Research areas
Our impact is guided by the breadth and strength of our research activities.
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We deliver evidence-based outcomes and play a critical role in Australia’s response to understanding the harms of alcohol and other drugs in our communities. Our research metrics place NDARC among the top five research centres globally and we pride ourselves on translating research into local and global action. Our research activities respond directly to the needs of federal and state governments, policy agencies, community groups, service providers, health professionals and clinicians in the alcohol and other drugs sector and related fields.
Epidemiology and emerging trends
Since the 1990s, NDARC’s internationally renowned epidemiological research quantifies and characterises alcohol and other drug use and harms in Australia and identifies emerging trends to provide a framework for policy responses and interventions that improve health and wellbeing. Our epidemiological work positions NDARC as a compass for health responses. The cornerstone of our program is the world-leading Drug Trends monitoring system.
Prevention and early intervention
Our research on early intervention programs aims to identify, develop, and evaluate effective strategies to prevent alcohol and other drug-related harms. Our researchers collaborate with stakeholders across the sector to share knowledge and address current and emerging issues.
Mental and physical comorbidities
Our research identifies and understands mental and physical comorbidities impacting people who use alcohol and other drugs, driving evidence-based recommendations to advance screening, detection, interventions, and implementation of effective and efficient treatment services.
Treatment and harm reduction
Collaborating with clinicians and academics worldwide, NDARC’s treatment and harm reduction research enables optimal clinical practice and improves health outcomes. We are committed to developing new and innovative responses to reduce alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems and evaluating existing programs in real-world settings and specific populations.
Drug policy
Our research evaluates policy in law, policing, harm reduction, prevention, and treatment. Drawing on expertise across various disciplines (e.g., criminology, drug and alcohol policy, health, and social policy), our research identifies responses that can reduce drug-related harms and build evidence to support a better understanding of illicit drug markets and drug-related costs.
Criminal justice system
Our program encompasses research on the health of people in contact with the criminal justice system, considering opportunities for therapeutic outcomes in these settings and responses that can reduce drug-related harms. We provide research evidence to support integrated law enforcement, health, and social policy and evidence to support improved treatment retention rates.
Priority populations
We partner with key population groups to ensure our research extends across and addresses the needs of diverse and priority populations. Through this work, we aim to understand better alcohol and other drug use and harms among these groups and identify tailored approaches to enhance health and wellbeing.
Big data and new technologies
We use large-scale data and new technologies to support research across all our activity areas. Through routinely collected data spanning vital statistics, health service use, health registries, social services use and criminal justice system contacts, we access multiple data collections linked at the person level to provide the most accurate picture of use and harms.
Drug Trends
The Drug Trends program is an internationally renowned system that NDARC has coordinated since 1996. The program is key to identifying emerging problems in substance use in Australia and providing impetus for policy responses and intervention. Drug Trends is funded by the Australian Government under the Drug and Alcohol Program.
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National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED)
The National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED) brings researchers, practitioners and consumers together to create a robust evidence base for treatment and interventions for people who use methamphetamine and emerging other drugs of concern.
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