The Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre (QADREC) was established in 1996 as a co-operative venture between Queensland Health and The University of Queensland (UQ).
QADREC is a leader in alcohol and drug research and training, and contributes to the world’s best practice in the field.
The centre aims for internationally-recognised excellence in teaching and research, particularly to the understanding of factors with the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Studies (ATODs) can be undertaken as part of the School’s postgraduate programs and courses.
Collaborations
QADREC works collaboratively with peak bodies in the Alcohol and Drug field.
Research organisation partnerships
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at The University of New South Wales (UNSW)
- National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) at Curtin University
- National Centre for Education and Training in the Addictions (NCETA) at Flinders University
- Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre
Community organisation partnerships
- Lives Lived Well
- Drug ARM Australasia
- Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs (APSAD)
- Queensland Indigenous Substance Misuse Council (QISMC)
- Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC)
- Queensland Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (QNADA)
- Dovetail
Major research projects
QADREC conducts a targeted research program focusing on alcohol and drug use problems from a public health perspective. Research supports evidence-based reduction strategies, strategies for the prevention and treatment of drug-related harm, and harm reduction initiatives.
- Linked Lives: Antisocial Behaviour Across Three Generations (2015–2017) ARC Discovery Projects
- Generational and developmental pathways of childhood and adolescent obesity: A three generation cohort study (2014–2019) NHMRC Project Grant
- Into the thirties: Persistence and social consequences of risky drinking (2014–2017) ARC Discovery Projects
- The Natural History of Licit and Illicit Drug Use in a Population Cohort of Stimulant Users (2013–2016) ARC Linkage Projects
Education and training
QADREC delivers a range of educational and training opportunities to provide students, professionals, and the general public with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively respond to drug and alcohol harm.
Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Studies (ATODs)
Industry training
QADREC provides training opportunities to specialist alcohol and drug workers and the broader health, social care and criminal justice workforces.
Staff present the latest research findings at conferences throughout the year, including the annual Winter School Conference presented by Lives Lived Well and the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) Annual Scientific Alcohol and Drug Conference.
QADREC also runs the Indigenous risk impact screen (IRIS) and brief intervention (BI). The IRIS and BI program provides a culturally secure and validated screening instrument and brief intervention designed to meet the specific needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland and across Australia. IRIS is a two-factor validated and culturally appropriate screen that measures alcohol and other drug use and associated mental health issues in Indigenous populations from 18 years onwards. The IRIS was developed in response to recommendations from both national and state reports that identified alcohol and other drug issues as the cause and symptom of health and environmental factors affecting the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
PhD applications
QADREC welcomes potential candidates for Doctoral studies in the alcohol and other drugs area. A number of PhD candidates are involved in ongoing teaching and research with QADREC staff.
Current PhD supervisors
Other teaching
As a major authority on the latest alcohol and drug research, QADREC participates in the coordination of undergraduate subjects throughout the year. This aims to contribute to the education of high quality university graduates, some who will become leaders in the drug and alcohol field in the future.
The QADREC seminar series is an initiative for practitioners, policy makers, and educators to meet and discuss alcohol or drug findings in the field. Guest speakers are invited to talk about major findings throughout the year.
Staff
Director
Academic staff
Honorary staff
Research staff
Administration officers
PhD students
- Ellen Leslie