fbpx IDRS Bulletin April 2009: High Risk Alcohol Use Among a Group of People Who Regularly Inject Drugs in Australia | NDARC - National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre

IDRS Bulletin April 2009: High Risk Alcohol Use Among a Group of People Who Regularly Inject Drugs in Australia

Key findings

  • High risk drinkers (HRDs) comprise approximately 10% of IDU. Those who consume alcohol daily represent approximately threequarters of HRDs. These figures have remained relatively stable since 2000.
  • HRDs were found to have a higher level of polydrug use than non-HRD. Polydrug use was more likely include use of ecstasy, cocaine,cannabis and hallucinogens.
  • Large proportions of HRDs reported the daily use of CNS depressants including cannabis, benzodiazepines and methadone.
  • High risk drinkers were more likely to report driving under the influence of alcohol and to test over the limit in random breath testing (RBT) than non-HRD.
  • HRD were more likely to report committing fraud and violent crimes in the last month than non-HRD.