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Emergence of Potent Forms of Methamphetamine in Sydney Australia: A Case Study of the IDRS as a Strategic Early Warning System

NCJ Number
198777
Journal
Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2002 Pages: 341-348
Author(s)
Libby Topp; Louisa Degenhardt; Sharlene Kaye; Shane Darke
Date Published
December 2002
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the detection of potent forms of methamphetamine by the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) in Sydney, New South Wales.
Abstract
Since 1996, the IDRS has collected annual, comparable data on trends in illicit drug use in Sydney. The main purpose of IDRS is to provide strategic early warning of emerging trends in the major illicit drug markets, and to identify issues in illicit drug use that require further investigation by specialist studies. The IDRS monitors trends by triangulating three data sources: extant indicators of drug-related issues; a quantitative survey of injecting drug users (IDU); and a qualitative survey of key informants (KIS) that have regular contact with illicit drug users. The goals of this study were to demonstrate the operation of the IDRS in detecting emergent trends in illicit drug markets using methamphetamine as an example; and to use IDRS data pertaining to the emergence of potent forms of methamphetamine in Sydney in order to highlight the current state of knowledge in this area. The data were collected in the years 1998 to 2001. Results show that the IDRS clearly tracked the emergence of potent forms of methamphetamine in illicit drug markets since 1998, when use was reported for the first time by two key informants, to 2001, when substantial proportions of both groups of illicit drug users reported recent use. This is an excellent example of the operation of an effective strategic early warning system. These results have significant implications for public health and public order and ensure that policymakers can develop and implement appropriate responses in a timely way. 4 figures, 36 references