Why alcohol and other drug reform matters
Alcohol and other drug-related harm can affect people, families and communities in different ways. Reducing alcohol and other drug-related harm requires a range of coordinated responses, including:
- prevention and early intervention
- accessible treatment and support
- harm reduction
- reducing stigma and discrimination.
We work with government, community organisations, researchers and people with lived-living experience to improve Queensland’s response to alcohol and other drug-related harm.
Our work supports Achieving balance: The Queensland Alcohol and Other Drugs Plan.
Prevention and early intervention
We work to prevent harm and help people access support and information earlier.
Our work spans the life course and includes:
- improving alcohol and other drugs literacy
- supporting community-led and responsive approaches
- improving early identification and responses
- co-designing solutions
- strengthening prevention and early intervention building evidence about what works.
Examples include:
- programs funded through the Youth Alcohol and Other Drugs Grants
- our work with Griffith University to improve early identification and support for children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
View Youth Alcohol and Other Drugs Grants grant recipients.
Learn about the Tracking Cube project.
Improving treatment and support
We support new ways to make treatment and support easier to access and better meet people’s needs.
This work includes:
- trialling online support while people wait for treatment
- providing support after treatment
- improving coordination between services
- supporting local responses in regional communities
- improving access to care with Primary Health Networks and other partners.
First Nations wellbeing
We work with First Nations communities to support health and wellbeing through culturally informed, community-led programs.
One of these programs is the First Nations Cultural Healing Program. It helps First Nations organisations develop and deliver healing activities that reflect local culture, knowledge and community priorities.
This work also supports the commitments in Achieving balance to provide culturally safe services and build a workforce that responds to the needs of First Nations people.
Learn more about our First Nations wellbeing programs and initiatives.
Workforce and service improvement
A skilled workforce helps provide safe, respectful and effective support.
We invest in alcohol and other drug knowledge and skills across health, community and related services, including:
- training for the vocational education and training workforce
- training and resources for pharmacists
- strengthening alcohol and other drug skills in housing and homelessness services
- developing the lived-living experience workforce
- building alcohol and other drug knowledge across the tertiary education sector.
We’re also helping housing and homelessness services better support people who use alcohol and other drugs through projects that improve:
- staff knowledge and skills
- organisational practices
- collaboration between services.
Learn more about our housing, mental health and wellbeing programs and initiatives.
Reducing stigma and discrimination
Stigma and discrimination can prevent people from seeking help and accessing support.
We improve understanding and help services respond to people who use alcohol and other drugs in respectful, person-centred ways.
Learn more about our alcohol and other drugs stigma programs and initiatives.
Harm reduction
We support practical, evidence-informed approaches that reduce the harms associated with alcohol and other drug use.
This work includes:
- developing Queensland’s Overdose Monitoring and Response System to identify overdose trends and support faster responses
- supporting peer-led approaches to reducing drug-related harm
- addressing harms associated with image and performance enhancing drugs
- supporting peer-led harm reduction in nightlife and entertainment settings.
Research, data and evaluation
We invest in research and evaluation to understand what works and improve policies, programs and services.
The Alcohol and Other Drugs System Reform Research Grants fund research into:
- prevention
- early intervention
- treatment
- diversion
- harm reduction.
This research is delivered across communities and services throughout Queensland.
View Alcohol and Other Drugs System Reform Research Grants grant recipients.
We’re also independently evaluating Achieving balance to understand:
- how it is being delivered
- its outcomes
- its impact across the system.
This includes meaningful involvement of people with lived-living experience.