Increasing access to cost effective, evidence-based treatment for alcohol and drug use is the focus of a University of Queensland-led Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
CRE Director, Professor Leanne Hides from UQ’s School of Psychology, said the Centre would switch the treatment focus to a ‘value-based’ system.
“The team at the Centre will focus on client outcomes rather than on the number of clients seen,” Professor Hides said.
“In Australia, alcohol and other drug use is the number one risk factor for death and disability across all age groups and costs the community more than $23.5 billion annually.
“While alcohol and drug treatment services across the country have increased by 45 per cent over the last ten years, modelling shows the treatment needs of between 44 and 73 per cent of people who could benefit are not being met.”
The CRE is being delivered in partnership with University of Wollongong, University of New South Wales, University of Newcastle, King’s College London, Lives Lived Well, SMART Recovery and the Queensland and New South Wales Network of Drug and Alcohol Agencies.
