Dr Bright oversees the development and delivery of curriculum pertaining to the use of Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) in the context of society.
Stephen has worked as a psychologist within the Mental Health & AOD field for the past 15 years. He is currently Senior Lecturer of Addiction at Edith Cowan University. Stephen is a strong advocate of harm reduction and an evidence-based approach to AOD legislation. He is also interested in the role of certain substances (entheogens) to facilitate spiritual experiences, and their role in psychotherapy.
His PhD related to the public perceptions and media portrayal of AOD use and the implications of this for drug-related harm, including the rapid emergence of new psychoactive substances. This has led to the development of a project that aims to make the Australian media more accountable when reporting on AOD issues: www.aodmediawatch.com.au
Stephen is a leading Australian voice on the role of drug policy on emerging drug trends such as synthetic cannabis and darkweb marketplaces.
For more information about Stephen visit his ECU staff profile page .
Australia's population is ageing. By 2051 it is estimated that 25% of the population will be aged 65 years or older. It is often difficult to conceive that the older patient would be drinking excessively or using other drugs. The National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) 2016 found that:
However, it is important to remember even low levels of alcohol and other drug use can be risky if there are co-morbid medical conditions, concomitant medication use and altered metabolism in the older adult.