In Australia, drug monitoring systems have been in place for more than a decade allowing for the measurement of ongoing trends in drug use and the detection of new drugs. The Drug Trends Unit at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre monitors drugs through four separate systems. The Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) measures the price, purity, and availability of drugs that are primarily injected. The Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) monitors psychostimulants that are used recreationally. The National Illicit Drugs Indicator Project (NIDIP) analyzes indicator data including drug-related hospitalizations and deaths. Finally, the Drugs and Emerging Technologies Project (DNeT) analyzes the role of the Internet in the procurement and use of novel psychoactive substances. This paper provides an overview of each component of the system, demonstrating how the system has evolved over time.
Funding
Department of Health and Aged Care
History
Publication title
Drug Testing and Analysis
Volume
6
Issue
7-8
Pagination
840-845
ISSN
1942-7611
Department/School
School of Psychological Sciences
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Rights statement
Copyright 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Repository Status
Restricted
Socio-economic Objectives
Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified