eTalks #8 - Substance abuse and harm reduction strategies for physiotherapists and their clients

Overview

The presentation will focus on Australia’s approach to harm reduction as applied to substance use which has delivered extensive benefits to communities generally, as well as to those who engage in substance use. Penington Institute leads the national conversation about harm reduction, focusing on treating substance use as a health issue. We are building more effective responses to substance usage than simple prohibition by:

Focusing on community safety
- Incljuding supporting programs to reduce the burden of disease and dependence
- NSP and ORT
- Sensible drug laws to better manage drug use

By including the voices of people with lived experience of drug use
- Including people who use drugs and families who have lost a loved one to overdose
- Convening International Drug Overdose Awareness Day on the 31st August each year

By ensuring that human dignity and health are at the very centre of what we do
- Educating communities by sharing facts, not driving fear eg our website understandice.org.au
- Supporting better access to health treatment no matter who or where you are eg prisons

The presentation will elaborate Penington Institute’s role in the matters listed above. We will also identify training programs we deliver to support individuals in the community who are affected by drug use – eg first line customer service delivery staff in industries such as hospitality and the health sector.

Presenter

Paul Morgan joined Penington Institute in 2016. Prior appointments have been at the University of Melbourne, RMIT, and Curtin University, KPMG and the Ngaanyatjarra Lands Aboriginal Corporation (WA) where he was appointed Manager, Training & Development. Paul has completed post-graduate studies in the area of alcohol and other drugs, and delivered training to managers and front-line workers on these topics, and about responses which support all stakeholders dealing with clients affected by their substance use.