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Drugs and young people
Drugs and alcohol
How alcohol affects your health
Many of us drink alcohol to relax, but drinking too much can affect your health. Learn more here about the effects of alcohol on your body.
Drug abuse
Drug abuse can affect health, relationships, job and education. Learn about Australia’s drug laws, drug addiction and where to get help.
How to help someone with a drug problem
This article will provide you with some information and advice on caring for someone with a drug problem.
Cocaine
Cocaine, or 'Coke' as it is commonly known, is a highly addictive drug associated with health issues and other problems. Learn more about its physical...
GHB
GHB is a party drug. It has been linked to date rape and sexual assault. Find out more about the physical effects and consequences of using GHB.
Heroin
Heroin is a highly addictive drug with many serious side effects. Find out more about heroin's effects and the dangers of long term abuse and addictio...
Ice (crystal meth)
Ice, also known as crystal meth, is a very addictive illegal drug. Find out more about ice including what it is and the dangers of abuse.
Ketamine
Ketamine is a drug used by doctors and vets, however it can be used illegally to get high. Find out more about ketamine effects and the danger of long...
LSD (acid)
LSD is a hallucinogenic drug that can change the user’s perception of reality. Here’s how LSD works, its physical effects and the health risks of LSD ...
Marijuana (cannabis)
Marijuana (cannabis) is one of the most commonly used illicit drugs in Australia. You can find out more about marijuana and how it impacts users here.
MDMA (ecstasy)
MDMA (ecstasy) is an illicit drug which can give a euphoric rush, but which has dangerous side effects. Learn about its physical effects and risks pos...
Speed
Speed is a drug that can become addictive and lead to health, social and financial problems. Find out about its effects and associated risks.
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Top results
Drug and alcohol services :: SA Health
Information about alcohol and other drug services available in South Australia.
Read more on SA Health website
Drugs and Alcohol | Kids Helpline
Kids Helpline
Read more on Kids Helpline website
Alcohol and Drug Services | Alcohol Services - Alcohol and drug search directory | ADIN
Australian directory of alcohol and drug information services and treatment centres. Find drug treatment and alcohol rehab programs for drug users and families.
Read more on ADIN – Australian Drug Information Network website
Information for Parents and Carers RFFADA
Information for Parents and Carers Drug and alcohol referral Sometimes drug and alcohol issues for people with FASD can not only take on a life of their own but can also create many other issues
Read more on rffada – Russell Family Fetal Alcohol Disorders Association website
Pregnancy - medication, drugs and alcohol - Better Health Channel
Most women take a drug of some kind during pregnancy, sometimes without realising the potential for harm.
Read more on Better Health Channel website
Alcohol :: SA Health
An introduction to the section on alcohol including information for people with alcohol problems, community members and health professionals
Read more on SA Health website
Overdose - ADF - Alcohol & Drug Foundation
Many people think this is the result of consuming too much of a drug. This is often the case. Combining drugs, and alcohol increases chances of overdosing..
Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website
Factsheets and Publications
Mental health & drug and alcohol factsheets.
Read more on NSW Health website
Alcohol and drugs
Drugs and alcohol change how our brains function and this is often the attraction for young people. Some want to relax and wind down, while others want to be stimulated or escape from their reality for a while.
Read more on beyondblue website
Why cant the person using drugs or alcohol see they have a problem?
The influence of alcohol or other drug problems affects the person using the substance, but it can also impact on their family, friends and colleagues
Read more on NSW Health website
Top results
Two at a time
Alcohol and other drug use by young people with a mental illness
Read more on Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health website
Motivational interviewing is a short psychological treatment that can help people cut down on drugs and alcohol | Cochrane
Motivational interviewing is a short psychological treatment that can help people cut down on drugs and alcohol
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate for treating symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal and preventing relapses for people who are dependent on alcohol | Cochrane
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate for treating symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal and preventing relapses for people who are dependent on alcohol
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Safety and effectiveness of medications for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome | Cochrane
Alcohol abuse and dependence can cause serious health problems as well as interpersonal, social, interpersonal and legal consequences. Dependence on alcohol is evident by reduced control over drinking, tolerance to alcohol and withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome develops after stopping or reducing heavy and prolonged alcohol use. The most common symptoms include sweating, a fast pulse rate, tremor, insomnia, nausea or vomiting, transient hallucinations or illusions, agitation, anxiety and seizures. These are the result of changes in the central nervous system in an attempt to maintain normal function with alcohol consumption. Different types of medications are used to safely reduce the severity of withdrawal and the abuse of alcohol.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Which talking therapies (counselling) work for drug users with alcohol problems? | Cochrane
We wanted to determine whether talking therapies have an impact on alcohol problems in adult users of illicit drugs (mainly opiates and stimulants) and whether one type of therapy is more effective than another.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Magnesium for the prevention or treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in adults | Cochrane
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a set of symptoms experienced when one reduces or stops alcohol consumption after prolonged periods of alcohol intake. Some studies show that AWS coincides with low levels of magnesium in the blood. Since magnesium may play a role in dampening the excitability of the central nervous system, some researchers believe that low levels of magnesium may make the central nervous system 'hyper-excitable' and may cause AWS symptoms, which include sleeplessness, tremors, anxiety, headache, excessive sweating and reduced appetite. Many AWS treatment protocols therefore recommend magnesium supplementation.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Psychosocial interventions for women enrolled in alcohol treatment during pregnancy | Cochrane
Pregnancy can be seen as a window of opportunity where women may seek treatment for their addictions out of concern for their unborn child. Worldwide estimates of alcohol usage report that a large proportion of women continue to drink during their pregnancy. Light alcohol consumption has not been associated with adverse effects on a woman's baby, while excessive consumption of alcohol has been shown to cause a number of birth defects as well as foetal alcohol syndrome. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is the most widely recognized cause of severe mental and developmental delay in the baby. Therefore pregnancy is an important point in time to treat women for their alcohol dependence. This review sought to find all trials which compared any psychosocial intervention to other treatment or no treatment for pregnant or postpartum women in alcohol treatment. No articles were found which fit our inclusion criteria; most trials assessed psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in pregnant or reproductive age women, not pregnant or post-partum women in alcohol treatment. We defined alcohol treatment as when the authors stated the women were in alcohol treatment or any validated psychosocial intervention for the treatment of alcohol dependence. Control trials need to be performed on this population of women to determine the most effective therapy for pregnant women seeking treatment for their alcohol dependence.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Medication for treating anxiety disorders in people with alcohol use problems | Cochrane
People with anxiety disorders often also abuse alcohol or have alcohol dependence. All anxiety disorders involve long-lasting and excessive fear, and can be classified according to the cause of the fear: generalized anxiety disorder (everyday situations), obsessive-compulsive disorder (repetitive thoughts and behaviours), panic disorder (panic attacks), post-traumatic stress disorder (previous traumatic events), social anxiety disorder (negative judgements by others) and specific phobia (specific objects or situations). When people with anxiety disorders abuse or are dependent on alcohol, they may be more disabled and difficult to treat than when they have either condition on its own. Psychotherapy is most often used in treating anxiety disorders in people with alcohol use problems. In psychotherapy people are encouraged to explore their feelings, moods, behaviours, thoughts and reactions to the cause of their anxiety. Psychotherapy does not always work though, so it is important to test whether medications are an effective treatment option.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
National Drug Strategy - National Alcohol Research Agenda
The National Alcohol Research Agenda 2002 was funded by the Australian Government to enhance the evidence base supporting the key strategy areas of the National Alcohol Strategy. The Agenda provides a national blueprint for alcohol research aimed at governments, the non-government sector, the research sector, the alcohol beverage and hospitality industry, as well as health professionals and law enforcement agencies.
Read more on Department of Health website
Anticonvulsants for alcohol withdrawal syndrome | Cochrane
There are limited data on anticonvulsants versus placebo for alcohol withdrawal syndrome, while comparisons with other drugs show no clear differences.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
