Is Rat Park the best way to look at substance use?
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Advocating for young people in schools
If you are supporting young people who are still engaged in education, there’s every chance you have had to attend a meeting with the school/education program to discuss the management of challenging behaviors in the classroom....
Exploring Methamphetamine with Prof. Nicole Lee
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What is FASD and how common is it?
You may very well have heard/seen the letters FASD thrown around in a care team meeting or written in a client report, but what is FASD? ...
Why doesn't my child think about the future?
Why does my child think about the future? Why do they make such bad decisions? Can’t they see what they are doing is bad for them?...
Who's who in the world of Mental Health?
Choosing a mental health professional can be tricky! Knowing the difference between a counsellor, a psychologist and a psychiatrist can help you find the best mental health professional to meet a young person’s needs. ...
IV Users – Opioids VS. Methamphetamines
There has been a lot of research into the wellbeing of people who inject opiates but little is known about the experience of people who inject methamphetamines. ...
Drug dependency: is it a health or criminal issue?
It has been 16 years since Portugal decriminalized drug possession and in that time there has been a lot of talk and at times misrepresentation of the facts....
When can I get a job?
Did you know the laws for the legal age of employment have slightly changed?...
Protecting our Young People!
The work now continues with government and organisations working with children and young people in making social change! ...
Roadside Drug Testing: How does it work?
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Radical New Approaches to Harm Reduction
Making changes can save lives!...
Best Practice Youth Work
The term ‘best practice’ is used often in youth work. What does best practice mean for youth workers and the work we do? ...
CLEAN UP YOUR LANGUAGE – The Global Drug Commission look at language.
The words we use can create stigma and discrimination, lets start thinking about what we say. ...
Youth, Crime and What's really going on
So what's really is going on out there? What are the current facts on youth crime in Victoria and are all young people actually evil...
What's News in 2018!
Look back on past edition of the YoDAA E-Newsletter from 2018....
…AND THAT’S A WRAP FOR 2017
2017 has been a big year for the AoD sector in Victoria! We have seen two ground breaking things get the green light, two things many of us in the sector never thought we would see. We welcome a safe injecting room in Richmond and the legalisation of medical cannabis in Victoria. ...
Revolution in Hepatitis C Treatment at Austin Health!
Did you know that treating Hepatitis C is now safe, simple and highly effective?...
Where is your Out Of Home Care LookOut?
Research shows the longer a young person can stay in school the more likely they are going keep connection and meet developmental milestones. ...
Youth offending, what do we know?
Youth offending is a topic that gets a lot of people talking!...
What is the harm?
Understanding young people who self harm and their AoD use. ...
Methamphetamine - what do we know?
One way to help young people understand their use is to help them to understand the substance they are using. ...
WHAT’S NOT CANNABIS….SYNTHETIC CANNABIS
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"Nangs" and "Poppers"
Want to know more about "Nangs" and "Poppers"?...
Great new podcast by Dr. Suzi Gage
Want to know more about substances from an accurate and informed source?...
Breaking new ground on medical cannabis research in Australia
Australia is taking a big step forward in understanding medical cannabis and how it works. ...
Why hearing young people is so important
Why is it so important to involve young people?...
New resources for workers
We love a good resource and know you love them too!...
GHB in the Media
Reporting on GHB - a bit of back and forth about how it should be done......
Australian Youth AoD Conference 2017
Australian Youth AoD Conference 2017 was two big days, filled with lots of learning, networking and amazing content. ...
What we learnt this year from the stats
2016 has seen some interesting results come from the National Drug Survey and the Global Drug Survey. ...
Scaring a young person into not using drugs
Using scare tactics to discourage drug use can be very appealing for family members & schools who are…well…scared. ...
Taking a stand for accurate information
It's about time that journalists reported facts not fiction ...
Helping engage the precontemplative
How do you actually help the contemplative teen?...
What does success look like?
Understanding realistic expectations for young people is so important ...
Developing the essence of adolescents
At YoDAA we speak so often about boundaries and consequences and have even coined the term “kicking a young person IN TO the house, not out of the house”. ...
Psychedelics what do we know?
Learn about psychedelics, there history and their future. ...
New resources from Drugslab and The Drug Policy Alliance
We get so excited when we find new resources that are packed with AoD education, harm reduction strategies and accurate facts....
Helpful resources for youth AoD workers
Some things that you might have missed from the YoDAA Enewletters this year. ...
Mission Australia’s 2012 -2016 Youth Mental Health Survey outcomes
Findings from the 2012 -2016 Mission Australia and Black Dog Institutes Youth Mental Health Survey ...
Understanding Young People in 2017
We work with young people every day, supporting them, advocating for them, encouraging and empowering them to make change, but do we really understand them? ...
Learning from the past
What have we learnt from the past in the AoD sector? How far have we come?...
What do we know about trauma?
Understanding trauma is essential to working young people in the AoD sector. ...
Whats “THE CODE”?
Knowing where we ethically sit can sometimes be a bit tricky...
Newly released Youth and Substance Abuse by Kathryn Daley
Brand new book speaking about young people’s journeys in to and out of substance use....
The wise men creating new understanding in the AoD sector.
There is lots of work being done in the AoD sector to understand addiction better. ...
What is new with Opioids?
In the 90’s it was hard to miss the heroin crisis that Melbourne was grappling with, now in 2017 media is presenting us with an ice epidemic. ...
What’s that slang you’re using?
Say what? There are so many different names and terms for substances, here is a run down! ...
This is your brain and other changes in the Youth AoD Sector.
20 years ago there were different messages about alcohol and drug use and how to keep people safe. ...
You Can't Ask That
Have you ever wanted to ask the really hard questions? You Can't Ask That is a series doing just that. ...
The World Health Organisation is looking at Cannabis
The World Health Organisation is taking a look at Cannabis for the first time in 82 years. ...
How influential is advertising?
Alcohol is the most consumed substances in Australia, yet we know it cause the most social and physical harms to society. ...
Cracks in the ice
Introducing Cracks in the Ice, a government based website supporting families, workers and the community. ...
The First Stop
New website helping with support and referrals in the Inner East. ...
2016 ADOLESCENT WITHDRAWAL GUIDELINES
Youth Workers Helping GP’s Respond to Youth Substance Use...
Drug Stats Insight
A new website which provides an insight into drug-related ambulance data has been unveiled....
Synthetic Cannabis - Updated Safety Warning
Alerts have been issues about a type of synthetic cannabis called “Blue Lotus”. There have been reports of 20 people presenting at hospitals in states of psychosis....
7 new tips for safer injecting
With the controversial introduction of a new 1mm fit to Victorian Needle Syringe Programs, YoDAA has put together a harm reduction resource for Youth AOD workers supporting young people who inject substances. ...
Does mixing cannabis make it harder to quit?
New research about tobacco and cannabis. ...
Explaining Harm Reduction To Families (NEW resource)
Help families understand the most effective tool we have to keep young people who are already using drugs, safe from harm....
Holiday Survive N Thrive Guide
YoDAA has gathered some of the best activities and resources for young people who's usual services and supports are on hiatus. ...
Brilliant new video resource about cannabis use
Sensitive, thoughtful, funny, balanced and well made. These are not usually words we use to describe drug education videos but this 28 minute film developed by researchers at the UBC School of Nursing is not like any drug ed video you have ever seen before....
Public or Private Detox and Rehabilitation?
YoDAA has long held the position that anyone who genuinely cares about a young person and is willing to get to know and sit beside them can make an impact on a young person’s AOD use. But what if that person is a self-proclaimed AOD expert paid for by the young person’s family?...
YoDAA Team Bookclub
The YoDAA team love seeing a different perspective on Drug Use in print....
Fact Check: Is Ice more dangerous and more addictive than any other drug?
Read this leading experts powerful response....
...As a good parent would...
Victoria’s commissioner for children & young people has published an inquiry into the adequacy of residential care services & the sexual abuse of young people who call these units home....
Heywire: Giving Voice to Rural Young People
Young regional Australians telling it like it is and making a difference....
New Youth AOD Toolbox Moduels: Sexual Health, Blood Born Viruses, Living Skills
AOD experts in youth work, social work and health have pooled their collective knowledge and experience to bring you the 3 latest modules in the Youth AOD toolbox....
When family contact is harmful: fact sheet for workers (and other amazing resources)
The latest Youth AOD toolbox module brings you everything you have ever wanted to know about working with families....
Problematic substance use and its impact on siblings
New research delves into the experience of the brothers and sisters of young people with problematic substance use....
Understanding and responding to steroid use
New research reveals trends in steroid use in Australia & gaps in knowledge about illicit steroid use. ...
Students exposed to a harm min message at school experience less harm
New research from Australian 2 year trial....
Harm Reduction Portraits put Meth Mugshots to shame
Participants at the 10th National Harm Reduction Conference address the very personal impact of drug-related harms in this stunning photo project...
Take the YoDAA drug facts quiz!
Do you know your Suboxone from your Seroquel? Your Methadone from your Methamphetamines? Take the drug facts quiz and test your AOD knowledge....
Three phone calls a day from a worried parent?
Addressing parent concerns whilst maintaining client privacy can be challenging (and time consuming). Answer frequently asked questions with these 5 parent resources. ...
US Government forks out $$ to promote meth use
The research is in, mass media scare campaigns don't work and can actually increase drug use. ...
Strategies to tackle Ice use can't remain frozen in time
Australia cannot simply “police our way out” problematic methamphetamine use and “more money needs to be spent on treatment and prevention.”...
Not quite Game of Thrones but pretty cool viewing nonetheless
Youth AOD workers have been sending us their favourite AOD videos. Check out this weeks top 3 picks....
5 cannabis resources you’ll want to share with others
Working with young people who us cannabis? Take your harm minimisation to the next level with YoDAA's top 5 most shareable cannabis resources....
New Youth AOD Centre launched!
YSAS has launched the Centre for YouthAOD practice Development....
Youth AOD work in Victoria-A vision realised and the next generation
YSAS, in collaboration with YoDAA and the Centre for YouthAOD practice development has published a definitive Youth AOD document titled, "The Victorian Youth Alcohol and Other Drug Service System-A vision realised"...
Writing an assignment? YoDAA answers student FAQ's
Around assignment time, YoDAA is inundated with requests from students. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions....
Pre loading, happy hour and missing the last train home
New research compares a big night out for urban & outer urban young people...
Don’t mention the “d” word
How schools can work on drug issues without working on drugs....
The nature of drug problems and addiction.
“The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. It is human connection.”...
“Strawberry Quick”- flavoured methamphetamine.
YoDAA has received an indirect report from a school based source about an apparent new drug called “strawberry quick” or flavoured methamphetamine. ...
Digital AOD tool update.
Have you checked out “Working it out with YoDAA” or recommended it to a young person yet? Minister Foley will be formally launching the tool in early March!...
“Addict” is a hate word.
In YoDAA’s experience, youth AOD workers and Youth workers don’t generally use the word “addict” when referring to anyone with an AOD related problem....
Schools Back! AOD workers speak about their experience delivering drug ed
There’s a long tradition of Youth workers partnering with local schools to deliver drug and alcohol education. But providing universal education to groups of young people with vastly different experiences of drugs and alcohol poses unique challenges to an AOD worker. ...
Coping with a Parents Drug or Alcohol Use
For many young people in AOD treatment they are not the first member of their family to struggle with problematic AOD use. ...
Opinion: Ice crisis needs a smart and varied solution
The pitfalls of school drug testing, scaremongering and a 'one size fits all approach' to the complex issue of Meth use in Victoria....
You won't find this in the organic section
Many tried it and didn’t like it but amongst young people seeking treatment, synthetic cannabis still has a niche following. ...
Important voices missing in ice debate
Long term consumer participation advocate calls for the inclusion of meth users as members of Victorias Ice Action Taskforce....
Need some motivation to click this link?
The Youth AOD Toolbox can help! Read their beautifully written new guide to finding and sustaining motivation (suitable for young people and workers alike)....
Where do young people turn to for help?
They may spend hours on the phone but a telephone helpline is one of the last places a young person would turn to if they needed support....
AOD not a high concern for Young people-Mission Australia survey
Drugs are not a ‘top issue of concern’ for young Aussies whilst coping with stress, school, study problems and body image are. ...
Socio-economic status and risky alcohol use
People with the highest socio-economic status (SES) were more likely to consume alcohol in risky quantities in the previous 12 months than people with the lowest SES....
Supporting young people over Christmas-Can YoDAA help?
The Christmas and holiday season can be an especially difficult time for many young people and families. It’s also a time when many services temporarily close or when workers take a well-earned break. ...
DXM-Isolated use or a new trend?
It’s impossible for Youth AOD workers to be up to speed with every emerging drug trend. Being across the basics of the drugs young people you support are using best places you to provide accurate info and effective harm reduction advice....
2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey final report
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released its final report from the 2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey....
