Prevention and social media - new ADF resource

Interested in using social media for online campaigns?
Want to know how to create a great App?
Keen to hear how to manage and moderate social media?

Be sure to look at the latest issue of "Prevention in Action" by Australian Drug Foundation - titled Leveraging social media in health promotion

 

 

Image: Australian Drug Foundation (2013)

Five AOD "go to" sites

To wind up Drug Action Week here are a list of 5 "go to" websites for AOD resources:

1) Drug Arm Resource Centre Catalogue
Yes, we'll get the shameless self plug over and done with first up! Search the catalogue for books, electronic items, journals, kits and other resources.
You can also access factsheets through the Drug Arm website or have a look at some of the great resources the Prevention team have developed around the National Alcohol Guidelines

2) National Drug Sector Information Service (Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia ADCA)
An information and resources services for those who work in the AOD field. Some good links to free online materials and guidelines.
Tips and tricks for new players: a guide to becoming familiar with the alcohol and other drug sector (4th ed) - is a great resource if you're starting out.

3) Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
A wealth of information and resources including guidelines, practice resources, research, and publications

4) DrugInfo (Australian Drug Foundation ADF)
Facts and resources about alcohol and other drugs. Includes factsheets, information for sections and free resources that are available online. They also have a series of podcasts for your drive/ commute home

5) Drugfields (Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia ADCA)
Professional development, policy and practice resources for those in the AOD field.  Look for training opportunities, work toolkits and self care information.

Have other suggestions? Comment below and share them with your colleagues!

WANADA interviews with AOD workers

To celebrate Drug Action Week, WANADA has produced a series of seven Youtube videos featuring people who work in the alcohol and other drug field. Eight alcohol and other drug workers from Cyrenian House, WASUA, The Salvation Army’s Bridge Programme, St John of God Health Care’s Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Network, Palmerston Association, Women's Health and Family Services and WANADA, agreed to participate.

You can see the clips on WANADA's YouTube Channel, WANADAFYI, here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/wanadafyi

Men's Health Week - 2 Resources

Males account for 80% of the deaths by suicide in Australia.

It's Men's Health Week this week (10-16th June), and a good opportunity to look at resources that may support clinicians working with men, particularly in the area of suicide prevention.

"Promoting good practice in suicide prevention: activities targeting men" produced by the Department of Health and Ageing, 2008
http://www.livingwell.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/MensSuicidePrevention_dev05.pdf



Or have a look at the "Men at risk e-Learning Tool" - a free program that provides information and tools to enhance practitioner knowledge on suicidal risk assessment processes:
http://www.mensline.org.au/Men-at-Risk-tool.html


If you have a tool that you think is useful to other clinicians or support staff please leave a comment or email the Resource Centre: library@drugarm.com.au

Staff and volunteer interviews - Kara Ekeberg

Another staff interview and another list of great resources!  If you're itching to share some of the books, websites and journals that you use contact the Resource Centre.
 
 
Thanks to Kara for today's interview - Kara even snuck in a couple of extra brilliant suggestions!
 

 
 

Name:  Kara Ekeberg

Position & organisation:  AOD Clinical Worker, Drug Arm

Location:  Warwick, Sth Downs.  The Rose and Rodeo City

The resource (book, journal) that I use the most is…

Jarvis, T., Tebbutt, J., Mattick, R., Shand, R. (2005). “Treatment Approaches for Alcohol and Drug Dependence: An introductory guide”, 2^nd edn.  England: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Because…

Great reference book, at a glance, and very easy to read.  Has something for everyone; I have even copied some of the information for clients because it is so user friendly.  (It is also on the’ must have’ list of NCPIC books)

AND J

Jongsma, A. (2006). “Adult Psychotherapy Homework Planner”. New Jersey; Wiley and Sons.

Because…

Great homework assignments and exercises keyed to behaviour changes that support CBT and MI interactions.  Eg:  Early Warning Signs of Relapse, Relapse prevention planning;  Acknowledging my strengths, What’s good about me and my life…  and it comes with a CD that loads up all the worksheets into your laptop so you can customise them for your client.

AND J

The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Concise Guide to Medicines and Drugs … because… my clients are (often) on a cocktail of medications and this book is a wealth of information and quick reference guide to more than 2000 prescription and over the counter drugs…

An online resource I think others should look at is….

http://www.mooc-list.com/

Because….  Officially, I am filling up my bucket list.

Unofficially - I am a going through a midlife crisis (don’t know if I should be telling my boss this, lol) and have discovered the fantastic world of online learning.  Currently enrolled in -  ‘Human Health and Global Environmental Change’ at Harvard Ex – it’s a nice change from all things suicide studies.  The online lectures are of excellent quality, the best teachers (doctors, professors, everything you get on campus), and if you are inclined to submit the coursework you can also gain a certificate in many cases…  Just pick a topic you would never have thought about before and go for it… few (if any) pre-requisites needed.  My class has 10,000 students from all over the planet.

I wish I had more information on…

Narrative Therapy and DBT, practice, techniques etc. 

On the weekend you can find me reading…

If it is a uni semester, then anything and everything to do with Contemporary Suicide Prevention Practice & and Advances in Suicide Research.  When it is not a uni semester, I adore detective and thriller novels (Jo Nesbo books, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo kind of thing), plus How to Raise Organic Chickens, Amish Quilts (and how to make them), … with 4 kids, cattle, sheep, geese, ducks, chickens, dogs, parrots, cats, not too much time for any more reading….  J

****

 

If you're keen to have a look at the resources Kara has suggested: 

 
"Treatment approaches for alcohol and drug dependence" can be previewed on Google books here -

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=x3lBZ5O8EJwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=treatment+approaches+for+alcohol+and+drug+dependence&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lBm3UbaeG4ualQXA04GwCA&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAA  

The Resource Centre has a few copies on the shelf - library@drugarm.com.au if you'd like to borrow one.

 

"Adult psychotherapy homework planner" can be previewed here -

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Vs8zAqqANpQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=adult+psychotherapy+homework+planner&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5hm3UbWuFIbgkgX_loG4Ag&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA  

We don't have this title but WE DO have "The complete adult psychotherapy treatment planner", by the same authors and it incorporates the homework planner – there is one on shelf, so be quick if you want to snap it up - library@drugarm.com.au

 

"The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Concise Guide to Medicines and Drugs" - have a look at the blurb here - http://books.google.com.au/books?id=TzhRPQAACAAJ&dq=The+Royal+Australian+College+Of+General+Practitioners+Concise+Guide+to+Medicines+and+Drugs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qRq3UfTJBYXRlAXCyIDgAQ&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAA 

This is not held by the Resource Centre, but held in 45 libraries around Australia – visit http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/44567933 and scroll to the bottom of the page to see if there’s a copy near you!

 
If you're quite fond of a thriller too you can see what Jo Nesbo has published here!

http://jonesbo.com/

Journal Club follow-up: Impact of mental health promotion on substance uptake

A really interesting Journal Club again this month! (Thanks, Sarah!)

The article looked at was:

Roberts, C.; Williams, R.; Kane, R.; Pintabona, Y.; Cross, D.; Zubrick, S.; & Silburn, S. (2011). Impact of a mental health promotion program on substance use in young adolescents. Advances in Mental Health, 10(1), 72-82.

View the abstract here: http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=956258012900307;res=IELHEA


Some of the things that we discussed were:

• Some flaws in the study's methodology - there was a fairly high drop-out rate throughout the study and the authors admit that many of the participants who did leave would be considered "high risk", in terms of their likelihood to uptake alcohol or tobacco use
• A really interesting point was made about how the study may look if replicated with rural populations
• One of the key findings of the research was the importance of continued coaching for teachers who were implementing the program.  This has significant implications for the role out of prevention programs, particularly those based on a "train-the-trainer" model.  It indicates that there is a need to provide ongoing support after the launch of a program and this has significant bearing on project costs and timeframes

You might be interested in reading more about the program that was implemented, the Aussie Optimism Program, here:
http://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au/teaching/psych_aussie_optimism.cfm


For further discussion of prevention programs in schools see:
Botvin, G.J. & Griffin, K. W. (2007). School-based programmes to prevent alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. International Review of Psychiatry, 19(6), 607-615.
http://weill.cornell.edu/ipr/PDF/Botvin-Griffin-2007-IRP.pdf

Also, have a look at this study where a similar program "You can do it!" was implemented using the train-the-trainer model.  There was no formal follow-up with these trainers after the initial training session, yet the program was still deemed successful, as was the delivery method/ implementation.
Bernard, M. E. & Walton, K. (2008) The effect of You Can Do It! education in six schools on students perception of well-being, teaching-learning and relationships.
http://youcandoit.com.au/Assets/Files/YCDI%20%20Vic%20Schools%20%20Study%202008.pdf

Need more info? library@drugarm.com.au

Thanks Claire for facilitating this month!