News & Media

Call to join the IDHDP

Join IDHDP in calling for health based drug policies

INTERNATIONAL DOCTORS FOR HEALTHIER DRUG POLICIES

IDHDP is a global network of medical doctors supporting drug policy based on health.

HDP aims:

•Protect society and the individual from drug related death and disease

•Public health instead of criminal justice

•Improve access to essential medicines

•Expand access to evidence based treatment

Opportunity for doctors:

March 2016 will see the UN General Assembly Special Session (“UNGASS”) on the “World Drug Problem.” Before then there will be many opportunities to ensure health is high on the agenda. By joining IDHDP you will be helping a lot.

By joining IDHDP you will be adding your voice to a growing number of physicians calling for health based drug policies

Join at www.idhdp.com

Membership is free, easy and open to all medical doctors. By joining you will receive our comprehensive newsletter and updates on policies from all over the world.

Physicians globally unite for health based drug policy

APSAD YouTube Channel

2013 APSAD CONFERERENCE

Keynote presentations now available to view on APSAD's YouTube Channel!

More to come in the following weeks

Visit us on YouTube

APSAD’s media release regarding the defunding of ADCA

MEDIA RELEASE 27 November 2013

Professional body representing alcohol and other drugs sector urges government not to abandon vital services in drastic funding cut.

The Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol & other Drugs (APSAD) has expressed strong disappointment at the Commonwealth government’s decision, announced yesterday, to discontinue funding for the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA).

APSAD is the Asia Pacific's leading multidisciplinary organisation for professionals involved in the alcohol and other drug field including health professionals, researchers and frontline clinicians from major universities, research institutes, treatment facilities and healthcare agencies.

APSAD President Dr Rose Neild said the news of ADCA’s de-funding and voluntary administration was an unwelcome shock to the sector.

“As the peak national body for non-governmental agencies working to reduce problems from alcohol and other drugs, ADCA played an important role in bringing the experience and knowledge of agencies and professionals to bear on treatment and prevention policies and their implementation across Australia,” Dr Neild said.

“ADCA’s National Drug Sector Information Service, run with resources from the federal government, has been the primary resource for agencies and workers in the field concerning the relevant clinical and research literatures which form the basis of evidence-based practice and policy.

“APSAD considers that these two functions must continue to be filled, and urges the Commonwealth government to continue to provide resources for these functions.”

News of the government’s decision came as 500 alcohol and other drug experts from around the country and overseas gather in Brisbane at APSAD 2013, Australasia’s largest and most comprehensive annual summit on alcohol and other drugs.

APSAD is dedicated to increasing the profile of the issues related to the use of alcohol and other drugs, through the dissemination of information from the wide range of professions involved in this field. In addition, we strive to promote improved standards in clinical practice and in research into this and allied subjects. It also provides a network of drug and alcohol professionals in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific.

APSAD is dedicated to:

• promoting evidence-based improvements in the treatment and prevention of drug and alcohol-related problems

• raising awareness about the problems related to the use of alcohol and other drugs

• promoting best standards in research in the drug and alcohol field

• providing development and support to professionals working in the drug and alcohol field.

For further information visit www.apsad.org.au. Dr Rose Neild is available for interview.

Please contact:

Carol Moore, Moore Public Relations

02 9560 2826, 0402 382 363, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Download this press release

Have we lost the war on drugs?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/have-we-lost-the-war-on-drugs-heroin-cocaine-and-cannabis-now-cheaper-and-purer-globally-than-at-any-time-in-last-20-years-8851379.html

Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) updated Mental Health Advice Book.

This publication is designed to help practitioners apply existing mental health knowledge and expertise to veterans

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ (DVA) popular Mental Health Advice Book: for treating veterans with common mental health problems, first printed in 2007, has been extensively revised and updated to assist practitioners to deliver the most effective mental health treatment for veterans. This resource offers best-practice in assessment, formulation and treatment of common mental health problems and now includes DVD of relevant case studies and information on complex case formulation.

The book is available on DVA’s new website At Ease Professional in both an online format and a downloadable PDF or order a hard copy.

at ease_logo

Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services

Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services - request for submissions

The Independent Hospital Pricing Authority (IHPA) has released its Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services 2014-15 for public consultation. The Pricing Framework is fundamental to the National Health Reform Agreement and underpins the annual national efficient price (NEP) and national efficient cost (NEC) for Australian public hospitals. It includes pricing guidelines which explain key decisions made by IHPA, and the principles and methodology adopted by IHPA to determine the NEP and NEC. More importantly, the framework also asks for views on specific issues such as:

- Are any amendments required to IHPA pricing guidelines?;

- What IHPA should consider in a formal evaluation of the introduction of ABF?

- What should be added or removed from the list of eligible public hospital services?

- What should be priority areas for development in each of the classification systems in the coming 12 months?

Please refer to the consultation document for more information.

Submissions are due no later than 5 pm on Tuesday, 30 July 2013. The College Policy and Advocacy unit will be preparing a response to this consultation document and seeks the views of Fellows and trainees on the consultation questions raised by IHPA. Please send your views to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by COB 19 July 2013.

Alternatively, if you would like to prepare an individual submission, submissions should be emailed as an accessible Word document to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

APSAD Conference Registration Now Opened

Registration is now OPENED for this year's APSAD Conference.

This year's APSAD conference will take place on the 24 - 27 November at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Brisbane.

Be sure to register by 4 September 2013 to take advantage of the discounted early bird rates.

Visit the APSAD Conference website for all the details on registration, the program, and keynote speakers.

APSAD AWARDS – NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

APSAD is now calling for nominations for the 2018 APSAD Awards in five categories:

Early Career
Senior Scientist
First Peoples
Clinician
Mentor

Go to the APSAD Awards page for more information

Nominations close on 3 September 2018

2017 APSAD Award winners resized

2017 APSAD Award winners

Pay your APSAD Membership Subscription Online

It's almost June and time for the new membership year. We'll be emailing out invoices for 2013/14 Membership subscriptions at the end of May.

We accept payments through our website, go to the Renew page to pay your 2013 membership fee. All payments are secure through PayPal, you don't need a PayPal account and we have discounted rates if you pay for more then one year's membership.

We also have a Direct Debit option where you authorise us to debit your account on 1 June each year until you ask us to stop.

We also accept payment via EFT, credit card (Visa and MasterCard only), and cheque.

APSAD Recent Submission

APSAD recently provided a submission to NSW Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Committee No.2: Inquiry into Drug and Alcohol Treatment

This Inquiry will review the effectiveness of current alcohol and drug policies with respect to deterrence, treatment and rehabilitation with reference to the welfare and health of individuals dependent on illicit drugs and the impact on their families, carers and the community:

The next scheduled hearing is 12 June 2013

The final report is due on 29 August.

To view the submissions (including APSAD's) as well as copies of the hearings and transcripts to the Parliament of NSW Drug and Alcohol Treatment (Inquiry) page.

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