National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Major changes in Australian drug use during 2021 says annual Drug Trends reports

The Drug Trends program at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW Sydney has released findings from annual surveys with hundreds of people who regularly use drugs in Australia.

The first report, based on interviews with 774 people (median age 24) from across Australian capital cities who regularly use ecstasy and other illicit stimulants, is called the National Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) and can be viewed here.

The second report to be released by the Drug Trends program included interviews with 888 people who regularly inject illicit drugs as part of the ‘Illicit Drug Reporting System’ and can be viewed 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 study involves semi-structured interviews with people living with CNCP conducted either by telephone or face-to-face (Randwick, Sydney), depending on the preference and location of the participant. The interviews will be conducted by the student investigator (RH) with approximately 30 people...

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Risk communication for people who use illicit drugs: establishing guidance on preferences and behavioural responses to drug alerts

This study seeks to understand the awareness, preferences and responses to communication of drug alerts of people who use illicit drugs. We plan to use the study findings to develop practical guidance for stakeholders communicating drug alerts to people who use illicit drugs in Australia.

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RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Published Research

KEY PROJECTS