- Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
- Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Homelessness and Social Issues
- Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
- Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Sleep and related disorders
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Coffee research and impacts
- Treatment of Major Depression
- Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Health Policy Implementation Science
- Family Caregiving in Mental Illness
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Pain Management and Placebo Effect
- HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Diet and metabolism studies
- Pain Management and Opioid Use
- Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
2019-2025
The University of Sydney
2016-2025
Deleted Institution
2024
Swinburne University of Technology
2024
Sydney Local Health District
2020-2023
New South Wales Department of Health
2022-2023
Ministero della Salute
2023
UNSW Sydney
2019-2022
South Western Sydney Local Health District
2022
In 2016, the Australian federal government passed legislation enabling a range of cannabis-based products to be prescribed patients by registered healthcare professionals. An online survey conducted immediately prior these legislative changes found that vast majority respondents at time were illicitly sourcing cannabis plant matter, smoking was preferred route administration and mental health, chronic pain, sleep conditions most frequently cited reasons for medical use. This manuscript...
There are no effective medications for treating dependence on cannabis.To examine the safety and efficacy of nabiximols in treatment patients with cannabis dependence.This parallel double-blind randomized clinical trial comparing placebo a 12-week, multisite outpatient study recruited participants from February 3, 2016, to June 14, 2017, at 4 specialist alcohol drug services New South Wales, Australia. Participants had (as defined by International Statistical Classification Diseases Related...
Abstract Background Australia has had a framework for legal medicinal cannabis since 2016, yet prior online surveys in 2016 and 2018 indicated that most consumers continued to use illicit medical products. Regulatory data indicate an increase the prescription of 2019, this survey examines consumer experiences prescribed (MC) Australia. Methods A cross-sectional anonymous was administered September 2020 January 2021. Recruitment via social media, professional forums, practices. Participant...
Cannabis was legalised for medical purposes in 2016. Uptake initially slow, but since 2019 there has been a large increase the number of Australians who have prescribed cannabis reasons. Yet significant consumers continue to treat their conditions via illicitly-sourced cannabis. Little is known about how these two groups differ.
As the use of cannabis for medical purposes becomes increasingly prevalent, driving under influence (DUIC) is emerging as a major public health issue. Understanding current behaviours, attitudes and perceptions around DUIC in users an important first step addressing this Here we present results from driving-related subsection Cannabis Medicine 2018-2019 Survey (CAMS18) Australian (n = 1388). Of 806 respondents who reported motor vehicle last month, 34.6% said they typically drive within 3...
Abstract Introduction In early 2020, many services modified their delivery of opioid treatment in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, limit viral spread and maintain continuity. We describe changes preliminary analysis association with patients' substance use well‐being. Methods A pre‐post comparison conditions patient self‐reported outcomes using data extracted from electronic medical records 5 months before (December 2019–April 2020) after (May 2020–September were implemented three public...
Abstract Introduction Prior research has examined the prevalence and correlates of cannabis use disorder (CUD) in people who cannabis; however, these are poorly described for using medical reasons. Methods Data came from a 2018 to 2019 online, anonymous, cross‐sectional survey Australians reporting either illicit or licit reasons within past year. Included were questions on demographics, current lifetime patterns use, clinical conditions which was used, individual criteria CUD withdrawal...
Long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) products are being increasingly used to treat patients with opioid dependence. Limited data is available on the severity or timespan (time onset, peak, duration) of withdrawal signs and symptoms following discontinuation treatment. Participants aiming discontinue long-term LAIB treatment commenced study day their final dose Buvidal® 64 mg Monthly. were monitored weekly assessments severity, cravings, general health, patient experience measures for...
ABSTRACT Introduction There are no prior studies investigating the perspectives of Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) clinicians on clients' cannabis use. This study examines OTP patterns use; harms and benefits; current potential interventions their confidence in implementing them. Methods Clinicians from six public services New South Wales completed survey. Participants included nurses, doctors, pharmacists, allied health consumer workers. Single‐level regression models were used to estimate...
Background: Expectancies have been shown to play a role in the withdrawal syndrome of many drugs addiction; however, no studies examined effects expectancies across broad range caffeine symptoms, including craving. Aims: The purpose current study was use as model test effect expectancy on specifically whether belief that one has ingested is sufficient reduce symptoms and cravings abstinent coffee drinkers. Methods: We had 24-h regular drinkers complete Caffeine Withdrawal Symptom...
Road safety is an important concern amidst expanding worldwide access to legal cannabis. The present study reports on the driving-related subsection of Cannabis as Medicine Survey 2020 (CAMS-20) which surveyed behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions among Australian medical cannabis (MC) users. Of 1063 respondents who reported driving a motor vehicle in past 12 months, 28% (297/1063) under influence (DUIC). Overall, 49-56% said they typically drive within 6 h MC use, depending route...
Sleep disorders are the third most common indication for prescription of medical cannabis products in Australia, after pain and anxiety. While use purposes is growing underlying consumer behaviours patterns use, particularly around sleep disorders, poorly understood.We conducted a subanalysis cross-sectional "Cannabis as Medicine Survey" 2020-2021 (CAMS-20) (N = 1600), to explore characteristics sample Australians who were using prescribed and/or illicit treat self-reported disorder.When...
Introduction Prescribed medicinal cannabis (MC) is an increasingly common prescription in Australia for treating pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders. MC products generally contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and/or cannabidiol (CBD) a variety of dose levels forms. It unclear whether THC CBD are used by patients with different characteristics conditions. Objectives To examine consumer experiences using THC- CBD-containing prescribed to better understand how they being within the Australian...
Abstract Introduction and Aims The Australian Treatment Outcomes Profile (ATOP) is a brief clinical tool measuring recent substance use, health wellbeing among clients attending alcohol other drug (AOD) treatment services. It has previously been assessed for concurrent validity inter‐rater reliability. In this study we examine whether it suitable administration over the telephone. Design Methods We recruited sample of 107 AOD across public sector specialist services in New South Wales,...
The Australian Treatment Outcomes Profile (ATOP) is a brief instrument measuring recent substance use, risk profile and general health wellbeing among clients attending alcohol other drug (AoD) treatment services. This study evaluates the ATOP for concurrent validity, inter-rater test-re-test reliability opioid groups.For validity reliability, participants completed an with clinician plus standardized questionnaires (time-line follow-back, Opiate Index, Kessler-10, 12-item Short Form Survey,...
Studying generalisation of associative learning requires analysis response gradients measured over a continuous stimulus dimension. In human studies, there is often high degree individual variation in the gradients, making it difficult to draw conclusions about group-level trends with traditional statistical methods. Here, we demonstrate novel method analysing based on hierarchical Bayesian curve-fitting. This involves fitting an augmented (asymmetrical) Gaussian function and estimating its...
People with a family history of major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar (BD) report specific psychoeducational needs that are unmet by existing online interventions. This trial aimed to test whether an interactive website for people at familial risk depression (intervention) would improve intention adopt, actual adoption of, prevention strategies (primary outcome) and range secondary outcome measures. In this cluster randomised trial, primary care practises were either provide the link...
Background: Withdrawal from addictive drugs can be reduced by administering placebo deceptively, but in the clinic it is unethical to deceive patient. Open-label effects have been observed across a range of psychophysiological phenomena, and may also apply drug withdrawal. Method: 24-hour abstinent heavy coffee drinkers ( N = 61) rated their caffeine withdrawal symptoms before being allocated one three groups. The Deceptive group was given decaffeinated (decaf) told caffeinated, Open-Label...
<title>Abstract</title> Background Cannabis was legalised for medical purposes in 2016. Uptake initially slow, but since 2019 there has been a large increase the number of Australians who have prescribed cannabis reasons. Yet significant consumers continue to treat their conditions via illicitly-sourced cannabis. Little is known about how these two groups differ. Methods The anonymous Cannabis-As-Medicine Survey 2022 (CAMS-22) available completion online from December April 2023 adult had...
Background: Negative expectancies can exacerbate withdrawal symptoms via the nocebo effect. As such, information provided about dose reductions during attempts to taper a drug could contribute and increase likelihood of relapse. The current study tested whether blinding participants supervised caffeine reduced these nocebo-induced symptoms. Methods: Three groups moderate heavy coffee drinkers had their (tapered) from 300 mg per day 0 over course five days reported twice daily. Groups were...
Alcohol and other drug (AoD) use is an important health community issue may be positively affected by collaborative care programs between specialist AoD services general practice. This paper describes the feasibility, model of patient outcomes a pilot practice (GP-AoD) program, in Sydney, Australia, based on usual data, minimum data set, service utilisation information Australian Treatment Outcome Profile (ATOP), patient-reported outcome measure. There were 367 referrals to program. GPs...
Abstract Introduction Naloxone is a life‐saving medication that reverses opioid overdose; naloxone can be provided on ‘take‐home’ basis so administered outside of the health‐care setting. The Overdose Response and Take Home (ORTHN) project established model care for take‐home (THN) interventions across alcohol other drug harm reduction services in NSW, Australia. This paper evaluates staff training credentialing program, examines attitudes perspectives regarding provision THN these settings....
There is increasing interest and evidence for the use of cannabinoid medications in treatment cannabis disorder, but little examination correlates successful treatment. This paper a secondary analysis randomised placebo-controlled trial nabiximols disorder (CUD), aiming to identify which client characteristics impact engagement outcomes.