Overview

The goal of the Prevention Branch is to reduce the harm caused by or associated with the misuse of alcohol and other drugs in Western Australia.

Prevention is fundamental to the Putting People First approach and involves developing ways to
support individuals, families and communities to acquire the knowledge, attitudes and skills to
adopt healthy behaviours and lifestyles, and provide safe environments.

Important directions emphasised in the model include early childhood intervention, mechanisms
for community inclusion and a greater integration of the full resources of the government in
prevention.

The government facilitates a comprehensive approach to prevention and early
intervention involving all relevant agencies and non-government organisations aiming to:

• Contribute to the reduction of risk factors and the development of protective factors and
  resiliency relating to problems associated with alcohol and other drug use in local communities;
• Work with the community to achieve a ‘drinking culture’ that is consistent with decreasing the
  problems associated with hazardous and harmful alcohol use;
• Support physical environments that decrease problems associated with alcohol and other drug use;
• Develop and implement initiatives that involve early assessment and brief intervention measures
  to reduce the harm resulting from alcohol and other drug use;
• Undertake initiatives that develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills of the community,
  particularly priority groups, to prevent, delay and reduce alcohol and other drug-related problems;
• Initiate and maintain evidence-based education, policy, legislation, workforce development,
  compliance and enforcement, and monitoring and surveillance initiatives that will prevent,
  delay and reduce alcohol and other drug-related problems;
• Prevent and/or delay the onset of illicit drug use and the hazardous use of alcohol and
  other drugs through effective partnerships between the community, non-government and
  government agencies; and
• Involve local communities in strategies to prevent and reduce alcohol and other drug-related problems

Branch Structure

• Drug Program
• Alcohol Program
• Community Program

Within these program areas a comprehensive range of health promotion and prevention strategies are undertaken including education and skills development, legislative and regulatory initiatives, environmental/structural changes, capacity building and practice development, community development and partnerships, early and opportunistic intervention, support and referral, policy and research and evaluation.

Resources

The Prevention Branch produces a number of educational fact sheets about drugs and alcohol. The branch has also published research bulletins about drug and alcohol use in Western Australia. To access these resources click here.

Some of these resources can be ordered on line by visiting http://www.population.health.wa.gov.au/ordering/.

Contact

For further information about the Branch please contact us on (08) 9370 0358 or email DAO.Prevention@health.wa.gov.au.