Report on SSAC’s recent research forum out now

SSAC ‘s recent research engagement event generated a host of useful and inspiring insights, comments and suggestions.

A report summarising the key points raised in the presentations, panel discussion and group consultations is now available. The report also details the projects discussed, panellists who took part and the day’s proceedings.

Background to the report

Over the last year the National Drug Research Institute’s Social Studies of Addiction Concepts Research Program has developed a large body of work, with many individual projects based in Australia and overseas. We have now begun to develop an innovative way of engaging stakeholders in this research. This engagement comprises two main aspects: face-to-face events and online research engagement groups.

Face-to-face events: the first event, held in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday July 18, 2014 was a great success, attracting over 50 participants from a range of professional fields including policy, law, research, health and consumer advocacy. Facilitated by Professor Carla Treloar of UNSW’s Centre for Social Research in Health, it showcased aspects of our research program, hosted a panel discussion of research priorities in the area of addiction in Australia and globally, and consulted the participants as a whole on directions for research in the addiction social science space.

SSAC program leader Suzanne Fraser introduces the program

Facilitator Carla Treloar and SSAC associate researcher, Kate Seear

Twitter snapshot of the event

“Where is the concept of #addiction heading? How do addiction concepts affect health and well being? #ssac1” (NeuroEthics UQ)
“At great workshop on addiction concepts- lots of great ideas and food for thought” (Peta Malins, RMIT)
“Important that research on addiction captures a wide range of experiences – including stories of living with & managing addiction” (Addiction Concepts, NDRI)
“Adrian Dunlop from HNE #stigma common among people attending treatment for drug use they don’t attend saying “I’ve got an addiction” (Peter Higgs, NDRI)
“Margaret Hamilton: the purpose of research is to help us imagine and create the future” (NeuroEthics UQ)
“Interesting questions from the floor to the panel around the definition of the word addiction and the word itself. (Julie Rae, ADF)
“panel key issues: siloing & incoherence, AOD policy always intersects with poverty, need to get beyond crim/patient binary” (Addiction Concepts, NDRI)

Participants discuss research opportunities and needs for the study of addiction concepts

Online research engagement groups: these groups are the second component of SSAC’s research engagement strategy. The groups are now being established following the first public event, and will reflect the key research topics underway in the SSAC program as well as new topics identified by our event. If you’d like to find out more about these groups or are interested in joining, please contact ssac@curtin.edu.au

The SSAC event was followed by the launch of a new book on addiction in Australia and around the world: Habits: Remaking Addiction by Suzanne Fraser, David Moore and Helen Keane (Palgrave Macmillan).