Events

Insights and Solutions

Organiser: Brain Injury Australia

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Website: Insights and Solutions

Start Date: 1 September 2008

End Date: 3 September 2008

The combined 2nd International Conference on Alcohol and Other Drug Related Brain Injury and the Brain Injury Australia National Conference 2008, recognises the need for innovative approaches and improved practice in the field of aquired brain injury.

The overarching theme, Insights and Solutions, will provide a focal point for exploring all facets of aquired brain injury and presents an opportunity for people with aquired brain injury, their families and carers, clinicians, professional workers, researchers and policy makers to:

  • access cutting edge national and international research

  • drive education and prevention campaigns

  • build stronger treatment and support networks


Cutting Edge 2008

Organiser: National Addiction Centre

Location: Christchurch, New Zealand

Website: Cutting Edge

Start Date: 4 September 2008

End Date: 6 September 2008

Cutting Edge 2008 is the 13th Cutting Edge Conference in a series that begun in 1995. Attracting over 300 addiction workers every year, it has provided the sector with an annual update on cutting edge research and development, as well as focus and a sense of national identity.

This year's theme is Life and Death as it relates to addiction and addiction treatment. There will be 10 keynote speakers who will be addressing the conference theme in various ways related to addiction organised into five seminars as follows:

  • The Fragarance of Life - Dr Sue Bagshaw, Bruce Levi / Josephine Jackson and TUPU Team
  • Drug Policy: A life and Death Issue - Dr Sally Casswell, Thailand Speaker TBA
  • Death: Gradual and Abrupt - Mr Charles Henderson, Associate Professor Annette Beautrais
  • Life Pathways - Professor Richie Poulton, Professor David Fergusson
  • Life and Death - Dr Alex Woodak, Mr Paraire Huata

Other features of Cutting Edge 2008 will be a Political Debate, Welcome Reception, Workshops, free Paper Sessions (including a dedicated Public Health stream), a Poster Session, Special Interest Group Meetings, John Dobson Memorial Foundation Fundraising Coctail Party and Auction, and an ending Hakari (feast).

Also with the help of key members of the national Mäori addiction community, and particularly Ngai Tahu colleagues, there will be a strong Mäori presence running through the conference and build on the developments that have been occurring in this realm over the past decade or so.

A call for papers has recently been circulated with a closing date of Tuesday 3rd June. Note that Cutting Edge now actively encourages presentations with a public health focus in addition to the traditional clinically focused treatment presentations.


Australian Therapeutic Communities Association Conference

Organiser: ATCA

Location: Byron Bay, Australia

Website: ATCA

Start Date: 9 September 2008

End Date: 11 September 2008

The theme for this years conference is Advancing the therapeutic Community Approach. Separate themes for each of the three days of the conference will be

  • Families and AOD 

  • Youth

  • Diversion,

  • Co-morbidity

  • Rural Challenges

  • Innovation in Therapeutic Communities in 2008.


1st Global Conference on Methamphetamine: Science, Strategy and Response

Organiser: Weave Consulting

Location: Prague, Czech Republic

Website: http://www.globalmethconference.com/

Start Date: 15 September 2008

End Date: 16 September 2008

The conference has been organized in response to an emerging consensus among experts that methamphetamine use is a complex problem that presents a significant challenge to existing philosophies and strategies. While local and national communities are under siege by a perceived methamphetamine epidemic rush to pursue solutions, many facets of the problem remain to be discovered, examined, debated, illuminated and verified.

It is in this spirit of discovery, discussion, and cooperation that we are convening this summit. As the first event to gather global experts from varied fields, with diverse and even sometimes divergent perspectives, the conference is assured to be an unparalleled event.

It is commonly agreed that methamphetamine is a dangerous drug whose use has negative consequences on both individuals and communities, and presents a substantial challenge to policymakers, law enforcement, and social service providers. It is important that our public resources be directed to deal with the problem on a number of fronts, including areas of research, prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and law enforcement.

However, emerging strategies must be carefully and thoughtfully developed and carried out in response to the actual needs of affected populations, based on evidence-based research rather than on hyperbole, the distortion of data, media-driven misperceptions, and the mischaracterization of the dangers of methamphetamine and its users. Reality based prevention and treatment, which have been shown not only to be possible, but to be effective, are vital components of any strategy to reduce the harms associated with methamphetamine use.

It is the hope and expectation of the conference organizers that a wide-ranging, scientifically rigorous, and creative conversation among diverse experts at the 2008 Global Methamphetamine Conference will create an energy and flow of ideas that will propel efforts to find practical responses to methamphetamine use issues.


Addiction Sector Leadership Days 2008

Organiser: -

Location: 6 November, Wellington

Website:

Start Date: 6 November 2008

End Date: 6 November 2008

An opportunity for managers, funders, planners and senior clinicians to debate and discuss important issues facing the addiction treatment sector.


Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Conference 2008

Organiser: APSAD

Location: Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Australia.

Website: APSAD

Start Date: 23 November 2008

End Date: 26 November 2008

APSAD 2008 will feature an exciting program of international and national keynote speakers who will focus on new treatment prevention and policy approaches to the drug and alcohol field. A broad range of papers will be presented from renowned national and international experts in the latest cutting-edge drug and alcohol research.

The APSAD 2008 Conference will feature an exciting range of clinical workshops/master classes to enhance skills acquisition and knowledge transfer. There will also be a significant program of poster presentations to increase the ability of presenters and delegates to interact and discuss the research findings from those research projects of most relevance to them.


International Harm Reduction Association Conference

Organiser: IHRA

Location: Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Bangkok, Thailand.

Website: IHRA

Start Date: 19 April 2009

End Date: 23 April 2009

IHRA’s harm reduction conferences have been held around the world each year since 1990, and the next event in this highly successful series takes place in Bangkok, Thailand. The theme for this event will be Harm Reduction and Human Rights.

Over five days, this conference will be the main meeting point for all those interested in harm reduction, and an invaluable platform for advocacy, debate, and discussion. For nearly two decades, these events have been the key forum for the dissemination of harm reduction ideas and practice, and have helped to put harm reduction on the map.