Research You Can Use

Abstract: Background Driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs contributes significantly to road traffic crashes worldwide. This study explored trends of alcohol, methylamphetamine (MA), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in road crashes from 2010 to 2019 in Victoria, Australia. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and

  Originating in the US, Communities that Care is a public health prevention framework that has been operating in Australia for 25 years. Over 30 Local Government Areas have used the framework to reduce alcohol consumption, injuries and crime. In the US it has been used to also reduce smoking, cannabis and depression. An Australian

The opioid crisis continues to devastate communities across Canada and beyond, with recent research highlighting alarming treatment retention failures that underscore why prevention must be our primary defence. A comprehensive study examining opioid agonist therapy amongst First Nations people in Ontario reveals shocking statistics that every family, educator, and community leader must understand. The Stark

Overview: This Policy Proposal has been designed for Australia with the hard learned lessons from other jurisdictions in mind. Ensuring faux claims of perceived manageability are addressed. Not only has there been considerable consultation with health, legal and policy professionals, but with the voice of the vast silent majority of non-substance users being heard. Informing

Opening Chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, migraines, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) present with complex symptoms, often involving both physical sensations and intense emotional suffering. Recent neuroscience advances, particularly a July 2025 study from the Salk Institute, have identified a key brain circuit that gives pain its emotional tone, transforming our understanding of pain and paving the

Teen vaping is on the rise. Around the world, 16.8% of young people have already tried e-cigarettes, often starting as early as 14 years old. The risks? Nicotine addiction, lung damage, harmful chemicals, and even mental health concerns. Schools are on the frontline to tackle this issue, and now, a new programme called ‘Our Futures

The resurgence of psychedelics in the United States has reignited fierce debates about their safety, efficacy, and the ethical concerns surrounding their use in mental health treatment. Once dismissed as dangerous hallucinogens associated with counterculture movements, substances like MDMA and psilocybin are now being promoted as potential therapies for mental health disorders. But despite the

In what might go down as the most expensive experiment in missing the point, Australia’s decades-long dance with harm reduction policies has produced results that would be laughable if they weren’t so tragic. New data reveals a sobering reality: whenever harm reduction takes centre stage, drug-related deaths perform their own tragic encore. Historical Context: Australia’s