News

This week is Homelessness Week and telling the stories of our homeless population is critical to understanding the impacts that addiction and COVID-19 are having on people’s lives.

Globally more than 800,000 people take their lives every year.

Turning Point is committed to reducing alcohol-related harms across the community, and supports the use of strong, clear messages that warn of the dangers of drinking during pregnancy. Turning Point seeks the most effective health warning label to be endorsed by government ministers at the Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation.

Congratulations to Dr Shalini Arunogiri, Deputy Clinical Director at Turning Point, who is the successful recipient of a Psychiatry Workforce Leadership Development Grant.

A study led by Turning Point and Monash University researchers, in collaboration with Ambulance Victoria, has shown that distress and pain are the key reasons people are taking opioids in higher doses than prescribed or without a prescription, referred to as extramedical prescription use. 

On average, it takes 66 days to form a new habit. As of July 1, Australians will have been living with COVID-19 restrictions for nearly exactly that amount of time; social distancing and ‘lockdown’ measures have been in place nationwide since late March. So, it is unsurprising that we are now accustomed to what we consider our ‘new normal’.

Researchers from Turning Point have developed a skills-based intervention - ‘MAKINGtheLINK’ - aimed at helping adolescents overcome barriers to seeking professional help for mental health and substance use problems, and supporting their peers.

Turning Point welcomes the Victorian Government’s announcement that the North Richmond Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) will operate for another three years and a second injecting facility will be constructed.

Dr Shalini Arunogiri, Deputy Clinical Director of Turning Point’s Treatment Services and Senior Lecturer at Monash University writes for The Conversation about the disproportionate level of stress women are experiencing due to COVID-19 compared to men, and why they are drinking more because of it.

Turning Point Honorary Professor and Deputy Director of the Monash Addiction Research Centre, Suzi Nielsen, writes for The Conversation on the introduction of smaller pack sizes for prescription opioids and if these new restrictions will stop leftover medicines causing harm.

Being in lockdown has seen many people increase their alcohol use during COVID-19, but should we be worried that these habits will stick? Professor Dan Lubman spoke to ABC Radio’s The Conversation Hour about the need to have honest conversations and what support services are available for those dealing with addiction.

This Sunday is World No Tobacco Day, an annual day of awareness to shed light on the health risks associated with tobacco.