During the 1980sMotivational Interviewing emerged as one of the memes of the addictions field. This occurred despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting its utility. In this paper findings of a controlled trial of a brief motivational intervention with illicit drug users (n = 122) attending a methadone clinic are reported. Clients who met the study's inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to either a motivational (experimental, n = 57) or educational (control, n = 65) procedure. Over the 6-month follow-up period the motivational subjects demonstrated a greater, immediate, commitment to abstention, reported more positive expected outcomes for abstention, reported fezver opiate-related problems, were initially more contemplative of change, complied with the methadone programme longer and relapsed less quickly than the control group. There was, however, no difference in terms of the severity of reported opiate dependence and the control group fared better on reported self-efficacy. It was concluded that motivational interventions of the type investigated are useful adjuncts to methadone programmes.

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As with younger populations, older people pour drinks that are, on average, larger than standard drinks. To increase the accuracy of self-reported consumption, it is recommended that researchers consider pouring practices and people's perceptions of alcohol volumes poured in relation to a standard drink. Further research on this issue may reduce the discrepancy between self-reported levels of consumption and national per capita alcohol sales.

The harms associated with risky alcohol consumption have long been researched and recognised in the health field. However, little available research has focused on older people or extended analysis of alcohol use by this segment of the population beyond a biomedical perspective. With the rapid ageing of the global population, research that investigates alcohol use among older people from a social perspective is important. This article reports on research with a group of older women and men, to identify and explain factors that influence alcohol consumption. In-depth interviews were conducted in Perth, Western Australia with 20 men and 22 women aged 65-74 years who were living in either private residences or retirement villages. The study findings indicated that alcohol use was linked with social engagement in activities across both settings, and that moderate alcohol use appeared to serve an important function as a 'social lubricant'. The major facilitating factors for alcohol use included the frequency of opportunities for social engagement and access to a ready-made social group in retirement villages. The major constraining factor across both settings was driving. Interestingly, health was not viewed as a major facilitating or constraining factor for alcohol consumption. Conclusions from the research were that alcohol serves an important role in enhancing social engagement, and there appear to be important associations between residential setting and alcohol use.

During the 1980s Motivational Interviewing emerged as one of the memes of the addictions field. This occurred despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting its utility. In this paper findings of a controlled trial of a brief motivational intervention with illicit drug users (n = 122) attending a methadone clinic are reported. Clients who met the study's inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to either a motivational (experimental, n = 57) or educational (control, n = 65) procedure. Over the 6-month follow-up period the motivational subjects demonstrated a greater, immediate, commitment to abstention, reported more positive expected outcomes for abstention, reported fewer opiate-related problems, were initially more contemplative of change, complied with the methadone programme longer and relapsed less quickly than the control group. There was, however, no difference in terms of the severity of reported opiate dependence and the control group fared better on reported self-efficacy. It was concluded that motivational interventions of the type investigated are useful adjuncts to methadone programmes.

Rapid ageing in western societies is placing increasing strain on health and social care services. In response, governments and health agencies have sought to promote healthy ageing through a range of interventions, many of which aim to enhance social engagement and participation among older people. Such interventions are based on evidence that being socially engaged through participation in various activities leads to better physical, mental and psychosocial health outcomes. The research reported here employed focus groups and individual interviews to address research aims: (a) identify enablers and barriers to participation in community-based group activities among a sample of older people (n = 35, median age 71 years) living in a local government area in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, and (b) examine how these factors differ between those who regularly participate and those who do not. Our research highlighted four themes: Friendship and Function; Availability and Accessibility; Competing Responsibilities and Priorities; and Changing of the Guard. In particular, this research highlighted the importance of group activities in offering social support as a platform to develop friendships. The findings also indicated that opportunities for social interaction should be embedded in the structure of the group, beyond that which may occur incidentally during activities. This is important, given that while interest may motivate older people to join a group, a sense of belonging and connectedness generated through the group is more likely to maintain their attendance. Barriers included limited availability of local programmes, limited accessibility related to programme scheduling, and lack of programmes relevant to those who do not find traditional seniors' centres appealing. Recommendations include incorporating social engagement as an outcome measure when evaluating the efficacy of programmes targeting older people, and encouraging local governments to work with seniors' centres in developing activities attractive to a broader cohort of older people.

With consultations having been held across Australia this year as part of the process of developing a new National Alcohol Strategy, it seemed timely to invite my colleagues from the National Drug Research Institute who are experts in the alcohol field to write this Harm Reduction Digest. The authors have canvassed a range of alcohol policy options and discussed their effectiveness in reducing harm for what is arguably Australia's number one drug problem. Australia's response to alcohol and other drug problems has, historically, been based on 'harm minimization--incorporating supply reduction, demand reduction and harm reduction'. At this time where the policy options for alcohol are being set for the next 5 years in a climate of 'small government', removing restrictions of 'fair competition' in business and a belief in the free market, what does the research have to say about recommended policies and strategies to reduce alcohol-related harm?

In Australia, children removed from the parental home because substance use–related child maltreatment issues are commonly placed in grandparent custodial care; however, the longer term relational costs of this approach have yet to be determined. Conventional, summative, and directive content analyses were conducted on data extracted from 88 Australian custodial grandparent completed Grandcarer Needs, Wellbeing and Health Surveys. Conventional analysis revealed the most common reason grandparents gave for their assumption of custodial care was drug use–related acts of parental child maltreatment. Summative analysis revealed antidepressants, marijuana, Valium, ice, and amphetamines were the most commonly used parental drugs and that these drugs were frequently used in combination with dexamphetamine, antipsychotics, heroin, ecstasy, and cocaine. Directed analysis contextualized the strain that drug use–related custodial caregiving places on grandparents’ financial resources, and how this strain is burdensome when the grandparents’ annual income is less than Aus$80,000. It also contextualizes the need for future research to explore family reunification desires/barriers.