Australian Drug Trends 2004: Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS)

The Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) is a national illicit drug monitoring system intended to serve as a strategic early warning system, identifying emerging trends of local and national concern in illicit drug markets. The IDRS consists of three components: interviews with injecting drug users (IDU); interviews with key experts (KE), professionals who have regular contact with illicit drug users through their work; and analysis and examination of indicator data sources related to illicit drugs. The IDRS monitors the price, purity, availability and patterns of use of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis. The IDRS is designed to be sensitive to trends, providing data in a timely manner, rather than describing issues in detail. It is important to note that the information from the IDU survey is not representative of illicit drug use in the general population nor is the information representative of all illicit drug users, but is indicative of emerging trends that warrant further monitoring. 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 2004 IDRS 1. In 2004 the availability of heroin was reported to be stable in those jurisdictions in which heroin has traditionally predominated, although the prevalence and frequency of use has not returned to the levels seen in 2000. However, the price of a gram of heroin decreased in most jurisdictions to levels reported prior to the heroin shortage except in NSW, TAS, WA and QLD. Heroin was cheapest in NSW, VIC and the ACT and was most expensive in WA. 2. Methamphetamine prices remained relatively stable in 2004. All forms of methamphetamine were reported to be ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to obtain and availability was stable. Substantial proportions of IDU continue to use all forms of methamphetamine. In 2004, the proportion of IDU that reported recent use of powder and crystal methamphetamine remained stable and varied for base use. Substantial proportions of IDU in TAS and WA reported use of pharmaceutical stimulants. 3. The price of a gram of cocaine increased in NSW, the only state where sufficient numbers were able to comment. The proportions of IDU reporting recent cocaine use decreased in all jurisdictions except in WA and the NT. The frequency of cocaine use remained stable in all jurisdictions except in the NT where it increased. 4. Cannabis remained easy to obtain in all jurisdictions. Hydroponically grown cannabis continued to dominate the market and was considered ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to obtain in all jurisdictions. The use of outdoor cultivated cannabis (bush), hash and hash oil was noted in all jurisdictions. The price and availability was considered to be stable, and the potency ‘high’ for hydroponic and ‘medium’ for bush