Professor Robert Ali recently sat down with the host of Vibrant Lives Podcast to chat about all things related to alcohol. The discussion focused on the topics of risk and harms of intoxication vs. longer term use and dependence, as well as a thoughtful discussion about the current state of research, and policy in […]
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Administration of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) among high school students in the Peruvian Amazon. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse By: Friso et al., 2021 WHAT WAS THE STUDY ABOUT? In some areas of Peru, drug use has, and continues to present a significant challenge among young people, due in […]
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
The effects of screening brief intervention referral to treatment (SBIRT) training on health professional trainees’ regard, attitudes, and beliefs towards patients who use substances. Published in: Substance Abuse By: Lukowitsky et al., 2021 WHAT WAS THE STUDY ABOUT? This study evaluated the attitudes and beliefs of healthcare trainees towards people who […]
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Risk factors for new-onset bipolar disorder in a community cohort: A five-year follow up study. Published in: Psychiatry Research By: de Lima Bach et al., 2021 WHAT WAS THE STUDY ABOUT? The aim of this study was to assess sociodemographic and clinical risk factors for new-onset Bipolar Disorder (BD) among a community […]
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Validation of the Alcohol Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) in acute psychiatric inpatients Published in: Adicciones (Addictions) By: López-Lascano, López-Pelayo, Barcells-Oliveró, Segura, and Gual Solé. 2021 WHAT WAS THE STUDY ABOUT? The aim of this study was to validate the use of ASSIST amongst a cohort of psychiatric inpatients in a […]
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Associations of cannabis use frequency and cannabis use disorder with receiving a substance use screen and healthcare professional discussion of substance use. Published in: The American Journal on Addictions By: Moore, DiNitto, & Choi. 2021 WHAT WAS THE STUDY ABOUT? The aim of this study was to assess the relationship […]
BRAND NEW TRAINING OPPORTUNITY!
MANAGING RESISTANCE: RESPONDING TO CLIENTS WHO DON’T WANT TO CHANGE Do you come across clients who don’t feel the need to change their substance use, despite experiencing health, social, financial or legal harms? Are you unsure of what to say, or frustrated with their ‘yes……but…’ type of responses? ould you like to learn how […]
NEWS ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT!
New heroin treatment option yielding positive results among patients at Melbourne injecting rooms (ABC). Recently, there was an article posted on the ABC regarding a trial of long-acting injectable buprenorphine in a clinic in Richmond, Victoria, as part of a push to improve outcomes for medication-assisted treatment of opioid dependence. The article is written […]
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Drug-using nursing mothers and breastfeeding outcome: a cohort-study. Published in: Saúde Mental, Alchool e Drogas (Portuguese translation: Mental health, alcohol and drugs). By: Ribeiro, S, & Fernandes, R. 2021 WHAT WAS THE STUDY ABOUT? The aim of this study was to assess the association between substance use and the duration of exclusive breastfeeding among […]
NHMRC LOW RISK DRINKING GUIDELINES!
Did you know that NHMRC have updated their low-risk drinking guidelines? The new guidelines released in December 2020 recommend no more than 4 standard drinks on any one occasion, and no more than 10 standard drinks per week. The guidelines also recommend zero alcohol consumption for both children under the age of 18, and for […]