A New, Low-cost E-health Treatment For Alcohol Use Disorder Using Mental Imagery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$895,032.00
Summary
This project offers the first large-scale test of phone-based Functional Imagery Training (FIT), a new, low-cost way to help people change behaviours using mental imagery, regardless of where they live. The trial addresses Alcohol Use Disorder—a common problem with substantial health and social impacts, comparing FIT with verbal motivational treatments, and testing effects on alcohol use and quality of life over 12 months. Cost-effectiveness and predictions of outcome are also examined.
The Relationship Between Accident Culpability And Drug Presence In Blood Samples Taken From Persons Injured In Motor Vehicle Collisions.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,721.00
Summary
This project aims to determine the incidence of drugs in blood samples taken under the Victorian Road Safety Act 1986 from drivers involved in non-fatal collisions, the relative importance of illicit drugs, legal drugs used as prescribed, and legal drugs misused by drivers in non-fatal collisions by examining driver culpability in these accidents.
Defining The Clinical Role Of Topiramate In The Treatment Of Alcohol Dependence In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$718,836.00
Summary
We urgently require new strategies for the treatment of alcohol dependence. The effectiveness of currently approved alcohol medications is limited. Emerging data suggests that topiramate has robust effectiveness and that better medicine selection is possible for patients based on their genotype. We propose to conduct a double-blind randomised controlled trial to examine the clinical and cost effectiveness of topiramate using a genetically based personalised approach.
Increasing Uptake Of Evidence-based Management Of Unhealthy Alcohol Use In Aboriginal Primary Health Care Services
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,252,322.00
Summary
Because of ongoing trauma, stress and disadvantage, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) Australians face a greater risk of unhealthy drinking patterns and related harms than other Australians. Yet there is a shortage of specialist alcohol treatment services. This study examines an approach to supporting primary care services which target Indigenous Australians to identify and implement the best possible standard of diagnosis and treatment for unhealthy alcohol use.
Parental Supply Of Alcohol To Children: Associations With Early Adult Health – “binge” Drinking, Alcohol-related Harms, Aggression, And Alcohol Use Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,143,477.00
Summary
We will investigate of the impacts of parental supply of alcohol between 13-18 years, on early adult alcohol use (19-23 years). We will follow an existing cohort of ~1,810 parent-child dyads, and assess the development of alcohol use, disorders, harms and aggression. We will investigate the impacts of: parental supply of sips vs drinks; supervised vs unsupervised supply; and modifying effects of contexts of supply and mediators (such as peer, child factors, etc.) controlling for confounders.
Promoting Responsible Drinking Practices To Drinkers To Reduce The Risk Of Alcohol-related Harm
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$271,476.00
Summary
Australians are heavy drinkers by world standards, which places them at risk of a wide range of alcohol-related harms. Broad-based interventions are needed to address a heavy drinking culture that involves regular engagement in heavy episodic drinking. This study will use a multi-method approach to develop and test messages that can be used to encourage enactment of responsible drinking practices that can reduce total alcohol intake and discourage binge drinking consumption patterns.
A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Role Of The Alcohol Dehydrogenase Gene Cluster In Alcohol-related Disorders And Esophageal Cancer Through Deep Resequencing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$605,323.00
Summary
Excessive alcohol consumption remains a major public health concern in Australia where the burden of mental health disorders is dominated by substance-use disorders. Alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) are essential in the breakdown of alcohol in the body and we seek to resequence seven ADH genes with the aim to comprehensively catalogue and identify sequence variants that contribute to risk for consuming excessive quantities of alcohol, alcoholism and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Unraveling The Neural Circuitry Of Context-induced Relapse To Alcohol Seeking After Punishment-imposed Abstinence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$528,016.00
Summary
Alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) causes significant social and economic costs to Australian society. Alcoholism is a brain disease, and relapse during abstinence is the main problem in successful treatment. In this project, we use an animal model of relapse to alcohol seeking after abstinence imposed by a negative consequence (punishment). This project will identify brain regions which can be targeted in future clinical studies in human alcoholics.
Rates, Patterns And Determinants Of Alcohol’s Harm To Others: A Cross-national Comparative Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$305,856.00
Summary
Alcohol causes harms to drinkers, and others around them, including spouses, children, family, friends, workmates and strangers. Australian and New Zealand work on alcohol’s harm to others is being replicated by the WHO in 7 countries (Chile, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam). We aim to analyse datasets from nine countries and compare the magnitude and patterning of problems across and within cultures – identifying opportunities for reducing harm from others’ drinking.
Healthy, Wealthy And Wise: The Long-term Effectiveness Of An Online Universal Program To Prevent Substance Use And Mental Health Problems Among Australian Youth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,472,709.00
Summary
The proposed study represents a unique opportunity to build on the NHMRC funded Climate Schools Combined (CSC) study, a world-first trial of a combined, internet-delivered school-based approach to preventing substance use, anxiety and depression. Having successfully implemented this trial and followed these students for 3 years, we propose to extend follow-up of this large trial cohort over the critical transition from secondary school into early adulthood.