Overview

This webinar aims to provide AOD workers with an introductory overview of new psychoactive substance (NPS) use in Australia. 

NPS (e.g. “synthetic/designer” drugs, “research chemicals”, “analogues”, “legal highs”, “bath salts”, “herbal highs”) are synthetic or plant-based psychoactive drugs that fall outside international drug conventions and controls, but may have similar effects to traditional illicit substances. 

This webinar synthesises some of the current research evidence about NPS and explores how AOD workers can best support people who are using/may be using new and emerging substances. It will give an introductory overview of:

• Common classes of NPS
• What we know about NPS dependence, toxicity and withdrawal
• What we know about AOD workforce capacity for responding to NPS use

Presenter

Rita Brien, Education Officer, Workforce Development, Turning Point 

Rita is an Education Officer at Turning Point, providing professional development training and community education about alcohol and other drugs.  She also volunteers with a local harm reduction organisation. She is passionate about empowering people to make safer choices about their alcohol and drug use.

Rita completed her Masters of Addictive Behaviours at Monash University in 2019, researching “The capacity of the AOD workforce to respond to new psychoactive substance use in Australia”.