NCJ Number
129801
Journal
International Journal on Drug Policy Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (January/February 1991) Pages: 4
Date Published
1991
Length
1 page
Annotation
Australia's National Drug and Alcohol Research Center, opened in October 1987, is funded by the national government as part of its National Campaign Against Drug Abuse.
Abstract
The center's main purpose is to promote the effectiveness of drug treatment through evaluations of community-based initiatives and research on characteristics and trends in drug treatment in the nation. The center has 38 staff members. Most staff view drug problems as the result of social and cognitive learning processes and not as diseases, although the view that these problems are diseases is widely held by treatment personnel. The research efforts focus both on practical and immediate policy issues and on longer-term, theoretical implications. A Brief Intervention Unit in the center aims to develop, evaluate, and promote the widespread use of brief, cost-effective interventions. Another initiative is the HIV Research Unit which aims to encourage behaviors to reduce the risk of HIV transmission among intravenous drug users. Another evaluation focuses on a 6-session cognitive-behavioral program aimed at preventing relapse to high-risk behaviors among clients of methadone units. 4 references and list of sources of further information