News

Professor Louisa Degenhardt from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW Sydney was recognised for her outstanding contributions to science in the field of substance use-related harm reduction.

She is among 24 researchers who was announced as members of the Academy on the 23^rd of May, 2024.

Prof. Degenhardt is a psychologist and global authority on illicit drug use. She has led seminal research on the global burden of illicit drug use and mapped global coverage of interventions to reduce this burden.

Her work is used by governments, United Nations agencies and other key international organisations to inform treatment planning and to advocate for the scale-up of interventions that are effective in reducing harms among people who use drugs.

“I am honoured to have been nominated for this Fellowship. My goal has always been to highlight the importance of illicit drug use as it relates to harms – harms that in most cases can be reduced, if not eliminated, through effective interventions. I hope that we – researchers, clinicians and advocates – can continue working to minimise harms related to drug use across the globe,” Prof. Degenhardt said.

Interim Dean of UNSW Medicine & Health Professor Adrienne Torda congratulated. Degenhardt on her fellowship.

“Prof. Degenhardt’s research has been pivotal for the instruction of policies and interventions designed to reduce harm for more than two decades. Her work will undoubtedly continue to drive improvements of alcohol, drug and mental disorder epidemiology both within Australia and internationally.”

View Professor Degenhardt’s staff profile here.