National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre

National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre
Abbreviation NCPIC
Formation 29 April 2008 (2008-04-29)
Type GO
Legal status National centre
Location
  • Sydney, Australia
Region served
Australia
Director
 Prof. Jan Copeland
Parent organization
 National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
Staff
19
Website ncpic.org.au

The National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC) was established in 2008 in response to data published in the Pfizer Australia Health Report. NDARC and NCPIC have collaborated with Pfizer Australia to assist with educating the public about cannabis.[1] Many in the Australian community are concerned that this collaboration and NCPIC involvement with GW Pharmaceutical and SATIVEX[2] places NDARC and NCPIC in a position of conflicted interests.[1] In 2016 it was announced that the Australian government would cut funding to the NCPIC at year's end.[3]

While prevalence rates have markedly reduced over the past decade,[4] cannabis is still widely used by young people, and the impacts on adolescent development remain an important issue.

The key goals of the Centre are:

  • providing the Australian community with cannabis information resources about cannabis
  • supporting service providers to respond to those experiencing problems related to cannabis
  • specifically engaging young people to reduce and prevent cannabis uptake

Rationale

The National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre was established in response to data published in the Pfizer Australia Health Report. NDARC and NCPIC have collaborated with Pfizer Australia to assist with educating the public about cannabis.[1] Many in the Australian community are concerned that this collaboration and NCPIC involvement with GW Pharmaceutical and SATIVEX[2] places NDARC and NCPIC in a position of conflicted interests.[1]

The NCPIC mission is to reduce the use of cannabis in Australia by preventing uptake and providing the community with evidence-based information and interventions. Despite this mission, NCPIC has been seen to publish fabricated and misleading cannabis information in the past.[5]

The Centre closed its doors after losing Commonwealth funding in December 2016.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Cannabis acceptance up in smoke - NDARC in collaboration with Pfizer A - Cannabis Research - Cannabis Community". Cannabis.community.forums.ozstoners.com. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  2. 1 2 https://ncpic.org.au/news/releases/january/world-first-study-into-cannabis-withdrawal-management-drug/
  3. ↑ Melissa Davey. "Coalition will not renew cannabis research centre funding past 2016 | Australia news". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  4. ↑ Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2010). 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: first results. Canberra: AIHW.
  5. ↑ "Questions for Jan Copeland and the NCPIC - Page 6 - Australian Cannabis Politics and Activism - Cannabis Community". Cannabis.community.forums.ozstoners.com. 2011-05-03. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  6. ↑ Fogarty, Siobhan (2016-11-04). "Cannabis addiction support centre to close doors after government cuts funding". ABC News. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
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