BA (Psych), Dip In Psych, PhD

Dr Peter Gates has an extensive career with the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, starting in August 2002.

Peter’s current research is focused on the NDARC Workplan areas relating to prevention and early intervention and Communities and Families. Peter leads a program of research intended to reduce the harms from alcohol and other drugs in rural and remote communities of NSW. This work involves co-design and building upon existing community strengths to bring together community concerns and research evidence. To aid in connecting with existing community-led efforts to reduce harms Peter is developing relationships with Local and Community Drug Action Teams (LDATs and CDATs), as well as the Mid North Coast local area health districts and NSW Health (Vaping Taskforce). Peter has completed several reviews on the impact of community action on alcohol and other drug use and harms.

Prior to this work with communities, Peter has worked on projects investigating alcohol use in young Australians leading to the introduction of the Australian Alcohol Treatment Outcome Measure for dissemination across non-government health organisations. Peter also conducted research on the potency and contamination content of Australian cannabis prior to commencing employment with the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC) at its inauguration in 2008. Peter then investigated the barriers users face in receiving treatment specifically for their cannabis use and built on this work through his PhD by developing and evaluating a telephone-based treatment. This treatment was then delivered nationally by the Cannabis Information and Helpline until the unfortunate defunding of NCPIC in 2016. Peter then worked in areas of paediatric medication safety and mental health with Macquarie University prior to returning to NDARC in July, 2022.