The National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR) was established in 2008 through the shared vision of the Graeme Wood Foundation and The University of Queensland. NCYSUR is the only Australian research centre focusing exclusively on young people and substance use.
NCYSUR seeks to promote the health and well-being of young people by increasing Australia’s and other countries capacity to respond effectively to the harm associated with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.
Our aims:
- Understand the pathways by which young people engage in substance use;
- Be at the cutting edge of research into new and innovative ways of preventing and treating problem substance use among young people;
- Make significant and tangible improvements to youth service provision;
- Positively influence state and national approaches to youth substance use prevention and treatment through information dissemination, policy refinement and public advocacy; and,
- Ensure youth have a voice and input into the research directions of the Centre.
NCYSUR research
Research at NCYSUR focuses on:
- Generating knowledge about the development, prevention and treatment of problem youth substance use;
- Dissemination of new findings to individuals, health services, government and the community to make positive changes for young people and their community;
- Advocating for improved access to evidence-based treatment and prevention for young people; and
- Engaging with young people with ‘lived experience’ and youth health services to ensure that NCYSUR’s research is responsive to community needs.
NCYSUR draws together the research and clinical expertise of internationally regarded Australian scholars in the field of substance use disorders. NCYSUR belongs to the School of Psychology and the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland.
NCYSUR is supported by core funding from the Australian Government under the Drug and Alcohol Program.
Read the latest Annual Report here.
Australia’s national drug and alcohol research centres are:
- National Drug Research Institute (NDRI), Curtin University
- National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA), Flinders University
- National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED), UNSW Sydney
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR), The University of Queensland
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW Sydney
These centres work together, in partnership with clinical services, policy makers, community organisations, and people with lived and living experience, to address alcohol and other drug issues. Established between 1986 and 2017 across leading universities and health services, and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, they bring together multidisciplinary expertise in epidemiology, prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and emerging drug trends.
Through coordinated research, workforce development, and evidence translation, the centres partner with services to apply findings to support policy development, clinical care, service delivery, and workforce capability. Together, the centres provide evidence to inform national, state, and territory policy and practice, and support international responses. They work with governments, services, and communities to strengthen research capacity, incorporate lived experience into program design, and improve health outcomes across Australia.
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