The Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) is a national drug monitoring system intended to identify emerging trends of local and national concern in illicit drug markets, and form part of Drug Trends.
Pregabalin is a drug that is prescribed in Australia for the treatment of neuropathic pain. There have been increasing reports of extra-medical use of pregabalin and dependence. Previous research has shown that non-prescribed pregabalin use was relatively common among a national sample of people that regularly inject illicit drugs and co-ingestion with opioids, benzodiazepines and alcohol was prevalent, potentially increasing the risk of overdose.
The aims of this bulletin are to: 1) provide a brief update on prescribed and non-prescribed pregabalin use among people in Canberra, ACT that regularly inject drugs, and 2) describe characteristics of those who use non-prescribed pregabalin.