Research Impact

NDRI has a more than 30-year track record of conducting and disseminating high quality research, the impact of which has been constant and far-reaching. We frequently contribute our expertise to parliamentary inquiries, expert groups, panels and boards. Our research is published widely in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences around the world.

Through its influence on drug policy and practice, our research is helping individuals, families and the community to lead safer, healthier lives. For example, NDRI research has: 

• Significantly informed and influenced national alcohol and other drugs policy and frameworks, including the National Drug Strategy, the National Alcohol Strategy and the National Amphetamine-Type Stimulants Strategy.
• Informed the national Alcohol Research Agenda and the development of key Aboriginal policy documents, such as the National Drug Strategy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Complementary Action Plan and the Northern Territory Alcohol Framework.
• Directly contributed to state and local government alcohol and other drugs policy.
• Increased the capacity of Aboriginal community-controlled and mainstream primary health care services to monitor and respond to alcohol and other drug problems.
• Provided evidence supporting alcohol restrictions where alcohol related harm has had a significant impact on Aboriginal communities.
• Influenced the introduction of standard drink labelling and NHMRC guidelines for responsible drinking.
• Provided evidence for the inclusion of harm minimisation provisions in liquor licensing laws and against the indiscriminate issuing of extended trading permits.
• Contributed to the evaluation and development of alcohol and other drug education programs in schools; and the development of principles for drug education in schools to provide a benchmark for best practice.
• Informed the establishment, design and implementation of Western Australia’s 2004 Cannabis Infringement Notice Scheme, with subsequent contributions to international cannabis policy discussions and debate.
• Contributed to the development of Western Australia’s alcohol interlock scheme for repeat and serious drink drive offenders.
• Informed development of the WA Hepatitis C strategic plan and implementation of the Model of care for hepatitis C treatment.
• Demonstrated, through collaborative research with international colleagues, that the purported health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption have been exaggerated.
• Conducted research and provided evidence based advice which has contributed to the wider availability of naloxone to prevent opioid overdose mortality and morbidity.