Internet interventions for substance use problems: Can the ideal of universal care be fulfilled?

  • Research program: New technologies and online interventions
  • Project status: Completed
  • Start date: April 2013
  • Expected end date: October 2017
  • Completion date: October 2017
  • Funded by: Curtin ORD Targeted Research Fellowship
  • Lead organisation:

Interventions delivered via the internet may help to overcome many of the current barriers to health care in Australia. This is particularly the case for marginalized and stigmatized groups, such as those with substance use disorders and other mental health problems. Dr Tait has received a 4-year Senior Research Fellowship from Curtin University to investigate the effectiveness of current interventions and examine means of improving access, engagement and retention in internet interventions targeting substance use problems and disorders. The cost of substance use is estimated at over $68 billion per year in Australia, so even small changes in behavior have the potential to achieve major economic impacts.

Dr Tait is collaborating with colleagues at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre in Sydney on the development of Breakingtheice, an online intervention for users of illicit stimulants such as methamphetamine and ecstasy. Based on a similar, successful model for alcohol problems, the program is for people who recognise that they have a problem and are looking for ways to overcome it. This randomised controlled trial will compare participants who are current users of illicit stimulants to a wait list control group, and the outcomes will be analysed to see if this is an effective way of treating people.

Name & Contact Details Role Research Program Location
  • Principal Investigator: Robert Tait, Curtin University

Dr Robert Tait
Senior Research Fellow
Tel:
robert.tait@curtin.edu.au
View profile

This project aligns with the following Sustainable Development Goals and Targets:

Duko, B., Pereira, G., Tait, R., J., Bedaso, A., Newnham, J., Betts, K. and Alati, R. (2022). Prenatal alcohol exposure and offspring subsequent alcohol use: A systematic review. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109324 [RJ1818] View web page

Ayano, G., Betts, K., Lin, A., Tait, R., J. and Alati, R. (2021). Maternal and paternal mental health problems and the risk of offspring depression in late adolescence: findings from the Raine Study. Journal of Mental Health. doi:10.1080/09638237.2021.1875423 [RJ1625] View web page

Ayano, G., Betts, K., Tait, R., J., Dachew, B., A. and Alati, R. (2021). Maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms and the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in offspring aged 17: Findings from the Raine Study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 284, pp. 149-156. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.02.024 [RJ1677] View web page

Ayano, G., Lin, A., Dachew, B., A., Tait, R., J., Betts, K. and Alati, R. (2021). The impact of parental mental health problems on the educational outcomes of their offspring: Findings from the Raine Study. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. doi:10.1177/00048674211025633 [RJ1737] View web page

Ayano, G., Lin, A., Tait, R., J., Alati, R. and Betts, K. (2021). Associations of maternal and paternal mental health problems with offspring anxiety at age 20 years: Findings from a population-based prospective cohort study. Psychiatric Research, 299. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113922 [RJ1592] View web page

Duko, B., Pereira, G., Betts, K., Tait, R., J., Newnham, J. and Alati, R. (2021). Prenatal exposure to maternal, but not paternal, tobacco smoking is associated with smoking in adolescence. Addictive Behaviors, 117. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106871 [RJ1675] View web page

Duko, B., Pereira, G., Tait, R., J., Newnham, J., Betts, K. and Alati, R. (2021). Prenatal tobacco exposure and the risk of conduct disorder symptoms in offspring at the age of 14 years: Findings from the Raine Study. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 142, pp. 1-8. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.07.030 [RJ1739] View web page

Duko, B., Pereira, G., Tait, R., J., Nyadanu, S., D., Betts, K. and Alati, R. (2021). Prenatal Tobacco Exposure and the Risk of Tobacco Smoking and Dependence in Offspring: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 227. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108993 [RJ1757] View web page

Duko, B., Pereira, G., Betts, K., Tait, R., J., Newnham, J. and Alati, R. (2020). Associations of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Offspring Harmful Alcohol Use: Findings from the Raine Study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 217. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108305 [RJ1626] View web page

Tait, R., J. and Hulse, G., K. (2020). Brief and e-Health interventions for the treatment of alcohol or other drug addiction. In Johnson, B. (ed.) Addiction Medicine: Science and Practice (2nd ed). Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA. ISBN: 978-0-323-75440-8 [CH213]

Boumparis, N., Loheide-Niesmann, L., Blanker, M., Ebert, D., D., Schaub, M., Spijkerman, R., Tait, R., J. and Riper, H. (2019). The short- and long-term effects of digital prevention and treatment interventions for cannabis use reduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 200, pp. 82-94. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.03.016 [RJ1476] View web page

Hattingh, L. and Tait, R., J. (2018). Pharmacy-based alcohol misuse services: current perspectives. Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice, 7, pp. 21-31. doi:10.2147/IPRP.S140431 [RJ1419] View web page

Hattingh, L., Hallett, J. and Tait, R., J. (2016). 'Making the invisible visible’ through alcohol screening and brief intervention in community pharmacies: an Australian feasibility study. BMC Public Health. doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3805-3 [RJ1274] View web page

Tait, R., J., Caldicott, D., Mountain, D., Hill, S. and Lenton, S. (2016). A systematic review of adverse events arising from the use of synthetic cannabinoids and their associated treatment, 54, (1), pp. 1-13. doi:10.3109/15563650.2015.1110590 [RJ1100] View web page

Gulliver, A., Farrer, L., Chan, J., Tait, R., J., Bennett, K., Calear, A. and Griffiths, K., M. (2015). Technology-based interventions for tobacco and other drug use in tertiary students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 10, (5). doi:10.1186/s13722-015-0027-4 [RJ1034] View web page

Tait, R., J. (2015). Alcohol-related victimisation: Differences between sexual minorities and heterosexuals in an Australian national sample. Drug and Alcohol Review, 34, (4), pp. 366-374. doi:10.1111/dar.12265 [RJ1033] View web page

Tait, R., J. and Lenton, S. (2015). Online alcohol interventions, sexual violence and intimate partner violence: A systematic review. Internet Interventions, 2, (2), pp. 152-160. doi:10.1016/j.invent.2015.03.001 [RJ1017] View web page

Blaszczynski, A., Tait, R., J. and Mattick, R. (2014). Addictive Disorders. In Rieger, E. (ed.) Abnormal Psychology: Leading Researcher Perspectives (3rd ed). McGraw Hill Education, North Ryde, NSW. pp. 264-305. ISBN: 9781743078020 [CH201]

Tait, R., J. and Lenton, S. (2014). Commentary on Williams et al. (2014): Family matters: new resources for managing opioid overdose with take-home naloxone. Addiction, 109, (2), pp. 260-261. doi:10.1111/add.12396 [RJ946] View web page

Farrer, L., Gulliver, A., Chan, J., Batterham, P., J., Reynolds, J., Calear, A., Tait, R., J., Bennett, K. and Griffiths, K., M. (2013). A systematic review of technology-based interventions for mental health in tertiary students. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15, (5), pp. e101. doi:10.2196/jmir.2639 [RJ907] View web page

Tait, R., J., Spijkerman, R. and Riper, H. (2013). Internet and Computer Based Interventions for Cannabis Use: A Meta-Analysis. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 133, (2), pp. 295-304. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.05.012 [RJ908] View web page