Illicit Drug use in the Australian Capital Territory: Implications for the Feasibility of a “Heroin Trial”

Abstract

The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health and the Australian Institute of Criminology are jointly engaged in a study of the feasibility of conducting a trial to provide heroin and other opioids to current heroin users in a controlled manner. (This is referred to by the short-hand of a “heroin trial”.) Heroin and other illicit drug use in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is being researched as part of this process. We present a brief overview of the demographics of the ACT, the patterns of illegal drug use, drug prices, trends in drug use, the impact of illegal drug use and estimates of the number of heroin users in the ACT. Illicit opioid users in the ACT are not an homogeneous group of people and most are far removed from the stereotypical “junkie”. Existing data suggests that the ACT may have some 1,000 dependent heroin users and over 3,000 non-dependent users, but more work is required to develop a more precise estimate of numbers. A combination of quantitative and qualitative data is essential for highlighting the potential advantages and disadvantages of a trial and for determining whether or not a trial is feasible.