(July 2006– present)
ESR is currently involved in a five year, Australian-based multi-disciplinary programme of work to provide big picture analyses of policies relating to illicit drugs. The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at the University of New South Wales is leading the programme, and the consortium includes researchers from the Australian National University, Griffith University and Turning Point and ESR.
The illicit drug problem is complex because of the divergent policy options that could be developed, and the dynamic interactions and intersections between the various government agencies involved. The programme endeavours to address the issue of return on investment in illicit drug policy using a comprehensive approach, including consideration of law enforcement, prevention, treatment and harm reduction. The research team will explicitly facilitate the integration of research and policy practice to deliver impacts at national, state and local levels.
For further information, please contact Wendy Gregory
Lead up project
Systems Thinking for Drugs Policy Making
(2004–2005)
Scoping the potential for the application of systems thinking in policy making on illicit drugs in Australia (for Turning Point, Melbourne). This was a pilot project that resulted in funding for our larger initiative, the Drug Policy Modelling Program, now underway.