Illicit drug use in Australia: Epidemiology, use patterns and associated harms

NDARC Staff

Maree Teesson and Joanne Ross

Rationale

In 2000 a report prepared by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), entitled Illicit Drug Use in Australia: Epidemiology, Use Patterns and Associated Harm, was published as a National Drug Strategy Monograph, and was used as the primary evidence base for the National Drugs Campaign.

In 2006 the Australian Government announced additional funding for a further phase of the National Drugs Campaign, which was to focus on emerging trends in illicit drug use, as well as a campaign to raise public awareness of links between illicit drug use and mental health problems.

In order to support the development of these campaigns, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing requested that NDARC update the original report, including any changes in the epidemiology, use patterns and harms associated with illicit drug use.

Aims

• To provide an evidence base for the National Drugs Campaign
• To examine the Australian epidemiology, use patterns and associated harm of heroin, meth/amphetamines, cocaine, cannabis, ecstasy and LSD

  Design and Method

  
  

The major illicit drug classes that NDARC was commissioned to examine in this report were heroin, meth/amphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, ecstasy and LSD. For each drug class the major literature pertaining to Australian use patterns and harms was examined. Within each drug class, information is presented on the following areas:

1. Epidemiology: Estimates of the number of lifetime and current users of each drug class, based upon household surveys and studies specifically designed to estimate the number of drug users.
2. Characteristics of users of the drug: A review of what is known of the demographic characteristics of the users of each drug based upon studies conducted in Australia.
3. Drug use patterns: Examines the patterns of drug use in Australia, including frequency of use, routes of administration, and associated polydrug use.
4. Associated psychopathology: Explores the relationship between each drug class and mental health problems.
5. Other harms associated with the use of the drug: Provides a review of what is currently known about the specific harms associated with each drug, including overdose, blood borne viruses and dependence.
6. Current trends in the use of the drug: Examines what is known about trends in the use of each of these drugs in Australia, including trends in the prevalence of use, the demographic characteristics of users and routes of administration.
7. Summary: Presents a brief summary of the major features of the use of each drug in Australia, and any projected trends in such use.

Benefits

Provided an evidence base for the National Drug Strategy Campaign.

Output

Ross, J (ed). (2007). Illicit drug use in Australia: Epidemiology, use patterns and associated harm (2^nd edition). National Drug Strategy Monograph Series, Monograph No. 63. Canberra: Australian Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.

Funding

Commonwealth Department of Health & Ageing