VAADA - The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association

VAADA welcomes the Victorian Department of Health Naloxone Dispensing Machines Trial. Naloxone is a free, easy-to-use medication that can help temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Machines are currently installed at the following locations:
🔹Alfred Emergency and Trauma Centre
🔹Bayside Health, Melbourne and Sunshine Hospital
🔹Western Health, Brimbank

20 more machines will be installed across the state, over the coming months. To learn more about free naloxone and find your closest machine visit https://ow.ly/Z5k950Z608Q

This June, Youth Projects is celebrating Pride Month with a series of inclusive events across Sunshine, Melton, Glenroy, St Albans and Werribee for young people aged 15-24 🏳️‍🌈

Co-designed with their Youth Advisory Group, these events are all about creating safe, welcoming and affirming spaces where young people can connect, celebrate self-expression, build community and have fun!

You can get involved by:
✨ Bringing young people along to attend (don't forget to register: https://www.youthprojects.org.au/pride-month-at-youth-projects
✨ Sharing the events with young people in your networks
✨ Participating as a partner organisation to help create safe and connected spaces for young people

This is a great opportunity for organisations and community groups to come together and celebrate Pride Month in ways that genuinely centre young people.

If you’d like to attend, collaborate, support or help spread the word, contact Youth Projects

As we mark National Sorry Day (May 26) and National Reconciliation Week (May 27 –June 3), VAADA acknowledges the enduring impacts of past government policies and practices on Aboriginal communities.

Following consultation with VAADA's Aboriginal Advisory Committee, VAADA is pleased to release 'Walking Together: Treaty and the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Sector'. A paper designed to support mainstream AOD services to align with the principles of Treaty and contribute to better outcomes for Aboriginal people.

Reconciliation is not passive; VAADA invites you to engage with the reflective questions and valuable Aboriginal-designed resources included in the paper, and consider how the AOD sector can begin to walk alongside Aboriginal people and Aboriginal services to improve outcomes, today and every day.

👉Read the full paper here: https://ow.ly/6bb950Z4E8r

⚠️Drug Advisory: HE**IN FOUND IN CO***NE products across Melbourne Victorian Department of Health

⚠️ Three people in separate incidents have recently required emergency care as they experienced a he**in overdose after using what they thought was co***ne.
⚠️ He**in is an opioid, even small doses of it can produce life-threatening toxic effects.
⚠️He**in is a very different substance from co***ne, although it often appears in a similar white powdered form.
⚠️Signs of opioid overdose include breathing slowly and reduced consciousness.

👉Read the full drug alert here, including information about acquiring and administering naloxone (a medication that can reverse opioid overdose): https://ow.ly/Uac450Z3GTh

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The May VAADA Member News has just been released! A dedicated space for sharing sector voices, updates and initiatives from our members.

📣 In this month’s edition of the VAADA Member News, you’ll find…
🌟 Member Spotlight: Brendan Witt, Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation
📰 Member updates from: Ngwala Willumbong Aboriginal Corporation, Windana, Alcohol and Drug Foundation, Victorian Pill Testing Service
📅Explore 68 Upcoming events and job opportunities via our live boards

View the April Member News 👉https://ow.ly/kre050Z30zX
Find out how to become a VAADA Member 👉https://ow.ly/LWAL50Z30zV

📬 Got something to share? If you’re a member and would like to feature in a future edition, get in touch with us at [email protected]

The program for the 2026 Victorian AOD Service Providers Conference is now live, bringing together leading voices from across the sector to explore this year’s theme: Shaping the Future of AOD: Culture Connection and Innovation. The program includes presentations form the following:

🔹Keynote Speaker: Victorian Department of Health Chief Psychiatrist of Victoria, A/Prof Sophie Adams, presenting on: Integrated AOD and Mental Health Care
🔹Sheree Lowe, Balit Durn Durn Centre, presenting on: Integrating SEWB in Mainstream Practice
🔹A/Prof Roisin Mcnaney, The University of Melbourne, presenting on: Artificial Intelligence in AOD and Social Services
🔹Prof Vic Manning, Turning Point presenting on: GHB: Treatment Guidelines Project

👉 View the full 2026 SPC program here: https://ow.ly/4H3W50Z2ZVE

🚩Have a ticket and can no longer attend? We have a waitlist, click here to find out how to cancel or transfer your ticket:” https://ow.ly/BEcn50Z2ZVF

VAADA - The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association CEO Chris Christoforou and Head of Policy and Practice Scott Drummond visited Youth Support + Advocacy Service (YSAS) Dandenong Youth Hub and their new drop in space The Third Place funded by SEMPHN.

Thank you Fotini Strongylos, Danny Alcock, Geoff Balydon, Brett McCaughan, Sally Rumble and the whole Youth Support + Advocacy Service team for sharing their excellent work in providing trusted help to young people and their supporters experiencing drug and alcohol issues across South East Melbourne.

👉 See more about The Third Place Here: https://ow.ly/MFKw50YZSzL

⚠️Drug watch notification from Victorian Pill Testing Service: Tadalafil (Cialis) and methandienone (Dianabol) detected in pressed pill acquired as M**A.
⚠️No M**A Detected
⚠️The sample is a square coated pill with DP on one side and a half score on both sides

Read the full notification here👉 https://ow.ly/bcWq50YZSeu

⚠️Please share!