Australian Drug Trends 2002: Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS)

The Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) monitors illicit drug markets across Australia. The IDRS consists of three components: (1) interviews with injecting drug users (IDU); (2) interviews with key informants, professionals who have regular contact with illicit drug users through their work; and (3) analysis and examination of indicator data sources related to illicit drugs, such as National Household Survey data on drug use, opioid overdose data, purity of seizures of illicit drugs made by law enforcement agencies. The Australian Drug Trends 2002 report presents the findings of the third year in which the complete IDRS has been conducted in every Australian jurisdiction. Detailed reports on drug trends within each jurisdiction can be obtained from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC). The IDRS monitors the price, purity, availability and patterns of use of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis. Drug trends in this publication are cited by jurisdiction, although they primarily represent trends in the capital city of each jurisdiction, in which new drug trends are likely to emerge. Key findings from the 2002 IDRS 1. Compared to the 2001 IDRS the availability of heroin increased in most jurisdictions, particularly in those in which heroin has traditionally predominated. The price of a gram of heroin decreased in all jurisdictions except SA, whereas the price of a cap of heroin remained stable. Heroin remained cheapest in NSW and most expensive in the NT. The purity and number of heroin seizures analysed has decreased. 2. The 2002 IDRS attempted to obtain more information on the different forms of methamphetamine used throughout the country. All forms of methamphetamine remained cheapest in SA. Methamphetamine powder and base were considered to be easy to obtain and the availability stable. Crystal methamphetamine was more difficult to obtain in some jurisdictions. The use of methamphetamine among IDU has stabilised or decreased in most jurisdictions in 2002. 3. Cocaine use decreased in frequency and prevalence among IDU in NSW, and in other jurisdictions it remained relatively uncommon and infrequent. There was an association in NSW between a reported increase in heroin use and decreased cocaine use. The median purity of domestic cocaine seizures analysed were lower than in 2000/01 while the median purity of AFP border seizures were higher. 4. As in previous years, the cannabis market proved the most stable of Australia's illicit drug markets. It remained easy to obtain in all jurisdictions. Declines in price were noted from 2001 to 2002 in NSW, SA, the ACT and QLD. Hydroponically grown cannabis continued to dominate the market. However, the use of bush, hash, and hash oil was noted in all jurisdictions