Access to accurate, credible information is a fundamental aspect of all drug treatment prevention and intervention strategies. There are many good quality resources available on topics ranging from individual drug effects to brief intervention to treatment guides. However, there may not always be a resource to cover the information needs of your clients and you may decide to produce your own.
Whether you are looking at using existing resources or producing your own, this guide can assist you in ensuring that the resource is of a high quality and relevant to the target audience.
This guide was developed by the Australian Drug Foundation in partnership with the ATODA and the ACT ATOD sector as part of a broader Review of ATOD Written Materials for Young People in the ACT.
Download the Guide to reviewing and developing ATOD resources for young people.
Note: This resource has applicability to resources broader than those designed specifically for young people.
The Guide is divided into 2 key sections:
Resource review checklist: brochures, pamphlets and fact sheets: Developed to help you to determine the quality of an existing resource, when looking at existing resources it is important to make sure that they contain good quality information in a format that is right for the target audience. This section is useful if you want to find an existing resource that meets your needs to avoid the time and expense associated with producing your own. This section can also be of assistance when developing new resources, as you can use the checklist to review your resource.
Guidelines for resource development: Designed to assist you when planning and developing new resources. When developing resources, it is important that you ensure the information is accurate and relevant for the target audience.
The Guide is developed for utilisation across all sectors involved in the dissemination or development of ATOD information.
In particular, Health Directorate funded or delivered ATOD treatment services are required to utilise the Guide ‘when reviewing the quality, and determining suitability, of external ATOD resources; or planning designing and developing internally produced resources.’
For more information regarding the policy please contact the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy Unit, ACT Government Health Directorate on aodpolicy@act.gov.au.
Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT
(02) 6249 6358
info@atoda.org.au
Last updated 10 July 2012