02
The early impact of involvement in Narcotics Anonymous self-help groups: A report from the Role of Self-Help Groups in Drug Treatment Research Project
The early impact of involvement in Narcotics Anonymous self-help groups: A report from the Role of Self-Help Groups in Drug Treatment Research Project is the second in the series. This study was funded by the Australian National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (now the National Drug Strategy) and the Ian Potter Foundation, and conducted with the assistance of members of the Self-Help Research Advisory Group. Analyses were supported by the Centre for Adolescent Health.

Self-help groups are considered an important adjunct to formal alcohol and drug treatment services in Australia and many other countries. Yet research with these groups is difficult and there has been little evaluation. In the mid 1990s, the small but growing membership of Narcotics Anonymous in Victoria provided an opportunity to study the characteristics and early experience of new self-help members through the first longitudinal follow-up to recruit directly from within Narcotics Anonymous groups. The study found that higher self-help participation through the twelve months prior to follow-up was associated with lower levels of hazardous alcohol use and higher emotional support at reinterview. These findings provide some of the first evidence to support the effectiveness of self-help groups and suggest the potential for these groups to support drug treatment and recovery from drug use problems.

ISBN: 1 74001 013 2

03
ABRIDUS: The Australian Blood-borne Virus and Injecting Drug Use Study: A study of hepatitis risk practices and contexts in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney
ABRIDUS: The Australian Blood-borne Virus and Injecting Drug Use Study: A study of hepatitis risk practices and contexts in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council Strategic Reserve Fund (HCV Social and Behavioural Research). The evidence about HCV transmission risks provided in this study is useful for the development of prevention strategies that target the specific risk practices of people who inject drugs, and that are sensitive to the social context of risk practices in different states of Australia. It provides an important reference for policy-makers, practitioners and drug user representative groups involved in policy and program development. The data obtained in ABRIDUS also contributes to the challenge of monitoring and responding to changing patterns in risk behaviour, and provide a useful basis for the improvement of current monitoring and surveillance mechanisms.

ISBN: 1 74001 013 0

The Drug Policy Modelling Project (DPMP) mongraph series

In February 2006, Turning Point published a series of 13 monographs as part of the Drug Policy Modelling Project (DPMP). The aim of DPMP is to create valuable new drug policy insights, ideas and interventions that will allow Australia to respond with alacrity and success to illicit drug use.

For more information about the DPMP project go to: www.dpmp.unsw.edu.au

Monographs in the series published by Turning Point are:

T: (03) 8413 8413 or email
E: info@turningpoint.org.au