Disclaimer: This episode contains mentions of substances, sexual assault and sexual violence, and the mention of death of a young person. Please listen at your own discretion. In this, our final episode of the series, crew members Sia and Jean unpack the previous episode with Brooke and Chen Li about creative practice in the AOD space. Sia shares valuable insights into social policy directions in AOD, with a particular focus on harm reduction and drug diversion. The conversation touches on theories, a range of approaches and the importance of cultural safety and abolitionist practices to support a shift in perception of AOD practice and the criminalisation of people who use substances. In addition, the role of peer workers highlighting the importance of lived and living experience practitioners and the decriminalisation of the AOD practice space. Sia and Jean discuss the value of transparent and informative conversations with young people about drug and alcohol use. The pair share reflexively some intimate and colourful stories that have shaped their relationship with drug and alcohol use and their practice. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n-VCyV7F5_teof_F59WiNEWQB14tl-nT/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103726718570283534995&rtpof=true&sd=true References/Resources: Queensland drug reform initiatives Two major drug reform initiatives announced (shorthandstories.com) Abolitionist social work Abolitionist Social Work | Encyclopedia of Social Work (oxfordre.com) “Achieving Balance” – Queensland Health Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2022 – 2027 https://6232990.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6232990/Achieving%20balance%20The%20Queensland%20Drug%20and%20Alcohol%20Plan%202022-2027.pdf Harm Reduction Strategies https://adf.org.au/reducing-risk/staying-safe-events/harm-reduction-strategies/ The National Drug Strategy 2017 – 2026 https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-drug-strategy-2017-2026 Definition of Therapeutic Jurisprudence: The Concept of Therapeutic Jurisprudence - Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration - Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration (aija.org.au) Keywords: #alcoholandotherdrugs #socialpolicy #drugdiversion #culturalsafety #abolitionistpractices #reflexivity #criticalreflection #peerworkers #livedandliving experience #colourfulstories Music by Boe Toweh Follow us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalconversations4sw/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CriticalConversations4SW