title: Ensuring the policy relevance of population health research: experiences from the Drug Policy Modelling Program.
abstract: Illicit drugs are an important public health concern. A unique approach to tackling this problem is represented in the work of the Drug Policy Modelling Program which aims to improve evidence-informed policy by reducing the gap between research and policy. There are three elements to the Drug Policy Modelling Program: generating new knowledge; translating evidence into information of relevance for decision makers; and studying policy processes. Key aspects include the use of computer modelling as a translational tool and the focus on understanding policy processes such as the role of media and politics, important in contextualising the research-policy nexus. Other features of the Drug Policy Modelling Program approach include engagement of diverse disciplines, and government researcher partnerships.
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, The University of New South Wales. alison.ritter@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ritter
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001315:Australia; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011050:Policy Making; D011640:Public Policy; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs