Drugs and Their Effects
Stigma is often associated with mental health and drug use disorders, and can have lasting impacts including harassment, bullying and preventing young people from seeking help. Learn more in this Webinar from Positive Choices: Understanding stigma - creating a safe supportive environment for Australian young people
Research published in Drug and Alcohol Review in December 2021 suggests a transformation in the public’s views on drugs over the past decade. But while Rebecca’s views apply to all illegal drugs, the general public draws a sharp distinction between different drugs. Learn about Rebecca's story and Australia's changing opinions in this article from the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘The stigma holds you back’: Public mood shifts on illegal drugs
Many people in Australia use drugs - alcohol, coffee, cannabis, and many more. But why do people choose to use drugs, and is there any difference in the way thhey are used? Find the answers to these questions and more in this factshet from the Australian Drug Foundation.
An insight into the pressures young people face can give parents and teachers an understanding of the reasons young people may use drugs and alcohol. This can help in responding in a constructive way. In this factsheet from Positive Choices, you will find some of the reasons young people give for using drugs and alcohol and ideas for starting conversations with them.
What are drugs? How are they made? Why do people choose to use drugs? Learn more in this factsheet from the Australian Government Department of Healthand Aged Care.
Supervised injecting facilities (SIFs) are dedicated spaces where illicit drugs can be used under the watchful eye of health care professionals (particularly nurses), social workers or other trained workers or volunteers. Learn more about them in this fact sheet from the Australian Drug Foundation.
The ADF supports the trial of a medically supervised injecting room (MSIR) in Melbourne’s CBD. Since opening in 2018, the North Richmond MSIR has safely managed over 7,049 overdoses and saved up to 63 lives. Read more about the trial, and the Australian Drug Foundation's position, in this article.
Melbourne’s first Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) has courted controversy but is estimated to have saved 63 people dying from drug use. Learn more in this article from Al Jazeera.
‘You almost died’: Safe drug use saves lives in Australia
The stigma experienced by people who use alcohol and drugs can be an everyday occurrence, and become ingrained. In time, people can begin to apply this stigma to themselves.
The video from the Government of South Australia shows how self-stigma can become a barrier to recovery from problematic alcohol and drug use.
This factsheet from Cracks in the Ice provides information about how stigma and shame can impact a person who uses crystal methamphetamine 'ice'. Some of the topics covered include:
- What stigma and shame are.
- How these feelings can impact a person.
- How we can reduce stigma and shame in the community.
This factsheet from the Department of Health Tasmania and the Department for Education, Children and Young People Tasmania features example images of vaping devices and important information that parents and teachers need to know.
Life Savers: your one-stop website for information about opioids and opioid dependence. This website provides information about opioid dependence (which may be diagnosed as Opioid Use Disorder or OUD) and about different options for treatment.
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