World's top alcohol and drug experts share strategies in Australia

Some of the world's top alcohol and drug experts gathered at a conference in Brisbane, Australia, on Wednesday to share ideas on how to address common problems associated with substance abuse.

The 7th Australasian Drug and Alcohol Strategy Conference ( ADASC) 2015 provides a platform to share experiences between policing jurisdictions, health service providers, policy analysts, academics and industry representatives.

The ADASC 2015 facilitates strong partnerships and enables collaboration to minimize the detrimental effects of alcohol and other drugs.

Queensland police commissioner Ian Stewart said drug abuse was a worldwide problem and different nations can share best-practice methods to boost treatment and enforcement.

Stewart said drug abuse has widespread effects for all of society.

"Sadly, the misuse of drugs is often a compounding factor in relation to mental illnesses and other challenges that people have, " Stewart said in a statement.

"The misuse of substances certainly creates a complexity that our people have to deal with and whilst we provide the training and the equipment, the difficulty is that our officers are sworn to protect the community and put themselves in harm's way on occasions."

Conference organizers said ADASC 2015, which runs until Friday, will enhance, develop and foster inter-agency partnerships and collaboration within and across borders.