AOD Policy

A New York Times podcast on the global drug crisis raises urgent concerns, but leaves the most important questions unasked. There is something almost cinematic about the way The New York Times framed its recent investigation into the synthetic drugs crisis. A mysterious death in a Chicago jail. A criminal investigator who says “keister” instead […]

National Tragedy Triggers Immediate Tobacco and Cannabis Cravings, New Research Finds Collective Trauma and Substance Cravings: The Reflexive Response Nobody Talks About When a national tragedy unfolds, the psychological fallout runs far deeper than grief or anxiety. New research in the Journal of Health Psychology shows that collective trauma and substance cravings are directly linked. Regular tobacco

Building a Healthier Future Through Conscious Choices Making choices that support personal health and long-term well-being is one of the most empowering journeys a young person can embark upon today. In a world full of academic pressures, social media expectations, and peer influences, deciding to look after your mind and body is a profound act

In May 2026, the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) marked thirty years of its Drug Trends program with a quiet announcement and a new bulletin series. NDARC framed the launch as a milestone: three decades of monitoring Australia’s drug markets, a commitment to drawing together multiple data sources, and a new series designed

(The Dalgarno Institute has decades long history in not only advocating, but practicing in this space. The school social context is an intense micro-verse that until recent decades, was a place where proactive, resilience and agency building education was standard. However, other agendas have seen that best-practice model not only interrupted, but displaced with not

A groundbreaking study published in the May 2026 issue of Anesthesiology has raised serious concerns about naloxone overdose reversal when potent synthetic opioids are involved. Researchers found that one standard dose may not be enough to fully protect a person in crisis. The findings carry urgent implications for anyone on the front lines of the ongoing

A Dalgarno Institute Position on Early Intervention, Diversion, and the Culture We Want to Build Queensland is in the middle of a significant drug policy decision, and the public deserves a serious conversation rather than a partisan one. The state government has proposed winding back its three-strike drug diversion program, the arrangement that gave people

The choices you make in your twenties may feel a world away from who you will be at 65. But a landmark new study from the University of Michigan suggests the brain keeps a much longer record than most of us realise. Researchers found that young adult substance use, including binge drinking, frequent cannabis use,

Violence is one of the most underreported issues facing women who use drugs. A major study published in JAMA Network Open in March 2026 shed new light on how widespread and serious this problem is, and why so many women suffer in silence. The findings are deeply concerning. Yet understanding them is an important step towards building