National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Australian Drug Trends 2020: Key Findings from the National Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) Interviews

The IDRS sample is a sentinel group of people aged 18 years or older who injected illicit drugs at least once monthly in the preceding six months and resided in the capital cities of Australia.

Data were collected in 2020 from June September: subsequent to COVID-19 restrictions on travel and gatherings in Australia.

Interviews were mostly delivered via phone rather than face-to-face though some participants were interviewed face-toface in Tasmania and the Northern Territory. This should be factored into all comparisons of data from the 2020 sample relative to previous years.

Dowload and read the full report here.

The Difference is Research

KEY PROJECTS

Online treatments for Suicidal Behaviours - Online interventions for people presenting to Emergency Department with self-harm or suicidal behaviors

This project will estimate the prevalence of chronic pain in people who attend emergency departments (ED) with suicidal behaviours or self-harm. It will also investigate the feasibility of offering information in the ED setting about online interventions for the treatment of chronic pain,...

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An open-label, multicentre, single-arm trial of monthly injections of depot buprenorphine in people with opioid dependence

Retaining patients in buprenorphine treatment is essential in maximising treatment outcomes and minimising mortality risk. Delivery of treatment via novel depot buprenorphine products has the potential to enhance patient adherence and retention in treatment. In settings such as Australia, where...

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PREFER

There is increasing emphasis on patient preference and choice in healthcare, however many trials that have examined the effect of preference have had inconclusive findings in regard to clinical outcomes, much of which can be explained by study eligibility, treatment comparisons, or in study...

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Australians’ Drug use: Adapting to Pandemic Threats (ADAPT) Study

ADAPT stands for Australians’ Drug Use: Adapting to Pandemic Threats. The ADAPT study is exploring the short and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the experiences of Australians who use illicit drugs. For more information about the ADAPT Study please visit the project website or contact...

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E-cigarette Surveillance Project

E-cigarette use has increased rapidly worldwide since their introduction to markets in the mid-to-late 2000's, particularly among young people. There remains substantial global debate regarding the safety and efficacy of these devices, and how they should be regulated. In Australia, laws and...

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Novel interventions to address methamphetamines in Aboriginal communities, including a randomised trial of a web based therapeutic tool used to treat dependence in clinical settings.

Methamphetamine use in Aboriginal communities has gained much media attention, despite limited research studies to ascertain the full extent of its use and its impact. We propose a randomised trial of a web based therapeutic tool for use in Aboriginal Medical Services to treat clients using...

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Understanding the use of pain management and other health services by people living with chronic pain

This qualitative study will use semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of ~30 Australians living with CNCP as they navigate the health system. Understanding the lived experiences of Australians with CNCP is essential to inform evidence-based, patient-centred care approaches to...

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RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Published Research

KEY PROJECTS