Historically, Sydney, in New South Wales (NSW) has been the main importation and distribution point of heroin in Australia. In the 1990's, large open-air drug markets were firmly established in three Sydney suburbs. In addition, there was a sharp increase in the scale of the heroin market in the 1990's. However, in early 2001, a sudden and significant reduction in the supply of heroin was experienced in Sydney. This study examined changes in the scale, method, structure, and visibility of heroin and other drug distribution in NSW, as well as in the incidence of possession and use of heroin and other drugs associated with the reduction in heroin availability. Interviews were conducted with heroin users and key informants from law enforcement agencies, as well as documents from NSW police and NSW police-incident data. Results of the study indicate that a significant reduction to heroin supply in NSW led to marked changes in drug distribution and some changes in acquisitive crime in the State. Higher-level heroin distributors were reported to have diversified or increased their involvement in other drug distribution and other forms of criminal activity and low-level dealers seemed to switch to distributing other drugs, and street-based drug markets ultimately became less visible, with drug dealing conducted in a more covert and mobile manner. References