Publications

Drug overdoses, ambulance callouts and drug deaths in Melbourne’s CBD are on the rise following COVID. This CBD drug trends snapshot reveals the drug crisis in our city, and the cost to individuals and our community. The data shows there is a need for more harm reduction services in the city, including a dire...

The 2023/24 Victorian state budget is a steady no frills budget that extends funding for some residential services in the short term, provides an uplift in opioid pharmacotherapy support, workforce training and progresses the public intoxication reforms. The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) acknowledges that this budget provides a level of surety for...

Government embeds lifesaving support The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) welcomes the passage of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Medically Supervised Injecting Centre) Bill 2023 which was passed in the Legislative Council on Thursday night. The Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) has successfully reduced what was soaring intravenous drug related harm...

If AOD organisations give attention to the growth, wellbeing and overall work experience of their people, the workforce is more motivated, intents to stay, and performs better. NADA, together with VAADA and Curtin University conducted a study into the various elements that comprise your total work experience. This is understood a system of influences...

We stand in support of the trial of a supervised injecting service in the City of Melbourne. The proposal for a supervised injecting service in the CBD will save lives, give highly vulnerable people access to treatment support and healthcare, and reduce public injecting and needle litter in our city. But this is not...

The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) welcomes the release of the key findings and recommendations from the final report into the Review of the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (the report). We welcome the continuation of the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) and commend the government on their ongoing support of this service. The...

PRESS RELEASE 5/3/2023 While yet to be formally announced, The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) supports the continuation of the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) in North Richmond beyond the conclusion of its trial in June this year as well as the introduction of additional medically supervised injecting facilities. There are a number...

VAADA is pleased to provide this submission to the National Mental Health Commissions draft National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy consultation and welcomes the Commission’s recognition of (i) the impact of stigma, (ii) the different forms of stigma – structural, public and self – and (iii) the importance of society wide efforts to address...

VAADA 2023 Submission into ‘Australia ‘s illicit drug problem: Challenges and opportunities for law enforcement’ Recommendations and findings Finding 1 Law enforcement activities have a deleterious impact on people who use illicit drugs. Finding 2 Law enforcement activity does not make any significant impact on reducing the supply of illicit drugs. Finding 3 Australia...

Background The Mental Health and Wellbeing Promotion Office in its task to develop a Statewide Wellbeing Strategy, following the recommendation from Victoria’s Mental Health Royal Commission, sought submissions from various communities. The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) conducted a 2 hour consultation with 28 representatives of the Victorian alcohol and drug Sector in...