opium poppy cultivation continued in South-East Asia, Afghanistan recorded a large increase in 2006. More interceptions of cocaine and heroin shipments across the world have played an important part in stabilizing the market. However, as we witness successes in some areas, challenges appear in others. Although drug abuse levels are stabilizing globally, countries along major and new trafficking routes, such as those now going through Africa, may face increasing levels of drug consumption. The World Drug Report 2007 also discusses a possible method to better assess and monitor the role played by organized crime in transnational drug trafficking." Available in English, French and Spanish.
• Young people and alcohol: Taste perceptions, attitudes and experiences
  “Drinking alcohol is considered a normative behaviour in adolescence, with adolescent drinkers the majority of consumers for some beverages. One of the new and increasingly popular beverages are ‘ready to drink’ (RTD) preparations. An RTD is a spirit or wine and a non-alcoholic drink, served in a pre-mixed format. The most popular of these products are mixtures of non-alcoholic beverages such as milk and soft drinks with alcoholic beverages, typically spirits. These RTDs are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among adolescent drinkers. This study [by Jan Copeland, Peter Gates, Dick Stevenson, & Paul Dillon, published in 2006 by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales, Australia] aimed to determine the palatability of a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to teenagers and young adults. Specifically to: (1) determine which beverages are most palatable to the adolescents and young adults; (2) if this pattern changes with age; and (3) the extent to which packaging affects the palatability ratings.”

Educational resources

• Addiction Search
  A gateway to information on all types of addictions with a focus on research from well-respected, reliable sources.
• Australian Drug Foundation
  "The Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) is an independent, non-profit organisation that has worked for over 40 years to prevent and reduce alcohol and other drug problems in the Australian community."
• Frontline: Drug wars (USA)
  A Collaboration of US Public Broadcasting Service with National Public Radio, this site examines the effects and economic implications of the multi-billion-dollar drug industry throughout the world economy.
• Human Rights and the Drug War
  "Human Rights Atrocities of the Drug War is a special exhibit designed to bring awareness to the general public and policy makers about the human casualties and costs of the U.S. Drug War. The ongoing exhibit, now known as Human Rights and the Drug War, is a project of Human Rights 95 (HR95) and presents the Drug War in the context of its violations of The UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the American Bill of Rights"
• National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre - Publications
  The National Drug, Alcohol and Research Centre (Australia) Publications page provides access to reports published by the centre, including journal articles, books, reports and research monographs covering all aspects of drug and alcohol use and treatment.
• Needle Exchange Programs
  This web-site provides information on Needle Exchange Programs in the USA and elsewhere. It links to rich resources, however, the language in some of its links may be offensive to some.
• November Coalition
  The November Coalition is a group of US citizens concerned about the implications of the US government's war on drugs. It is particularly focused on the increase in the prison population in the United States as a result of the war on drugs.
• The Tobacco Control Super Site
  This site provides access to previously private tobacco industry documents as well as to the work of the tobacco industry document research team at the University of Sydney and to a wide range of information relevant to smoking prevention and control in Australia.
• Web of Addictions
  Web of Addictions provides an alternative approach to some drug information web sites. It strives to provide factual, realistic information on addiction.

Organisations and Networks

UN and multinational

• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
  UNODC is mandated to assist Member States in their struggle against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism. Its programme includes research and analytical work, assistance with the establishment and implementation of state based legislation in this area and field based technical assistance.
• WHO Tobacco Free Initiative<br>Website of WHO's Tobacco and Health Program
• WHO Prevention of Substance Abuse
  This Website contains information pertaining to psychoactive substance use and abuse, and also information about the World Health Organisation's projects and activities in the areas of substance abuse and substance dependence.

Government

• European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
  The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction is an agency of the European Union providing reliable information on drugs and drug addiction. Its website offers online reports databases about drug usage and anti-drug programs plus an Evaluation Instruments Bank (database with substance use screening/assessment instruments).
• New Zealand Needle Exchange Program
  "The New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme is a health education and health promotion service for people who inject drugs."

Non Government

• Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia
  The Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA) is the peak, non-government organization in Australia, promoting evidence-based approaches to prevent and treat drug and alcohol problems.
• Alcohol Concern
  Alcohol Concern is the United Kingdom's national agency on alcohol misuse. The Agency works to reduce the incidence and costs of alcohol-related harm and to increase the range and quality of services available to people with alcohol-related problems.
• Alcoholics Anonymous
  "Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. "
• Asian Harm Reduction Network
  A global information and support network, created to link and support people and programs working throughout Asia to stop HIV among injecting drug users.
• Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Programme
  The Beckley Foundation is a charitable trust that was originally set up to promote the investigation of consciousness and its modulation, and the science of drug use, from a multidisciplinary perspective. It supports world-class research into the science, health, politics and history of practices used to alter consciousness, ranging from meditation to the ingestion of psychoactive substances. The Beckley Foundation Drug Policy (BFDPP) programme is a new project dedicated to providing a rigorous, independent review of global drug policy. It was set up to promote rational consideration of sensitive policy issues at an international level. The programme aims to inform policy makers, substance misuse professionals, academics and the general public about drug policy.
• Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
  Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse a non-profit organization working to minimize the harm associated with the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
• Drug Policy Alliance
  The Drug Policy Alliance is a US organization working to end the war on drugs. It envisions new drug policies based on science, compassion, health and human rights and a just society in which what it considers to be the fears, prejudices and punitive prohibitions of today's drug war are no more.
• DrugSense
  Drugsense is a non-profit organisation that encourages informed debate on the United States government's war on drugs.
• DrugScope (UK)
  DrugScope is the UK's independent centre of expertise on drugs. Its aim is to inform policy development and reduce drug-related risk.
• European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
  EMCDDA's aim is to assist with general networking of qualitative researchers, to encourage dialogue and the sharing of ideas.
• International Harm Reduction Association
  This organisation works to improve public health outcomes whilst protecting human rights and decreasing the spread of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis and other blood borne infections associated with drug use.
• International Council on Alcohol and Addictions
  An international non-governmental organisation working for the harm reduction of alcohol and drug use.
• Join Together Online (USA)
  Join Together Online is a national resource centre and meeting place for communities working to reduce substance abuse (illicit drugs, excessive alcohol & tobacco) and gun violence.
• National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (USA)
  The US national clearinghouse for drug and alcohol information, produced in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services.
• National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University
  "The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University brings together under one roof all the professional disciplines needed to study and combat abuse of all substances -- alcohol, nicotine, illegal drugs, prescription drugs, performance enhancing drugs -- in all sectors of society. Founded in 1992 by former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA has assembled an interdisciplinary staff of more than 60 professionals in the fields of substance abuse and addiction, communications, criminology, education, epidemiology, government, journalism, law, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, social work, sociology and statistics."
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (USA)
  The aim of this organisation is to lead the Nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction.
• NIAAA - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (USA)
  Includes the Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Science Database (ETOH) , a resource covering a wide range of aspects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism from a variety of sources including journal articles and dissertation abstracts.
• TACADE
  TACADE not-for-profit charitable organisation working in the field of personal, social, health and citizenship education (including drug, alcohol, tobacco and sexual health issues) for children and young people in the UK.

Academic Institutions with particular focus in this area

• School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW - Health Promotion Capabilities
• School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW - Research
• Health Education Unit (Australia)
  The Health Education Unit is a resource and education centre with a primary focus on the prevention of drug-related harm against young people. Established in 1979 it is chiefly funded by the NSW government and administered by the University of Sydney.
• Program of International Research and Training (PIRT)
  The international arm of the University of New South Wales National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre

Key Conferences, conference and workshop reports

Coming conferences

Conference reports

Journals, Newsletters, Forums

• Daily Dose
  Daily Dose is maintained by WIRED. WIRED was developed six years ago by David Clark, a Professor of Psychology at University of Wales, Swansea, as a way of empowering people to tackle substance misuse. It aims to: Provide the information, support and tools that people require to help them overcome or reduce their substance use problem; Improve the quality of services in the community provided to people with a substance use problem and their families and carers; Raise awareness and understanding of substance misuse, the problems it creates and the ways to deal with these problems.
• International Journal of Drug Policy - The International Journal of Drug Policy provides a forum for the dissemination of current research, reviews, debate, and critical analysis on drug use and drug policy in a global context. It seeks to publish material on the social, political, legal, and health contexts of psychoactive substance use, both licit and illicit. The journal is particularly concerned to explore the effects of drug policy and practice on drug-using behaviour and its health and social consequences. It is the policy of the journal to represent a wide range of material on drug-related matters from around the world.

Bibliographies, Libraries

• Alcohol control database
  The WHO Regional Office for Europe, Alcohol control database provides data to track and assess alcohol policies and their implementation within and across countries of the European region. The information is targeted to policy/decision-makers, prevention and control programme staff, researchers and global partners and others working with alcohol prevention. With this information, national authorities can critically evaluate their own alcohol policy situations in light of the experiences of other countries and turn lessons learned into enhancement of their own national efforts. Information can be either viewed on a country-by-country basis or in consolidated country comparison tables. Data are provided by national alcohol counterparts. Details of these counterparts can be found in the database
• Drug Info Clearinghouse
  The Drug Info Clearinghouse collects, interprets and disseminates information on drug prevention. It is provided by the Australian Drug Foundation and funded by the Victorian Government. Its in-house library offers an online catalogue
• Lindesmith Library
  The Lindesmith Institute is a leading independent organisation in the United States working to broaden the public debate on drug policy and to promote realistic alternatives to the war on drugs based on science, compassion, health and human rights. It has in its library one of the largest online collections (more than 10000 documents) on these topics.
• National Clearinghouse for Drug and Alcohol Information
  This Clearinghouse distributes substance abuse prevention and treatment material from a wide variety of US government agencies, and most are free or low-cost. It offers web-links to a number of useful databases re information on drugs and alcohol.
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Databases
  NIAAA as part of the US National Institutes of Health, is a peak government funded research centre, focusing on alcohol abuse and addiction. It offers a number of databases.
• Pubmed Search Strategies for Alcohol Related Problems
  This database, from the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism contains sample searches conducted in PubMed on alcohol-related topics.
• RADAR
  RADAR, a project of the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia, aims to promote awareness of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs research in Australia. The register contains up-to-date records of current and recently completed research projects with details of published research. There is also information about researchers, their organisations and research funding bodies.
• Substance Abuse Screening and Assessment Instruments Database
  Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington: This database is intended to help clinicians and researchers find instruments used for screening and assessment of substance use disorders
• School of Public Health and Community Medicine: Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco subject guide

Public health bookshops

• Public Health bookshop