What are drug users using in Australia?
Malcolm Dobbin
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Abstract
The term substance use disorder covers people using a wide range of substances: the licit drugs tobacco and alcohol, illicit drugs including heroin, stimulants, cannabis and volatile substances, and the poorly described category of problem use of pharmaceutical drugs. A number of data sources provide some insight into the use of both licit and illicit psychoactive substances, and these and their findings will be described.
The Illicit Drug Reporting System provides information about drug use by a sample of injecting drug users from each Australian jurisdiction, including their use of pharmaceutical drugs. This data source provides a wealth of information about the subject of this presentation.
Data about other populations of problem substance users is sparse, and there is a sub-population poorly described by any data source – a ‘hidden’ population of substance misusers, including those who are dependent on or misuse pharmaceutical drugs such as the benzodiazepines or opioids, either for intentional misuse or unwitting dependence. Information about this sub-population sometimes becomes available through coronial sources.
The diversion and illicit use of pharmaceutical drugs appears to be increasing in the United States and Australia, causing substantial harm. The International Narcotics Control Board has described that the misuse of pharmaceutical drugs is set to surpass illicit drug abuse.
The treatment of pain, particularly with opioids, is considerably complicated by the misuse of psychoactive drugs that may be admitted by the patient, as well as misuse unrecognised, concealed or denied by them.
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