Media release

Official launch of national magazine on drug and alcohol issues ‘Of Substance’

Today marked the official launch of an important new national magazine for those people working with drug and alcohol issues – ‘Of Substance’.

‘Of Substance’ was launched by Professor John Saunders, Professor Margaret Hamilton & Major Brian Watters at the opening of the Australian Professional Society on Alcohol & other Drugs (APSAD) Conference in Brisbane.

The Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) has initiated Australia’s first quarterly national drug and alcohol magazine with an independent Board of Management and Editorial Reference Group. The magazine has brought together Australian experts from areas as diverse as the drug and alcohol, community and business sectors to oversee its development and production.

The magazine was announced by the Prime Minister last year as a significant step in disseminating drug and alcohol research to professionals working in direct service delivery in an accessible and informative manner.

The first issue of the magazine presents succinct information on a wide range of current issues including:

Alcohol marketing – Does self regulation work?
Amphetamines – Are more young people injecting?
Medical use of cannabis – Is more research needed?
Police diversion – Will diverting offenders reduce illicit drug use?

The first issue has been well received by the sector with subscription requests from treatment and law enforcement agencies as well as policy makers there has also been interest from Europe and Asia.

Articles on Drugs Courts, and how direct service providers can effectively respond to drug use issues such as amphetamine dependence and mental health will be highlights of the second issue. The impact of the NSW Alcohol Summit and the last United Nations Session on Illicit Drugs will also be discussed.

The next issue will be available in January 2004.

The managing editors of the magazine are Ms Julia Tresidder and Ms Kate Pockley.

17 November 2003

The ANCD is the principal advisory body to Government on drug and alcohol issues.

For further information, please contact:

Prof John Saunders (Magazine Board Chair)
0402 892 581

Prof Margaret Hamilton (Magazine Editorial Chair)
03 8413 8400

Major Brian Watters (ANCD Chairman)
0400 780 509

Mr Gino Vumbaca (ANCD Executive Officer)
0408 244 552 or 02 6279 1650

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