Illicit drug use by young people in sydney: results of a street intercept survey.

To complement existing institution-based drug use surveys, a street intercept survey of 581 young illicit drug users was conducted in Sydney, Australia. Patterns of use, reasons for use and awareness of the health risks associated with use were investigated. The most commonly used illicit drug type, after marijuana, was amphetamines. The least popular illicit drug was heroin. Most of the sample used occasionally, exhibiting a controlled pattern of use with a low prevalence of problems associated with use. Heroin users, in contrast, were often frequent users and reported a higher prevalence of associated problems. The majority of the sample reported excessive drinking patterns, indicating that the current policy of emphasis on alcohol misuse rather than illicit drug use amongst youth is appropriate.

The characteristics of cocaine users among young adults in Sydney.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and pattern of cocaine use among young Sydney adults interviewed during a study of the "market position" of cocaine. DESIGN: A telephone survey of young Sydney adults. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 499 young Sydney men and women aged between 14 and 35 were selected to ensure a sample of 300 persons who used alcohol and tobacco at least weekly, and who had been offered or had tried at least one illicit drug. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: These were the prevalence of having ever used cocaine, the frequency of cocaine use, the prevalence of daily alcohol and tobacco use, and of ever having tried marijuana, sedatives, designer drugs, amphetamines and heroin. RESULTS: Thirteen per cent of the sample (95% confidence interval [CI], 10%-16%) had ever tried cocaine, of whom only 20% (CI, 15%-25%) were current users. Cocaine users were distinguished from non-users by being more likely to be daily users of tobacco (odds ratio, 2.1; CI, 1.3-3.6) and alcohol (odds ratio, 3.0; CI, 1.7-5.6), and to have tried marijuana (odds ratio, 7.1; CI, 3.2-15.9), sedatives (odds ratio, 11.4; CI, 6.4-20.7), designer drugs (odds ratio, 17.2; CI, 9.2-32.2), amphetamines (odds ratio, 27.1; CI, 14.3-51.3), and heroin (odds ratio, 36.5; CI, 14.0-94.9). The odds of having tried cocaine increased with the number of different types of illicit drugs that the person had tried. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of ever having tried cocaine was low among a sample of young adults selected to ensure an over-representation of illicit drug users. Cocaine users were more likely to have experimented with a variety of different types of illicit drugs. Only a minority of those who had ever tried cocaine were current users.

Aboriginal versus non-aboriginal alcoholics in an alcohol withdrawal unit.

Fifty-five Aboriginal alcoholic males were compared with ninety non-Aboriginal alcoholic males, presenting voluntarily for treatment at an alcohol withdrawal unit. Although the chronological development of excessive drinking habits was similar, significant differences in drinking patterns and social backgrounds were found. Aboriginal patients consumed more alcohol, had lower levels of education and vocational achievement and were more often homeless. However, physical condition was similar in both groups. It was suggested that treatment of both groups should be similar in the acute withdrawal phase and that there was need for more rehabilitation and after-care facilities for Aboriginal alcoholics rather than for more medical units.