The Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS)
NDARC Staff
Lucy Burns, Natasha Sindicich, Jennifer Stafford, Joanne Cassar, Benjamin Phillips, Laura Scott and Richard Mattick
Other Investigators
Fabian Kong (Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health); Raimondo Bruno and Allison Matthews (University of Tasmania); Robyn Vial and Nancy White (Drug & Alcohol Services South Australia); Rosa Alati and Lucy Kennedy (QADREC); and Simon Lenton (National Drug Research Institute)
Aims
The aims of this project are:
- to describe the characteristics of a sample of current regular ecstasy users interviewed in each capital city of Australia
- to examine the patterns of ecstasy and other drug use of these samples
- to document the current price, purity and availability of ecstasy and other party drugs across Australia
- to examine the incidence and nature of harms related to the use of ERDs
- to identify emerging trends in the party drug market that may require further investigation
Design and Method
Previously known as the Party Drug Initiative (PDI), the EDRS is coordinated by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, and is conducted by different research institutions in each Australian state and territory.
The EDRS uses a similar methodology to the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS). Regular ecstasy users are interviewed as they were identified as a group of drug users that are able to provide the required information on patterns of ecstasy and related drugs (ERDs) use, the current availability, price and purity of ERDs and perceived drug-related health issues associated with ERDs use. A semi-structured survey of experts in the field of ERDs (e.g. party promoters, treatment providers and law enforcement personnel) is also conducted and indicator data (e.g. purity of drug seizures and overdose rates) are analysed. These data sources are examined together to identify convergent trends in ERDs use and markets.
Progress
The EDRS was conducted successfully in every state and territory in 2008. Over seven hundred regular ecstasy users were interviewed, providing information on their drug use patterns, ERD markets and related issues. Key experts from a range of professions provided information on the ecstasy and related drug users they had contact with. Indicator data including Australian Customs Service seizures, purity analysis and treatment data were examined.
Output
In 2008, the annual National Drug Trends Conference was held in Sydney in November, in conjunction with the annual Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) conference, where a summary of jurisdictional drug trends findings was provided, in addition to a national overview and presentations on specific areas of interest arising from the data, to relevant health professionals, law enforcement, and policy makers. Throughout the year, quarterly bulletins outlining current drug trends or issues of interest were also disseminated. These bulletins are available on the
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) website to ensure broader dissemination. Publications arising from the project during 2008 can be found on the
EDRS website.
Funding
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing