New directions for research on psychological interventions for drug and alcohol problems.

摘要

Presentations by Professors William R. Miller [1] and G. Alan Marlatt [2] at the 2008 International Addiction Summit in Melbourne, Australia, provided cause for reflection on developments in the psychological interventions available for drug and alcohol problems over the last two decades. Both of these presenters had delivered keynote addresses at the 1990 International Conference on the Addictive Behaviours in Sydney. At that time, motivational interviewing [3] and relapse prevention [4] were relatively new approaches. Both approaches fitted well with the harm reduction philosophy [5] that increasingly underpinned Australia's drug and alcohol policies and services. It was an exciting time to be working in the drug and alcohol field in Australia, particularly in the delivery of psychological interventions. Thus, the 2008 conference presented the opportunity to compare psychological interventions currently available for drug and alcohol problems with those that were new in the 1980s. This Editorial presents some of the recommendations from the 2008 conference and draws on recent literature to offer suggestions for new directions on research on psychological interventions for drug and alcohol problems.