Substance misuse

Substance misuse is a major public health problem for many Indigenous peoples – in terms of deaths, disease, and social and economic issues. Better information and knowledge are urgently required to improve approaches to substance misuse among Indigenous peoples. To assist, the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet has developed the Indigenous substance misuse web resources and yarning place (electronic network).

The web resources are are 'one-stop info-shops' for people working, studying or interested in addressing substance misuse among Indigenous peoples. The development of the web resources and yarning place by the HealthInfoNet is being guided by a national reference group with extensive experience in the area of Indigenous substance misuse. The HealthInfoNet is being funded by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing's Drug Strategy Branch to develop, maintain and update four web resources and a yarning place for the following topics: alcohol misuse, inhalant misuse (including petrol sniffing), illicit drug use, and misuse of kava and other drugs. The HealthInfoNet provides a 'clearinghouse' function relating to Indigenous tobacco use.

Click on any of the topics below to visit a web resource.