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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for drug abuse and addiction (australia)
10 results foundAuthor: Queensland. Crime and Misconduct Commission Title: Illicit Drug Use in Queensland A Survey of Households 2002–05 Summary: The procurement, use and misuse of illicit drugs is a serious problem facing society today. In 1998, for example, it was estimated that the social and health costs associated with illicit drug use in Australia totalled $6.1 billion (Collins & Lapsley 2002). Illicit drug use has been linked with several forms of violence and predatory street crime (Makkai & Payne 2003), sexual exploitation (Johnson 2004) and a host of social problems including family dysfunction and poor educational outcomes (Prichard & Payne 2005). For those involved in drug use, there are health risks such as disease transmission through needle sharing and problems associated with anxiety, aggression and depressed mood (Loxley, Toumbourou & Stockwell 2004). Given the relevance of illicit drug use to law enforcement, operational activities, strategic research and policy development, the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) undertakes a range of monitoring activities to assess illicit drug use patterns in Queensland. These monitoring activities include discrete projects such as reviewing and analysing data about detainees in watch-houses (CMC DUMA report, in press), individual research projects about drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines, and the inclusion of questions about illicit drug use in the annual household survey conducted by the Office of Economic and Statistical Research (OESR). The subsection of the household survey conducted for the CMC is referred to as the Queensland Household Illicit Drug Use Survey (QHIDUS). Questions included in the QHIDUS seek population-level information about: the prevalence of illicit drug use (cannabis, amphetamines, heroin, ecstasy, hallucinogens and sleeping pills/tranquillisers used for non-medical purposes) patterns of drug use (age of first use, frequency of use, recent usage) perceptions of the health risks associated with drug use perceptions of the ease of obtaining illicit drugs various socio-demographic factors that may be associated with drug use. Although population-level research usually underestimates the true level of illegal or hidden activities such as drug use, it can provide a valuable source of information which can, in turn, be compared with survey results of other populations and triangulated with qualitative research, to provide a detailed overview of current and changing drug-use patterns. Details: Brisbane: Crime and Misconduct Commission, 2007. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 4, 2011 at: http://www.cmc.qld.gov.au/data/portal/00000005/content/87421001161922260587.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Australia URL: http://www.cmc.qld.gov.au/data/portal/00000005/content/87421001161922260587.pdf Shelf Number: 107701 Keywords: Crime SurveyDrug Abuse and Addiction (Australia)Drug Abuse and CrimeIllicit Drugs |
Author: Nicholas, Roger Title: Responding to Pharmaceutical Drug Misuse Problems in Australia: A Matter of Balance Summary: A National Pharmaceutical Drug Misuse Strategy (NPDMS) is being developed at the request of the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy (MCDS). This literature review was prepared as part of the development of the NPDMS. Its purpose is to inform and guide the development of the Strategy. Specifically, the review examines the extent and nature of the existing evidence base of relevance to the NPDMS. The literature review focuses primarily on opioids, benzodiazepines and codeine-containing analgesics as the Strategy, at the request of the MCDS, focus on these drugs. The review is structured in several parts, as follows. First some broader frameworks, strategies, policies, initiatives, perspectives and paradigms which impact upon the development of the Strategy are considered. This is followed by an examination of the Australian situation and then the international situation. The review then examines issues surrounding the quality use of opioids and benzodiazepines. Next issues surrounding medication shopping are considered. Finally, the review examines some of the potential responses to pharmaceutical misuse. Details: Adelaide: National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA), Flinders University, 2011. 194p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 27, 2012 at: http://s3.amazonaws.com/zanran_storage/www.nceta.flinders.edu.au/ContentPages/2438891316.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://s3.amazonaws.com/zanran_storage/www.nceta.flinders.edu.au/ContentPages/2438891316.pdf Shelf Number: 124295 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (Australia)Drug Abuse PolicyPrescription Drugs |
Author: Bradford, Deborah Title: Illicit Drug Use and Property Offending among Police Detainees Summary: Aim: The primary objective of the current study was to examine whether the frequency of recent illicit drug use is related to higher levels of offending among police detainees in Australia. In particular, the study investigated whether the frequency of property offending escalates with offenders’ self-reported illicit drug use. Method: Data from the Australian Institute of Criminology’s Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program were analysed for a national cohort of 9,453 arrestees interviewed between 2008 and 2010. Statistical analysis examined whether the number of property offences recorded at arrest was related to self-reported frequency of illicit opioid and amphetamine consumption in the 30 days prior to arrest, while controlling for other relevant drug use and demographic factors. Results: Results showed a high level of illicit drug use among police detainees. Outcomes from regression modelling revealed that heavy users of illicit opioids and amphetamines, who reported at least 16 days of use in the month prior to arrest, had significantly more property charges recorded at arrest than both less frequent (moderate) users and nonusers. Compared to non-users, heavy opioid users had 57 per cent more property charges recorded at arrest while heavy amphetamine use was associated with a 53 per cent increase in property charge counts. Higher rates of property offending were also related to younger age, being unemployed and having reported illicit use of benzodiazepines in the 30 days prior to arrest. Conclusion: These outcomes clearly demonstrate that heavy drug use, of either amphetamines or opioids in the 30 days prior to arrest, is associated with frequency of property offending. This has important implications for the treatment of drug using offenders within the criminal justice system. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime and Statistics Research, Australian Institute of Criminology, 2012. 12p. Source: Crime and Justice Bulletin, Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice No. 157: Internet Resource: Accessed March 21, 2012 at http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/CJB157.pdf/$file/CJB157.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/CJB157.pdf/$file/CJB157.pdf Shelf Number: 124643 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (Australia)Drug Abuse and Crime (Australia)Drug Offenders (Australia)Police Custody (Australia)Police Detainees (Australia)Property Crime (Australia) Drug Use (Australia) |
Author: Nicholas, Roger Title: Pharmaceutical Drug Misuse Problems in Australia: Complex Issues, Balanced Responses Summary: This review was prepared by NCETA as part of the process of developing Australia’s National Pharmaceutical Drug Misuse Strategy (NPDMS). The Strategy was developed during 2011 at the request of the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy (MCDS) and the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs and was funded through the MCDS Cost Shared Funding Model. The work was undertaken by a consortium led by the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) at Flinders University and overseen by the Victorian Department of Health. The review examines the extent and nature of the evidence base concerning this issue and primarily focuses on: • prescription opioids • benzodiazepines • codeine-containing analgesics. The review and broader strategy development process identified the need to implement approaches that enhance the quality use of these medicines. Accordingly, it is important to ensure their continued availability for therapeutic purposes and to maximise their appropriate use, while minimising opportunities for misuse. As these medicines are highly beneficial to many individuals, it is important to ensure that their clinically appropriate supply is maintained and their use is in no way stigmatised. A central goal in the development of the NPDMS was to ensure a balance among diverse perspectives and interests. There was also a need to have measures in place to minimise harm from any unsanctioned use of these medications. This includes use by persons other than those for whom the drugs are prescribed, or at doses, or via routes of administration, that were unintended by the prescriber. The review is structured into three parts, as follows. PART A Part A examines the extent and nature of pharmaceutical drug misuse problems in Australia and internationally, including issues surrounding the quality use of opioids and benzodiazepines. This part describes the spectrum of individuals who are misusing pharmaceutical drugs. This ranges from those who intentionally misuse these medicines to experience their non-therapeutic benefits or to on-sell them for profit, through to those who unintentionally misuse them in response to inappropriate prescribing. Pharmaceutical drug misuse problems are increasing in Australia. Evidence emanating from general population surveys, surveys of illicit drug users, drug treatment data and data concerning offenders points to this increase. Part A also describes the rapid increase in the utilisation of certain prescribed opioids, in particular morphine and oxycodone, as well as changes in the patterns of benzodiazepine prescription, particularly the increase in alprazolam prescribing. The increase in opioid prescribing and changes in benzodiazepine prescribing are not necessarily problematic. But unfortunately they have been associated with an increase in harms, such as poisonings, injection-related problems, the illicit sale of pharmaceuticals and related demand for treatment. The misuse of over the counter codeine-containing medicines is also leading to harms such as codeine dependence and illnesses associated with exposure to high levels of ibuprofen and paracetamol found in these medicines. A range of systemic factors impacting on patterns of pharmaceutical misuse are described in Part A. These include: • the availability of multiple formulations of opioids • current hospital discharge planning arrangements leading to patients continuing to use medications beyond the period of time for which they are clinically indicated • difficulties in accessing pain management and drug treatment programs • recent national registration arrangements for health practitioners whereby prescriptions written in one jurisdiction can be filled in another • lack of availability of certain non-opioid pain treatment medicines on the PBS which increases the likelihood of opioid prescribing • intimidation of prescribers by patients leading to inappropriate prescribing. Important demographic changes such as the ageing of the population are likely to increase demand for opioids and benzodiazepines. Clients receiving opioid substitution therapy (OST) are also ageing and will therefore have particular needs in the future as a result of their longer-term exposure to opioids. Australia is not alone in experiencing an increase in the prescribing of, and the harms associated with, opioids. The United States and Canada in particular are also experiencing a range of similar problems, albeit of greater severity. Australia is well placed to intervene at this relatively early stage of the trajectory of problems before they reach the level being experienced in these countries. There appears to be a significant evidence-practice gap in the prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines in Australia. The role of prescription opioids in OST, the treatment of serious acute pain and malignant pain is relatively uncontroversial. It appears, however, that opioids are increasingly prescribed for less serious acute pain and for chronic non-malignant pain, for which the evidence of efficacy has not been established. Similarly, benzodiazepines should not be a front-line treatment for the treatment of anxiety or insomnia and nor is their use indicated for the longer-term treatment of these conditions. Benzodiazepines are, at times, prescribed in a manner inconsistent with quality use. This can result in inadvertent misuse. The extent of medication shopping in Australia is unclear. Evidence is not readily available on this issue from Medicare Australia and even if it were it would only include data on PBS-subsidised medicines. Available evidence suggests that this is a significant issue. Part B Part B outlines key stakeholders, paradigms, strategies and activities of relevance to pharmaceutical drug misuse problems and responses in Australia. It highlights the importance of adopting a systems approach and of utilising principles associated with effective prevention programs in responding to pharmaceutical drug misuse challenges. The social determinants which impact on a range of aspects of the health of Australians also affect levels of pharmaceutical drug-related harm. There is, for example, evidence that pharmaceutical overdose deaths are more common among socially disadvantaged groups in the community and those living in rural areas. The injection of pharmaceutical drugs is also more common in rural, compared with urban, areas. This requires targeted approaches to address this inequity. Part B also contains an outline of other national strategies and the ways in which they interact with Part C Part C discusses potential responses to pharmaceutical misuse problems. The first of these are infrastructure, research, monitoring and systems issues. Foremost in this regard is the need for a Coordinated Medication Management System in Australia which provides on-line, real time information for prescribers, pharmacists and regulators concerning the medication prescription and dispensing histories of patients. This is important to minimise misuse and to ensure that, as a result of increasing levels of pharmaceutical misuse, prescribers do not lose confidence in prescribing these medicines to patients for whom they would be of therapeutic benefit. There is a range of gaps in our understanding of the extent and nature of pharmaceutical drug misuse in Australia. Consequently, there is a need to enhance data collection and research processes. The second area of response concerns changes to clinical practices. The potential roles of general practitioners and other prescribers, pharmacists, the alcohol and other drug sector are described. Also discussed is the important role that psychological therapies can play in responding to conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety and insomnia. In many cases, these therapies are more effective and have more sustained benefits than pharmacological approaches. Next a range of potential workforce development strategies are described to enhance prescribing practices. Evidence suggests that only modest returns are available from practices such as audit and feedback, educational outreach visits, educational meetings and educational materials such as guidelines. Nonetheless, these tools may have some clinically beneficial effect on improving the quality of prescribing, especially if tailored to practitioners identified as over-prescribing and address individual barriers to change. Harm reduction responses are also needed. Measures are required to reduce the harm to those who use these medicines in unintended ways or dosages. This could include disseminating information to problematic misusers and providing access to injecting equipment such as filters to reduce harms associated with the injection of medications that are not intended to be injected. Consumer-oriented responses are also required. Strategies are required that address unrealistic expectations that consumers may have about the efficacy of medicines and therefore enhance levels of health literacy1 among the population. The standardisation of medication labelling is also important as are awareness raising programs among the general public about the risks of exceeding therapeutic doses of over the counter (OTC) medications. Enhances in technology can also assist with reducing pharmaceutical drug-related harm. Potential approaches include the introduction of tamper-resistant technologies for medicines, methods of tracking medicines from production to patient and measures to reduce tampering with, or forgeries of, prescriptions. Finally, Part C contains an examination of issues surrounding the marketing of medicines in Australia. The marketing of pharmaceuticals is an important way in which companies stimulate demand and generate turnover. Prescribers are the key targets of pharmaceutical marketing in Australia because direct-to-consumer advertising is prohibited and because doctors have the power to prescribe medicines. This marketing and promotion occurs under a self regulatory code of conduct administered by Medicines Australia, the peak body for the pharmaceutical industry. There are concerns that the self-regulatory approach may be insufficient and that current advertising and promotion practices may be unduly affecting prescribing practices. Details: Adelaide: National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA), Flinders University, 2011. 136p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2012 at: http://enews.vaada.org.au/news/2012/02/29/pharmaceutical-drug-misuse-problems-australia-complex-issues-balanced-responses Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://enews.vaada.org.au/news/2012/02/29/pharmaceutical-drug-misuse-problems-australia-complex-issues-balanced-responses Shelf Number: 125227 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (Australia)Prescription Drug Abuse |
Author: Pritchard, Jeremy Title: Measuring Drug Use Patterns in Queensland Through Wastewater Analysis Summary: Estimating the use of illicit drugs in the general community is an important task with ramifications for law enforcement agencies, as well as health portfolios. Australia has four ongoing drug monitoring systems, including the AIC’s DUMA program, the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, the Illicit Drug Reporting System and the Ecstasy and Related Drug Reporting System. The systems vary in methods, but broadly they are reliant upon self-report data and may be subject to selection biases. The present study employed a completely different method. By chemically analysing sewerage water, the study produced daily estimates of consumption of methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine. Samples were collected in November 2009 and November 2010 from a municipality in Queensland, with an population of over 150,000 people. Estimates were made of the average daily dose and average daily street value per 1,000 people. On the basis of estimated dose and price, the methamphetamine market appeared considerably stronger than either MDMA or cocaine. This paper explains the strengths and weaknesses of wastewater analysis. It considers the potential value of wastewater analysis in measuring net consumption of illicit drugs and the effectiveness of law enforcement agency strategies. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2012. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Jsutice, No. 442: Accessed July 30, 2012 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi/441-460/tandi442.aspx Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi/441-460/tandi442.aspx Shelf Number: 125804 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (Australia)Drug EnforcementIllicit DrugsWastewater Analysis |
Author: Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) Title: Pharmaceutical Misuse - Position Paper Summary: Pharmaceuticals are key to the realisation of positive health outcomes for many Victorians when used appropriately. However, Pharmaceutical misuse is a growing problem in Australia and has become endemic in other similar countries such as US and Canada. There are a number of populations vulnerable to pharmaceutical misuse, some of which are hidden and are not accessing treatment. GPs and other primary care prescribers and pharmacists, as the gatekeepers to community access of pharmaceuticals, are not supported strongly enough to prevent the harms associated with misuse. Various systemic failures at a range of levels contribute to this pending crisis. GPs and other primary care prescribers and pharmacists need heightened support and training and the alcohol and other drug treatment sector must be resourced to cater for increasingly complex service user presentations and geared to service hidden populations. A real time prescription monitoring program should be implemented with appropriate protections for community members. These initiatives should be supported by an overarching strategy which encapsulates the relevant sections of existing national and state strategies, refers to morbidity and mortality data and is evidence informed with measurable indicators. Details: Melbourne: VAADA, 2012. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 8, 2012 at: http://www.vaada.org.au/resources/items/2012/08/509413-upload-00001.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.vaada.org.au/resources/items/2012/08/509413-upload-00001.pdf Shelf Number: 125910 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (Australia)Drug ControlDrug MonitoringMedicinesPharmaceuticals, Abuse |
Author: Ritter, Alison Title: Government Drug Policy Expenditure in Australia – 2009/10. Summary: In responding to illicit drugs, Australian governments expend resources in providing proactive responses, such as drug treatment or policing of drug-crimes. Governments also expend considerable resources on the indirect consequences of drug use, such as emergency department admissions for overdose, or crimes that are committed to obtain income to purchase drugs. This second category of indirect or reactive spending is generally known as the social cost approach. International experts have emphasised that drug budgets should concentrate on the direct, proactive spending by governments, and this approach is taken here. This study provides a new estimate of Australian governments’ direct or proactive spending on illicit drug policy for 2009/10. Four drug policy domains were examined: prevention, treatment, harm reduction and law enforcement. Federal and state/territory expenditure estimates were derived for each of the four domains. A top-down approach was adopted wherever possible and consistency in method across the four domains was of central concern. The results reveal that Australian governments spent approximately $1.7 billion in 2009/10 on illicit drugs. This included programs to prevent or delay the commencement of drug use in young people, drug treatment services including counselling and pharmacotherapy maintenance, harm reduction programs such as the needle syringe program, police detection and arrest in relation to drug crimes and policing the borders of Australia for illegal importation of drugs and their precursors. Details: Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre., 2013. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: DPMP Monograph Series: Monograph No. 24: Accessed June 25, 2013 at: http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/newsevents/events/Drug%20Budgets%20Mono%2024%20FINAL.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/newsevents/events/Drug%20Budgets%20Mono%2024%20FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 129153 Keywords: Costs of Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice ExpendituresDrug Abuse and Addiction (Australia)Drug Abuse Policy |
Author: Stafford, Jennifer Title: Injecting Risk Behaviours, Self-reported mental health and crime; a comparison of recent heroin and non-heroin use from the 2012 IDRS Summary: The Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) monitors emerging trends in the use, price, purity and availability of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis. In addition to a survey of people who inject drugs (PWID), the annual data collection also includes a survey of key experts (KE) who are professionals in the field of illicit drugs and the analysis of existing indicator data on drug-related issues. For the purpose of this bulletin PWID participants were divided into two groups: recent heroin use versus non-heroin use. The bulletin explores differences between these groups in relation to drug use, injecting risk behaviours, self-reported mental health, driving and crime. The participants recruited are a sentinel group able to provide information on a range of illicit drug trends and related issues. Therefore the information from the survey is not representative of illicit drug use in the general population, and is not representative of other illicit drug users (e.g. in other geographical areas, occasional users, etc), but it is indicative of emerging trends that may warrant further monitoring and/or investigation. Details: Sydney: Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, 2013. 5p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug Trends Bulletin: Accessed August 12, 2013 at: http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/ndarc/resources/IDRSjuly2013_0.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/ndarc/resources/IDRSjuly2013_0.pdf Shelf Number: 129623 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (Australia)Drug Abuse and CrimeHeroinMental Health |
Author: Karam, Johanna Title: Dignity, diversion, home and hope: a review of interventions for volatile substance misuse in regional North Queensland Summary: Volatile substance misuse (VSM) refers to the practice of deliberately inhaling volatile substances for the purposes of bringing about a change in mental state. Rates of inhalant misuse in Australia are difficult to determine but are generally thought to be increasing (Usher et al. 2005). Whilst there is a growing body of literature about VSM, many papers recognise the lack of empirical research investigating the effectiveness of interventions (Skellington Orr & Shewan 2006; Konghom et al. 2010; Ridenour et al. 2007; Ridenour 2005; NHMRC 2011b; S. J. MacLean & d'Abbs 2011; CCYP 2002; d'Abbs & S. J. MacLean 2008; S. MacLean et al. 2012; NIAT 2006). Research into inhalant use interventions in Australia is dominated by investigations of petrol sniffing and other inhalant use in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities (e.g. Cairney and Dingwall 2010; James 2004; S. J. MacLean and d'Abbs 2002; Midford et al. 2010) or capital cities (e.g. Ogwang et al. 2006; Hancock 2004; Takagi et al. 2010). In the regional cities of Central, North and Far North Queensland, young people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island backgrounds overwhelmingly dominate the statistics of inhalant users. This necessitates a targeted, culturally appropriate place based response, as reflected in Australia's National Drug Strategy Complementary Action Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy 2006). Outbreaks of inhalant use are often highly localised and spasmodic. The episodic nature of outbreaks means that often place based strategies and responses are the most appropriate (NIAT 2006). Criteria outlined by d'Abbs and MacLean (2008) included 'research and consultation to determine specific features of VSM within the local area' as a specific component of any successful intervention. Examination of interventions and applicability within the regional context was therefore deemed warranted. In April 2012, Cairns based government and non-government agencies participated in a one-day forum, facilitated by state-wide capacity building organisation Dovetail, to discuss regional VSM issues and develop an action plan to improve strategies and collaboration. Following the forum, Youth Empowered Towards Independence (YETI) received funding from the former Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) to undertake a 12-month VSM-CAP (Community and Practice) project to help strengthen interventions and supports for inhalant users in the local area. YETI is a not-for-profit non-government organisation that supports young people aged 10-25 years old residing in Cairns. YETI primarily works with vulnerable young people who are at risk of, or are already engaging in the use of illicit drugs and/or alcohol. Approximately 85 per cent of clients accessing services at YETI identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. YETI recognises the importance of research and evaluation for strengthening collaborative interventions and the documentation of VSM practice responses, which are relevant to the local context. The funding ensured that research and documentation of best practice place-based interventions was able to occur. Aims of the VSM-CAP Project included; direct intervention - to reduce harms associated with VSM in the Cairns region and to provide individual support to young people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background to reconnect with country, family and community, and; coordination and collaboration - to build community systems capacity in relation to responding to inhalant use in Cairns and Far North Queensland. This research constituted the third aim of the project. This research examined current regional VSM interventions and collated qualitative and statistical data to develop evidence-based locally responsive interventions to address VSM. The subsequent report also documents a set of practice principles, which underpin YETI's VSM response within the local context. The project identifies, explores and reports some of the issues associated with inhalant use in regional centres of North and Far North Queensland. Most importantly, the report and the associated project give a voice to the 'grass roots' people at the 'coal face' of sniffing in regional Queensland. That is, the voices of young people engaging in VSM and local place based practitioners who work with them. Details: Canberra: Australian Government, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 2014. 92p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 20, 2014 at: http://www.dpmc.gov.au/publications/docs/YETI_dignity_diversion_home_hope.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.dpmc.gov.au/publications/docs/YETI_dignity_diversion_home_hope.pdf Shelf Number: 134178 Keywords: At-Risk YouthDrug Abuse and Addiction (Australia)Drug Abuse TreatmentInhalantsSubstance AbuseSubstance Abuse TreatmentVolatile Substance Misuse |
Author: Wan, Wai-Yin Title: Supply-Side Reduction Policy and Drug-Related Harm Summary: The three pillars of Australia's drug policy are: supply reduction; demand reduction; and harm reduction. Supply reduction policy focuses on reducing the supply, or increasing the cost of, illegal drugs through such actions as crop eradication, drug seizures, arresting drug importers and distributors etc. While there is much evidence to support the effectiveness of demand and harm reduction measures, there is less evidence supporting the effectiveness of supply reduction policy. The purpose of this study was to improve on, and further contribute to this area of knowledge and examine the impact of seizures and supplier arrest on the use and associated harms of three drugs: heroin, cocaine, and amphetamine type substances (ATS). The investigation had two parts. The first sought to determine whether there was an inverse relationship between the intensity of supply reduction efforts (as measured by seizure weights and frequencies and by supply arrests) and: 1.The number of emergency department (ED) admissions or drug use/possession (UP) arrests which were attributed to heroin, cocaine, or ATS use; or 2.The reported incidence of certain drug related offences known or thought to be committed by users of heroin, cocaine, or ATS (such as theft, robbery, and assault). The investigation was limited to the top 20 per cent of seizures by weight. The time lag between the supply reduction efforts and the outcomes examined in this part of the study was four months. This part of the study covered the 10 year period from July 2001 until June 2011. The second part involved an examination of the impact of three specific operations (Operation Balmoral Athens, Operation Tempest and Operation Collage) identified by the NSW Crime Commission as having the potential to have affected the market for cocaine. Because the three operations occurred is close succession they were treated as one single intervention. Details: Canberra: National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund, 2014. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Monograph 53: Accessed December 8, 2014 at: http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/monographs/monograph53.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/monographs/monograph53.pdf Shelf Number: 134277 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (Australia)Drug EnforcementDrug OffendersDrug PolicyHarm reduction |