Episode 7: Drug demand reduction down under with Shane Varcoe

Pathways 2 Prevention

In this month's episode we meet with Shane Varcoe, Executive Director of the Dalgarno Institute. Join us as we discuss some of the more nuanced aspects of the global drug policy debate including drug use normalization and harm reduction in the Australian context.

Shane Varcoe is currently the Executive Director for the Dalgarno Institute (Coalition Of Alcohol & Drug Educators) a long standing Alcohol & Other Drugs (AOD), community based, not-for-profit, public interest coalition. As an AOD demand reduction/primary prevention advocate and specialist Affective domain educator, he is the architect of the ‘No Brainer’ alcohol and other drug education project, including the six DVD ‘I Wish I Never…’ secondary school curriculum. Initiated and oversaw development of BOUNCE BACK parent workshops, ‘B.O.W.I’ (Better Off Without it) sporting club AOD education program, ‘The Fence Builder’ and ‘Isabella’s List’ community action. Shane also created Greater Risk the 21 Be There Campaign around alcohol and young people, and now has Dalgarno Institute as the lead agency in a nationwide consortium looking at the youth alcohol misuse issue.

He has authored a number of papers along with paper The Most Effective Drug Pusher Ever – Permission. A précised edition published in The Journal of Global Drug Policy & Practice. Latest contributions to the sector literature include, Social Determinants and Substance Use, and Stigma, Drug Use – and the Proactive Contagions to Reduce Both.