Medicine & Health National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)

National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED)

Clinical practice meets clinical research

NCCRED's website
National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED) logo

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.

About this program

NCCRED applies its vision by: 

  1. Increasing the range of evidence-based pharmacotherapies and other clinical interventions 
  2. Enabling more proactive and informed health responses to emerging drugs of concern through national information sharing  
  3. Translating and communicating evidence for AOD workers to deliver best-practice responses

Program activity

  • Through clinical research, NCCRED develops trials of pharmacotherapies and other clinical interventions for people who use methamphetamine and other emerging drugs of concern. Our activity in this stream includes:  

    • AA randomised clinical trial of lisdexamfetamine for methamphetamine withdrawal 
    • An outpatient clinical trial of naltrexone-bupropion for methamphetamine use disorder
    • Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder
    • A pilot study of the feasibility and safety of baclofen for GHB withdrawal

    NCCRED also develops trials of digital interventions to promote treatment-seeking and behaviour change among people with methamphetamine use disorder. This includes an internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy intervention and the S-Check app. 

  • The rapid emergence of novel psychoactive substances is a key public health challenge in Australia. The distributed nature of this challenge makes the sharing of information across jurisdictions and sectors highly important.

     

    NCCRED facilitates effective national information sharing needed to evaluate and respond to emerging drug harms, through the Prompt Response Network. This includes:

    • The development and maintenance of digital products to support communication and signal-sharing between members of the Prompt Response Network
    • Facilitating information-sharing meetings between members of the Prompt Response Network
    • Theknow.org.au: a public website compiling drug alerts from across Australia 

  • People working in the AOD sector need access to reliable and timely information about emerging drugs of concern in order to deliver effective care. NCCRED communicates research outcomes and information about emerging drugs of concern.

    Our activity in this stream includes:   

    • An annual symposium to present new clinical findings and developments in responses to emerging drugs of concern
    • A program of webinars on key issues relating to methamphetamine and emerging drugs of concern 
    • Briefings on emerging drugs of concern
    • Publishing video abstracts showcasing NCCRED-supported research 

Program contacts:

Professor Nadine Ezard
Director, National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs | Clinical Director, Alcohol and Drug Service St Vincent's Hospital Sydney Australia 
E: n.ezard@unsw.edu.au


Jemma Hallen
Project Manager, National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs

E: jemma.hallen@unsw.edu.au

Key collaborators

Resources

A clinical guide for Primary Care Health Professionals

NCCRED has developed a clinical guide for primary healthcare professionals treating people who use methamphetamine.  

AOD Telephone Counselling Toolkit

A collection of learning resources to assist workers in delivering AOD counselling and brief interventions over the telephone.

Guidance for Consumers, Friends and Family

Opioid First AID, take home Naloxone and information on Fentanyl and Carfentanil.