NATP
Welcome to the National Amphetamine Training Package (NATP). The NATP has been developed in support of the Amphetamine Education Resource (AER) which has been prepared as an interstate collaboration under the COAG Supporting Measures Relating to Needle and Syringe Programs package.
The Amphetamine Education Resources is a multi-component set of resources, based on the best available evidence, intended to raise awareness of amphetamine related health, behavioural and social issues amongst amphetamine users, NSP & ATODS workers and other professionals (both health and non-health) whose work may bring them into contact with amphetamine users.
The AER has four key components:
1. The Amphetamine Briefing Paper – a comprehensive guide for health workers and other professionals;
2. The Recovery Guide – a guide for consumers detailing the effects of amphetamine in relation to sleep, diet and mood;
3. A set of brief information cards - each one focusing on a particular topic; and
4. Training package – based on enhancing participants brief intervention and communication skills alongside the provision of education based on the best available evidence regarding patterns of amphetamine use and associated health and social impacts.
Background
The 2003-04 Federal Budget allocated $38.7 million over four years for the continuation of funding under the COAG Illicit Drug Diversion Supporting Measures Relating to NSPs 2003-
2007.
The Supporting Measures aim to:
• Increase Education, Counselling and Referral Services through Needle and Syringe Programs; and
• Diversify existing Needle and Syringe Programs to increase the accessibility of NSPs through pharmacies and other outlets.
The main objectives of both Initiative 1 and 2 are to reduce the rate of Hepatitis C and HIV transmission and reduce the incidence of drug related harm to injecting drug users and the community in general.
Context
• There were previously no national training packages to equip people with adequate skills to work with amphetamine users;
• A number of jurisdictions have developed training packages for NSP staff and training packages for other staff. The NATP has been designed in such a fashion as to fit alongside or be included within any pre-existing packages, if the jurisdiction so directs;
• The context of Amphetamine use may differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the NATP has been developed in such a manner that is flexible and able to address local circumstance; and
• In addition to the AER, the training package was developed with consideration to other resources as determined by the Steering Committee.