Changing Drug Patterns and Trends in Queensland and Australia: The Shift into the New Millennium

Heroin continues to be highly available and relatively cheap and pure. The number of women and youth abusing heroin is increasing. Opioid mortality is increasing also and accounts for close to 10 percent of deaths among Australians age 24-25. Most agencies are reporting increases in the use of amphetamines, usually in conjunction with other drugs. Although not highly prevalent, cocaine abuse appears to be increasing, as are purity levels of the drug. There are reports of increasing use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) among youth, usually as a second drug. Increases in injection of ecstasy (methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA) among youth are reported as well. Cannabis remains the most widely abused illicit drug and an increasing number of users are presenting for treatment