National Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Strategy Background Paper: Monograph Series No. 69
1.5 Australian data collections
Table of contents
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- List of Tables
- List of Figures
Chapter 1: Introduction- 1.1 Background to the National Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Strategy
- 1.2 Defining amphetamine-type stimulants
- 1.3 History of amphetamine-type stimulants
- 1.4 Forms of illicit amphetamine-type stimulants
- 1.5 Australian data collections
- 1.6 Availability
- 1.7 Price
- 1.8 Purity
- 1.9 Routes of administration
- 1.10 Summary
Chapter 2 Setting the Context- Chapter 3: Effects of Amphetamine-Type Stimulants
- Chapter 4: Prevention and Harm Reduction
- Chapter 5: Treatment and Service Provision
- Chapter 6: Law Enforcement
- Appendix 1
- Appendix 2
Australia has a number of data collections that provide empirical data for evidence based research which can inform the making and implementation of drug policy in the areas of supply reduction, demand reduction, and harm reduction strategies. The collections fall into two categories; national statistical collections and specialised collections. National statistical collections derive from jurisdictions providing police data relating to offences/incidents and data from courts, corrections and treatment agencies, while specialised collections include national drug strategy surveys (Makkai, 1999). It is important to coordinate existing data sources. For example, in their written submission, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre noted:
There are a number of regular monitoring and surveillance studies underway that produce data about the prevalence of ATS among the different groups. A coordinated response to drawing this information together and a critical examination of the sources of information and the picture they produce on a regular basis would assist both frontline workers and health professionals to understand the monitoring data and translate it to effective practice. An organisation or consortium could be charged with reporting on the various sources of data and making it meaningful for practice.
Following is a brief overview of the collections referred to in the current paper, which represents some of the monitoring systems operating in Australia.
The National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) is the main Australian source of data on alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug prevalence and consumption. It is conducted every two to three years by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) with the most recent survey conducted in 2004.
Statistics on Drug Use in Australia is also produced by AIHW and provides a comprehensive summary of major drug use statistical collections, with references to sources of more detailed information. It also serves as the ‘companion document’ to the NDS. Data are provided on consumption and, to a lesser extent, drug-related behaviour for tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs and pharmaceuticals.
The Australian Secondary School Students Alcohol and Drug Survey (ASSAD) is a survey of students’ alcohol and drug use across Australia. It is conducted in secondary schools every three years with the most recent survey conducted in 2005.
The Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) is an annual study conducted to monitor the use of illicit drugs and drug markets by a sentinel sample of injecting drug users (IDU). It is complemented by the Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS), formerly known as the Party Drugs Initiative (PDI), which is conducted with a sentinel sample of regular ecstasy users (REU). The surveys are conducted in the capital city of every state and territory in Australia, with approximately 100 users interviewed in each jurisdiction for each survey. The most recent surveys were conducted in 2006.
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The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS– NMDS) summarises data from Australian alcohol and drug treatment services.
The Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) study is conducted by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC). Established in 1999, the DUMA program is a quarterly collection of information from police detainees in nine sites (police stations or watchhouses) across Australia. The results are published annually.
The Illicit Drug Data Report (IDDR) is produced by the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) each financial year. It includes information on drug offences, price and purity of a range of illicit drugs including heroin, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants, ecstasy, cannabis, hallucinogens and steroids.
Drug Use Careers of Offenders (DUCO) was a survey of the illegal drug use and criminal careers of persons incarcerated in prisons in Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory. It was conducted with adult male offenders in 2001, adult female offenders in 2003, and with juvenile offenders in 2005.
