The impacts of COVID-19 measures on drug markets and drug use among a cohort of people who use methamphetamine in Victoria, Australia

Background and aims: Few studies of the impacts of COVID-19 public health measures on drug markets and drug use patterns have used longitudinal data. We aimed to examine whether COVID-19 measures were associated with increases in methamphetamine price, decreases in methamphetamine use frequency, and subsequent changes in secondary outcomes of other drug use frequency in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.Design: Longitudinal analysis framework was used from a longitudinal cohort of people who use methamphetamineSetting: Victoria state, Australia.Participants: 185 VMAX study participants who reported a methamphetamine purchase after the onset of the pandemic were used for the price paid analysis. Methamphetamine or other drug use frequency analysis was performed using 277 participants who used of methamphetamine during the pandemic or in the year prior to the pandemic.Measurements: Price paid per gram of methamphetamine derived from the most recent purchase price and most recent purchase quantity. Frequency of methamphetamine and other drug use measured as the average number of days per week used in the last month.Findings: Compared to pre-COVID-19 period, methamphetamine prices increased by AUD351.63 (p-valueConclusion: We found that the system shocks resulting from COVID-19 were associated with major changes in the methamphetamine market in Victoria and changes in use of the drug.