![A/Prof Matthew Gullo and Dr Hannah Gullo utilising their instant assessment and personalised feedback [iAx] system](/files/22303/SuABI-Web2.jpg)
Substance use disorder (SUD) and acquired brain injury (ABI) are leading causes of disability among Australian youth. Substance use is often a cause of ABI, and continued use post-injury in those with SUD significantly undermines rehabilitation. An estimated 66% of individuals with ABI engaged in problematic substance use before their injury. Abstinence from substances (including alcohol) is recommended for two years post-injury, requiring a significant behaviour shift, especially for young people with SUD. Effective interventions for youth SUD exist but are not accessible to individuals with ABI in their current form. Adapting SUD interventions for youth with ABI is a healthcare priority to ensure optimal individual health outcomes and minimise strain on healthcare, social care, and youth justice systems. Consumer co-design is key to synthesising evidence-based approaches into an optimal intervention tailored to the unique needs of individuals with SUD and ABI. This international team of clinician researchers and individuals with lived experience will co-design (Phase 1) and evaluate (Phase 2) a new technology-enhanced interprofessional substance use program for young persons with ABI embedded in public health services across QLD, VIC, and NSW. A hybrid effectiveness-implementation randomised controlled trial will evaluate the co-designed program against a waitlist control group in 1) reducing substance use and 2) improving community participation, providing immediate benefit to participants. Australia-wide implementation in health services will be facilitated by health economic evaluation, capacity-building training through our partner organisations, and co-development of training resources with consumers, clinicians and stakeholders (Phase 3). This project will produce a new, holistic model of care for young Australians with SUD and living with a disability that will be implemented across multiple states and evaluated for long-term sustainability.
To find out more about participating, view the recruitment flyer.
Chief Investigators:
- Associate Professor Matthew Gullo [GU/PAH]
- Dr Hannah Gullo [UQ/TPCH, co-lead]
- Professor Jennie Ponsford [Monash]
- Associate Professor Grahame Simpson [USyd]
- Dr Knut Schneider [consumer]
- Professor Jennifer Fleming [UQ]
- Associate Professor Dana Wong [La Trobe]
- Professor Tamara Ownsworth [GU]
- Professor Sharon Dawe [GU]
- Professor Trevor Russell [UQ]
- Dr Kate Gould [Monash]
- Dr Jessie Mitchell [GU]
- Dr Ben Turner [UniSC]
- Professor Joshua Byrnes [GU]
- Assistant Professor Carolyn Lemsky [UToronto]
Associate investigators:
- Dr Emmah Doig [UQ/STARS]
- Dr Katarzyna Lion [GU]
- Dr Timothy Piatkowski [GU]
- Ms Hannah Brown [PAH-ABIOS]
- Associate Professor Simon Beaulieu Bonneau [LavalU]
- Dr Natasha Reid [UQ]
- Associate Professor Melissa Kendall [MSHHS-ABIOS]
- Mrs Janelle Griffin [MSHHS-BIRU]
- Dr Ryan Bell [MSHHS-BIRU]
- Dr Tracey Williams [CHW]
- Ms Naomi Brookes [SCH]
Project manager: Ms Hannah Lindsay [GU/PAH]
Partner organisations
We have partnered with the following organisations to carry out the project:
- Queensland Health (QH)
- National Injury Insurance Scheme, Queensland (NISSQ)
- Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI)
Contact
For further information about this project please email Dr Hannah Gullo: hannah.gullo@uq.edu.au