Illicit drug reporting system (IDRS)

• Reach:

  National

• Focus area:

  Mainstream

• Status:

  Current

• Evaluated:

  No

Overview

The Illicit drug reporting system (IDRS) is an ongoing project that is conducted annually in all Australian jurisdictions, similar to the Ecstasy and related drugs reporting system (EDRS). The IDRS monitoring project is primarily concerned with the following four main drug classes:

• heroin and other opioids
• methamphetamines
• cocaine
• cannabis.

IDRS also monitors diverted pharmaceuticals and other issues related to drug use, for example injection-related problems and overdose, and crime. The IDRS aims to monitor the price, purity, availability and patterns of use of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis; and to identify emerging trends in illicit drug markets in Australia that require further investigation. The IDRS involves the collection and analysis of three sources of data:

• interviews with regular injecting drug users, who represent a sentinel population likely to be aware of new trends in illicit drug markets (quantitative)
• semi-structured interviews with experts who work with drug users such as treatment personnel, law enforcement personnel, and needle and syringe program (NSP) workers
• existing databases on drug-related issues such as customs data, overdose data, seizure data, and National Household Surveys of Drug Use.

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre abstract

Contacts

Natasha Sindicich
Ph: (02) 9385 0191
Email: n.sindicich@unsw.edu.au

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
Randwick Campus
22 - 32 King Street
Randwick NSW 2031
University of New South Wales
Sydney NSW 2052
Ph: (02) 9385 0333
Fax: (02) 9385 0222
Email: ndarc@unsw.edu.au

Related publications

Black E, Roxburgh A, Degenhardt L, Bruno R, Campbell G, De Graaf B, Fetherston J, Kinner S, Moon C, Quinn b, Richardson M, Sindicich N, White N (2007)

Australian drug trends 2007: findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS).

Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre

• Links
• View report: Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) (PDF - 1.1 MB)
• View website: National Drug and Research Centre

Stafford J, Sindicich N, Burns L, Cassar J, Cogger S, de Graaff B, George J, Moon C, Phillips B, Quinn B, White N (2009)

Australian Drug Trends 2008: findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS).

Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales

• Links
• View report: Australian Drug Trends 2008: findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) (PDF - 3.0 MB)
• View information: Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) National Report 2008
• View website: National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre

Stafford J, Burns L (2010)

Australian drug trends 2009: findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS).

Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales

• Links
• View abstract: Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) National Report 2009
• View report: Australian drug trends 2009: findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) (PDF - 2.6 MB)
• View website: National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre

Stafford J, Burns L (2011)

Australian drug trends 2010: findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS).

: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales

• Links
• View report: Australian drug trends 2010: findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) (PDF - 3.2 MB)
• View information: Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) national report 2010
• View information: The Illicit Drug Reporting System
• View website: National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre

Links

• View abstract: Ecstasy and related drugs reporting system (EDRS)
• View information: Illicit drug reporting system (IDRS)
• View website: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre