Over 100 delegates from across the alcohol and other drug (AOD) sector gathered for the 2025 NDRI symposium, Challenges and Opportunities – Reducing AOD-related Harm in 2025 and Beyond.
Attended by health practitioners, police, treatment providers, and policymakers, it featured a wide range of presentations. Highlights included an engaging panel discussion with local and international experts on the future AOD policy and practice, keynotes from Professor Sir Ian Gilmore on the influence of culture and commercial interests in alcohol policy, and NDRI Director Professor Paul Griffiths on synthetic drug trends.
The program covered topics such as nitrous oxide use, vaping in schools, youth drinking, minimum unit pricing, intimate partner violence, stigma, barriers to care, and criminal justice outcomes. An overwhelmingly positive symposium with many actions to follow.